2011 Great Harvest Church Planting Happenings

Church Planter = Missionary
New Church Start = Mission Project

Is the above formula how you equate church planting in your mind or is it a fresh idea? I guess it was my assumption that everyone understood church planting in these terms but a few weeks ago I realized that this may not be the case and perhaps the reason we, as a district, have been unsuccessful in raising support for our church planting projects (or mission points, as I prefer to call them) is because we do not identify the work of local missions with the role of the traditional missionary.

Dictionary.com defines the term a missionary as:

1. a person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, as educational or hospital work.
   
2. a person strongly in favor of a program, set of principles, etc., who attempts to persuade or convert others.
   
3. a person who is sent on a mission.

Certainly this definition seems to fit the work to which we call our planters.

We are pretty much all familiar with how the call to missions works. When someone is called to a particular mission field, the fast thing they do is begin the process of gathering support for the work. They will spend several months visiting churches, individuals, friends and family, sharing their hopes for the new community they will serve. They have a vision for a preferred future for the community and they share that vision with others, many of whom will join in the ministry by providing prayer, financial and other forms of support.

Recently, someone approached me puzzled because they had received a phone call from one of our church planters seeking financial support for their mission. This person seemed very surprised that they would be asked to contribute financially to support the planter in their work. I shared with them that it is a part of the ministry of the planter, to invite others to become a part of their "team" to spread the gospel to those who have yet to be reached.

Missions are not the closest thing to the heart of God but are indeed the heart of God, and to invite someone to participate in a way that will make an impact for Christ is a special privilege. Church planters working in their field of ministry are giving God's people an opportunity to fulfill their stewardship responsibilities. Someone once said "the missionary becomes the link between the church and the lost world and any Christian worth his salt would want to encourage that kind of person."

It is necessary for missionaries to gather support for their work because they are generally ministering to individuals who have not heard the good news and once they do, will take time to understand the principle of giving and of supporting those who are ministering to them. For some reason that is not a hard concept to understand when we are sending someone to India to share the gospel, but when we are sending someone to Rockford or Aurora, it is harder to embrace.

The support of church planters in their field of mission whether it is across the seas, on another continent or within our own region is the responsibility of fellow Christian brothers and sisters. It is the responsibility of our churches and the individuals within them. The Church of the Brethren New Church Development Handbook is very clear that church planting is mission and that the district is the focal point for support, both spiritual and financial for new missions. This has been true since the district structure was first envisioned in 1858.

David Shumate writes "The district is a mission organization possessing a prescribed territory, which presents opportunities for mission. As a mission agency the district redirects resources from its general constituency (the congregations and their membership) to particular areas of mission and ministry (such as new church development)." Chapter 11 page 3.

Shumate also makes it clear that a line item in the District budget "should not be the sole source of district assistance to emerging churches." Special mission funding efforts will be required including:

• The development of a coalition of district stake holders willing to envision the future and to commit themselves to providing the leadership for underwriting the vision.
  
• The calling of an individual or team with professional fundraising experience whose expertise will be essential in engaging the resources of the district constituency;
  
• The articulation of the overall vision of the mid-term district future in positive terms and the use of current, appropriate technology in sharing the vision; and
  
• The recognition that competent personal contacts with individual givers and congregational units are vitally important to the success of the funding effort.

While financial partnership is essential to the planter/missionary it is not the only source of support that is needed. Supporters can show their friendship and care for the missionary in a variety of ways, such as:

• providing ongoing prayer support
  
• writing notes of encouragement
  
• sending holiday cards
  
• provide presence in worship and other events
  
• provide volunteer labor (accounting and tax preparation, video or media presentations, web design, printing, janitorial, etc.)

One vital way that you can help is by encouraging the interest of others who may have the means to provide support for a mission project. If a monthly financial commitment or one time gift is not something that you are able to manage at this time, perhaps you can introduce the idea to someone who has the ability to do so but needs some encouragement.

There were people who caught the vision of the Kingdom that Jesus came to proclaim and joined him in the ministry by supporting him and the disciples by serving them and by providing for their financial needs. Luke 8:1-3

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene)from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

It seems clear to me that when we join with those who continue Jesus work of spreading the good news, like these women we are supporting Jesus.

With your help the equation is complete.

Church Planter + YOU = Mission Accomplished