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Starting a Missions Program in a local church

Discussion in 'Evangelism, Missions & Witnessing' started by Siberian, Aug 12, 2010.

  1. Siberian

    Siberian New Member

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    Near the end of this month, Lord willing, I am headed to a city in eastern Siberia to work for three weeks with a local church that I helped to plant a few years back. The church now has completely local leadership and about 100 members.

    It has a huge heart for missions. Many of the members are from surrounding villages who became believers when they came to the city for college - and stayed after they graduated. Now, they desire to see churches planted in their villages (there are no village churches in the surrounding area, and thousands of people live in those villages). The elder board requested that I work with them to establish an organized missions program in the church, so as to more effectively use their people and money in outreach and missions. Specifically, they are asking to help them think through three areas: missions leadership structure, candidate training, and budget.

    So now I am in the throws of research and planning and I thought I might be helped by posing a few questions here:

    1. What would you see as an ideal missions leadership structure for a local church with plurality of leadership?

    2. How would the committee/missions team function, and how would they relate to the elder board and to individuals who sense that they are called to a missions/outreach ministry?

    3. What has worked really well for your missions leadership teams?

    4. What has not worked?

    Thanks,
    Siberian
     
    #1 Siberian, Aug 12, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 12, 2010
  2. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    These are all good questions that I couldn't answer. But if your going to Siberia & If you see Tony "I want my Life Back" Hayward, please be sure to give him America's warmest regards, wont you!
     
  3. Siberian

    Siberian New Member

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    I'll be sure to do so.
     
  4. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Someone in charge who: is faithful in the evangelistic program of that local church, and is willing to actually humbly visit the field where the supported missionary is.

    It would be extremely important for the team to communicate regularly with the missionary, but not be a burden (no five page questionaires, no financial accounting that is already being done at the mission board, no requests for souvenirs from the field, etc.). In a word, the team should seek to have a servant's heart in their work.

    In relating to young people who may be called, the primarly goal should be to seek to help the truly called young person successfully reach the field. They should thus: build support for the young person within the congregation, help the young person become qualified, help the young person get experience (go together on evangelism, etc.).

    My church plant (as in the great majority of Japanese churches) has never been large enough for a team.
     
  5. Siberian

    Siberian New Member

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    Thanks for your thoughts, John.
     
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