As the New Missions Leadership Team (MLT) looks ahead, we desire that the entire
church would become more aware of who our Missionaries are, where and what, and
how they are getting along. We need to be in touch with, in prayer with, and in
partner with, our Missionaries as they strive to fulfill the Great Commission of
Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20).
With help from the new members on the Missions Leadership Team, we are reorganizing
our correspondence and information from the Missionaries so that it can be forwarded
to you, the church, in a more accessible manner. (Many now have e-mail and can be
reached quickly and frequently). We want to increase accessibility to their needs
and prayer requests, so that you will feel motivated to support those who have been
sent to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15
We need to make you aware of the wonders of what the Lord is doing in them and through
them so that many of you may be called to go and tell of his wondrous ways.
FAQ
- Who is the Missions Leadership Team?
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The members of the Missions Leadership Team are people who have an interest in missions,
volunteer to serve on the Team, and are accepted by the Team. The Team members administer
the Missions Budget, which is a separate budget from the Church’s General Fund,
and is funded directly with money given by the congregation. The Missions Leadership
Team meets on the second Thursday every month in the Counseling Room at 6:00 p.m.
to discuss the missions program, and the current circumstances surrounding the missionaries
and ministries we support.
- Who chooses the members of the Missions Leadership Team?
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The Missions Leadership Team evaluates and accepts people who volunteer to serve
on the Team based on their understanding of missions, and their desire to serve.
- How do I find out who we support?
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Ask anyone on the Missions Leadership Team, visit the Missions table in the Foyer
of the Sanctuary, or visit the Church’s Web Site.
- How do we choose a missionary to support?
-
The Missions Leadership Team prepared a Strategy for Missions which the Elder Board
approved in November 2003. The Strategy for Missions established the following four
priorities and goals. The Missions Leadership Team will strive to establish and
maintain a distribution of financial commitments that reflects the following priorities
and percentages of allocations. This will be implemented when an increase in giving
occurs, or when an existing missionary or organization that we support either retires
or the existing support commitment is dropped;
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Church Planting
Our first priority is to support missionaries that are planting churches. The Bible
gives us a clear example in the life of Paul as he plants churches, and stays to
insure their sustainability.
Our first goal is to have approximately 40% of the total Missions Budget supporting
full time missionaries on the field planting churches.
-
Church Strengthening
Our second priority is to support missionaries and organizations that train national
pastors and church leaders so that the local church, and the local church planting
efforts, can be sustained.
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Leadership Training of Nationals
This priority includes continued support of the missionaries and organizations that
train nationals, and sending CBC seminary trained pastors to participate in these
training programs.
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Short Term Mission Teams
This priority includes continued support of our short term mission teams that provide
an additional opportunity for our Church family to participate in supporting our
missionaries and sustaining the body of local believers. Short term mission teams
are self funded and do not require additional support from the General Fund or Missions
Budget.
Our second goal is to have approximately 30% on the total Missions Budget supporting
missionaries and organizations that are training new missionaries, pastors, and
church leaders.
-
Evangelical Ministries
Our third priority is to support missionaries and organizations that have an evangelical
ministry caring for the needy. Examples of this would include Hope Again, Avenues,
Friends of Israel, and Awana.
Our third goal is to have approximately 20% of the Budget supporting missionaries
and para-church organizations that have a strong evangelical ministry caring for
the needy.
-
Support Ministries
Our fourth priority is to support missionaries and organizations that provide the
materials and services required by the missionaries that are planting churches,
and the missionaries and organizations that are training new missionaries, pastors,
and church leaders. This would include such ministries as Mission Aviation Fellowship,
Wycliffe, and Gospel Recordings.
Our fourth goal is to have approximately 10% of the total Missions Budget supporting
missionaries and organizations that provide the materials and services required
by missionaries planting churches and training leaders.
- Do I have to be on the Missions Leadership Team to have active involvement with
the missionaries or ministries we support?
-
Everyone in the congregation is encouraged to personally communicate directly with
our missionaries, and can get their contact information from any member of the Missions
Leadership Team, or from the Church Office. The Team also welcomes any updates received
from any of our missionaries, and encourages everyone in our congregation to share
the information they receive so we can pray for specific needs and blessing our
missionaries have. We also have opportunities to be involved in short term missions
teams, and the annual Missions Conference, and welcome everyone’s participation
in these events.
- Where does the Missions Leadership Team get the money to support the missionaries?
-
The missionaries and other ministries that are supported by Calvary Bible Church
are funded through direct giving to the Missions Budget, and do not receive any
funding through the General Fund.
- Why do we have a separate budget for missions?
-
We have a separate Missions Budget to insure that every person in our congregation
can give directly to missions as they feel led to do so. The Missions Budget, and
the entire missions program at Calvary Bible Church, is therefore solely dependent
on the free will giving of each person in our congregation. The Missions Leadership
Team is comprised of people who have a passion for missions, and they are responsible
for maintaining congregational awareness of the missions program, the missionaries
we support, their ministries, and their personal needs. The Missions Leadership
Team is also given complete responsibility for administration of the Missions Budget.
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