Category: Helpful Resources

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Ambassadors to the Missionaries at your church:

How to greet the missionary By John Pearson

  1. Familiarize yourself with them:
    • The family names: Use the prayer card if possible to learn all the family member’s names.
    • Special dates: Be sensitive to any dates that fall this week, or close to this week and have them recognized.
    • Read the missionaries last prayer letter and familiarize yourself with the events in their lives. Talk to them about the things going on.
    • Familiarize yourselves with their country. (Google search for their country on the web)  Just a few minutes will give you the info you need.
    • Familiarize yourself with their recent prayer requests.
    • Pass this information along to your family and train them to all greet the family.
    • Prepare a personalized welcome for them.
  1. Greeting:
    • Be at the church early. The missionaries will arrive early to set up.  Don’t come late.
    • Dress like Sunday. Ties for men.
    • Help them set up.

Continue reading “Ambassadors to the Missionaries at your church:”

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Achieving the Indigenous Principle by Austin Gardner

No one argues the fact that we should build indigenous churches.  Everyone uses the same definition for an indigenous church. The question is not should we plant indigenous churches but rather how do we arrive at an indigenous church.  There are all sorts of opinions as to how to plant an indigenous church

 Principle 1 for you to consider

Greenhouse principle.  Many plants that we consider indigenous today must start out in a green house.  They are nurtured and cared for until they are able to make it on their own.

 Principle 2 for you to consider

Raising Children.  Everyone agrees that giving birth does not constitute raising children.  They must be cared for and provided for until they reach maturity.  The parent each day expects more and provides less.  Control curve. Continue reading “Achieving the Indigenous Principle by Austin Gardner”

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A Church Planter Needs to Be…

The following quotes are by Roger N. McNamara, Editor in the book, A

Practical Guide to Church Planting, pp 11-16

  1. A church planter needs to be spiritually mature.
  1. A church planter needs to be a soul winner.
  1. A church planter needs to be a lover of people
  1. A church planter needs to be a leader.
  1. A church planter needs to be a disciplined person.
  1. A church planter needs to be flexible.
  1. A church planter needs to be financially responsible.
  1. A church planter needs to be a family man.
  1. A church planter needs to be educated and experienced.

 

 

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15 Tips for Surviving on the field

The following was taken from Culture Shock: Dealing with Stress in Cross-Cultural Living by Myron Loss and thought it would be good to share.

  1. Set reasonable goals. Ps. 127:2
  1. Don’t take your job description too seriously – be people-oriented not task-oriented.
  1. Be committed to joy. Gal. 5:22 (Each day is a unique opportunity)
  1. Maintain good emotional health.
  1. Remember that you are human.
    • Physical – exercise, diet
    • Emotional – dependent on others
    • Intellectual – variety of books
    • Spiritual – love of God, study His characteristics (Lam. 3:21-26, 31-33)

Continue reading “15 Tips for Surviving on the field”

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What is the Missionary’s Job? (Acts 14)

Message Preach by Randy Stirewalt (Notes by Jeff Bush)

We have many ideas of what missions is, but it should be based on what Bible says

1. Preached the Gospel – vs. 21

Before being a missionary, I am a preacher, a preacher of the Gospel.
Wherever he went, he preached and lives were changed – and it should center around a local church.

2. Taught Many – vs. 21-22

They set up a teaching ministry immediately – a discipleship of the believers.
Paul and Barnabus taught many – they won them and then taught them so they would know how to grow in the grace of Christ.
We may win people to the Lord, but we must disciple them and see the pattern continue as they disciple others.
Taught them (vs. 21) and confirmed them (vs. 22) Continue reading “What is the Missionary’s Job? (Acts 14)”

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Yokefellow Ministry

A ministry taught at Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA – we have many missionary families sent from our church and each family has a “yokefellow”, someone who yokes up alongside them.

Acts 14:26-28 – “And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.”

  • All we can do is recommend a missionary to the grace of 
God to do the work that He has called them to do
  • We trust them that God has clearly directed their path to 
their current ministry
  • They are promising to give themselves totally to carrying out the ministry that God has given them no matter how hard or discouraging it gets
  • They look forward to being able to come and tell us how God has worked in their ministry to His honor and glory
  • We ask them to promise to call or write us when they get discouraged instead of allowing Satan to win the victory in their life
  • They acknowledge that they believe that they are being sent out of Vision to accomplish the purpose God has for our church and that they are going in our place
  • As a church Vision must commit to love, support, and pray for these families

Continue reading “Yokefellow Ministry”

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The Missionary Wife’s Role in the Ministry – By Austin Gardner

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:3-5

A. Remember that the people where you will be serving will see you as their pastor’s wife!

  1. Great Responsibility as the pastor’s wife.
    • You are responsible for the growth of the ladies in your church and ministry
      • Teach them the spiritual lessons that they should learn
      • Teach them how to live at home
      • Teach them how to treat their husband and children
      • Teach them how to serve others
    • You need to help the ladies so as to protect your husband and his testimony.
      • Genesis 20:16. “And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.”
      • You are his veil or covering; his separation from other women.
      • Keep an open relationship with your husband. No secrets, no locked doors
      • Protect your family life and testimony
  2. Everyone will be watching you and looking up to you.
    • They will learn how to treat their husband from the way you treat your husband
    • They will learn how to treat their children and how to raise their children from the way you do.
    • They will learn how to dress from the way you dress
    • They will learn how to dress their children from the way you do things
  3. Be transparent
    • Do not make them think that you are something that you are not
    • Be open about how you deal with your problems
    • Learn how much to say and when to say it
    • Even though you are transparent you do not want to lower yourself to their level to gain their friendship, let them come up to your level
  4. Your transparency will cause them to speak more openly with you of their problems

Continue reading “The Missionary Wife’s Role in the Ministry – By Austin Gardner”

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Steps to Take to Determine if God has Called You to the Mission Field

By Travis Snode – www.intoallthworld.net

  1. Pray and read God’s Word on a daily basis. God speaks to us and guides us through His Word. (Ps. 119:105)
  2. Read everything you can get your hands on about missions, missionaries, and the needs of the world.
  3. Get involved in the missions program of your local church through praying, giving, and soul-winning.
  4. Go hear every missionary preacher that you can. God may use preaching to clarify His calling in your life.
  5. Talk to your pastor. Letting him know how God is dealing with your heart and asking him to pray for you will help you and give you specific guidance.
  6. Involve yourself in the ministries of your local church. The training and experience that you receive will be the foundation for a lifetime of service.
  7. Go on a missions trip. There are many opportunities to do so through the VBM missions trips during the summer months. Contact us if you are interested in taking a missions trip.

Continue reading “Steps to Take to Determine if God has Called You to the Mission Field”