1. Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church
Handouts:
HO-Strategy Template v. 1.2
HO-missions verses 09-11
Take:
Affiliate Flyer
Exchange magazines
CDs to show
MAP, Building Global Vision,
Whiteboard pens
Set Up:
Part I: Laying the Foundation
David Mays

2. David Mays www.DavidMays.org
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

3. The Mission Exchange
Helping church and mission leaders through mutual learning and cooperation
Webinars
Book Summaries
Learning experiences

4. Definition of Strategy
an intentional plan developed and implemented by a local church that seeks to maximize its impact on the world [external]
as every member of the congregation moves toward becoming world Christians” [internal]
We are dealing only with the FIRST bullet point today!
Every church has a strategy: either written or in someone’s head.
If you were to explain your church’s actual strategy, what would you say your ‘strategy’ is?
On what basis do missions selection/support/involvement decisions generally get decided?
How would you say your strategy has evolved, where is it stored, and how is it used?
Are you enjoying particular benefits from the strategy you have?
Are you experiencing any difficulties as a result of inadequate strategy?

5. Your strategy is your roadmap.
It describes how you will get somewhere or accomplish something.
Strategy assumes a goal, an object, something to be accomplished.
For a roadmap to be any use you must
Have a destination and
Know your location!
Use the Missions Assessment Profile (MAP) – to determine your overall location in missions.
Use a “grid” (to be introduced later) to determine your position with regard to deployment of resources.
A Strategy is a HOW document.
But to answer the HOW, you have to know the WHAT!
The WHAT is the KEY QUESTION!!

6. What does God want to accomplish in the world through our church?
The Key Question:
3 parts:
What GOD wants (vs. some particular agenda of mine)
What does God want done IN THE WORLD?
What part belongs to OUR CHURCH?
To know God’s will for my life, I must understand God’s Will.
To know God’s will for our church’s missions ministry, know God’s Will.
What does God want to accomplish in the world through our church?

7. God wants to accomplish through us...
The Key Question
Scripture
The Goal
Our Church
Our Role
Purpose
Our Commitment
Our World
Opportunities
Appendix: Key Question Diagram. Also More Stuff p. 16 |
STRATEGIES
| ________________________________________________
| | | |
STRUCTURES PERSONNEL POLICIES PROCEDURES
This is how the various components fit together to answer the Key Question.
Below Key Question comes Strategies, then Structures, Policies & Procedures
We are going to study the CONTENT of a strategy, the PROCESS of putting together a strategy and the IMPLEMENTATION or carrying out the strategy.
Most time on the CONTENT.
Key Question
God wants to accomplish through us...

8. What shapes your missions* ministry?
Crisis
Denomination
Excitement
Leader
Participation
Purpose
Relationship
Requests
Trips
Vision
*Note: Throughout this process we use the term “missions.” Missional churches prefer the term “mission,” and usually define “mission” somewhat broader than “missions.” Simply interpolate for your context. In some places we have given examples for both.

9. For Discussion
What are the benefits of your current mode of operation?
What benefits do you expect from a strategy?
As you understand it now, what do you think God wants to accomplish in the world through your church?
What do you hope will happen as a result of this consultation?

10. A. Primary Inputs B. Secondary Inputs
I. CONTENT
We will discuss (diagram on slide 9)
4 major INPUTS or FOUNDATIONS for discovering what GOD WANTS DONE in the world, and
8 major FACTORS for deciding how God wants OUR CHURCH to channel its energies
A. Primary Inputs
B. Secondary Inputs

11. Strategy Content A. Primary Inputs B. Secondary Inputs
Scripture - Goal
Missions - Scope
Church - Purpose
The World - Challenges
B. Secondary Inputs
Audiences
Ministry Tasks
Balance
Focus
History
Relationships
Our Roles
Partnerships
Participation
A. Four Major Inputs for understanding what God wants to accomplish through us.
To understand, in general, what we should do, we need to understand
What God has told us in the Scripture – Nonnegotiable, Fundamental
What our church sees as its Purpose - Nonnegotiable
What the World needs Very Important
Our Church - How God has put us together - Important
B. Key Factors in selecting priorities or areas of focus
These questions are answered within the framework of the Major Inputs.
The answers will further help guide our efforts and keep us moving forward toward the goal vs. muddling around….

12. Missions Strategy Template
Foundation
Biblical Basis – Scriptures & Goals
Missions – Definition & Scope
Purpose – Church & Missions
Major World Challenges
Priorities
Goals

13. 1. Scripture
What Scriptures do you think should guide your church missions ministry?
Read through the handout list.
Add additional Scriptures that should be on the list.
What ones should we add?
Mark your top five on the list.
Genesis 12:2-3
And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
1 Chronicles 16:23-24.
Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Isaiah 49:6b
... I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden...
John 3: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 10:10
I have come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.
Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?"

14. Scope Select a missions verse for your group.
Does this verse indicate the scope of God’s purpose (who all it includes)?
Example:
Isaiah 49:6b. …I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.
Scope:
The ends of the earth. Or all the earth.

15. Outcomes What happens as a result of missions?
Does your Scripture suggest an outcome or result?
Example:
Isaiah 49:6b. …I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.
Result:
People receive God’s salvation.

16. Commands Does your Scripture give us a command? Example:
Isaiah 49:6b. …I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.
Command:
Be a light (witness) to the Gentiles (nations).

17. Biblical Foundation Statement
Repeat this process for all Scriptures selected.
Based on what you learned from these Scriptures, write a sentence that has three parts:
We are commanded to …. (do what)
In order to …. (accomplish what)
In... (where or among whom)

18. The Big Goal
In your group, discuss and write down the Big Goal of missions (what God desires to accomplish through His Church).
The goal of missions is…

19. Strategy Template Biblical Basis Scriptures (written out)
We believe these Scriptures
Call us to… (do what)
In order to… (accomplish what)
In… (where or among whom)

20. 2. Missions - Scope
Not everything the church is called to do is missions.
Missions is differentiated from church ministry.
What is missions?
Define missions for your church.
Determine the boundaries – what it includes and what it excludes.
Missions is something specific. It has a meaning and a definition.
A missionary is one SENT on a mission. Why SENT? It needs to be done. We can’t do it (under normal circumstances) because of barriers – distance, culture, specialization
Not for ourselves and generally not for Christians
Not what WE can do in our normal Christian life (otherwise, WE should do it).
How does missions differ from evangelism? Is missions different from social help?
“Any activity in which Christians are involved for world evangelization.” Johnstone, Church is Bigger, p. 12
It is done “outside” the church. Not for church people.
It is across barriers, i.e. cross-cultural Why is this important?
A missionary is a “professional.” To say you are either a missionary or a mission field is to say that you are either a patient or a doctor! Or you are a student or a professor! It takes training, understanding, perseverance, and experience. 2 weeks in Panama doesn’t make you a missionary!
A “missionary” is a Christian SENT OUT with a mission. (Johnstone p. 50) the “growing edge” of the church.
Evangelism is the church growing where it is. Missions is the church going where it isn’t.
Missions is sending others to do what the congregation can’t do for spiritual purposes.
Why is it important to define missions?
For most of us missions is very broad. Then how do we make progress toward the goal?
Everyone and everything is in your budget. Missions becomes everything the church does.
Missions becomes “good deeds” or “miscellaneous” and loses priority.
If we pay others to do what we can do, we limit what the church can accomplish.
If we’re fuzzy about what missions is, we do the demanding & ‘hot buttons’ rather than the difficult & impt.
Church work gets called missions and the hard and far away work of extending the church to the unreached gets neglected. We fail to finish the task!
If everything is missions, then nothing is missions.
Why is E-2 and E-3 evangelism (missions) important?
7. By far most of the world’s non-Christians require E-2 and E-3

21. Missions Definition
Based on what we have observed so far, in your group, discuss and write down a definition of missions.
Missions is …

22. Missions Definition Review the definitions of missions in the handout.
In your group, select one you like.
Explain why you like it.
“Missions is the worldwide enterprise of making disciples of the nations that falls outside the normal outreach responsibilities of the local church.” Church Missions Policy Handbook, ACMC, 3rd edition
“Any cross-cultural endeavor outside of your local congregation to obey the Great Commission by proclaiming the gospel of Christ, making disciples and gathering those disciples into local churches.” Generic EFCA
“The sending out of specially equipped disciple-makers who cross barriers of distance, culture and language in order to establish and strengthen the church in places beyond the normal sphere of influence of our members.” Generic ACMC
Missions at College Church shall be defined as ministry which fulfills the Great Commission by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ cross-culturally through evangelism, discipleship, Bible translation, church planting and church leadership development, giving priority to the least reached.  We recognize the importance of meeting physical and educational needs when this serves the growth of the gospel. College Church, Wheaton, Bruce Wilson, September 11, 2007
“World Missions at Briarwood Presbyterian Church (BPC) shall be defined as any ministry aimed outside the Continental United States or a cross cultural ministry within the Continental United States, the purpose of which is to fulfill the great commission by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism, discipling, church planting, church development, and training/equipping of Christian leadership. We recognize the importance of meeting physical needs while carrying on any of these ministries, in accordance with Christ's great commandment.” Briarwood Presbyterian, Birmingham AL
“Missions are any endeavor aimed toward the goal of reaching beyond the needs of the local congregation for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission - by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples and relating to the whole need of mankind, both spiritual and physical.” The Chapel, Akron OH
“East Lansing Trinity church affirms the definition of missions as any endeavor outside its local congregation to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, making disciples and relating to the whole need or mankind--spiritual and physical.” East Lansing Trinity Church, East Lansing, MI
"The sending out and supporting of equipped disciple-makers who cross barriers of distance, culture and language in order to establish and strengthen the church in places beyond the normal sphere of influence of our members, both within and outside the USA." Northwest Bible Church, Dallas, TX
“To present the Lordship of Christ to the world through His power by means of any ministry extending beyond the congregation and the church facilities. This will cover a wide range of missionary activity, including evangelization, discipling, planting churches and aiding in their growth and development (both overseas and in the United States).” Southills Christian Church, San Jose CA

23. Missions* Definition Write a selected definition here:
*Missional churches usually define “mission” somewhat broader than “missions.”

24. One Definition Review the Missions Boundaries list.
Check any items that this definition requires.
Put an X next to items that this definition excludes.
Which of the following does your definition of missions include? Exclude?
Ministries inside the U.S., e.g. ministry to ethnic communities in your city
Relief, development, & support ministries, e.g. emergency disaster relief or missionary aviation
Administration and support, e.g. home office staff, secretaries
Missionaries other than those you already know
Projects and organizations as well as missionaries
Same culture ministry, e.g. ministry to college students, seminaries, retirement homes, chaplain to professional sports
Social ministry overseas in support of evangelism and church planting, e.g. medical or hospital or education
Social ministry in your own community, e.g. Habitat, food pantries, crisis pregnancy center,
Ministries to Christians in the U.S., e.g. marriage or financial counseling ministries, Christian elementary schools,
Support of national missionaries, churches, and mission organizations
Mission trips
Ministry work done by members of the congregation in your own community
Ministry by your congregation on your premises, e.g. outreach events

25. Boundaries Relief & development ministries outside the U.S.
Support ministries outside the U.S. (e.g. aviation)
Social ministries in support of evangelism (e.g. hospital or education)
Support ministries inside the U.S. (e.g. home office staff)
Missionaries other than those you already know
Projects and organizations (as well as missionaries)
Cross-cultural ministries in the U.S. (e.g. ethnic communities)
Same culture ministries in the U.S. (e.g. college ministries)
Social ministry in your own community (e.g. Habitat, food pantries)
Ministries to Christians in the U.S. (e.g. marriage or financial counseling)
Support of national missionaries, churches, or organizations
Mission trips
Ministry done by members of your congregation in your community
Ministry by your congregation on your premises
More Stuff p. 11
Stuff IV p. 9
How narrow or how broad is missions in your church?
Missions is not a biblical word. You get to decide.
VOTE ON EACH OF THE ABOVE
Will your team agree on these boundaries? Why not?
If it is too broad, everything falls in and the most difficult and desperate parts don’t get done.
If it is too narrow, there is much hassling over it and important support work may be omitted.
Being too broad is more frequent, and it results in dilution of efforts to finish the task.
Another way to handle is to assign percentages. Later.

26. My definition of missions
Sending (or being sent as)
Equipped and trained workers
Across boundaries of distance, language, culture
For spiritual purposes
And supporting the above
“Missions is sending trained and equipped workers across barriers or boundaries for spiritual purposes.”
We send someone to do something because it is important and because we can’t do it ourselves.
Missionaries are trained professionals. Untrained people may be helpers or visitors, etc.
The barriers – language, culture, distance, etc. – are what prevent us from doing it.
The ultimate goal is spiritual. All efforts in some way contribute to getting people to heaven.
Missions at College Church shall be defined as ministry which fulfills the Great Commission by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ cross-culturally through evangelism, discipleship, Bible translation, church planting and church leadership development, giving priority to the least reached.  We recognize the importance of meeting physical and educational needs when this serves the growth of the gospel.

27. Strategy Template Missions Definition of Missions:
Scope and Boundaries of Missions:
Includes, for example, …
Excludes, for example, …

28. 3. Your Missions Purpose Statement
Inputs:
Missions Scriptures
Your Definition of Missions
Your Church Purpose Statement

29. Church Purpose What is your church purpose statement?
Your church purpose statement tells what your church is committed to accomplish.
Every ministry must contribute to the purpose.
What is your church’s Purpose Statement? Can you recite it?
Does it require, allow, or prohibit missions?
Write a brief Purpose Statement for your Missions Ministry.
The Purpose Statement will be connected to your church purpose statement, looking as similar as possible and using, perhaps, many of the same words.
It will show clearly that missions helps fulfills your church’s purpose.
It will distinguish missions from other ministries in or by the church.
e.g. Connecting People to Christ
Connecting People to Christ Worldwide
Real example:
The purpose of Crossroads Community Church is to develop fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, who will reach, serve and build into others' lives for the glory of God.
…Cross-Culturally or …Beyond Barriers

30. Church Purpose Statement
Does your purpose statement
Require cross-cultural or global missions?
Allow cross-cultural or global missions?

31. Church Purpose Statement
Write a church purpose statement here.
_______________________________
Write a missions purpose statement based on this church purpose statement. What would you write?
_________________________________

32. Missions Purpose Example
Church Purpose Statement:
Our church exists to make fully devoted followers of Christ.
Missions Purpose Statements:
A. The missions ministry exists to make fully devoted followers of Christ worldwide.
B. The missions ministry exists to make fully devoted followers of Christ in other cultures.

33. Missions Purpose Example
Church Purpose Statement:
Love God; Grow Together; Reach the World.
Missions Purpose Statement:
The purpose of the missions team is to help church leaders reach the world.

34. Missions Purpose Example
Goal of Missions:
To preach, serve, love, and make disciples of Christ in all nations of the earth.
Missions Purpose Statement:
To assist our church leaders in fulfilling our church’s role to preach, serve, love, and make disciples of Christ in all nations of the earth.

35. Strategy Template Purpose Church Purpose (or Mission) Statement
Missions Purpose (or Mission) Statement

36. 4. The World - Challenges In relation to the Goal
Who is not being reached?
What is not being done?
What has been neglected?
Where are the greatest barriers?
What has most leverage?
Where are the greatest opportunities?
Deciding what is strategic for your church in missions is premised on knowing what is CRITICAL to be done and what is NOT being done.
Of course, a great many things are needed, but what is Critical? Neglected? Strategic?
A BIG QUESTION: What prevents the Gospel from being available to all?
If Jesus died to make salvation possible for all,
What are we doing, or not doing, to make it available for all?
Most churches are energetically doing missions with very little knowledge of what is strategic! It is important to be faithful. It is also important to be responsible.
The next several slides help us see some of the kinds of things that help us know WHERE ministry most needs to be done.
EXPLORING WORLD MISSION, book and CD, Bryant Myers, World Vision Resources

37. Research Question
What are some of the most critical things needed to reach the Big Goal?
My answers:

38. Big Challenges Muslim World Unreached Peoples
Creative Access Countries
Asia
Poor and Oppressed
Cities
Children and Youth
Partnering c Nonwesterners
Diseases and Disasters
Persecution & Fanaticism
Pluralism, Materialism & Nominalism
Mobilizing the Church
How can this kind of information shape our missions ministry?
This information helps shape the missions ministry.

39. Sources for Research Operation World Exploring World Mission
Missions in the Third Millennium
Mission Frontiers
Reference: Building Global Vision, pp
What other sources have you found helpful?
Perspectives Course
Assignment: Work through pages of Building Global Vision

40. Strategy Template Major World Challenges
Summary statement of major obstacles, barriers, and opportunities to The Goal that are most significant to us

41. What does God want to accomplish in the world through our church?
The Key Question:
To know God’s will for my life, I must understand God’s Will.
To know God’s will for our church’s missions ministry, know God’s Will.
In what we’ve done so far, what do you think YOU have learned about what God wants to do through your church?
What would you like to ADD to what we’ve said?
Can you see more clearly some things that He is doing already through your missions ministry?
What does God want to accomplish in the world through our church?

42. Discussion A. Major Inputs
Scripture - Goal
Missions - Scope
Church Purpose
The World - Challenges
Do our leaders agree on our Scriptural mandate?
Do we agree on missions?
Does our church purpose statement clearly call for missions?
Have any of these been missing in our thinking?
Which needs most work?
Major Inputs for understanding what God wants to accomplish through us.
Key Factors in selecting priorities for focus.

43. Discussion A. Major Inputs How well do we know our world?
Scripture - Goal
Missions - Scope
Church - Purpose
The World - Challenges
How well do we know our world?
What do we most need to learn?
Who has helpful input?
Would it help to survey?
Who will research?
Where do we expect conflict?
Prayer items?
Major Inputs for understanding what God wants to accomplish through us.
Key Factors in selecting priorities for focus.