1. Strategy for Productive Missionaries
What is God’s desire?

2. God’s Desire & Church Growth
God wills that we plant growing churches.
God wills that we plant churches that plant churches.
Terminal – churches stagnate and do not plant new churches (Heb. 5:12).
Germinal – churches grow through planting new churches that plant churches (Acts 13:1-3).
God wills that we plant culturally appropriate churches (Acts 10:11-15; 34-35; 15:28).

3. God’s Desires Indigenous Churches
Indigenous – culturally appropriate worship and Christian life.
Language
Traditions not contrary to biblical teaching
Own form of worship
Own form of communication of Gospel message
Culturally appropriate styles
Independent – not dependent on missionaries or outside support
Dependent on God
Three selfs: Self-supporting, Self-governing, Self-propagating
Cooperation

4. Elements of Effective Church Planters
Have strategy
Awareness of the receptivity of a given mission field
Conscience of cultural dynamics
Negotiable
Eternals
Able to measure the work
Objective & people oriented
Reevaluate one’ strategy regularly

5. Missionary’s Stages of Work
Adaptation Stage (1-2 years)
Developmental Stage (3-10 years)
Collaboration Stage (10-15 years)
Partnership Stage (16-17 years)
Adapted from VanRheenen – Teachers of Missions Workshop

6. Missionary’s Stages of Work: Adaptation Stage
Interrelated primary tasks
Language & culture learning
Developing initial relationships
Determining the focus of the ministry
Beginning the ministry
Identificational task
Identify with the people
Identify with the culture
Missionary’s role
Learner
Early application

7. Missionary’s Stages of Work: Developmental Stage
Interrelated primary tasks
Evangelism/Church planting
Nurturing churches
Training leaders
Identificational task
Identification with unbelievers’ worldview
Struggles with new Christians
Challenges of emerging leaders
Missionary’s role
Evangelist/Church planter
Nurturer
Leadership trainer
Facilitator

8. Missionary’s Stages of Work: Collaboration Stage
Interrelated primary tasks
Co-worker in planting churches
Advisor in nurturing
Co-worker in training leaders
Identificational task
Challenges to maturing leaders
Challenges to solving church problems
Struggles with new emerging & developing leaders
Missionary’s role
Leadership equipper
Encourager
Advisor
Fellow servant

9. Missionary’s Stages of Work: Partnership Stage
Interrelated primary tasks
Turning over of evangelistic & planting work
Reinforcing responsibility before God
Planning stages of pull-out to assist with & reduce problems
Sharing vision for the future work God entrusts

10. Missionary’s Stages of Work: Partnership Stage
Identificational task
Recognition of the nationals as responsible leaders
Intrusting them to God’s care
Missionary’s role
Visitor
Encourager
Advisor
Resource person