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Updated: February 17, 2006

Missions Check Up

…How healthy is your church in missions? David Mays, ACMC

Missions as Possibility:

Missions as “Possibility” can be divided into two levels: a. Possibility and b. Project

A. Possibility: Some of our people may support missionaries or missions projects or go on missions trips. We hope to develop an ongoing missions ministry.

B. Project: In our church experience, missions consists of a variety of different things people do and/or support. Some individuals support a missionary. Some people go on missions trips. The church gives support to some mission organizations or missionaries. Perhaps a group of overseers meet when there is some business to decide. We hope to organize an official, ongoing missions leadership team and ministry.

Characteristics of a Project:

A project is usually a one-time or periodic activity with a limited goal. It is not expected to go on indefinitely.

A project is typically the domain of a few people or of a larger group for a limited time.

A project is optional.

Implications of a Project:

A project should contribute to the organization’s purpose.

A project should have well thought-out goals and plans and be well executed.

A project should be productive and effective.

A project should logically lead to additional means to pursue the purpose.

The Next Level: Program

Missions is an important part of our church. It is one of the regular ongoing ministries. It has an organized leadership team overseeing ongoing cross-cultural ministries.

Steps to Program:

Ask whether the project level is appropriate for missions in your church. Consider which influencers and stakeholders you can talk with regarding this question.

Recruit some of your paid staff and church leaders to attend a major missions conference such as the ACMC National Conference or the Urbana Student Missions Convention (Christmas week every third year). See www.acmc.org and www.urbana.org .

Pray with others about a missions trip for your senior pastor.

Get a small group together to pray about God’s global purposes and your church and to consider forming a missions task force to assist your church leaders in developing a missions program.