Missions on Point

If your church aspires to be a missionary sending church, you don't have to wait for volunteers. Create a culture that expects God to raise up missionaries from your membership. Look for opportunities to challenge and encourage your people to consider vocational missionary ministry. Draft, recruit, join, mentor, call people to give their lives for God's glory on the missions field because Jesus is worth it!

This is #6, the last, of this six-part series on "Missiology You Need to Know." The simple concept is that the means, methods, and tools/resources that the missionary uses must be reproducible by his audience. The content of the teaching and training has to be able to be replicated by the local people. So, don't use things that are inaccessible to them! Find out how they would do things if it were up to them and/or if the missionary wasn't present to do it.

This is a big one because failure to understand and apply these principles has caused a lot of confusion and problems for us on the missions field today. We must continually ask ourselves and our missionaries if the Gospel is clear, biblical conversion is clear, and the key definitions of ministry results are biblical. Let the stumbling block of the Gospel to unbelievers be the message and not the messenger.

Please listen carefully. It may seem like a "no-brainer". However, the missions world is always fighting popular definitions and methods that are primarily driven by pragmatism and sometimes cross the line into twisted beliefs and practices. The traditional biblical definitions of our faith and the traditional methodologies that arise out of steady, relational, and Word-based ministry will always prevail in the long term. We have a right and an obligation to ask the questions and challenge fadish or trendy definitions and methods. Go for solid, long-term growth over short-term statistics any day!

It seems embarrassingly simple, yet this principle is one that we even fail to apply appropriately in our ministries here in our home country. It is very significant and necessary for the missionary to point their local people to the Bible as the sole authority for Christian life and practice. God's Word is truth. It is trans-cultural in its application. The missionary must consciously and humbly point to the Scriptures as the source of answers for his people. That implies teaching them how to read, interpret, and apply the Bible. But, hey, that's part of the job anyway! Right?

Somehow this simple, intuitive, and practical principle gets lost in the mix of missionary activity. Yet, it is one of the most important principles for long-term results and indigeneity on the field. The missionary MUST intentionally and systematically reproduce him (or her) self in the ministry. Producing partners rather than dependents is key to fruitfulness. Listen. Pass it on. Ask the questions. And, please support this podcast.

Missiology - what is that? If you have an interest in missions, leadership of missions, or are going into missions, you must know some basic principles of missiology. Sound, biblical principles and practice of missiology will be the lens for your understanding and evaluation of missions ministry. The first one is the first priority: the missionary must make culture and language learning their first priority on the field. It is the foundation upon which all other ministry is built. It is a process that is intense at first and never really ends. It is comprehensive in its impact on their life and work on the field. Don't short circuit a requirement and the time required for high proficiency in the language.

The topic of expectations is full of land mines! Somehow we hope that our missionary loved one coming home is going to yield our fulfillment of every our dreams for time together. Think again! Right expectations are going to yield joy and fulfillment. Wrong expectations will yield disastrous results. So, listen and learn. Grow up and take responsibility for embracing good and proper expectations centered on them and not on yourself. You'll make your and their life better in so doing.

This episode is loaded with practical observation and counsel on how to deal with the unique challenges of your loved one serving overseas. Understanding builds empathy and a helpful safety net for both you and your missionary. Learn what those challenges are all about and how we can overcome them with wisdom and prudence.

Every profession has its own set up specialized vocabulary. Missions does too! If you want to relate well to your loved one in missions, learn the glossary of terms they use in their context, their mission organization, their field. It will help you and them a lot! This episode could be viewed as a little quiz on missions terminology. See how well you and your family or friends score :-)

Oh, no! My loved one has moved thousands of miles away. I won't see them very often. What will I do? Hey, this episode of Missions on Point will help you generate helpful and wise patterns of communicating your love and appreciation for their ministry overseas. God has provided wonderful means of communication. There are easy and simple ways to show your care for them. Listen to this and the next episodes in the series to learn more. Tell your friends to listen to Missions on Point, too! :-)

Help! My family member (or close friend) is a missionary! They're leaving me behind! Sometimes the family left behind can feel betrayed, hurt, jealous, bitter, angry. It's hard to even describe how it feels. The missionary is being obedient to the Lord for His glory and for the sake of the Gospel. How is that a bad thing, especially as a Christian family member? Yet, these heart issues are real. Friends and church leaders should be aware of this battle and come alongside - both in compassion, accountability, and practical help. Listen in to this series of five episodes!

This final installment of the four-part series on Missions Funding deals with an oft-misunderstood distinction between "local" and "cross-cultural" missions. The Great Commission does apply to local ministry and outreach; however, the drive of the command and the rest of the New Testament compel us to distinguish between ministries inside the reach or scope of our own church and ministries clearly outside the reach of our church. Practical considerations help us understand this dynamic and equip us to confidently make the best decisions regarding funding and involvement. May God use this in your church and your own personal life.

The question addressed in this episode can be troubling. Here we give four key principles to fuel discernment about your choices. Ultimately, we want you to make good decisions, based on what is best for you, for the recipient, for the ministry, and for the long term. Feel free to give us comments and feedback through email: [email protected]

This second of the series on Missions Funding deals with the principles behind establishing an objectivized basis for giving to a missionary or ministry. Those metrics are defined along three scales: relationship to the church, priority of ministry, and Gospel impact. Besides the level of individual support, there are considerations for how much the church should give on the whole. Listen to all four in this series to catch the big picture of missions funding, both as a church and as an individual.

This first of four episodes deals with the inevitable questions about missions funding. In this episode we talk about different sources and types of funding. Yet, we cannot escape the basic education of the congregation respecting the biblical priority and need for their participation in funding missions. The autonomy of the local church allows a wide degree of freedom of expression as to means and methods for funding. Your church needs to be discerning and wise in stewardship. Listen to all four of this series to pick up more principles to help you as a church or as an individual donor.

This is part 6 of our 6-part series, helping a church to learn and implement the dynamic VISION of becoming a missionary sending church. We compress two days of training into these six 15-minutes overview segments. This episode, NURTURE, helps the whole church understand their role and proper expectations for enabling their missionary with shepherding ministries. Missionaries with such a caring sending church are the envy of other missionaries on the field. This part of the VISION will certainly encourage and enable your missionary to stick with it in faithfulness for the long term.

This is part 5 of a 6-part series, helping a church to learn and implement the dynamic VISION of becoming a missionary sending church. We compress two days of training into these six 15-minutes overview segments. This episode, OWNERSHIP, helps church leaders and the congregation understand their sending roles in the process of training and sending out a missionary. The whole congregation should be given opportunities to help with a high level of ownership.

This is part 4 of 6, walking through the Implementation phase of our VISION process. Implementation includes the selection of a missionary candidate, missionary training, and implementation proper (including finding a sending agency facilitator). Too many people, both candidates and church leaders, rush this phase, much to their later regret or attrition. Think and pray it through carefully. Solid preparation leaves no regrets. Check out the HERE to THERE book and the Six C's of Missionary Qualifications.

This is the third of a six-part series, helping a church to learn and implement the dynamic VISION of becoming a missionary sending church. We compress two days of training into these six 15-minutes overview segments. This episode wrestles with the hard work, prayer, and learning necessary to developing a strategic plan or strategic focus for the church's future missions outreach. Research, communication, and thoughtful discernment are essential to the process of understanding and selecting your church's focus. The time spent in doing this is well worth it!

This is part 2 of a six-part series, helping a church to learn and implement the dynamic VISION of becoming a missionary sending church. We compress two days of training into these six 15-minutes overview segments. This episode, IDENTITY, helps church leaders understand their church missions history, connections, and present circumstances in order to begin designing a missions focus and vision for the future.

This begins a six-part series, helping a church to learn and implement the dynamic VISION of becoming a missionary sending church. We compress two days of training into these six 15-minutes overview segments. This episode helps church leaders understand the biblical and practical ways they can begin the process in their church with VALUES development and communicating those values throughout the church at every level.

We'll continue talking about some of the most outstanding missionary biographies to consider. We'll also offer suggestions for some of the ways to present and to learn and grow from consideration of their lives. Practical issues framing each one's testimony, life, and lessons learned can have indelible imprints on our own walk with the Lord and vision for ministry. Personally, for your family, and for your church, it's hard to beat the impact of well used and well presented missionary biographies.

Missionary biographies can be one of the most useful tools to accelerate your and your congregation's interest in missions. It's not academic; it's real life! Biographies are "relate-able" and help people understand that God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways for His purposes and His glory. Not only may missionary biographies encourage some to consider becoming a missionary, but every listening Christian's passion for Christ, for the Gospel, and for personal godliness will be encouraged.

Your Church Missions Profile series walks through the 12-category self-assessment of your church's missions ministries. We'll talk you through how to think about and assess your church's implementation and effectiveness. Our online CMP is available at https://propempo.com/church-missions-profile. "Follow" or "Subscribe" to help evaluate your church missions profile and get help to improve your missions ministries.

Your Church Missions Profile series walks through the 12-category self-assessment of your church's missions ministries. We'll talk you through how to think about and assess your church's implementation and effectiveness. Our online CMP is available at https://propempo.com/church-missions-profile. "Follow" or "Subscribe" to help evaluate your church missions profile and get help to improve your missions ministries.

Your Church Missions Profile series walks through the 12-category self-assessment of your church's missions ministries. We'll talk you through how to think about and assess your church's implementation and effectiveness. Our online CMP is available at https://propempo.com/church-missions-profile. "Follow" or "Subscribe" to help evaluate your church missions profile and get help to improve your missions ministries.

Your Church Missions Profile series walks through the 12-category self-assessment of your church's missions ministries. We'll talk you through how to think about and assess your church's implementation and effectiveness. Our online CMP is available at https://propempo.com/church-missions-profile. "Follow" or "Subscribe" to help evaluate your church missions profile and get help to improve your missions ministries.

Many times we've received a panicked call from a Pastor who was approached by "George" (our hypothetical missionary wannabe), who thinks God is calling him to be a missionary. What do we do? How do we train him? Should we just refer him to a mission-sending agency? How can we be sure he has the right qualifications? Listen in. Don't freak out! It's OK; God will help you train up missionaries from your congregation. It is actually a very good thing for all involved.

It's painful to realize that the church needs to reduce or completely cut support for a missionary previously heralded and highly regarded by the church family. Emotionally difficult, it can have land mines with big repercussions. Good communication with both the missionary and the congregation is key. Whether for economic reasons, sinful patterns, strategic focus, failure at some level, or other things, the church is obligated to face the facts, communicate graciously and firmly, then take action. You can do this! God will help you.

Another common question posed to Propempo by many churches: "How can we get our church to be more actively involved in missions?" The basics start at the top with the pastor and continue with reevaluating the role of the Missions Team in mobilizing the whole congregation. Relationship and experience, paired with good information and opportunities will turn the tide. Don't abrogate responsibility for missions to anyone else (or any other institution)! The local church owns missions and is the God-appointed agent responsible for missions. So, stand up and get involved!

One of the top urgent calls for help we get is this: Help, we just realized that our missions ministry has no focus, no common thread, no strategic purpose. The things we support seem to be a random collection of people, places, purposes, etc. How can we work toward having a focus? What questions should we ask to get us on track? Rifle target instead of a shotgun blast? This episode will not give you a specific road map. But it will give you initial concepts to start that journey to your desired focused vision for missions ministry in your church.

More books! Not the dry, academic, brainiac type, but the warm, personable, practical type. This episode highlights some of my favorite resources, the tip of the iceberg, the frosting on the cake, for helping missionary candidates, some biographies, and some practical books helping families get involved in missions. Curl up or recline with a cuppa and enjoy!

There are lots of times we are asked for recommendations of essential missions books. Here's my latest line-up. Hopefully, these will prove to be friends to you and your church to grow a stronger, more biblical, and more effective mission trajectory. Today's episode is aimed primarily at church missions leaders. But everyone can benefit and learn from these books. Then, you can use them to encourage and influence others in their missions responsibilities or pursuits.

Discovering Missions Throughout the Bible begs us to consider the practical applications. Knowing these things should find us seeing missions in our Bible reading (and listening, and study)! We should have our understanding tuned to better grasp things of Christ and the Gospel throughout the inspired Word. We see God's heart for the nations through the Gospel even in normal information and scenes of everyday life. It fuels our prayers and changes our perspectives. Then, we share our discoveries with others.

Way too often, we minimize and marginalize the Great Commission! We think we hear about it too much. We think we know all we need to know about it. We feel that it only applies to a few zealots in the church. How sad to learn that, if we pause and think deeply about what it is, what it means, and how important it is to Christ, to the Gospel, our church, and our world, we find our preconceived notions mistaken. May this re-thinking drive us to repent and pray for God's grace to re-shape our thinking, our attitudes, our obedience. We can only become true "world Christians" by thinking deeply about God's purposes for us individually and corporately. May it be so!

Knowing how to look and see "the nations" and equivalent terms throughout the Bible will reignite and revolutionize your missions insights. God has left us clues throughout the Scriptures to see His heart for the nations for His glory. It is comprehensive in scope and intent. God alone is God. He alone is worthy of awe and worship and loving obedience. He makes His purpose known through all His interactions with us and through all His inspired revelation to us. May we better see and understand "the nations" and our role in fulfilling God's great purpose.

One of the joys of understanding how to recognize Christ, the Gospel, and Missions throughout the Bible is that, as we read the Scriptures, these gems of insight jump off the page and illumine the pathway to see them all connected in God's great plan for His glory. With just a little insight, we can fuel our eagerness to read and understand God's passion for His glory in all of human history. We lift our eyes off of ourselves and discover the majesty and sovereignty of God in the details of seemingly mundane life. We get to see Christ and the Gospel unveiled; and we understand something of our part in God's story.

As a beginning point, it is important for us to discover and realize that God is the hero of the Bible. The Bible was written by Him for His purposes. And His overarching purpose in all of creation and history is His own glory. God's glory is the end goal and common thread behind all of Scripture. It's also an essential component of our understanding of missions throughout the Bible. Seeing God's glory as the high view of Scripture gives us hope, understanding, perspective, and a grand sense of weak-kneed awe of Him, who alone is worthy of all glory. What reverence and anticipation we should have to read the Bible that way! Access the episode transcript page.

How can you measure Missions Team effectiveness? Use the Church Missions Profile self-assessment diagnostic tool on Propempo.com. Your church should plan for growing missionaries from your church body. Regularly teach and preach biblical missions. Expose your church to missionary heroes and practical understanding of their role and of "how we do missions in our church." Don't forget to keep God and His grace at the center of all your vision, strategy, and goals. Amen! Access the episode transcript page.

Ah, the essentials include the necessary considerations of the values behind missions direction, relationships, and values. These things keep everyone on the same page heading in the same direction. Then there is the broad scope of Missions Team meetings and operations. How do we do that? Lastly, we'll talk just a bit about building real local church ownership of your missions personnel and ministries. Mundane, maybe. Glorious in its impact on the whole church, absolutely! p.s. - ... and on the mission field, too! Access the episode transcript page.

Every church should have an effective, functional Missions Committee. We prefer you call it a "Missions Team" - not to be confused with a Short Term Missions Team. Whether you call it a Committee, or Board, or Task Force, or Team, whether you call it Missions, or Global Outreach (GO), or Cross-cultural Ministries, the main purpose is to mobilize the whole congregation to do their part in the Great Commission. Practical alignment with your local church's identity and values helps frame the scope of work. Listen and check out the paradigm-shifting concepts and resources available here. Access the episode transcript page.

Sorry for the technical glitch on this episode. It mysteriously disappeared upon update. I've had to repost it. The Gospel is so essential to missions and the local church's message. It is the exclusive message of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is simple, profound, and the only basis for the transformation of men and women from the inside out. Proclamation of the Gospel is necessary and God-empowered for effective spiritual fruit. No other substitutes will accomplish regeneration. It is a simple message: God's requirement of holiness, man's sin, God's own provision of fellowship, adoption, and payment of sin in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and man's required response of repentance and faith in Christ alone for salvation. Adding or subtracting other "works" or agenda to this distorts the Gospel; the Apostle Paul calls that "anathema;" doing so is "another gospel." Access the episode transcript page.

The ministry of missions is, in essence, the reason for the church on earth. Keeping that passion for outreach central in the heart of the local churches maintains a healthy biblical balance. "Mission," without the "s," can be selfish and inward-focused. People often think of missions in inaccurate or misguided terms. Local churches dare not allow external Christian organizations to eclipse their own responsibility, participation, and joy in doing the work of missions to reach the world. Access the episode transcript page.

The centrality of the local church in God's purposes is too often eclipsed by our skewed cultural values of independence and resistance to vulnerability to others. The Bible makes it clear that the local church is God's agent for His work in the world - not just for missions, but for local ministry to each of us and through each of us to our community. The New Testament repudiates a "Lone Ranger" mentality. Churches may come in all kinds of forms and sizes; healthy biblical churches are absolutely central to honoring and glorifying God, ultimately throughout the world. We must radically realize the centrality of the local church in God's purposes today. Access the episode transcript page.

This series has highlighted 13 Keys to Effectiveness as a Missionary. Every one of them could also be applied to our local church and to ourselves in our spiritual life. This wrap-up episode gives two other simple concepts for evaluation of missionary candidates, in particular: a battery of straightforward questions, and what Propempo calls the "Six C-s". The over-arching concept of all of this is that the local church has a vital, biblical role in raising up, developing, evaluating, sending, and shepherding missionaries. Solid attention to these things in the early stages will reap huge rewards in effectiveness, faithfulness, longevity, and, we believe, fruitfulness on the field. May it be so, for God's glory! Access the episode transcript page.

We've touched on the importance of the missionary knowing the Word and of demonstrating the authority of the Word. This key deals with the practice of teaching the Bible as the central message and source of teaching and training in the missionary's ministry. References to the content and teaching of God's Word should naturally ooze out of the missionary from informal settings and conversations to formal meetings and teaching. God uses the Word to save and to transform lives. No other book has the same power, promise, and potential. Teach and preach the Word! Access the episode transcript page.

Frightening attrition of missionaries permanently coming off the field highlight this key to effectiveness: stay on the field! Life on the mission field is tough. Longevity and staying power are key to fruitfulness. There are ways we can help enable this key, through doing our part as sending and through encouraging our missionaries to do their part to trust God through the suffering and challenges to be durable, have the stamina it takes for the long haul. Propempo helps senders, churches, and missionaries do what it takes to make longevity a reality, by God's grace and for His glory. Access the episode transcript page.

Praying in times of crisis comes naturally. Making prayer a priority in normal daily life does not. The most effective missionaries make prayer for the work in all its aspects a clear practice and priority. Studies show the most effective church planters commit 30 minutes per day to pray for the people and the work of the ministry. It is taught, modeled, encouraged, and commanded in Scripture. Why isn't the priority of prayer more evident in our missionaries and in our own churches? Prayer shows humility and dependence upon God; then, God gets all the glory for the results! Access the episode transcript page.

This series gives emphasis to the importance of the Bible in missions ministry in three of the keys to effectiveness. The first deals with basic Bible knowledge and the ability to know and find answers from the Bible. This one deals with applying the Bible to practical life, ministry, church, culture, and personal roles and issues on the field. The third will come soon, that is the priority to teaching the Bible as our primary sourcebook. The missionary needs to model and teach that the Bible is the highest authority to solve problems and conflicts as Christians, rather than tradition, cultural practices, external rules, social norms, popular trends, personalities, etc. Keeping the authority of Scripture will enable the indigenous church to grow strong and sustainable, even after the missionary leaves. Access the episode transcript page.