INTRODUCTION

The Missions Team (Committee or Ministry) serves the congregation by encouraging, resourcing and facilitating involvement in local, presbyterial, national and international missions, particularly focusing on those activities sponsored and approved by the session, presbytery and/or the General Assembly Board of Missions.

To faithfully plan, promote and implement missions involvement, the Missions Team will need regular meetings, either on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. The Team's service is not limited to "committee meetings," but these are necessary to coordinate the Team's ministry. Team members are appointed by the church session, which also determines their terms of service. They should be selected in light of spiritual gifts for missions and evangelism, personal interest in missions, and a capacity to give time and energy to the ministry of the Team. Team members who regard this as an opportunity for expressing their own calling as disciples will be most effective. The Missions Team will work closely with Cumberland Presbyterian Women and other groups to address missions concerns.

The Missions Team Chair facilitates the ministry of the Team by preparing meeting agendas, moderating meetings, assigning specific tasks to Team members and others interested in the ministry, publicizing and sharing in the programs initiated by the Team, and reporting Team endeavors and recommendations to the session.

Mission and Missions
The church has one mission, which is to share the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ by word, deed, and example, seeking to fulfill the Great Commission Christ gave the disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." [Matthew 28:19-20)

Missions are those activities and ministries which enable the church to achieve its mission especially in the areas of evangelism, establishing new congregations, church revitalization, cross-cultural ministry, social justice, humanitarian service, and other forms of Christian witness and outreach.

Evangelism
The Missions Team sees evangelism as of primary importance in the life of the church, and assists the congregation and its leaders in making evangelism a priority.

There are many definitions of evangelism, a word translated from the New Testament Greek word, euangelion, or good news. Essentially, evangelism is sharing the gospel (good news) of God's love in Jesus Christ. Its goal is that persons who have no relationship with God through Christ may repent of their sin, trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, receive the grace and assurance of salvation, and live by the Holy Spirit for Christ as disciples and active members of the Church. The gospel of Jesus Christ is both about Jesus and the teachings of Jesus.

EIGHT BUILDING BLOCKS OF A COMPREHENSIVE MISSIONS STRATEGY

The congregation's Missions Team could assist the local church in its missions involvement by using the resource called "The Congregation's Approach to Missions," from the General Assembly Board of Missions. In it the Board of Missions has identified eight "building blocks" of a comprehensive missions strategy.

A Comprehensive Missions Strategy Is:

Evangelistic, reaching more people with the gospel of God's love in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20);

Inclusive, growing as a multi-cultural and global church with an increasing acceptance of diversity of gender, age, and culture (Galatians 3:26, 28; Ephesians 2:14-16);

Connectional, unifying congregations, presbyteries, and the denomination as partners in missions 1 John 1:3);

Cooperative, increasing awareness of the value of ecumenical mission involvement with appropriate partners (Ephesians 4:4-6; Galatians 3:29);

Holistic, ministering to individuals and societies, enabling them to become whole (Romans 5:5; Matthew 25:31-46; John 6; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:17-18);

Affirmative, celebrating the ministries of congregations of all sizes, in all locations (2 Corinthians 12:12-26; Philippians 1:3-5);

Equipped, preparing people in every way for participating in God's mission to the world (Ephesians 4:14-16; 2 Peter 3:15; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:27; Ephesians 6:10-25);

Faithful, committing itself to being God's People and to doing that which is necessary to fulfill its calling (1 Peter 2:9-11).

THREE AREAS OF CONCERN FOR THE MISSIONS TEAM

The Missions Team concentrates on the three areas of concern: World or Global Missions, National Missions, and Local Missions. Following are some practical suggestions for each of these areas, a few ideas to promote them all, and a listing of some of the resources available from the General Assembly Board of Missions.

A. World or Global Missions

Organize a Missions Fair with displays featuring Cumberland Presbyterian work outside the USA

Adopt a "sister" congregation from among Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in Colombia, Japan, China or Liberia. Learn about the culture of the congregation and feature its ministries as prayer concerns in worship from time to time. Correspond with the church, if feasible.

Gain information about denominational missionaries serving outside the USA, as well as those serving internationally as "partners in mission."

Highlight the call to missionary service outside the USA as a prayer concern, and ask the pastor to emphasize the call to ministry/missions as appropriate in worship.

Consider salary support, through the local church budget, for a denominational missionary.

Request missionaries on furlough to speak at church.

Promote and contribute to Second Mile Projects authorized by the Board of Missions, as well as special offerings for humanitarian assistance such as Love Loaves and One  Great Hour of Sharing.

Provide information about work/education mission trips outside the USA.

B. National Missions

Support New Church Development by becoming a Builders Fellowship Church, enrolling 10% of the congregation as members of Builders Fellowship.

Provide periodic updates on new church projects in the presbytery, synod or General Assembly.

Encourage the congregation to think of the USA, and its own community, as a "mission field."

Feature in a Missions Fair or in other congregational settings such ministries as Volunteers in Action, Habitat for Humanity, National Farm Workers Ministry, and Coalition for Appalachian Ministry, Beth-El Mission, and Project Vida.

Organize or participate in a mission/work trip in the USA.

Observe Native American Sunday, using materials from the Board of Missions, and become especially familiar with the work of Choctaw Presbytery.

Provide information about cross-cultural ministry in the USA.

Become aware of the work of the presbytery's Board of Missions.

C. Local Missions

Adopt one or two worthy mission causes in the local community and publicize them, recruit volunteers and/or support with financial contributions.

Obtain from the Board of Missions evangelism suggestions and resources, and offer training in faith-sharing for the congregation.

Give attention to means by which the church can reach secular and unchurched people with the gospel, raising the congregation's commitment to evangelism as a priority.

Promote a "Celebration of Friendship Day," when church members are encouraged to invite non-church friends to worship.

An additional worship service style or time might be an evangelistic opportunity.

Explore the need for cross-culture ministry and/or new church development in or near your church community.

Provide a current address list of active member households to the G.A. Board of Missions to assure delivery of The Missionary Messenger to each family.

Provide to the G.A. Board of Missions the mailing address of the current Missions Team Chair.

Organize an outreach program designed to pray for and invite unchurched persons to church. Materials are available from the Board of Missions.

Initiate systematic worship visitor follow-up and assimilation of new members.

Work through the resource called "The Congregation's Approach to Missions" and share results with the church.

Consider a weekend evangelism seminar led by G.A. Board of Missions staff for your church or group of churches.

Attend, and encourage church members to attend, denominational Missions and Evangelism Events. Ask the session to provide assistance with registration fees, travel and lodging for these meetings.

Study with leaders of worship, Christian education, service groups, and others how each ministry/activity/group has implications for evangelism and how each might be active participants in evangelism.

Observe Christian Service Recognition Sunday highlighting service to local church and community.

General Missions Advocacy
Advocate, support financially, and pray for missions — local, national and global — in response to the Lord's Great Commission.

Support Our United Outreach with 10% of local offerings for General Assembly missions and ministries.

Contribute to a Board of Missions endowment, and lift up the work of the Board for those doing estate planning.

Emphasize and promote women's ministries through Cumberland Presbyterian Women's Ministry, ordination of women as elders, deacons and ministers, and other responsibilities.

Schedule and provide leadership for the annual March of Missions emphasis from Easter to Pentecost, and offer "Minutes for Missions" in worship at other times during the year as needed.

Provide Team report summaries for church newsletters or bulletins.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM THE BOARD OF MISSIONS

The Missionary Messenger — mailed at no charge to active households

Quarterly Missions Emphasis materials, including information on Second Mile Projects

March of Missions materials

Cumberland Presbyterian Women's Ministry information and Program/Bible Study Booklets, Resource Manual, Guidelines for Women's Ministry,

Information on denominational missionaries outside the USA and those serving overseas as "partners in mission"

Congregational materials for Native American Sunday, National Farm Workers Sunday, Children in Mission Project, One Great Hour of Sharing, Love Loaves, and other special occasions and causes

A Profile for Self-Evaluation — The Congregation's Approach to Missions

Guidelines for A Congregational Mission Review, to develop a Mission Statement or Purpose

Guidelines for Seeking a New Pastor for Your Church

Christian Service Manual

Brochures for Coalition for Appalachian Ministry, the Commission on Religion in Appalachia, Presbyterian Appalachian Broadcasting Council, Project Vida, Beth-El Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteers in Action, Church Women United, Bread for the World, Builders Fellowship for New Church Development

Evangelism resource catalog; many outreach program resources, such as "The Master's Plan," "Celebration of Friendship" and "The Potential Congregation"

Videos on China Ministry, and other mission opportunities

Table top displays on the work of the Board of Missions program units: Global Missions, Congregational Ministries, Evangelism and Church Growth, Communications and Publications

The Board of Missions internet web site for information and missions update: http://www.cumberland.org/bom

Date Last Updated: November 2, 2005