Mission Bound

Embracing pilgrimage as a comprehensive image of the Christian life, Mission Bound offers a transformative approach to short-term mission. Although the relationship of pilgrimage to short-term mission has been previously considered, it's been invariably dismissed: understood in terms of personal spirituality while its social applications and biblical images have been overlooked. Transcending the inner journey, pilgrimage is crossing boundaries, following God in unfamiliar places, both being and befriending the stranger, and walking alongside one another. As the imitation of Christ, pilgrimage embodies humility, service, love, and compassion as well as our vulnerability with others. Espousing the union of God, self, and the Other as the objective of the Christian life, the book casts the mission partnership as one of reciprocal relations based on the body of Christ. Addressing the entirety of the mission journey, including a spirituality of religious travel, the intragroup experience, and individual Christian formation, the heart of the book explores short-term mission through the lens of the hero's journey. Having loved, served, and listened to others, short-term missioners return home as more Christlike people where their lifelong journey of faith continues. Mission Bound is written as a pre-departure discussion guide for leaders and participants of short-term mission.