Category: Missions

by Jeffrey Bush 

As I have traveled, I’ve seen various means in which churches give to worldwide missions. You may think that some are better than others, but it is my opinion that any idea is better than no idea when it comes to giving to missions. So here’s a list of different ideas:

• Budget

Some churches give a percentage out of the general budget (10-20% are the most common numbers I have seen or heard).

• Faith Promise Missions

Passing out faith promise cards and asking the church to commit to a certain amount per week/month/year for missions. Cards are usually gathered up at the end of the mission’s conference. Some churches have a mid-year conference or missions emphasis Sunday(s) as a reminder of their commitment.

• Sunday School Classes

A specific Sunday school class supports a missionary. They read the missionary’s updates in class, take up an offering and support one or more missionaries as an individual class. 

• Children’s Offerings

On Sunday mornings the children in the church take up change (or bills) in the service and that offering goes specifically to missionaries or a missionary project. Others will take up offerings in the children’s church and use that offering for missions.

• Wednesday Night Offerings

Although I have seen this with Sunday nights as well, some churches will use the offering from a specific service to go towards missions. 

• Vacation Bible School Offering

Many churches raise a large sum of money during Vacation Bible School and send it for specific missionary projects. 

• Individuals Within the Church

I have seen some churches that ask individuals or families in the church to sponsor a missionary. The church asks the family or individual to commit for one year. 

What is the best way of giving? I personally prefer the faith promise route, but to be quite honest, any way a church or person gives to missions is not a bad way. And I have found out that the people blessed for the offering is the giver more than the one receiving the offering. It’s always good to give to God’s work!

A 71-day devotional based upon the lives of common people who transformed the world in which they lived. Whether you use this for personal reading, family devotions or small group settings, the stories of those who served in missions will inspire you to live on mission wherever God has placed you!  If you would like to know more you can purchase the book They Turned The World Upside Down.

Note: I do not own this, nor did I write it. It is owned by Victory Baptist Church in Boonsboro, MD. 

 

[gview file=”https://missions.tips/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/How-to-Pray-for-Your-Missionaries-.pdf”]

Note: I do not own this, nor did I write it. It is owned by Victory Baptist Church in Boonsboro, MD. 

 

[gview file=”https://missions.tips/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/What-can-each-one-do-to-support-missions.pdf”]

Note: I do not own this, nor did I write it. It is owned by Victory Baptist Church in Boonsboro, MD. 

 

[gview file=”https://missions.tips/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Understanding-Faith-Promise-Giving.pdf”]

Note: I do not own these, nor did I write them myself. These are owned by Victory Baptist Church in Boonsboro, MD. 

 

[gview file=”https://missions.tips/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Missions-Conference-Hymns-Choruses.pdf”]

“The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity.” — Mike Stachura

According to the book Church Still Works by Paul Chappell and Clayton Reed, there are over 13,000 Independent Baptist churches in the United States. Can you imagine what would happen around the world if every church were to send out just one missionary from their congregation? The impact of the gospel would certainly lighten up this dark world. There is no reason to think the task is too big! It is actually well within the grasp of your church. Did you know that the large majority of missionaries come from churches that run around 50 people in attendance? Our missionaries are not always coming from the megachurches, they’re coming from average or small congregations. Here are a few thoughts to encourage you and your church that it is possible to send a missionary from your congregation… and it can even happen within the next year:

Set your focus. 

The focus of the church is expressed by what the pastor preaches, what is emphasized in the Sunday school classes, what is said in the announcements, and what is hung upon the walls of your church. The focus must be getting the gospel to the world. This is crucial to understand if you want to send a missionary from your congregation. Sunday school teachers should be supplied with missions lessons. Missionary biographies should be available in the church. Posters and maps presenting the need should be hung up on the walls. Missionary prayer letters should be read in services and placed on the walls. Missions trips should be planned every year or two. Missionaries should be invited to challenge the church once a month. Missionary illustrations should be used and stats about the need around the world should be heard. Everyone in the church should be involved in praying God would send out someone from your congregation. Make the focus in your church obviously clear that you want to get the gospel to the lost of this world!

Point the youth in the right direction. 

You must not simply entertain the youth but realize they are the future of the church in a few short years. If you want to see the future of the church, take a look at your youth program. If you can strategically fire up the youth with a desire to spread the gospel, that fire will spread through the rest of your church. You must be intentional about what is being taught, the activities that are being used, and those allowed to work with the youth. The devil is a fisherman, and he is fishing out our young people way too fast. The allures of fame, fortune, and fun have overtaken the youth, and you must intentionally plead and pray God’s will becomes the focus in their lives. 

The Lord is returning. 

You do not have to open your eyes very wide to notice the signs pointing towards our Lord’s imminent return. When Christ returns, there will be no more opportunity to send out missionaries, share the gospel, or plead with others to go tell the lost. The buildings will be empty, the accounts will be left, and the darkness around the world will only grow darker. 

Christians must live as if we believe He is returning. We cannot take anything to Heaven except for the souls that we lead to Christ and the work that we do for Him now. We must work for the night is coming. Let us pray to our Savior and plead with the saints to go far and wide sharing the gospel before our Lord returns. 

Here to Serve, 

Jeffrey Bush