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| Partnerships |
PO Box 291307 Kerrville, TX 78029-1307
(830) 896-8326 or (800) 872-5404
SENDING PEOPLE
Like the New Testament pattern, an increasing number of churches are interested in sending people from their own congregations onto the mission field.
ALL TOO OFTEN...
When an individual or couple in a church feels called to the mission field the church has to send them off through a denominational program or to some unrelated mission agency that can help them get on the field.
Unfortunately, this usually leads to the new missionaries feeling more connected to the sending agency than to their home church. They find themselves on the field under the administrative covering of a missions agency but frequently lacking in the essential pastoral or spiritual covering of a church. They have no pastor "watching for their souls."
A BETTER PLAN
An increasing number of churches are seeing in the New Testament a pattern where the local church sent the missionaries and stayed in relationship with them.
This plan is of great benefit to the church because they now know the people in whom they are investing and feel a vital part of the field ministry. Instead of their missions funds going to a faceless organization or to a list of unknown, infrequently seen or heard from missionaries they are investing in their own missionary ministers.
It is also of benefit to the missionaries who know there is a living, caring body behind them in prayer and caring for them as individuals.
A PROBLEM
Some churches involved in sending their own quickly find themselves overwhelmed and/or under informed as to all that is involved in international ministry. The very reason missions agencies developed is because there are certain things an agency specializing in missions can do better than the average church.
How can a church take advantage of those services a missions agency can provide while still staying connected to the families they want to send from among their own congregation?
A SOLUTION
A church/mission agency partnership provides the perfect mix.
Since its founding Commission To Every Nation has sought to serve the local church. Partnering with local congregations allows the church to do what it does best and the missions agency to do what it does best. All parties are benefited, including those to whom the missionary is sent.
RESULTS
Our unique approach of focusing on each missionaries skills, talents and calling has allowed us to partner with over 500 singles, families and organizations. Most mission organizations will have a single or very narrow focus on some aspect of missions, yet we have chosen to take a different approach. At any given time we will have in excess of 60 types of ministries ongoing. How do we keep up with what is happening? We cannot develop a singular measurement tool to evaluate medical work, translation efforts, miles flown by pilots, and number of church members trained (add the remaining 55 ministries to this). Our results come from helping each of the missionaries meet their goals.
We use various ways to see how each one of them is fulfilling their goals. They include:
- Having each one identify their goals, accomplishments and financial needs through periodic questionnaires.
- Recurring visits by our pastoral care team as well as from key staff
- Monitoring their communications to supporters whether it is via printed newsletters, e-news, blogs, and Facebook.
- Communicating with them regularly as well as with their home churches.
Each of these help us to have a pulse on what is happening. It may sound subjective, so has it been effective? Yes! It just takes a lot more effort to know what is happening with each one of them, but we are more than willing to do it. While our vision is broad (helping each missionary fulfill their God-given calling), we stand firmly that each missionary or organization must be fulfilling or exceeding their goals. We invest in their lives and ministries in many ways so we want to see them successful.
There are many levels of accountability for each missionary. They are accountable to their church, to CTEN, to their supporters, to the local organization they serve and to the local people. We continue to keep an open door to hear any concerns from any one of these accountability partners and do all we can to foster those relationships. If you have a question concerning any active missionary or organization, please do not hesitate to contact us at the email link below.
ATTENTION PASTORS AND MISSIONS COMMITTEESIf you would like to discuss how your church can be more involved in sending your own people into missions while staying related to them, please e-mail us:
usa@cten.org
If you would like a call from us, please provide a phone number and best day/time to call. |
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