CHURCH MISSIONS PLANNING Building a Missions Strategy in

CHURCH MISSIONS PLANNING Building a Missions Strategy in the Local Congregation

DEVELOPING A PLAN Developmental Design for Churches in Missions Preparation Ministry Experience Survey Mission Point Ministry Improvement Strategy Developed Ministry Implemented Select Mission Point Vision Research Mission Point Internalizing God’s Mission Evaluation

DEVELOPING A PLAN: INTERNALIZING GOD’S MISSION On-going prayer for the church to represent God’s mission in the world � Preaching and studying of God’s mission � Teaching on Christians’ role in God’s mission in Sunday School � Motivating Christians to see the harvest � Committing to doing missions �

DEVELOPING A PLAN: DEVELOPING A MISSION VISION � Organize a missions committee/interest group � Have a good missions resource person, someone experienced in missions � Develop a mission statement � � � Biblical understanding of missions Church’s role & responsibility Methodological constraints Missions goal Missionaries qualifications � Purpose a missions budget � Select personnel for mission work � Special mission emphasis day

DEVELOPING A PLAN: RESEARCH A MISSION POINT � Consider receptivity of an area � Look at areas church members already have interest � Input from experienced missionaries � Read missions books � Interview missionaries from near area � Select a number of possible mission points

DEVELOPING A PLAN: SURVEY A MISSION POINT � Decide on a group who will make the survey trip with perspective missionaries � Have a list of criteria for evaluating the missions point � Have a missionary familiar with the area accompany the group � Survey trip conducted � Evaluate survey trip prayerfully and make decision

DEVELOPING A PLAN: SELECT A MISSION POINT � Pray for guidance & wisdom � Consider level of unreached of mission point � Remember receptivity � Consider missionaries talents & gifts � List advantages & disadvantages � Consider logistics � Consider cost & support

DEVELOPING A PLAN: STRATEGY DEVELOPED #1 � Missionaries & missions group develop missions strategy � Short range objectives � Long range goal � Pre-field planning � Strategy implementation � Transitions � Furloughs

DEVELOPING A PLAN: STRATEGY DEVELOPED #2 � Revisable written strategy � Evaluation process � Decision making process � Conflict resolution process � Leadership style

DEVELOPING A PLAN: STRATEGY IMPLEMENTED � Institute strategy � Regular strategy & planning meetings � Be prepared for implementing changes � Understand the process of the changing role of the missionary (see chart) � Understand the maturation process of the Christians, leaders, and churches � Plan to integrate church leaders in the planning process

DEVELOPING A PLAN: EVALUATION OF MINISTRY � Reflect on whether goal is being met � Do a church growth study � Evaluate each ministry and its objective � Discuss ways to improve the ministry � Honestly look at areas that are not working well � List changes to institute � Plan how to institute changes

DEVELOPING A PLAN: MINISTRY IMPROVEMENT � Institute planned changes � Appoint people to oversee the changes in each ministry � Note areas of improvement � Note problem areas

MISSIONS PLANNING MODEL Define The Mission Evaluate The Mission Describe The People Describe The Force For Evangelism Act PRAYER Examine Means and Methods Make Plans Decide Our Role Define An Approach Anticipate Outcomes Adapted from Dayton, Edward R. and David A. Fraser, 1980, Planning Strategies for World Evangelization