Elk Grove Bible Church
ELK GROVE BIBLE CHURCH
PHILOSOPHY OF MISSIONS
WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
May 24, 2015
Revised August 10, 2016
Contents
ELK GROVE BIBLE CHURCH 1
PHILOSOPHY OF MISSIONS 1
WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 1
I. Philosophy of Missions 2
II. Theology of Missions 3
A. Definition of Missions 3
B. Biblical Principles (All mission work supported by EGBC should encompass these elements) 3
1. Make Disciples of Jesus Christ (Our Task) 3
2. Throughout the World (Our Territory) 4
3. Establish and Strengthening Local Congregations (Our Target) 4
C. Biblical Organization 5
III. Short-Term Missions Trips 9
I. Philosophy of Missions
Our missions philosophy is designed to clearly communicate the purpose behind biblical missions as we see it at Elk Grove Bible Church. All missions activity at Elk Grove Bible Church should clearly fit within the framework of our philosophy. This Philosophy of Missions is offered to prevent us from drifting out of the biblical guidelines laid out in Scripture as well as keeping all missions work within the purpose for why Elk Grove Bible Church exists. By clearly stating our philosophy and purpose, we can evaluate our mission ministry to stay faithful in two key areas:
· Faithful stewardship of resources given by the congregation or other groups.
· Faithful leadership for our congregation in partnering with others outside our congregation, as well as sending and supporting our own members.
The Philosophy of Missions at Elk Grove Bible Church can be clearly seen by our breaking down our Theology of Missions. All mission work done through Elk Grove Bible Church should fit into our Theology of Missions.
II. Theology of Missions
A. Definition of Missions
Any discussion of “mission” or “missions” in relationship to the church must begin with a clear definition of these words, which, though commonly used, are frequently misunderstood. And since much debate and divergent opinions regarding what Christians mean by “mission” (or of more recent coinage, “missional”) have been offered in recent years, the potential for confusion has not decreased.
Specifically, we find that Scripture teaches: Jesus Christ our Lord has commanded His Church to go throughout the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ by preaching His Gospel, and to establish Jesus’ disciples (Christians) as biblically-ordered local congregations which endeavor to continue the same work among every language and people and nation in the world.
This is the primary mandate with which the Church has been entrusted by Christ in the present age, as revealed in Scripture. It is this biblical mandate that we define as our mission as a Church. Likewise, when we refer to “missions,” we mean those activities that churches undertake in obedience to this very mandate. Or, when we describe an individual who is exclusively devoted to carrying out this command beyond our local Church congregation, we call him or her a “missionary.” Elk Grove Bible Church should strive to keep all mission work within this biblical framework.
Traditionally, Christians have described this mandate as the “Great Commission,” specifically referring to the passages of Scripture in which Christ gave these orders to His Apostles, who were the human foundation for His Church (see Matthew 28:16-20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; cf. Mark 13:10; 14:9; Luke 24:46-49). Accordingly, obedience to this order is exemplified in the Apostles’ pattern of ministry (e.g., Romans 10:13-15; 15:18-21; Acts 14:21-23; 26:16-18; Titus 1:5; 3 John 5-8).
B. Biblical Principles (All mission work supported by EGBC should encompass these elements)
1. Make Disciples of Jesus Christ (Our Task)
A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ, one who has been born from above, a learner who abides in His Word. Simply put, a disciple is a Christian (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 1:12-13; 3:3; 8:31) therefore all mission work supported by Elk Grove Bible Church should be built around the goal of evangelizing and training believers to understand and follow the Word of God.
2. Throughout the World (Our Territory)
As God has designed to gather to Himself people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Rev 7:9-12), so the work of missions is to be global in its scope (Acts 13:47). The
Lord Jesus intends for the witness of His church to be ever expanding geographically
(Acts 1:8), and the Apostle Paul exemplified this pioneering spirit (Acts 13-28; Romans 15:19-21) therefore all mission work supported by Elk Grove Bible Church will strive to fulfill this geographical mission.
3. Establish and Strengthening Local Congregations (Our Target)
The priority of the church is evident throughout the New Testament. In its essence, the “church” is the gathering of God’s people. Jesus promised that He would build His church (Matthew 16:18), which He has purchased with His very blood (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25). Paul sought to gather believers and establish local churches wherever he went (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). It is in the context of the local church that believers are taught and grow into maturity (Ephesians 4:1-16; Titus 2:1-15), are equipped for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12), minister their spiritual gifts (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12), fulfill the biblical “one another” (John 13:34,35), are held accountable (Hebrews 10:24,25), and are spiritually cared for through the shepherding of godly elders (1 Tim 3:1-7; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Pet 5:1-4).
a. Church Planting
Distinct from the countless ways that Christians may continually do good to all men (Galatians 6:10), the work of missions is making disciples of Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel and establishing His disciples as biblically-ordered churches. This expression of love would include such works as evangelism, ministries of mercy, disaster relief, crisis pregnancy centers, and providing for the impoverished (cf. Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14). These works can only be considered missions if they are directly and explicitly contributing to the planting of local churches.
Our missions’ priority, therefore, is the planting of new churches. The priority of church-planting is clearly revealed in the Bible. Paul’s primary goal was churches planted, not simply converts won; this must also be our principal goal in fulfilling the mission of the church. We therefore must give priority to the planting of churches among the unreached, “those who have never been told of Him,” (Romans 15:21) and everything else must be subordinate to this goal.
b. Church-Strengthening
Because the aim of missions is the establishment of biblically-ordered and healthy local churches, a major element of that aim is to strengthen churches that already exist. This is exactly why Paul deployed his co-worker Titus to the island of Crete, that he might “set in order what remains” (Titus 1:5) among existing, though weak and immature, churches.
So while missions in its essence is church-planting, it also clearly involves the strengthening of churches through biblical instruction, equipping, and encouragement to faithfully carry out the work of missions throughout the world. Strengthening churches can involve, but is not limited to, providing theological training to pastors, church leaders or members aspiring to leadership, sending members of EGBC for short-term ministry in teaching and equipping, and providing practical resources.
C. Biblical Organization
1. Missions is From the Local Church as Led by Elders (Our Polity)
A biblically-ordered local church assumes the presence of godly elders who provide shepherding oversight of God’s people (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet 5:1-3). While the church’s missions work is to be directed and overseen by the elders, this work would necessarily involve the church body. We see in Acts 13:1-4 that it was the local church that was responsible for the sending of those who were “set apart” as missionaries. It must be also noted that it was to that local church that those who were sent out returned to give a report and an accounting of what God had accomplished through them (Acts 14:26-28). The primacy of the local church (as the “pillar and support of the truth,” 1 Tim 3:15) means that it is entrusted with the privilege and responsibility to faithfully carry out Christ’s mission for His church.
2. Organization under the Elder Board (Our Partnership)
Two Primary groups will work under the Elder Board to fulfill our mission ministry. These two groups will be the Missions Committee and the Missions Family.
Missions Committee
The Missions Committee will work under the Elder Board to organize all mission work. The Missions Committee shall stand in an advisory capacity to the Elder Board and may not, in and of itself, commit the church to any program, policy, or obligation apart from the approval of the Elder Board. The Missions Committee shall be composed of at least four people, who are members of EGBC and in good standing as described in the bylaws. The Missions Committee will be re-evaluated annually by the Elder Board.
The Missions Committee will be responsible for:
· The committee should hold regular meetings determined by the committee throughout the year.
· Plan agendas for the meetings to carry out the partnership between the Missions Family and any missions work that is being supported.
· Assign responsibilities to committee members during the meeting. Assign responsibilities to the Missions Family as needed.
· Report committee recommendations to the Elder Board after each meeting.
· Hold monthly meetings and/or as needed with the Missions Family to report any needed information and to pray regularly for the missionary being supported.
· Create in-country accountability for the missionary.
· Create a way to send funds to the missionary. In the event support is provided to national workers or missionaries without a board, accountability must be created and proof of funds spent to the committee must be done quarterly.
· Create a way to track spending of the moneys sent to the missionary.
· Has presiding authority to delegate funds to the missionary accordingly and with approval of the Elder Board. All increase or decrease in missions support will be done by the missions committee and with approval from the Elder Board.
· Communicate to the congregation reports from supported missionaries as needed.
· Plan trips to strengthen the work of the missionary.
Missions Family
The Missions Family will be the chief financial support for all missionaries and exists to "adopt" a missionary and his work. The Missions Family will consist of no fewer than 10 people, who are members of EGBC and in good standing described in the bylaws. If the number falls below 10, the Missions Committee will report it to the Elder Board to recruit new members from the body of EGBC. The Missions Family should meet with the Missions Committee throughout the year, to pray for the work and to discuss the financial support.
Short-term missions trip teams will start with the Missions Family that has "adopted" the mission work for that trip, and the invite will be extended to others outside of the Missions Family afterwards. The Missions Committee desires to support another missionary, a Missions Family will be created to "adopt" the new work and financially support it. Periodic announcements should be made to the church to add new members to the Missions Family as needed.
Missionary Candidates
Candidates for the missionary family of EGBC shall be persons purposing to go into short-term missionary service, veteran missionaries needing additional support, or a national who is pastoring an existing local church. Only candidates who meet the criteria hereby set forth as follows shall receive consideration by the missions committee or the Board of Elders to receive regular support:
· Candidates must hold doctrinal position that is consistent with the doctrines set forth in the constitution of EGBC.
· The Missions Committee and/or board of Elders shall, by personal interview or other acceptable means be satisfied: a. that the candidate is a born again believer, as demonstrated by their personal testimony, and is an active church member; b. that the missionary has received a missionary call (how does the candidate know he/she was called of the Lord into missionary service?); c. that the candidate must be thoroughly grounded in the Word of God in addition to other considerations of adequacy (preparation, scholastic background, personal work, etc.); d. with the candidate’s personality traits (includes evaluation of ability to get along with others); e. with the recommendations of pastoral and peer references; and f. that the candidate’s (and family) health is adequate for their field of service.
· In order for EGBC to support a new missionary the church must be able to support the missionary a minimum of a $100.00 a month. Support will be determined based on the missionaries' ministry, their relationship to EGBC, and their involvement with EGBC. The support of any candidate is subject to the availability of funds.
· The Missions Committee will prayerfully consider the candidate and submit a report to the Elder Board for consideration.
· Generally, all support shall be paid monthly.
· It shall be the policy of the church to carry a balanced missionary program, thus payments of regular support may be terminated when a missionary: 1. Changes location of service; 2. Changes the nature of missionary endeavor to educational, medical, administrative, clerical, or deputation work, unless continued support is approved by the Mission Committee and the Elder Board; 3. Leaves the field permanently; or 4. Retires.