Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Part II: Establishing Priorities David Mays

Developing a Missions Strategy

That Fits Your Church

Part II: Establishing Priorities

David Mays

I. CONTENTI. CONTENT

B. Secondary Inputs for Setting Priorities

Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church

Strategy ContentA. Primary Inputs

Scripture - Goal Missions - Scope Church - Purpose The World - Challenges

B. Secondary Inputs Audience Balance Focus History ‘Our Own’ Our Roles Participation Partnership Task


Audience Are some groups especially critical or strategic?

World regions? Continents? Countries? World religions? (Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Other?) People with least access to the Gospel? No church? Nominal Christians? Persecuted church? Developing church? Needy people? Suffering people? Children and/or youth? Local Internationals?

Are we focused on a particular audience now?


Audience In our strategy the choice

of people to whom we minister should be

A central, strategic factor An important factor Just one of many factors

This is a Big change Small change No change


Balance: Local – Global Is local ministry included in missions or separate? Our community? City? State? U.S.? Cross Culture? Same culture? Evangelistic ministries? Social ministries?

How does our church structure for reaching People like us nearby? People unlike us nearby? People unlike us far away?


Balance: Local – Global Local ministry should be

Highest portion About equal Small proportion Not at all? It’s a separate

ministry of the church.



Focus: 1000 Points of Light or a Beacon? How broadly should we invest our resources or

how narrowly should we focus? What factors help us decide?

Our style of church Our breadth of interests Our current involvements Our opportunities to communicate Our resources A “purpose-driven” vs. “relationship” mentality

Do we have any “focus areas” now?


Focus We should focus on

Just 1 or 2 major thrusts A few major emphases and

several smaller ones Several large efforts and

many smaller ones A broad variety of

missionaries, projects and partnerships



History How has God led us in the past? What missions efforts have been important to us? What missionaries have we been involved with? What factors have determined our decisions? Which of these factors are still important to us? What do we strongly want to continue?


History Is it important to maintain the ministries and values of

our past or do we need to change? How much? How can we best minimize trauma in transition?

Critical ministries High level of congregational investment High level of missionary/ministry dependence on us

Is there a compelling reason to break with the past? To become more effective and purposeful To gain leadership and congregational support


History Our new strategy should

Be a lot like now Make minor changes slowly Make major changes slowly Make major changes quickly

The biggest change should be ___________________



‘Our Own’ What priority do we give to personnel from our

church? Our fellowship or denomination? What value do we place on a prior relationship with

the ministry, missionary, or organization? How important have relationships been in the past? Is this too important to us or not important enough? Will we partner with missionaries, organizations or

projects with which we do not have a history of relationships?


‘Our Own’ In our new strategy

partnering with ‘our own’ should be

Central to our strategy One of a few important factors Just one of many factors



5. Our Roles What priority should we give to getting involved in

ministries that ‘fit’ our congregation? This could involve our particular social situation; our

spiritual gifts, vocations, skills, & expertise; or other special circumstances involving our church.

It could relate to our values, philosophy of ministry, or the special connections and bridges God has place in our path.

See Building Global Vision, David Mays, pp. 49-55





Our Church Roles – References Building Global Vision, David Mays “Our Church” Worksheet, Stuff II, p. 18 “Our Values,” Stuff IV, p. 25


Partnership How important is it for our church to partner with

other organizations in missions ministry? How important is it for those we support to work

In teams? With churches or organizations on the field? With other churches, organizations or movements

based in the U.S or in our area? With our denomination or a particular agency?

What partnerships are we involved in now?


Partnership In our new strategy

partnership arrangements should be

Central to what we do One of a few important factors Just one of many factors



Participation Is it important for our people to be able to

participate directly in the ministry? Is it important that it occurs where we can go? Is it important that there is work we can do? Does it have to be nearby? Is it important that our people benefit from it?


Participation In our new strategy the

participation of people in our congregation should be

Central to what we do One consideration Not very important



Task Is it important for us to focus on ministry that we

understand is critical, essential, or strategic? Pre-evangelism? Friendship? Translation? Evangelism? Church planting? Discipleship? Leadership development? Service? Support? Compassion? Relief? Development? Social justice? Poverty? Improving quality of life?

Are we strong on a particular task now?


Task In our strategy the choice

of strategic tasks should be

A central, strategic factor An important factor Just one of many factors



DiscussionB. Secondary Inputs

Audience Balance Focus History ‘Our Own’ Our Roles Participation Partnerships Task

Which have been most important in our past?

Which are most important for the Kingdom?

What needs to change? Who needs to change? Where do we need

education?


DiscussionB. Secondary Inputs

Audience Balance Focus History ‘Our Own’ Our Roles Participation Partnership Task

Which do you think are most important to key others?

Who has vested interests? Where do you anticipate

disagreement? Prayer Items?


Secondary Inputs for Establishing Priorities Input A Priority B Priority Notes

Audience

Balance

Focus

History

‘Our Own’

Our Roles

Participation

Partnership

Task

The Key Question:

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

How do you draw people away from their personal preferences and bring the focus back to the Key Question?


Strategy ContentB. Secondary Inputs

Audiences Ministry Tasks Balance Focus History Relationships Our Roles Partnership Participation

Steps for our group:

Items for Prayer


End of Section Two

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Developing a Missions Strategy That Fits Your Church Part II: Establishing Priorities David Mays