| Prevailing attitude in church A: Our blessings bring equal responsibilities | Prevailing attitude in church B: Our blessings outweigh our responsibilities |
| World evangelization permeates church life throughout the year. | Missions is that annual weekend event for taking Faith Promise pledges. [ more on Faith Promise ] |
| Every member expects to have some role in the global harvest. | Only those who are super-spiritual or those who are "called" get involved in missions. |
| God's heart for the nations is heard in almost every service. | Other than during the Faith Promise weekend, missions is rarely mentioned. |
| Church leadership continually challenges couples and singles to consider going overseas. | Adults decide on their own if God is "calling" them into missions. |
| Going on short-term or Work and Witness trips is the expected norm. | It's OK if you insist on going on a short-term mission trip like Work and Witness. |
| The average lay member of this congregation can name several verses, knowing God's heart for all nations is the theme of the Bible. | The average attender in this church can only name 2-3 Scripture verses that deal with missions. [ read more ] |
| Missions needs are met even before the electric bill is paid. | In a financial pinch, the first thing that's reduced is missions giving. |
| Most know who the church's adopted (LINKS) missionaries are, where they serve, and what their needs are. | Most members don't know who their adopted (LINKS) missionaries are or where they are serving. [ more on LINKS ] |
| Mission information and prayer times are mainstream. | Meetings focusing on missions aren't held very often and are poorly attended. |
| The church has a goal of giving no less than 25% of its income to world missions. | World Missions gets the minimum funding suggested (10% or less of the church's income). |
| World evangelization is seen as half the reason the church exists. | Missions is a "necessary evil" that occasionally intrudes on the real ministry of the church. |
| Which of these churches will our church be? |
| Will we be part of God's purpose to add to the Body of Christ those purchased with His blood "from every nation, tribe, people and language"? (Rev. 7:9) |
Developing a local church missions program
Try these books:
- Today's All-Star Mission Churches by Tom Telford (Baker Books, 2001)
- A Mind for Missions: Ten Ways to Build Your World Vision by Paul Borthwick (Navpress Publishing Group, 1987)
- Treasure in Clay Jars by Lois Barret (Eerdmans, 2004)
Out of print books which you might find in used bookstores (including online ones)
- How to get your congregation involved in missions by David Mays (ACMC, 1997)
- Missions in the Twenty-First Century by Tom Telford and Lois Shaw (Shaw, 2000)
Here's a master's thesis on the internet on the subject: Building Global Minded Christians
Get the CD titled: "Stuff you need to know about doing missions in your church"
 | Missionary slogans to inspire and energize [ read more ] |
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Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th, Bethany, OK 73008 | Phone: 405-491-6693 - Fax: 405-491-6658
Copyright © 2000, 2001 - Last Updated: May 7, 2008 | URL: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/tale.htm