Starting and Growing an MCF AMCF Pan-African Conference Abuja, 2018

Briefing Overview Seek God’s will and agenda Support what God is doing through others Join or build a team Grow and Serve Engage with the PSOs Use available resources

Seek God's Will & Agenda Even Jesus said, "I do nothing on my own initiative." (John 8:28) Maintain your personal spiritual disciplines so as to be salt and light in your location "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abide in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me [Jesus]." (John 15:4) Maintain professional excellence and a faithful witness. Pray for a prayer partner with a kindred spirit. "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them." (Matthew 19-20)

Support What God is Doing Through Others at Your Location "Where I am my servant also will be." (John 12:26) Get to know the chaplains (if any) and support their programs Find out what other ministries are present (on base or local). Pray for and with their leaders and cooperate with one another. Jesus prayed, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me...." (John 17:22-23)

Support What God is Doing through Others Are there other military bases nearby? Do they have an MCF? If so, pray for and cooperate with one another. If not, pray for one to get established. Get prayer support, mentoring, and encouragement from PSO regional staff (see accts.org/our_team, https://www.mmi.org.uk/regions/) Avail yourself of other ministry resources at the PSO and AMCF websites (accts.org, https://www.mmi.org.uk/, mso.or.kr, http://www.amcf-int.org/ ) Invite your fellowship to attend Regional conferences to expand their vision.

Join or Build a Team “Pray, Discover & Obey” regularly with your prayer partner(s) http://www.ocfusa.org/2009/11/pray-discover-obey/#.WJUONBsrJPY or “Pray & Plan” in AMCF Handbook Start a Bible study/fellowship/prayer group (even if it's just the two of you at first) If practical, offer co-workers the  opportunity to come to IBS at board, chapel bulletin, base paper, etc.) Divide the fellowship (at least the Bible study time) when you have more than about 8-10 regular participants.

Join or Build a Team (2) Share responsibilities and train other leaders. Joshua learned from Moses Paul trained Timothy: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Grow and Serve Emphasize the weekly Bible Study Initiate cooperative efforts with other military & local ministries weekend retreats service & outreach activities Enjoy military-oriented Christian courses & seminars: leadership, marriage & family, discipleship, evangelism Use deployments & travel for fellowship with believers & MCFs, and for outreach Develop shared vision with believing classmates on military courses

Engage with the PSOs Train & inspire young leaders with PSO events Interaction-Rocky Mountain High (USA/ACCTS) Table Mountain Top Interaction (RSA/MMI) Sailing & Adventure Retreats (Europe/MMI) Use PSO programs to build MCF credibility American English classes have been given to the Mongolian General Staff, Hungarian Border Guards, children of Ukraine & Moldova military Staff encouragement visits often include office calls on senior military leaders Mauritius, Madagascar, USA, Dominican Republic

Use available resources This briefing has covered starting and beginning to grow an MCF. Larger MCFs may need to think more about their Identity, Beliefs, Administration and Governance. Those issues, and this briefing, are well covered in the AMCF Handbook: Download it at http://www.amcf-int.org/resources.html Click Chapter 2 in the Table of Contents

Recap: Starting and Growing an MCF Seek God’s will and agenda Support what God is doing through others Join or build a team Grow and Serve Engage with the PSOs Use available resources

Questions? 12/28/2018