BORDER INITIATIVE BORDER INITIATIVE CHURCH OF THE CHURCH OF THE

NAZARENENAZARENEMEXICO – U. S. A.MEXICO – U. S. A.

The border between Mexico and the United States is 3,152, Kms. long (1900 miles), from monument 258 northeast of Tijuana to the mouth of the Rio Grande into the Gulf of Mexico.

The border states in the north of Mexico are: Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León y Tamaulipas.

The border states on the U.S. side are: California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

The Economic Census of Mexico in 2005 reports that we have a general population of 103,082,210 in the entire country.

PURPOSE:PURPOSE:

To mobilize the Church of the To mobilize the Church of the Nazarene in Northern Mexico Nazarene in Northern Mexico

along with the Church in along with the Church in Southern United States to give Southern United States to give special attention to the border special attention to the border

area of area of

both countries, and:both countries, and:

I.- Promote growth and development of I.- Promote growth and development of the existing churches on both sides of the existing churches on both sides of the border.the border.

II.- Reach new towns and cities on both II.- Reach new towns and cities on both sides of the border and establish new sides of the border and establish new missions.missions.

III.- Discover and develop volunteer III.- Discover and develop volunteer leaders that accept the challenge to go leaders that accept the challenge to go and establish new missions.and establish new missions.

IV.- Discover and develop leaders at all IV.- Discover and develop leaders at all levels: Laymen, pastors, missionaries, levels: Laymen, pastors, missionaries, etc.etc.

V.- Channel support groups, ministry V.- Channel support groups, ministry teams and resources from Mexico and teams and resources from Mexico and the U.S., within the structure of the the U.S., within the structure of the Church of the Nazarene.Church of the Nazarene.

VI.- Establish links between the border VI.- Establish links between the border districts to resolve related contextual districts to resolve related contextual issues.issues.

THE VISION:

We see the churches of southern U. S. and northern Mexico along the border impacted by integrated ministery of the local church. (Compassionate Ministries, Work and Witness, evangelism, discipling, and development of leaders.)

Churches multiplying themselves with new Nazarenes, new churches, and new decentralized centers of theological education.

PURPOSE I. - TO PROMOTE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXISTING CHURCHES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER:

1.- In accordance with the vision of the District Superintendents and contextual strategies.

2.- Attention and study of the Core Values of the denomination.

3.- System of Training the local church to fulfill the Mission, the Objectives and Purpose of the Church of the Nazarene.

4.- To take the imperatives of the Regional Vision as practical suggestions that help the development of the established church:

a)- There should be a local strategy for prayer, coordinated at the same time on the district, field and regional level.b)- To establish effective mechanisms to transmit the vision.c)- To establish systems and methods of continued discipleship.d)- To continue with the doctrinal clarity (orthodoxy of the church) that has been the backbone of the churches.e)- To apply and understand that growth requires pruning and refinement.

PURPOSE II. - TO REACH NEW TOWNS AND CITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER AND TO ESTABLISH NEW MISSIONS FOR THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE:

Applying the evangelistic strategies and tools that we have:

1.- “TO BE LIKE HIM”

2.- The Jesus Film

3.- The EvangeCube

4.- “Máxima Misión”…holistic ministry teams

5.- Groups of Mexican and US youth working together

6.- Cells or Family Groups meeting in homes

7.- House Churches

8.- Mass Evangelism,

9.- OTHERS!

PURPOSE III. - TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP VOLUNTEER LEADERS THAT ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE TO GO AND ESTABLISH NEW MISSIONS.

The purpose is to discover and awaken the call to the ministry of preaching, pastoring, and missionary service in the established church and in the groups of new converts.

1.- “TO BE LIKE HIM” and the study of the gifts of ministry. (Survey)

2.- “CC1” Camp or Training Course to find out about the ministries of the church: NYI, NMI, SSM, NCM, Communications, Theological Education, Leadership.

3.- “CC2” Group selected for ministries after CC1.“COM”: (NMI) Missionary Orientation Camp“MAS”: (NYI): Development of the ministry among youth“TEACH”: (SSM): Sunday School Ministries

PURPOSE IV. - TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP LEADERS AT EACH LEVEL: LAYMEN, PASTORS, MISSIONARIES, ETC.

1.- “PROJECT ABRAHAM”…volunteer service for periods of 10 to 30 days in communities where there is no Church of the Nazarene presence, especially for youth with a call to pastoral ministry or missionary service.

2.- “CC3”…Video training program with study manuals for laymen to be leaders in the different ministries of the church.

3.- Approved programs for ministerial studies.

4.- SENDAS…Offers master’s level degree with emphasis on the Mission of the Church for pastors and laymen willing to serve in the ministry of the Church.

PURPOSE V. - TO CHANNEL SUPPORT GROUPS, MINISTRY TEAMS AND RESOURCES FROM MEXICO AND THE U.S., WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE.

1.- Work and Witness teams: Construction, VBS, JESUS Film, Maxima Mission, and NCM (medical teams, micro-enterprises, social services, and vocational training).

2.- Adults and Youth that want to come to participate in volunteer ministries with the approval of World Mission, the MAC Region, and the Field Office. (volunteer missionaries)

3.- Youth-In-Mission. (NYI YouthServe or university groups)

4.- “One Heart, Many Hands”

5.- Accomplishing approved projects and channeling funds through World Mission.

PURPOSE VI. - TO ESTABLISH LINKS BETWEEN THE BORDER DISTRICTS TO RESOLVE RELATED CONTEXTUAL ISSUES.

1.- Define what type of situation should be handled when they come up.

2.- Leaders along the southern border of the U.S. should present specific needs related with the Hispanic community to their colleagues on the northern border of Mexico to look for solutions in consultation with the Field Office.

NECESSARY STEPS FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE BORDER INITIATIVE.

I. Approval and Partnership of the Offices of World Mission at Nazarene Headquarters, Regional Office, Field Office and the Office of Hispanic Ministries in the U. S. ( To provide consultation and supervision.)

II. The commitment to participation and collaboration by the District Superintendents on both sides of the border: Mexico – U. S.

III. The MAC Regional Office, to give direction based on the regional strategy, and resources for the Regional Coordinators to provide training.

IV. With the help of the initiative directors, the district superintendents on both sides of the border, and the coordinators of Field Strategy and Hispanic Ministries, to prepare a list of specific projects in keeping with the declaration of purpose and implementation times: short, medium and long term. (considering an initial period of four years)

MATTERS TO RESOLVE:

1.- Guidelines for the mobilization of support groups, volunteers, and Work and Witness teams.

2. - Guidance for channeling and use of economic resources that are applied to the Initiative.

3.- Guidelines for promoting the Border Initiative on the districts along the border.

WAYS FOR U.S. CHURCHES WAYS FOR U.S. CHURCHES TO GET INVOVLEDTO GET INVOVLED

1.1. Organize construction and ministry teams. Organize construction and ministry teams. (W&W)(W&W)

2.2. Send YouthServe and Impact Teams. (Send YouthServe and Impact Teams. (MAXIMA MAXIMA MISSION)MISSION)

3.3. Recruit volunteers to fill specific needs.Recruit volunteers to fill specific needs.4.4. Take on specific projects, like district centers.Take on specific projects, like district centers.5.5. Recruit and sponsor theological instructors.Recruit and sponsor theological instructors.6.6. Help Phase 1 and 2 districts reach Phase 3.Help Phase 1 and 2 districts reach Phase 3.7.7. Sponsor TBLH new church plants.Sponsor TBLH new church plants.8.8. Bring ministry teams from Mexico to the U.S.Bring ministry teams from Mexico to the U.S.9.9. PRAYPRAY…for open doors, willing hands, and …for open doors, willing hands, and

results!results!