Philosophy of missions

As a law enforcement veteran I like working within a philosophical framework.  Having a structure or model helps focus one's purpose and activities.  Recently, I was appointed the Missions Director at my church.  After much prayer, meditation, and research I am formulating an umbrella philosophy that will help guide the mission activities at our church.  Please read it and give me your feedback and comments.   I have kept the name of my fellowship out of this posting until it is approved by the pastor and board of elders.

Philosophy of Missions

Why?

Many people today mistakenly think of “missions” as the work of full time missionaries or those participating in short term missions trips.  However, ************** recognizes that all believers were called into mission work when Jesus said, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (Jhn 20:21).  Jesus has sent all believers into the world to accomplish His purposes.   

Jesus left no mistakes to what He was asking us to do, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mar 16:15).  He defined what it meant to preach the gospel, "...that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luk 24:47).  Our mission is to share the Gospel with others.  

We are further instructed, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Mat 28:19-20a).  A disciple is one who believes the teachings and doctrines of their master and imitates the masters’s example.  Not only are we to share the Gospel with others, we are to train believers how to effectively articulate their faith (1 Pet 3:15) and live to imitate Jesus Christ.  

We participate in missions because the Lord Jesus Christ, our Master Teacher, commissioned us to that purpose.  He is the living example we are to emulate.  

What?

Based on the above verses, the work of missions is to “preach the gospel,” which is the “repentance and remission of sins...in His name,” and “to make disciples” by instructing them to observe what Christ commanded us. 

Who?

The Bible is clear that anyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ is responsible for completing his commission as His ambassadors (Eph 6:20).

“Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.  Let them praise the name of the LORD,” (Psa 148:12-13a).

“O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this [day] I declare Your wondrous works” (Psa 71:17).

“Now also when [I am] old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to [this] generation, Your power to everyone [who] is to come” (Psa 71:18).

Where?

"[Y]ou shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Act 1:8).  In this one verse Jesus explained to the Jerusalem disciples that their ministry was to begin locally, move into nearby regions, and then into the rest of the world.  This pattern is observed through the Book of Acts as it traces the ministries of Peter and Paul. 

Before reaching out into our own community, remember that mission work begins in each individual believer’s home as you pass the faith through your own family and to future generations.  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up (Deu 6:5-7).”  Also see Psa 78:5-8, Isa 38:19, 1 Cor 7:16.  The fathers and mothers are to lead their households ministering to their children teaching them the truth of the Gospel. 

This is the model of ministry we use at *******************; home, locally, regionally, and throughout the world.  

How?

It should be clear from the above discussion that missions is not something that we simply do; rather, missions is who we are.  Every believer should be consumed with living a missional life to propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

As we minister to others we recognize there is not one single cookie cutter approach to doing ministry.  When Paul was called to a saving faith in Christ, the Lord told Ananias, “[H]e is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Act 9:15-16).  Paul’s ministry, his writings, his sufferings, and his martyrdom were all ordained by God.  Peter after learning that he would suffer for Christ asked about John.  Jesus reply was simple, "If I will that he remain till I come, what [is that] to you? You follow Me" (Jhn 21:22, emphasis added).  We are all to follow Jesus Christ in the way that He calls us.    

The Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, has called every one of us to our unique ministry and destiny saying, “You follow Me!”  Maybe you are called to plant and pastor a church; lead a home fellowship and reach out to your neighbors; work in a substance abuse recovery home; operate an orphanage; teach bible studies at a retirement community; or, move your family out of the country to a foreign land.  No two ministries are the same, yet they are all equally valuable.  At **************** we want to recognize the calling, gifts, and ministry with which you have been blessed.  

Guiding Principles

The *************** Missions Department has established some practical guidelines to help determine which missionaries to support, which ministries to partner with, and how we approach which projects to engage in.     

1. Our primary goal in all missions work is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and build disciples.
2. We recognize that our congregation members, collectively and individually, are just one part of the Body of Christ where each member has unique gifts, talents, and callings (1 Cor 12). 
3. We believe that missions work conducted locally is equally as important as overseas missions. 
4. Ministry projects should not be wholly focused on meeting the physical needs of others through social service activities.  We recognize that the church should meet peoples’ physical needs (Ja 2:15-18), however we direct our resources toward activities that will meet both an individual’s physical and spiritual needs, thus furthering the Gospel.  
5. We seek to partner with and support like minded organizations both financially and through fostering volunteer ministry opportunities for our congregation.  
6. We recognize the resources we possess belong to God and seek to be good stewards of His resources.