Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Part III: Getting Started and Getting It Done Process and Implementation David Mays

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church David Mays Director of Learning Initiatives for The Mission Exchange Ministry: Training, resources, and networking to help church and mission leaders Dream: A movement of churches centered on The Great Commission

PROCESS A. Guiding Principles B. Process Steps

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church A. Guiding Principles Key Leader Involvement Include Your Missionaries Prayer Consensus Research Proactive Continuity Open to Future Scrutiny

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Key Leader Involvement What may happen if key leaders are not involved? Who needs to be involved in developing the strategy? Whose input needs to be solicited or considered? What issues or problems do you anticipate? Are there prayer items here?

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Include Your Missionaries Let them know in advance. Update yourself on their vision, goals, strategies. Ask for their input. Consider how their ministry relates to your hopes. Reassure them.

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Prayer If we want God’s direction, we must ask for it. If we want wisdom, we must ask for it. If we want harmony, we must ask for it. If we want commitment, we must ask for it. How might you pray for this process? How might you help others pray? Prayer moves us beyond our small agendas to his big ones.

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Consensus When we listen, we learn. When we solicit broad input we have a better understanding of where we are beginning. The loudest voice may not make the best decision. When people are heard, they are more likely to commit to the end product. Decisions made by all are better than those made by one.

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Research What do we need to know? How do we learn what our leaders know and want? How will we get key information on needs and opportunities in the world? What will we do with what we learn? How will we research our current ministries?

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Proactive vs. Reactive How do we set direction and make decisions? Are we Request Driven? Relationship Driven? Purpose Driven? Involvement Driven? Excitement Driven?

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Continuity with Past Ministry How much continuation? How much change? Not a continuation but not a disconnection either. What common threads or themes do we see? What should be continued and what changed? What current ministries fit new realities? What ministries could be “tweaked” to fit? What should be “grandfathered?” Where do you expect disagreement? (prayer item?)

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Open to Future Scrutiny We do the best we can, with what we know, and God’s guidance, but realities change. Future leaders may be expected to review and revise what we do here.

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Discussion Key Leader Involvement Prayer Consensus Research Proactive Continuity Open to Future Scrutiny Which principles have we best incorporated? How is it working out? Which of these principles have most influence? Which principles do we need to elevate? Where do you anticipate disagreement?

The Key Question: What does God want to accomplish in the world through our church?

PROCESS B. Process Steps

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church B. Process Steps Establish the Strategy Team Set up a Meeting Schedule Survey your leaders Communicate with Congregation and Missionaries Analyze the Missions Ministry

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church B. Process Steps Research the major inputs. Write a purpose statement for the missions ministry Your key missions Scripture Supplemental missions Scriptures Your definition of missions How the missions ministry fulfills your church purpose statement

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church B. Process Steps Research the world and the church Agree on the major factors Establish priorities Establish categories and goals Draft the strategy document Get feedback and approvals Communicate broadly Implement over time!

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Grid for Priorities and Decisions Local same culture Local & U.S. cross-culture International Now % of $ # missionaries # partnerships 5 Year Goal % of $ # missionaries # partnerships

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Grid for Priorities and Decisions LocalU.S.Cross Cultural Now % of $3035 # missionaries 00 3 $/# projects55 5 Year Goal % of $ # missionaries006 $/# projects 3 2

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Grid for Priorities and Decisions U.S.InternationalUnreached Now % of $55405 # missionaries 05 0 $/# projects550 5 Year Goal % of $ # missionaries052 $/# projects 3 21

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Grid for Priorities and Decisions Local Evang Local Marcy Local/U.S. Ch plant GlobalUnreached Group Now % of $ # missionaries 5 Year Goal % of $ # missionaries

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church People like us nearby People unlike us nearby People far away Dollars (%)Now 3-yr People full time (#)Now 3-yr Volunteers (#)Now 3-yr Facility Use (%)Now 3-yr Staff full timeNow 3-yr Staff (volunteer hrs)Now 3-yr Calendar (# events)Now 3-yr

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Discussion Have we left out something important? What have you been doing best? Benefits? What do you see as Most urgent? Most difficult? Most likely to cause misunderstanding? Potential roadblock? Prayer Items?

IMPLEMENTATION A. Principles B. Steps

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church A. Implementation Principles Continuity Addition Attrition Saying ‘No’ Disassociation

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Discussion Continuity Addition Attrition Saying ‘No’ Disassociation What have you done well so far? What do you need to change? Where do you anticipate difficulties? Prayer items?

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church B. Implementation Steps Expand ministry in your priority areas. Find out how current missionaries relate to the strategy and help them contribute. Allow attrition in non-strategic areas. Use a grid or point system for decision making. Say “no.”

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church B. Implementation Steps Project budgets and personnel for coming year. Send mission trips to priority ministries. Educate the congregation. Raise up your own missionaries. Recruit and deploy congregation members.

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church B. Implementation Steps Establish Structure Recruit and Train Personnel Develop and Follow Policies Develop and Follow Procedures

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Strategy Diagram Strategy StructurePersonnelPoliciesProcedures

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Structure Organization Reporting Teams Subgroups Number

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Structure Possibilities One person Small group Large group Board, Committee or Team Sub Teams Steering Team Task Teams

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Missions Team Responsibilities  Organize team  Assist leaders  Learn about missions  Develop strategy  Set goals & plan  Develop policies  Generate prayer  Educate church  Orient new team  Develop budget  Coordinate projects  Care for missionaries  Promote missions  Raise funds  Handle finances  Do mission trips  Raise up missionaries  Involve congregation  Evaluate missions  Develop cross- cultural understanding 4

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Task Groups  Planning & Policy  Finances  Education  Promotion  Prayer  Mission Trips  Projects  Missionary Care  Recruitment  Training  World Region 10

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Personnel Qualities Skills Commitments Knowledge Job Descriptions Responsibilities

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Missions Pastor Job Description Internal External Administration People Orientation Communication

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Missions Pastor Tendencies Personal care for workers Counsel missionaries Go on mission trips Mentor candidates Organize mission trips Keep up with mission trends Develop strategy and goals Evaluate mission efforts abroad Oversee implementation Influence church leaders Build interest in individuals Mentor trip leaders Develop individual leaders Build a missions philosophy Organize missions committee Develop mobilization strategies Develop a missions education Develop candidate training Relational Field Focused Administrative Church Focused

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Missions Pastor Qualities Personal Qualities Experience

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Qualities Spiritual maturity Concern for lost Active in church Missions savvy Leadership Cooperative Strategic Thinker Learner Flexible Follow through Communicator Creativity Administrator Time 6

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Missions Pastor Job Description See Handout Which responsibilities are most important for your church?

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Who do we want on our team? Qualities Skills Expertise 6

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Qualities Spiritual maturity Concern for lost Active in church Missions savvy Leadership Cooperative Strategic Thinker Learner Flexible Follow through Communicator Creativity Administrator Time 6

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Indispensable Qualities Leader – rallies & directs the troops Doers – do the work Administrator – keeps it all together Influencer – persuades & recruits Learner – builds knowledge 6

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Policies Criteria Guidelines Finances Approvals Resource: Church Missions Policy Handbook

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Procedures Operation Meetings Responsibility Assignments Orientation Processes

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church B. Implementation Steps Next Steps for Your Church Prayer Items

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Resources Building Global Vision, David Mays Operation World Exploring World Mission Stuff CD

This is the most rapidly changing and creative and productive time in the history of the world missionary movement. Paul Pierson

We are poised on the brink of the realization of Carey’s dream - the completion of world evangelization. Patrick Johnstone

For the first time ever, it is possible that the Great Commission could be fulfilled in our lifetime and Jesus come back. Ralph Winter

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church