Re-Thinking Missions

 VISION – New Missions EmphasisSTRENGTH – Mature & Healthy ULBCPARTNERSHIP – More Significant RelationshipsGOAL – Growth of ULBC & Growth of Missions 4 Point Strategy

  Mission Statement  ULBC’s God-glorifying and joy-producing mission is to know Jesus and make Him known.  New Vision for ULBC Mission Partnerships  We desire to form significant partnerships with missionaries whose goal is to penetrate unreached people with the gospel, plant indigenous churches and mobilize its people for Great Commission work themselves. VISION – New Missions Emphasis

  Community Outreach  Community Picnic  Other Outreach Events  Leadership Development  Training Resources & Events  Overall Mentoring & Training Elders  Addition to Pastoral Staff  Move toward 2 nd Full-Time Pastor  Significant Maintenance Needs to Church  Exterior Brick  Lighting  Windows  Parking Lot  Carpeting STRENGTH – Mature & Healthy ULBC

  Spiritual Partnership  Emphasis in Worship Services  Deliberate Church-wide Prayer  Encouragement  Communication & Counsel  Training & Resources  Physical Partnership  Goal of Significant Support Levels  Regularly Visiting Fields  Meeting Occasional Needs  Accountability  Expectation of Frequent Reporting  Regular Evaluation of Ministry Progress PARTNERSHIP – More Significant Relationships

  Growth of ULBC  Increased maturity, depth and effectiveness of local ministry  Increased desire to be personally involved in missions  Lord willing, increased financial & human resources  Growth of Missions  Partnership with growing number of ULBC members involved  Sending of ULBC Church-Planters to the Mission Field  Support Level & Number of Missionaries to increase in proportion to ULBC Growth GOAL – Growth of ULBC & Missions

  Responsibility often requires tough decisions  Evaluation of people’s ministry is difficult work  All Christian ministry is not missions  Stop supporting ≠ bad people or bad ministries Things to Keep in Mind as You Consider the Proposal

  Retain 4 of Current 15 Missionaries  Boese (Ivory Coast) – Strong Connection to Church-Planting*  Lundquist (Austria) – Church-Planting*  Somers (India) – Church-Planting*  Vasquez (Arkansas, U.S.) – Church-Planting  Short-Term Goals  Propose 1 New Missionary  Increase Monthly Support  Increase Our Involvement *Either Unreached or Mobilizing PROPOSAL – Smaller Team of Strategic Partners

  Support Amounts  Boese (Ivory Coast) - $2,700 (same)  Lundquist (Austria) - $3,200 down to $3,000  Somers (India) - $3,000 (same)  Vasquez (Arkansas, U.S.) - $4,200 down to $3,300  New Missionary - $3,000 (new)  Missions Fund  $3,000 up to $6,500  Missions Conference  Leadership of Missions Trips  Periodic Missionary Needs PROPOSAL – Smaller Team of Strategic Partners

  The Biblical perspective of missionaries being supported from others: “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content... I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:10-13 PROPOSAL – Gradually Discontinue Others

  Group 1 4 months – 100%x2…75%x1…50%x1  Affleck  Campbell  Childs  Stomps  Yahr  Group 2 5 months – 100%x3…75%x1…50%x1  Dawe  Munger  Detroit A.A.M.  Porwoll  Group 3 7 months – 100%x3…75%x2…50%x2  Shady  Sutherland PROPOSAL – Gradually Discontinue Others

  2014 Missions Budget - $47,200  2015 Missions Budget - $31,523*  2016 Missions Budget - $21,500  This is a significant missions budget (cf. sister churches)  It allows for a significant partnership  It allows for ULBC to get healthy and strong  It allows for growth in accordance with our new strategy  Please note:  *2015 Missions Budget includes Ramp-Down Monies  Congregation will vote on who we support  Congregation will vote on specific dollar amount of support (not %) PROPOSAL – Ramp-Down to Healthier Budget

 VISION – New Missions EmphasisSTRENGTH – Mature & Healthy ULBCPARTNERSHIP – More Significant RelationshipsGOAL – Growth of ULBC & Growth of Missions 4 Point Strategy

 Remember the danger of the tongue “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly passion” James 3:8 Remember the source of disunity “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? It is not this, that your passions are at war within you?” James 4:1 Exercise genuine wisdom “The wisdom from above is... peaceable... And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18 Heed the Scripture