Your Missions Trip This Summer

 

Have you considered taking a missions trip this summer? North Africa, Thailand, Japan, China, Burkina Faso, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and India are just a few of the places Vision Baptist Missions offers trips to visit. Affordable prices, effective ministries and unforgettable experiences is just a taste of what you will see if you go on one of these missions trips. So let us give you a couple of reasons for why you should plan a missions trip this summer:

  1. It will open your eyes. 

Get out of the normal routine of life and see that the world is much bigger and different than where you live.

  1. It will give you a burden for those without Christ. 

Almost 95% of the world’s population live outside the borders of the United States. People are religious yet without Jesus Christ.

  1. It will give you an appreciation for what God has given you. 

A church, a Bible, freedom to worship, a pastor who loves you, possibilities of hearing gospel preaching on the radio, online, and almost everywhere you turn, are just a few things that we take for granted living in the United States.

  1. You will return as a changed person. 

You may not come back wanting to be a missionary, but you will return a different person.Seeing the need for laborers, understanding the missionary, an urgency of getting involved in your church and realizing the responsibility to get the gospel out are just a few of the changes someone has when they return from a mission strip.

So it’s time to make a decision. Plan your trip and watch how God changes your life. Check out our website to find a list of trips we offer. Prepare your youth group or church group to take a missions trip this summer. If we can help you, contact us at info@visionmissions.com

Here to Serve, 

Jeffrey Bush

Questions if Your Church is Considering Starting a Mission Board

 

Over the years, pastors or churches have told me they would like to send out missionaries from their church, forming a small mission board in their local church. This is certainly a worthy cause, but allow me to give you some things to consider before jumping in. Now, here are some practical thoughts: 

  1. Have you counted the cost? It is a worthy goal to be able to send missionaries through your local church, but you have to consider if you can supply a secretary fully dedicated only to the missionaries needs. Receiving checks, sending receipts, allocating fund to their bank account or bills they may have, various paperwork, etc. Some churches can afford paying a secretary for the mission board, but not all can do so.
  1. What experience do you offer? The financial side is very important to a mission agency, but it is not the most important. Yes, you need to make sure finances are above board to keep out of the crosshairs of the IRS, keep integrity with churches and efficiency for the missionaries, but that is the minimum a mission agency should provide. The best thing a mission agency can provide for missionaries is experience. Many colleges “train” missionaries from theory because they do not have anyone who has “been there, done that.” A mission agency should be able to know about cross-cultural adaptation, learning a language, how to plant a church, multiple churches, national-leader training and much more. Just as not every church should have a Christian school, college or daycare, not every church is prepared to have a mission agency either. Missionaries need a counselor to know how to live in a foreign environment, a guide to do ministry in a different culture and an encourager to keep going in a third culture ministry. Someone who has been there and came out affectively on the other side without quitting can understand and help the missionaries better than someone who has a heart but not an understanding of what missionaries are going through. So, personal experience in the area of missions is of utmost importance to having a mission agency. 
  1. What accountability is set in place? A pastor has his plate full with preaching, visiting, planning, supervising and loving his flock. He likely does not have time to keep up with the missionaries while balancing the ministries on the home front. Someone needs to keep the missionaries accountable in areas such as their marriage, personal struggles, finances, and miscellaneous areas of their life. I’m not talking about controlling, rather helping them to stay accountable by contacting them, visiting them and staying in regular communication with them. 

So, there are a few things to consider. I also have tried placing important subjects and tools on my website as well (www.missions.tips) if any of it can be of help.

Here to Serve, 

Jeffrey Bush

Interview a Missionary

Although it is a delight for a church to hear a missionary presentation, sometimes the pastor may want to interview the missionary in front of the church. Interviewing a missionary will allow the church to hear the specific questions that can most benefit them. This list is in no way perfect, just a few that will spark other ideas.

  • Tell us how you got saved.
  • Tell us why you believe God wanted you to be a missionary.
  • Why did you choose that specific country?
  • How could we as a church have a part in your ministry?
  • What was the strangest experience you have had so far?
  • What was the hardest challenge you have faced?
  • What is the funniest thing that has happened?
  • What is your favorite memory from your time in the country so far?
  • How can we be praying for you?
  • What is the strangest food they eat in your country? 
  • Why should someone from our church consider going to your country? 
  • What are your goals? We’d like to know and be able to pray for you. 
  • How do you know God called you or lead you to missions? 
  • What has been one of the most challenging things that you have faced on the mission field or up to now? How did you get the victory? 
  • What do you do on the mission field as a wife/mother? 
  • How can churches and people partner with you in a more tangible way?
  • How do you balance family and ministry? 
  • Can you tell a story of someone who was saved in your ministry? 
  • How do you spend time with the Lord? 
  • Tell something interesting about your culture.
  • What are your biggest needs? 
  • Any special prayer requests? 

How to Pray for Missionaries, Pastor Austin Gardner

I Thessalonians 5:25 — Brethren, pray for us. 
II Corinthians 1:11 — Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Get in the battle through prayer Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Pray for Protection

Romans 15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; II Thessalonians 3:1-2

Pray for an Acceptable Ministry

Romans 15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Pray for Success

Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Pray that God will Open Doors for the Gospel

Colossians 4:3-4 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; That I May make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Pray that the Word of God might have Free Course and be Glorified

II Thessalonians 3:1-2 Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

Missions Definition by Pastor Jeremy Collins

Missions is the extension of the ministry of the Local Church outside of its walls and sphere of direct influence to places and to people it cannot reach itself by sending and partnering with others who are like-minded and who can and will go on their behalf.

M — Mandate (to) — Preach, Baptize, Train
Matthew 28:18, 19; Acts 1:8

I — Intercession (for) — The Lost, The Givers, The Goers
Matthew 9:37–38; 2 Thessalonians 3:1,2

S — Suffering — Persecution from without and within
2 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 3:10–12; 1 Peter 4:12–13

S — Sacrifice — Financial, Physical, Emotional
2 Timothy 2:4; Romans 12:1,2

I — Involvement — “All in”, “You”
1 Corinthians 16:1,2; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

O — Obedience (to) — The Will and Word of God
John 2:5; 1 Samuel 15:22

N — Nearness (to) — God: His Presence and His Power
James 4:8; Philippians 2:1–16

S — Standing Power — No Quitting – Pressing On
Ephesians 6:12-18; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 3:14