Strengthening Mission Support West Baguio Baptist Church

HOW CAN WEST BAGUIO BE INVOLVED IN MISSIONS? WE ARE NOT READY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION UNTIL (1) WE KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS, AND (2) WE KNOW WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN DOING WHAT GOD WANTS.

(1) What Does God Want? Look At The Great Commission…  It is God’s plan to reach the world  It IS NOT a call to missionaries  It IS a call to all of us  We are called to join God on His mission.  We are told this several times  It is God’s plan to reach the world  It IS NOT a call to missionaries  It IS a call to all of us  We are called to join God on His mission.  We are told this several times

Matthew 28:18-20 When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time."

Mark 16:15-16 Then Jesus said to them, "So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Luke 24:46-47 He said to them, "Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day. Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.”

John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you."

Acts 1:7-8 Jesus told them, "You don't need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 26:16-18 Stand up! I have appeared to you for a reason. I ’ m appointing you to be a servant and witness of what you have seen and what I will show you. I will rescue from the Jewish people and from the non-Jewish people to whom I am sending you. You will open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God's. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and a share among God's people who are made holy by believing in me.'

God says He has:  Sent us (John)  To be witnesses-- (Acts 1)  Preaching the Gospel, (Mark)  Making disciples, (Matthew)  Bringing repentance of sin (Luke)  And freedom from bondage. (Acts 26)  Sent us (John)  To be witnesses-- (Acts 1)  Preaching the Gospel, (Mark)  Making disciples, (Matthew)  Bringing repentance of sin (Luke)  And freedom from bondage. (Acts 26)

(2) What Is The Role Of The Church In Doing What God Wants? Churches have three major roles or ministries in doing the Great Commission: -Member Care -Church Growth -Missions Churches have three major roles or ministries in doing the Great Commission: -Member Care -Church Growth -Missions

A Healthy Church Should Do All Three

So… How Can a Small Baptist Church in Southeast Asia Have a Role In International Missions?

A little band of Baptist pastors including William Carey had formed the Baptist Missionary Society on October 2, Fuller, more than anyone else, felt the burden of what it meant that William Carey and John Thomas (and later others) left everything for India in dependence, under God, on this band of brothers. One of them, John Ryland, recorded the story where the famous “rope holder” image came from. He wrote that Carey said,

“Our undertaking to India really appeared to me, on its commencement, to be somewhat like a few men, who were deliberating about the importance of penetrating into a deep mine, which had never before been explored, we had no one to guide us; and while we were thus deliberating, Carey, as it were, said “Well, I will go down, if you will hold the rope.” But before he went down... he, as it seemed to me, took an oath from each of us, at the mouth of the pit, to this effect—that “while we lived, we should never let go of the rope.”

The Local Church “Must Hold the Rope” for Filipino Missionaries. This rope symbol suggests a Relationship. Here are 6 “keys” that help define this relationship. This rope symbol suggests a Relationship. Here are 6 “keys” that help define this relationship.

Key #1: Good 2-Way Communication  The church and the missionary must be in regular and open communication.  This communication should share vision, joys, fears, needs.  Communication is foundational to prayer support, as well as emotional and financial support.  The church and the missionary must be in regular and open communication.  This communication should share vision, joys, fears, needs.  Communication is foundational to prayer support, as well as emotional and financial support.

Yes, Communication is TWO-WAY!!  Mail/ s  Phone/texting  Personal visits  Newsletters  Small gifts/remembrances  Mail/ s  Phone/texting  Personal visits  Newsletters  Small gifts/remembrances

Key #2 Reliable Giving  “Love Gifts” are only “loving” if built on a foundation of reliable support.  Reliable support means making promises and keeping them.  A small support is MUCH more than no support at all.  Giving is not only about money.  “Love Gifts” are only “loving” if built on a foundation of reliable support.  Reliable support means making promises and keeping them.  A small support is MUCH more than no support at all.  Giving is not only about money.

Key #3. Ambassadorship  If each member of a church has 100 relationships outside the church, then a 100 member church has 10,000 people who can potentially support the missionary.  This great pool of support is only accessible if the church membership acts as ambassadors.  We sometimes call this “networking.”  If each member of a church has 100 relationships outside the church, then a 100 member church has 10,000 people who can potentially support the missionary.  This great pool of support is only accessible if the church membership acts as ambassadors.  We sometimes call this “networking.”

Key #4. Spiritual Mentoring  It is a myth that missionaries are highly spiritual people. Missionaries are defined by “willingness” not spirituality.  They need fervent and informed prayer.  They need accountability partners.  They need people who will listen and try to understand what they are going through.  It is a myth that missionaries are highly spiritual people. Missionaries are defined by “willingness” not spirituality.  They need fervent and informed prayer.  They need accountability partners.  They need people who will listen and try to understand what they are going through.

Key #5. Sound Education  Churches should support a missionary’s desire to learn and grow.  Churches should have an educated/ informed membership with regards to missions.  Churches should give opportunity for its members to grow through experiencing missions.  Churches should support a missionary’s desire to learn and grow.  Churches should have an educated/ informed membership with regards to missions.  Churches should give opportunity for its members to grow through experiencing missions.

Key #6. Healthy Partnership  Missions is not about missionaries (goers).  Missions is the integration of goers, welcomers, mobilizers, and senders.  A church is not a missional church until it recognizes that it is doing missions when it effectively partners with missionaries.  Healthy partnerships benefit both parties.  Missions is not about missionaries (goers).  Missions is the integration of goers, welcomers, mobilizers, and senders.  A church is not a missional church until it recognizes that it is doing missions when it effectively partners with missionaries.  Healthy partnerships benefit both parties.

Summary  Churches need to understand God’s Mission on Earth.  A Church needs to understand that it must minister inside itself, growing itself, and reaching out beyond itself to be what God has called the church to be.  Churches need to understand God’s Mission on Earth.  A Church needs to understand that it must minister inside itself, growing itself, and reaching out beyond itself to be what God has called the church to be.

Summary The church needs to relate to missionaries through: 1. Good 2-way communication 2. Reliable Giving 3. Ambassadorship 4. Spiritual Mentoring 5. Sound Education 6. Healthy Partnership The church needs to relate to missionaries through: 1. Good 2-way communication 2. Reliable Giving 3. Ambassadorship 4. Spiritual Mentoring 5. Sound Education 6. Healthy Partnership