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Updated: February 17, 2006
…How healthy
is your church in missions? David
Mays, ACMC
Missions as Program:
Missions as “Program” can be divided into two levels: c. Program and d. Priority
C. Program: Missions is one of the
regular ongoing ministries or our church.
There is a leadership team which makes policies and decisions regarding
how to be utilized the churches missions resources. Missions has the support of key church leaders.
D. Priority: Missions is one of the more important ministries of our church. The leadership team is proactive regarding
the development and deployment of church resources for missions. Key church leaders are active in support of
missions.
Characteristics of a
Program:
A program
is a means to an end and is designed to contribute to a purpose.
A program
is one of many. Therefore it does not
expect participation of all.
A program is pragmatic. It is valuable and maintained as long as it
is useful and productive.
Implications of a
Program:
A program is designed to
contribute to a specific purpose.
A
program has well thought-out goals and plans and be well executed.
A program maximizes the resources
available.
A
program gives evidence of progress toward the purpose.
A
program is carried out with quality and excellence.
Areas for Evaluation:
·
Biblical Priority
·
Missions Education
- Congregational
Involvement
- Staff Leadership
- The Missions
Leadership Team
- Missions Strategy
- Prayer for Missions
- Missions Giving
- Missions Trips
- Training for Potential
Missionaries
- Care and Support for
Missionaries
- Local Outreach
Evaluation
Tool and Criteria: Missions Assessment Profile (MAP), ACMC. Order from ACMC at 1-800-798-ACMC.
The Next Level: Priority
Missions is recognized as a very important
responsibility of the church. Our
church leaders recognize the importance of reaching people from other nations
and cultures. We have a clear strategy
and well-defined goals. We give a
substantial portion of our income and many of our people are significantly
involved.
Steps to Priority:
Identify the purpose to which your
missions program contributes. Ideally
your church purpose statement or constitution makes this clear. If it is not clear, begin collecting some
alternative church purpose statements and recommend the church purpose be
reconsidered.
Using the diagnostic tool, Missions
Assessment Profile (MAP), decide which
areas of the missions ministry need improvement, decide where to begin, and
establish a task force to make changes.
Encourage your church leaders to
make missions a more important and consistent focus for prayer and education
from the leadership level.