A study conducted for Scripture Union Australia in 2006 measuring a range of aspects concerning their short term mission activities. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by a random sample of 200 short term mission volunteers for Scripture Union.

The following key points were identified and examined in the study:

• Distribution profile of the demographic and behavioural characteristics of mission volunteers.
• Identification of a series of reasons for participating in mission.
• Preference and impact of mission volunteers to accept a group structure where all members are involved in the decision making process and the leadership function is shared across the group.
• Personal confidence levels in evangelism and its effect on tailoring mission activities.
• Value of training in evangelism as seen by the mission volunteers.
• The importance of balancing the task of sharing the Gospel and developing relationships with non-Christians (i.e. through follow-up evangelism).
• Barriers to mission participation from within and outside the mission.
• The potential impact of the mission volunteers’ awareness of the mission organisation.
• Qualitative feedback on past missions as well as suggestions for new activities by the mission volunteers.

Click on the following link for the full paper. su_report_lausanne_version

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