Missions on Point

Please consider the well-known "Great Commission" passages in the Gospels and Acts. These contribute to a solid understanding that the Great Commission cannot be adequately fulfilled apart from planting local churches. It is NOT only evangelizing and disciplining; it IS establishing a mutually committed body of believers who worship, care for each other, study the Scriptures, observe the Ordinances, have qualified church leaders, and continue to obey the Great Commission.

We like to start with the Bible. What better way than to start with Christ's view of the local church?  After getting a big-picture overview of the use of the word "church" in the New Testament, we'll dive into how Christ Himself portrays His connection to and special relationship with local churches.  In the largest scope, the whole New Testament, inspired by Christ and fueled by His Great Commission resounds with local-church-centered teaching.

This introduction begins a more extensive series on "The Centrality of the Local Church in MIssions." It is my heartbeat. It crystallizes my lifelong convictions for the local church and missions. Please listen attentively, recommend it profusely to others, and pray for its ultimate effectiveness for God's glory through the church to all nations.

The Muslim world is in the month of Ramadan (Mar. 22 -Apr. 20, 2023). This episode hopes to open your eyes to the strategic time of opportunity to share Jesus with your Muslim friends, coworkers, fellow students, and neighbors. Muslims are especially sensitized to pursue spiritual things during this month. They need to know more about their "Prophet" Jesus. They are more open to reading the New Testament (their Injil) to learn more. Your testimony, presented with sensitivity and loving concern for Christ's sake may bring fruit, by God's grace, in their coming to faith in Jesus. May it be so.

Congratulations, you have crossed the finish line of producing a new (or improved) Church Missions Handbook. Now it's time to roll out the implementation of the Handbook. Take some time to celebrate with your Missions Team or Missions Committee. Make sure everyone understands its content. Then progressively roll it out to the Elders, the congregation at large, and your supported missionaries and ministries. Use the Handbook for orientation for onboarding new Missions Team members.

Sometimes it is challenging to discuss measuring "performance," especially in spiritual things. Yet, information is a friend to effectiveness. Why you measure is essential. You want to have the right attitude about using metrics to better achieve your goals to mobilize the congregation in missions. What you measure may be obvious, less obvious, or even least obvious. It all works together to build a larger vision for what your Missions Team and your church can do to fulfill God's great purposes for His glory in Christ through the local church.

This episode could be used by every ministry group in the church! Here we'll look at key principles to having effective Missions Team meetings, decision-making processes, and the subtle dynamics that make for genuine unity.

Beyond the usual mechanical functions of a Missions Team, the deeper efforts of mobilizing the whole congregation for missions, missionary candidate development and sending, and larger partnerships come into play. Go the extra mile to become a Propempo-minded church in your role and functions.

Access the episode Transcript page.

Finding the right people on the Missions Team can be a minefield! Sometimes people with strange ideas want to be on the Team to leverage their agenda. How do you avoid that? Who and how do you get the right people on the Team to do this great ministry? Build a good foundation for qualifications, expectations, and team spirit as you serve the church in this vital ministry of world missions.

Structure, specialization, and delegation are keys to effectiveness, both short-term and long-term. This episode walks through 9 key areas for specialization in structure in order to have maximum impact on mobilizing the congregation for missions and for effectiveness with your field workers.