FOR ALL THE FOR ALL THE RIGHT RIGHT REASONSREASONS

A Theological Approach to A Theological Approach to Mission in The United Methodist Mission in The United Methodist ChurchChurch

Why are we Why are we involved in involved in mission?mission?

WHOWHO

WHYWHY

WHOWHWHOWHYY

WWHOWHOWHHYY

Do good intentions always Do good intentions always translate into theological translate into theological practice?practice?

The The HomecomingHomecoming

How was this attempt at How was this attempt at outreach ministry portrayed outreach ministry portrayed

both both positively positively and and negativelynegatively??

WHOWHO

Matthew 25:40Matthew 25:40

Truly I tell you, just Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one as you did it to one of the least of of the least of these who are these who are members of my members of my family, you did it to family, you did it to me.me.

WHOWHOare the are the

“least of these”“least of these” in our world today?in our world today?

How does mission affect How does mission affect the Receiver?the Receiver?

GIVERGIVER RECEIVERRECEIVER

PatronizingPatronizing

PartneringPartneringor

Our View of Mission Our View of Mission Giving & ReceivingGiving & Receiving

Each of us develops, Each of us develops, consciously or consciously or unconsciously, our own unconsciously, our own perspective of missions.perspective of missions.

It is very difficult to see It is very difficult to see things from another things from another person’s perspective.person’s perspective.

Mission Mission involves involves

and and impacts impacts both the both the Giver and Giver and Receiver.Receiver.

What does the Receiver What does the Receiver offer the Giver?offer the Giver?

GIVERGIVER RECEIVERRECEIVER

Who are we as the family of Who are we as the family of God?God?

Created in the Created in the image of Godimage of God

All in need of All in need of God’s graceGod’s grace

All equal in the All equal in the sight of Godsight of God

God’s grace God’s grace available to allavailable to all

Capacity to loveCapacity to love

The Gospel PerspectiveThe Gospel Perspective

GIVERGIVER RECEIVERRECEIVER

The Gospel PerspectiveThe Gospel Perspective

The Gospel PerspectiveThe Gospel Perspective

ImagoImagoDeiDei

ImagoImagoDeiDei

Giving and receiving is a Giving and receiving is a cycle of love and cycle of love and relationships!relationships!

ImagoImagoDeiDei

ImagoImagoDeiDei

PREVENIENPREVENIENT MISSIONT MISSION

God is already God is already there and at work there and at work

before we get before we get there!there!

FOR ALL THE FOR ALL THE RIGHT RIGHT REASONSREASONS

A Theological Approach to A Theological Approach to Mission in The United Methodist Mission in The United Methodist ChurchChurch

WHYWHY

The Great CommissionThe Great Commission

Go therefore and make Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the baptizing them in the name of the Father and name of the Father and of the Son and of the of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything them to obey everything that I have commanded that I have commanded you.you.Matthew 28:18-20Matthew 28:18-20

The Greatest The Greatest CommandmentsCommandments

You shall love the Lord You shall love the Lord your God with all your your God with all your heart, and with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your mind, and with all your strength…strength…

You shall love your You shall love your neighbor as yourself.neighbor as yourself.

Mark 12:30-31Mark 12:30-31

JJOOYY

esusesus

thersthers

ouou

What we are What we are called to called to bebe determines determines what we are to what we are to dodo..

We are…We are…Redeemed and restored Redeemed and restored

people of Godpeople of GodThe Body of ChristThe Body of ChristObedient ServantsObedient ServantsHumble ServantsHumble ServantsAgents of TransformationAgents of Transformation

We are called We are called to…to…

Preach, teach and witnessPreach, teach and witness Glorify GodGlorify God Feed and care for othersFeed and care for others LoveLove Reconcile and forgiveReconcile and forgive Do justiceDo justice

Keeping Motivations in Keeping Motivations in CheckCheck

Self-GratificationSelf-Gratification ““Vacation”Vacation” Santa Claus SyndromeSanta Claus Syndrome Cultural ManipulationCultural Manipulation The Patriarchal ApproachThe Patriarchal Approach ControlControl Failure to value others as selfFailure to value others as self

Blessed to Blessed to be a be a Blessing to Blessing to

Others Others

Mission is Mission is central to central to Christian Christian

DiscipleshDiscipleshipip

Good

News

Good

News

Community

(Support Structure)

Good

News

Community

(Support Structure)

Good

News

Community

(Support Structure)

Mission is Mission is Good Good

StewardshipStewardship

Mission in the Mission in the Wesleyan Wesleyan TraditionTradition

BiblicalTheologicalFoundation

Mission Education

BiblicalTheologicalFoundation

Mission Education

Spiritual FormationSpiritual

Disciplines

Spiritual FormationSpiritual

Disciplines

PartnershipsHospitality

PartnershipsHospitality

ActionCreative Energy

ActionCreative Energy

Christ overAll

Christ overAll

BeingBeing

DoingDoing

Open MindsOpen MindsOpen HeartsOpen HeartsOpen DoorsOpen Doors Open HandsOpen Hands

HOWHOW

Some Basic PrinciplesSome Basic Principles Mission Understanding & TheologyMission Understanding & Theology Prevenient MissionPrevenient Mission Spiritual DiscernmentSpiritual Discernment Love in ActionLove in Action Understand Other CulturesUnderstand Other Cultures HumilityHumility

Planning: A Crucial Planning: A Crucial StepStep

Ascertain GiftsAscertain Gifts Need AssessmentNeed Assessment Match Gifts and NeedsMatch Gifts and Needs PrioritizePrioritize Action PlanAction Plan EvaluationEvaluation

Use and Use and Support Support the the ConnectioConnectionn

District Mission SecretariesDistrict Mission Secretaries Conference Mission SecretariesConference Mission Secretaries VIM CoordinatorsVIM Coordinators Jurisdictional PersonnelJurisdictional Personnel General Board of Global General Board of Global

MinistriesMinistries UMCOR UMCOR Women’s DivisionWomen’s Division Mission PersonnelMission Personnel Mission Context & RelationshipsMission Context & Relationships Evangelism & Church GrowthEvangelism & Church Growth Partnership with other organizationsPartnership with other organizations

Training & Training & ResourcesResources

For All The Right For All The Right ReasonsReasons

was developed bywas developed by

Mark Barden, Larry RankinMark Barden, Larry Rankinand Ruth Wiertzemaand Ruth Wiertzema

on behalf of the on behalf of the

Southeastern JurisdictionSoutheastern JurisdictionConference Mission SecretariesConference Mission Secretaries

for the General Board of Global Ministries for the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Churchof The United Methodist Church

Send your stories, Send your stories, suggestions and suggestions and ideas to:ideas to:

Mark BardenMark Barden

PO Box 18005 PO Box 18005

Charlotte, NC 28218Charlotte, NC 28218

mbarden@wnccumc.mbarden@wnccumc.orgorg

FOR ALL THE FOR ALL THE RIGHT RIGHT REASONSREASONS

A Theological Approach to A Theological Approach to Mission in The United Methodist Mission in The United Methodist ChurchChurch