developing a missions strategy that fits your church part iii: getting started and getting it done...

Developing a Missions Strategy

That Fits Your Church

Part III: Getting Started and Getting It DoneProcess and Implementation

David Mays

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church

David Mays Director of Learning Initiatives for The Mission Exchange Ministry: Training, resources, and networking

to help church and mission leaders Dream: A movement of churches centered

on The Great Commission

www.DavidMays.org

PROCESSPROCESS

A. Guiding PrinciplesB. Process Steps


A. Guiding Principles Key Leader Involvement Include Your Missionaries Prayer Consensus Research Proactive Continuity Open to Future Scrutiny


Key Leader Involvement What may happen if key leaders are not involved? Who needs to be involved in developing the

strategy? Whose input needs to be solicited or considered? What issues or problems do you anticipate? Are there prayer items here?


Include Your Missionaries Let them know in advance. Update yourself on their vision, goals, strategies. Ask for their input. Consider how their ministry relates to your hopes. Reassure them.


Prayer If we want God’s direction, we must ask for it. If we want wisdom, we must ask for it. If we want harmony, we must ask for it. If we want commitment, we must ask for it. How might you pray for this process? How might you help others pray?

Prayer moves us beyond our small agendas to his big ones.


Consensus When we listen, we learn. When we solicit broad input we have a better

understanding of where we are beginning. The loudest voice may not make the best decision. When people are heard, they are more likely to

commit to the end product. Decisions made by all are better than those made

by one.


Research What do we need to know? How do we learn what our leaders know and want? How will we get key information on needs and

opportunities in the world? What will we do with what we learn? How will we research our current ministries?


Proactive vs. ReactiveHow do we set direction and make decisions? Are we Request Driven? Relationship Driven? Purpose Driven? Involvement Driven? Excitement Driven?


Continuity with Past Ministry How much continuation? How much change? Not a continuation but not a disconnection either. What common threads or themes do we see? What should be continued and what changed? What current ministries fit new realities? What ministries could be “tweaked” to fit? What should be “grandfathered?” Where do you expect disagreement? (prayer item?)


Open to Future Scrutiny We do the best we can, with what we know, and

God’s guidance, but realities change. Future leaders may be expected to review and

revise what we do here.


Discussion Key Leader Involvement Prayer Consensus Research Proactive Continuity Open to Future Scrutiny

Which principles have we best incorporated?

How is it working out? Which of these principles

have most influence? Which principles do we

need to elevate? Where do you anticipate

disagreement?

The Key Question:

What does God want to accomplish in the world through our church?

PROCESSPROCESS

B. Process Steps


B. Process Steps Establish the Strategy Team Set up a Meeting Schedule Survey your leaders Communicate with Congregation and Missionaries Analyze the Missions Ministry


B. Process Steps Research the major inputs. Write a purpose statement for the missions ministry

Your key missions Scripture Supplemental missions Scriptures Your definition of missions How the missions ministry fulfills your church purpose

statement


B. Process Steps Research the world and the church Agree on the major factors Establish priorities Establish categories and goals Draft the strategy document Get feedback and approvals Communicate broadly Implement over time!


Grid for Priorities and Decisions

Local same culture

Local & U.S. cross-culture

International

Now

% of $

# missionaries

# partnerships

5 Year Goal

% of $

# missionaries

# partnerships


Grid for Priorities and DecisionsLocal U.S. Cross Cultural

Now

% of $ 30 35 35

# missionaries 0 0 3

$/# projects 5 5

5 Year Goal

% of $ 30 20 50


$/# projects 3 2


Grid for Priorities and DecisionsU.S. International Unreached

Now

% of $ 55 40 5


$/# projects 5 5 0

5 Year Goal

% of $ 40 45 15


$/# projects 3 2 1


Grid for Priorities and Decisions

Local Evang

Local Marcy

Local/U.S. Ch plant

Global Unreached Group

Now

% of $ 25 25 50 0

# missionaries 5 Year Goal

% of $ 10 10 20 40 20

# missionaries

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your ChurchPeople like us

nearbyPeople unlike us nearby People far away

Dollars (%) Now

3-yr

People full time (#) Now

3-yr

Volunteers (#) Now

3-yr

Facility Use (%) Now

3-yr

Staff full time Now

3-yr

Staff (volunteer hrs) Now

3-yr

Calendar (# events) Now

3-yr


Discussion Have we left out something important? What have you been doing best? Benefits? What do you see as

Most urgent? Most difficult? Most likely to cause misunderstanding? Potential roadblock?

Prayer Items?

IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION

A. PrinciplesB. Steps


A. Implementation Principles Continuity Addition Attrition Saying ‘No’ Disassociation


Discussion Continuity Addition Attrition Saying ‘No’ Disassociation

What have you done well so far?

What do you need to change?

Where do you anticipate difficulties?

Prayer items?


B. Implementation Steps Expand ministry in your priority areas. Find out how current missionaries relate to the

strategy and help them contribute. Allow attrition in non-strategic areas. Use a grid or point system for decision making. Say “no.”


B. Implementation Steps Project budgets and personnel for coming year. Send mission trips to priority ministries. Educate the congregation. Raise up your own missionaries. Recruit and deploy congregation members.


B. Implementation Steps Establish Structure Recruit and Train Personnel Develop and Follow Policies Develop and Follow Procedures


Strategy Diagram

Strategy

Structure Personnel Policies Procedures


Structure Organization Reporting Teams Subgroups Number


Structure Possibilities One person Small group Large group

Board, Committee or Team Sub Teams

Steering Team Task Teams


Missions Team Responsibilities

Organize team Assist leaders Learn about missions Develop strategy Set goals & plan Develop policies Generate prayer Educate church Orient new team Develop budget

Coordinate projects Care for missionaries Promote missions Raise funds Handle finances Do mission trips Raise up missionaries Involve congregation Evaluate missions Develop cross-cultural

understanding4


Task Groups

Planning & Policy Finances Education Promotion Prayer Mission Trips

Projects Missionary Care Recruitment Training World Region

10


Personnel Qualities Skills Commitments Knowledge Job Descriptions Responsibilities


Missions Pastor Job Description Internal External Administration People Orientation Communication


Missions Pastor Tendencies

Personal care for workersCounsel missionariesGo on mission tripsMentor candidates

Organize mission tripsKeep up with mission trends Develop strategy and goalsEvaluate mission efforts abroadOversee implementation

Influence church leaders Build interest in individualsMentor trip leadersDevelop individual leaders

Build a missions philosophyOrganize missions committeeDevelop mobilization strategiesDevelop a missions educationDevelop candidate training

Rel

atio

nal

Field Focused

Ad

min

istr

ativ

e

Church Focused


Missions Pastor Qualities Personal Qualities Experience


Qualities Spiritual maturity Concern for lost Active in church Missions savvy Leadership Cooperative Strategic Thinker

Learner Flexible Follow through Communicator Creativity Administrator Time

6


Missions Pastor Job Description See Handout Which responsibilities are most important for your

church?


Who do we want on our team? Qualities Skills Expertise

6


Qualities Spiritual maturity Concern for lost Active in church Missions savvy Leadership Cooperative Strategic Thinker

Learner Flexible Follow through Communicator Creativity Administrator Time

6


Indispensable Qualities Leader – rallies & directs the troops Doers – do the work Administrator – keeps it all together Influencer – persuades & recruits Learner – builds knowledge

6


Policies Criteria Guidelines Finances Approvals

Resource: Church Missions Policy Handbook


Procedures Operation Meetings Responsibility Assignments Orientation Processes


B. Implementation Steps Next Steps for Your Church

Prayer Items


Resources Building Global Vision, David Mays Operation World Exploring World Mission Stuff CD

This is the most rapidly changing and creative and productive time in the history of the

world missionary movement.Paul Pierson

We are poised on the brink of the realization of Carey’s dream -

the completion of world evangelization.Patrick Johnstone

For the first time ever, it is possible that the Great Commission could be fulfilled in our lifetime

and Jesus come back. Ralph Winter

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