Missions Makeover: What Does It Mean?

As I entered the foyer of the church, my eye was drawn to a world map displayed prominently on the wall next to the doorway of the sanctuary. At first glimpse, it looked like a route map of an airline company; a big white stick pen at the hub with colored yarn going off to all types of destinations in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Beside the map were pictures of missionaries as well as their recent prayer letters. This church no doubt was mission-minded, as the map of their outreach ministry was over 20 countries, supporting more than 50 missionaries, all at approximately $30 a month.

While this congregation was being faithful to the spirit of Acts 1:8, to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth, their strategy of missions was naïve at best. Their mission map revealed two things. First, they had no clear purpose of what they were trying to accomplish with their missions dollars as their missions involvement was literally, all over the map. Second, they had no real commitment to those they supported, as some people spend more than $30 a month at Starbucks. Supporting many with a little does little to generate enthusiasm for those who are asked to support missions. Developing a comprehensive mission’s policy will give focus to a congregation in what they are trying to accomplish in their outreach ministry.

PURPOSE - MISSION - MINISTRY – MISSIONS

Aristotle said, “If you wish to converse with me, please define your terms.” The beginning process of developing a strategic document for the local church is by defining purpose, mission, ministry, and missions. Here are term definitions.

PURPOSE – Why does your church exist? What justification do you have for being called a Body of believers? There are many good purpose statements, for example, one might be:

“We exist to glorify Christ in our personal life, family, community and the world.”

MISSION - A purpose statement is who you are as a congregation…a mission reflects what you do to fulfill your purpose. Mission is the process, the macro-view of the congregation’s purpose. The mission statement may be:

“To reflect God’s glory by taking the Gospel to the unreached, making disciples and establishing local communities of believers; demonstrating His love through meeting the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of people throughout the world.”

MINISTRY AND MISSIONS – Projects are the micro-activities of what a congregation does to carry out their mission. Obviously, there are many projects of the local church; we call them ministry activities (music, children, cell group, youth ministries, etc.). What a church does at the local community level is beyond the scope of my discussion but a church that defines well what they do at a local level is important for their growth as it relates to their purpose.

It is important that the church separate ministry and missions projects. Why? Because if it doesn’t, then everything becomes missions, which causes confusion in the congregation, which leads to an ill-defined global outreach program. Missions is other focused, while ministry is us focused. Missions is activity outside the direct benefit of the local body of believers. Missions is not youth camps, radio/television ministry, a Christian school, or senior adult projects. I would argue that short-term mission trips are not as much missions as short-term exposure trips primarily for the benefit of those who go. They are not as effective in terms of reaching others with the Gospel.

Next time I will help define what is missions and how we can use that definition to create a solid global outreach program.

Missions Makeover For The Local Church

A common question asked by pastors in the U.S. is in regards to how they can make their missions program more effective. They are concerned that their missions effort has become stale if not dead. Global outreach, for many churches, is a relic of the past and of little interest to people born after 1965. The history of missions reveals the reason for declining interest in world evangelism.

After World War II there was in influx of North Americans going overseas to serve as missionaries. Many of them had seen the world for the first time and were moved by the need to take the gospel to places like the Philippines, Japan, North Africa, and Western Europe. The local churches in America were interested in world evangelism, for many in the congregation had seen the world as well and wanted to be personally involved in supporting those going to the regions beyond to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The economy was far different in the “incredible twenty-five years,” as missiologist Ralph Winters called it, from 1950 to 1975. Missionary support in the ‘50’s was less than $500 a month as the living standard overseas was low and health insurance was hardly ever considered. Sadly, many of those early missionaries didn’t think about retirement and, therefore, didn’t raise money for the day when they would return to the States to live out their golden years.

The cost of missions changed dramatically in the mid ‘80’s. The world economy began to rise, and living overseas became more expensive. Learning from the mistakes of those early pioneer missionaries, the new generation of missionaries began raising money for retirement while health insurance costs went through the roof. With more emphasis on family, schooling for missionary children became a primary concern; this added to the cost of living. Today’s missionary family must now raise a minimum of $4000 monthly support, and the cost of doing missions has become an expensive undertaking. New people signing up for career missionary work are on the decline, and new supporters willing to fund them are even fewer. Pastors know that those providing the core of missionary funding in their congregations are over 55 years of age, with the greatest percentage of funds coming from the few folks remaining alive from the WW II generation.

In addition to the changing economy of missions, the strategic need for sending North American missionaries has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. The “unreached” area of the world is not as large as it was in the ‘50’s. Our pioneer forefathers did their job well, and the nations they went to evangelize are sending their own missionaries today at one-third the support needed by North American missionaries.

Missions is still very important to many North American churches, and those committed to world evangelism are struggling to know how to infuse new life in their global outreach. Today’s trend is more concentrated on short-term missions trips for their congregations, hoping that exposure to the world, will spur them to giving and going as career missionaries as it did the pioneers of old. Another trend is supporting national initiatives rather than costly North American families. In searching for answers on how to make missions more attractive for local churches, here are some ideas that will make the local global outreach more effective.

DEVELOP A MISSIONS POLICY

Fifty years ago, missions were easily defined. The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18, “To go into all the world and make disciples,” were a tangible goal that people could see and feel. Just about anyone willing to go was sent. Developing a strategy didn’t seem necessary, as the whole world needed the gospel. As a result of poor planning, the local sending church had no structured policy. Supporting missionaries was, and still is today, an emotional issue, not a strategic plan. My suggestion to pastors and missions leaders in the church today is that they start afresh--that they go back to square one and see world evangelism in the reality of today’s context. To restructure missions today, the sending church must begin with developing a thorough and comprehensive missions policy.

There is both pragmatic and strategic value in a missions policy. Rather than being confused on whom to support, how much, and to which program, a good missions policy will direct the church on a path of purpose for world evangelism. Instead of emotion and personality steering the church aimlessly around the globe in search of purpose, the POLICY makes the decisions, keeping everyone on track as to their stated global objectives.

Key to developing a missions policy is asking critical questions such as: What is the purpose of our missions program? How do we define missions? What do we want to accomplish with the resources our local church has?

I will deal with these questions and much more next time as we continue the discussion of the changing face of missions.

Saying Goodbye, Again

No matter how often you do it, it’s always difficult to say goodbye. Sandy and I have been saying goodbye for 36 years.

On the day we were married we left our family and friends and headed for college in another state. After graduation we lived in Texas for five years, 1,000 miles from our home in Arkansas. In 1976 we said goodbye again and moved to Kenya.

Tomorrow Sandy and I lug our bags to the airport, returning to our apartment in Asia. Our parents are old now, our kids are grown and we have three grandkids. You would think that we would have this saying goodbye down to an art form, but it’s still difficult. Who knows what the next year will bring? We don’t dwell on the fact that we may never see our family again, but we know each time we leave it’s a possibility. I dread tomorrow, I hate to say goodbye.

I asked Sandy last night, as we drove away from our kid’s house for the last time, if she wishes sometimes we would just settle down in one place near our family? I look at my friends and other family members, many who have lived in the same house for years, and there is a certain envy I have for their lifestyle. How great it would be to face getting old in familiar surroundings, watching my granddaughters and grandson grow up. Being able to see my brother whenever I want, instead of the infrequent times that we have when our paths cross. Sandy is close to her family as well and it how nice it would be for her to share the holidays and special occasions with those she loves.

“No,” she answered. “I’m grateful for the life God has given us. Our ministry overseas is more exciting now than anytime in our life.”

Indeed, we have much to look forward to. I have teaching assignments lined up for the rest of the year and Sandy is deeply involved in establishing Bible Study Fellowship classes in our city. We both enjoy living overseas and, quite frankly, we have more of reason to be in Asia than we do in the States.

While it would be nice to be settled in one place near our loved ones, reality and God’s direction in our lives makes saying goodbye tolerable. Our children have their own lives; the grandkids are growing up and in a few years will be less attached to “Doc” and “Grammy.” Our parents have their other children around to tend to their needs, for which we are extremely grateful. The life God has given us is one to celebrate, not regret. Though we will miss those closest to us on this earth, it’s all temporary. Our family loves us, but they understand our role in His work and that makes saying goodbye a little easier.

Still, it will be tough to get on that plane tomorrow. Thankfully, one day the travels will be over and we will enjoy being together for eternity.