1. Introduction to World Missions
Planning & Strategies
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2. Three Disciplines of Missiology
Strategy
Variable
Communication
Method
Acts 17:23-31
Social Science
Cultural Environment
Variable
Medium
Acts 17:16-22
Theology
God’s Revealed Will
Non-variable
Message
Acts 4:12
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3. Three Disciplines of Missiology
Evangelism
Church Growth
Strategy
Method
Social Science
Anthropology
Sociology
Psychology
Medium
Theology
Message
Motivation
Ministries
Message
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4. Strategies and Missions
Definition Strategy is the practical working out of the will of God within various cultural contexts.
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5. Strategies and Missions
Essential Elements
God’s message
Strategy under God’s guidance
God’s goal, not our own
Biblical examples of strategy
Titus
Moses (Ex. 18:13-26) – Judgment
Paul
Prov. 16:9; 13:16
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6. Strategies and Missions
Need for Strategy
Praying and searching for God’s will and guidance is not a denial of God’s sovereignty but an acceptance that God works through faithful servants.
God had a redemptive plan for the world which Christ fulfilled (Jn. 17:1f)
Paul had a strategy
Great commission calls for plans
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7. Strategies and Missions
Problems with Lack of Strategy
Tend to wait for some sign from God when he has already told us what to do, God will direct in the how.
God has said He would be with us to the “end of the age.”
Stagnation in reaching people will set in.
We have been made God’s ambassadors.
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8. Strategies and Missions
Principles for Mission Strategies
Proclaim with love
Teach to love God
Teach to love neighbor
Christ as the center of the message
Salvation only in Christ
Plant churches
Live according to God’s will
Dust feet off if refused
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9. Strategies and Missions
Single Strategies
These strategies assume one approach can be used in every context of the world
Strengths
Reach a lot of people quickly
Primarily promotes awareness
Relative low cost
Weaknesses
Personalized application not possible
A particular method may not fit certain culture
Awareness does not usually lead to conversion
Often no follow-up
Does not plant churches
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10. Strategies and Missions
Non-discipling Strategies
These strategies emphasize the role of God in missions and assumes that human planning negates God's role.
Strengths
Dependence on God
Weaknesses
Takes away our responsibility as servants
Negates planning
Negates training
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11. Strategies and Missions
Initiating Strategies
These strategies focus on the beginning rather than the outcomes; plan to begin the work and God will do the rest).
Strengths
Can create a beach head for longer term work
Generates excitement in churches for an area
Weaknesses
Quick conversion give rise to high reversion rate
Follow-up is not done or done poorly
Nurturing not usually done
Can cause people to be disillusioned with Christianity
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12. Strategies and Missions
Contextual Strategies
These strategies hold that cultures and situations are different and each one requires its own special strategy.
Strengths
Emphasizes both conversion and nurturing
Takes into consideration the cultural differences
Allows for changing of strategies
Requires language and culture study
Weaknesses
Time consuming
May limit some from participating
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13. Strategies & Planting Churches
Definition: initiating reproductive fellowships who reflect the kingdom of God in the world.
Reflect the kingdom of God in the world (vertical)
Body of fellowship = community (horizontal)
Reproductive
Initiating - just the beginning of the process
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14. Strategies & Planting Churches
Guidelines for Planting new churches
Planters must see their work as a spiritual activity.
Have a vision of what God's church should look like in that culture.
Church planters communicate in a relevant manner to the culture.
Church planter should be developing and fine-tuning outreach and mission strategy.
Pay attention to web-lines.
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15. Strategies & Planting Churches
Nurturing Churches
Definition: building up the body of Christ so that each part of the body contributes its gifts and talents to the whole.
Guidelines for effective nurturing
Must be done in a loving, caring community of believers.
Nurturing leads new Christians to visualize specifically what God desires them to become.
Withstand Satan and problems of new Christians
Nurturing must be passed on
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16. Strategies & Planting Churches
Nurturing Churches
Nurturing involves modeling the Christian disciplines.
Ministries involvement
Prayer
Fellowship/Community
Worship
Bible Study
Meditation
Spiritual encouragement
Benevolence
Hospitality
Outreach
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17. Strategies & Planting Churches
Stages of Church Maturation
Evangelism Point
Initial church
Developing Church
Independent church
Mature church
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18. Strategies & Planting Churches
Stages of Church Maturation
Evangelism Point – locating a community, making contacts, and sharing the gospel
Sharer of the gospel
Community participant
Evangelism and first contacts
Initial church – forming a body of believers
Church planter and primary evangelist
Discipling new Christians
Basic Bible teaching
Developing the body of believers
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19. Strategies & Planting Churches
Stages of Church Maturation
Developing Church - building the body
Church planter is one who fosters the maturing of the church
Helps in finding gifts and talents
Leaders emerge - not appointed by outsiders
Balance time - too long dependent on missionary, too short not taught effectively
Begin leadership training
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20. Strategies & Planting Churches
Stages of Church Maturation
Independent church - local leadership takes responsibilities and roles
Church planter is a co-worker with leaders
Continue leadership training
Leaders responsible for guiding the church
Active body life and participation in ministries
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21. Strategies & Planting Churches
Stages of Church Maturation
Mature church - has officially selected leaders and can take care of self and problems
Church planter is a guest
Church has strong selected leadership
Leaders are capable of solving church problems
Active ministries and outreach
Planting other churches
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22. Mission Planning Model
Broad Process
Define the mission in terms of need
Plan the mission
Implement the mission
Evaluate the mission
Re-envision the mission direction and needs
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23. Mission Planning Model
Define
The
Mission
Describe
People
The Force For
Evangelism
Examine
Means and
Methods
An Approach
Anticipate
Outcomes
Decide
Our Role
Make
Plans
Act
Evaluate
PRAYER
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Adapted from Dayton, Edward R. and David A. Fraser, 1980, Planning Strategies for World Evangelization