Missions Policy

Christian Church of Estes Park

(Revised 8/14/06)

I. Scriptural Foundation

The scriptural purpose of Christian Church of Estes Park commitment in missions is:

A. To fulfill the great commission — Matthew 28:19,20 — “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” — Matthew 24:14 — “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

B. To share Christ’s heart for the world — Matthew 9:36 — “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” — Romans 10:14,15,17 — “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they preach unless they are sent? ...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

C. To obey Christ by confessing Him to the world — Matthew 10:32 — “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” — John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

D. To prayerfully send workers into the world for a harvest — Matthew 9:37,38 — “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’.”— Romans 15:21 — “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” — Hebrews 13:3 — “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners.”

E. To care for the physical needs of those requiring assistance — James 1:22 — “You see that his faith and actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”— Matthew 25:40 — “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brother of mine, you did for me.”

II. Definition of Missions

Missions is defined as that ministry of Christian Church of Estes Park that focuses on fulfilling the Great Commission outside the local congregation (primarily cross-cultural in nature) through proclamation of the Gospel and teaching the word of God... all of which is intended to prepare, support, send, and encourage believers to reach out to share and to grow God’s love through the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Local outreach, which is equally important, will be administered by the Missions Team until such time as Church growth allows for its own ministerial focus.

III. Policy

The objective of this Missions Policy is to provide guidelines and define specific responsibilities in carrying out the missions focus of Christian Church of Estes Park. Reviews of the Policy will be conducted one year after adoption and every third year thereafter. Interim policy amendments can be made through the recommendation of the Missions Team and approval of the Elders.

IV. The Missions Team

A. Establishment - The Elders will appoint a ministry leader for missions to facilitate Missions Team activities and regularly liaise with the Elder overseer of Missions, who will participate in Team meetings as available. Recent participants in CCEP’s missions activities will be counseled on new member expectations to determine interest and commitment. If and when committee size exceeds practical working levels, the Elders will be counseled to create a separate local outreach ministry.

B. Expectations of Team members:

o Must have a passion for missions and/or been actively involved in past missions work.

o Must be an active member of the congregation (to participate in final decision making).

o Must be able to attend team meetings.

o Must stay abreast of CCEP missions work.

o Must be willing to regularly pray for the missions activities of CCEP.

o Must be willing to assume a specific role with the missions purview.

C. Terms of membership - Each member will serve initially for one year. Then, based on his/her interest level and performance, the member will be asked to recommit for 2-year terms. Our desire is that members remain on the Team as long as they have a passion for the work.

D. Organization of Missions Team:

o Missions Facilitator

- Serves as liaison between the Missions Team and Elders.

- Facilitates meetings and activities of the Missions Team.

- Ensures Missions Policy and execution is in line with CCEP doctrinal foundations.

o Recording Secretary

- Records, distributes, and files official minutes of Team meetings.

- Facilitates documentation and written communication of the Missions Team.

o Finances Coordinator

- With the committee (or committee leadership), develops the annual Missions budget.

- Liaises with the Church Treasurer and requests missions-related checks as they are needed.

- Provides periodic financial reports on Missions funding and expenditures.

o Other roles include education coordinator; prayer coordinator; special project & appeals coordinator; missionary correspondents; and promotion (web) coordinator.

o Although not necessarily on the Missions Team, points of contact (individuals) will be identified for each agency and outreach organization associated with church membership.

E. Meeting Frequency - The Missions Team will meet monthly to discuss missions business, pray, and learn more about missions. Sub-committees may be formed to address specific issues under the direction of the Missions Team.

V. Overall Purpose of the Missions Team

The general purpose of the Missions Team is to:

o Stimulate intercessory prayer within the congregation for world evangelization and for the safety, needs, and ministries of missionaries supported by the congregation.

o Educate and inspire the congregation in the cause of world missions.

o Help identify, nurture, and send out volunteers for missions service.

o Serve as liaison between CCEP and selected missionaries, as well as local service organizations, agencies and associations which engage in missions activities.

o Develop interdependent relationships with selected missionaries through establishment of goals, periodic progress reports, regular prayer and communication, and participation in furlough activities.

o Recommend additions to and deletions from the missionary support list.

o Develop and manage funds given for Missions activity.

VI. Missions Vision

Christian Church of Estes Park desires to use all its resources in the most responsible manner possible. Accordingly, we seek to become a significant provider for a few carefully nurtured missionaries. This will allow the Church to know our missionaries more intimately and, due to their higher level of support, cause them to be more accountable to Christian Church of Estes Park. We also desire to expose our congregation to the many ways God is using His missionary force today. To that end, we will seek to support a variety of mission types, both local and cross-cultural, in a breadth of global locations. Finally, we will give priority to supporting indigenous missionary candidates whose financial requirements are less and for whom traditional cultural barriers present a lesser obstacle. It is our sincere desire to be good stewards of God’s resources.

VII. Missions Goals

Several long term goals (5-6 years) are necessary to implement the vision reflected above.

A. “World Christians” within the congregation of CCEP are dramatically increased in number.

B. Personal relationships are developed between church members and supported missionaries.

C. CCEP is recognized as a major participant with local outreach agencies.

D. Church-wide missions prayer is a regular part of CCEP worship.

E. 35% of CCEP members are actively involved in either local and/or cross-cultural ministries.

F. At least one full-time missionary has been raised up from within the congregation.

G. 25% of CCEP’s annual expenditures are dedicated to missions activities through faith promises and special projects and appeals giving.

VIII. Strategies to Achieve Missions Goals

A. Providing Missions Education

It is the responsibility of the Missions Team to educate and inspire the congregation in the fields of world missions and local outreach.

1. Identify all the sectors of the church to be educated, i.e. children, young adults, adults, etc.

2. Determine methods of education, i.e. monthly announcements, bulletin board, website, small group missions Bible studies, mission conference, etc.

3. Promote interaction with missionaries and local outreach service organizations.

B. Developing Prayer Support

The Missions Team will endeavor to develop an increasing awareness of the necessity of, and positive results from, intercessory prayer for world evangelization and for our missionaries.

1. Improve communication with missionaries to fully understand prayer needs.

2. Present missions news and needs from the pulpit for corporate prayer.

3. Encourage missions prayer within church cell groups, Sunday school, etc.

4. Regularly pray for missionaries at Team meetings.

C. Identifying and Selecting Cross-cultural Missionaries to Support

It is the responsibility of the Missions Team to recommend missionaries for support that will lead us to our vision of a broad representation of missions types and locations.

1. Develop a menu of desirable missionary traits, functions, and localities.

2. Design a “road map” for achievement of the Missions Vision.

3. Establish criteria for considering candidates for support:

· Submits a formal application to the Missions Team for reviw.

· Is committed to CCEP’s doctrinal statement of faith.

· Offers CCEP an opportunity to be a substantial supporter.

· Is accountable to CCEP’s Board of Elders or an agency with whom we are confident.

· Recognizes preference will be given to indigenous missionaries.

· Undergoes a successful interview with the Missions Team.

· Attains the approval of the Elders/Pastors.

4. Review all applicants, notifying them of the decision process.

D. Strengthening the Bond between Missionaries and the Church

The Missions Team believes clear lines of responsibility need to be understood with our missionaries... this includes the church’s responsibility to the missionary, as well as the missionary’s responsibility to the church. Only in this manner will we be able to develop the mutually dependent relationship we are seeking. 1. CCEP responsibilities to missionaries:

· Provide consistent prayer support.

· Fulfill financial commitments.

· Ensure frequent and open communications to understand needs.

· Continually update missionaries on church activities, i.e. bulletins, sermon tapes, etc.

· Provide housing, transportation, and hospitality to missionaries on furlough.

2. Missionary responsibilities to CCEP:

· Clearly define the ministry undertaken.

· Provide periodic progress reports throughout the year Communicate with the Team at least quarterly.

· Notify CCEP of any change in ministry.

· Coordinate furlough schedule with the Team.

3. Establish a written contract with each missionary that defines responsibilities of both the missionary and CCEP; identifies the church’s financial commitment level, and has a specific time frame. At the conclusion of the contract’s term, it will be reviewed by the Team for renewal, incorporating changes as deemed necessary.

E. Recruiting and Preparing Missionaries from within the Church

It is the responsibility of the Missions Team to foster an environment within the church that will encourage individuals to pursue part or full time missionary service. Such an environment will identify, encourage, counsel, disciple, and commend members of the congregation for missionary service.

1. Pray consistently for God to raise people up.

2. Develop a “road map” for nurturing missionary candidates.

3. Create curiosity in the congregation by making them aware of the great need for missionaries.

4. Develop missions service opportunities for church members, including local outreach, summer programs, project trips, and other short-term programs.

5. Be sensitive in identifying those who demonstrate a real heart for missionary service.

6. Offer counseling and guidance for anyone seeking to enter the mission field.

7. Obtain assistance from approved Missions agencies when deemed appropriate.

IX. Financial Policies

A. Missions Budget

The Missions Budget will not be a component of the general Church budget. Rather, it will be funded by two primary means: 1) Faith Promise Giving - a program of financial support to missions by Church members who make a promise to God by faith over and above their giving to the regular funding of Church ministries. This enables believers to trust God to supply funds not presently available for giving. Faith Promise giving, therefore, requires faith - by trusting God to supply for missions above and beyond the present stewardship of givers; and promise - the commitment to give a designated amount based on faith as supplied by God. 2) Special Project and Appeals Giving - targeted/coordinated events and offerings made to the congregation for missions-related programs and initiatives approved by the Missions Team.

B. Budgeting Schedule

Each year at Pentecost, the Missions Team will present to the congregation the needs and opportunities of missionary outreach. This will culminate in a formal appeal for Faith Promise commitments. Once received, the Missions Team will construct the annual missions budget for the following fiscal year, July 1 through June 30.

C. Budget Allocations

The Missions Team will attempt to make budget investment decisions strategically reflective of our Missions Vision. To that end, we will direct 30% of the budget to cross-cultural missions; 30% to home missions and local outreach; 30% to short-term missions and 10% for discretionary use. Relief projects, benevolence, and short term missions initiatives will utilize special project and appeals giving as their funding source. Money will only be spent as it becomes available. Unobligated expenses will be paid on a priority basis determined by the Missions Team.

D. Terms of Missionary Support

1. Initial support term will be one year.

2. Subsequent support term will be reviewed in accordance with budget allocation goals.

3. For non-CCEP missionaries, initial support will be no less than 5% of requirements, with a long-term target of 25%.

4. For CCEP member missionaries, initial support will be no less than 25% of requirements, with a long-term target of 50%.

5. Support for a missionary will be re-evaluated if he/she changes agencies or mission focus.

6. Support for a missionary will be terminated when any of the following occurs:

· He/she resigns from mission work and/or has another source of income.

· He/she shows specific incompetence or betrays doctrinal/moral beliefs of the church.

· He/she fails to live up to the contractual support agreement entered into with CCEP.

7. Additional support may be provided at the discretion of the Missions Team to assist with furlough costs and other one-time expenses as deemed appropriate.

E. Designated Gifts

Designated giving will be limited to specific one-time projects or appeals as presented by the Missions Team. All other designated gifts will be subject to the approval of the Missions Team. Members desiring to make donations to other Missions agencies are encouraged to do so directly.

F. Missions Fund Shortage and Surplus

In the event of a shortage of missions funds, an immediate appeal will be made to the Church body to pray about their Faith Promise. Funds received in excess of Faith Promise commitment will be assigned to the Missions discretionary budget fund for prayerful investment by the Team.

X. Definition of Terms

Cross-Cultural Missions: Full-time Christian workers sent by their churches to work among peoples of a different culture, either within their own nation or abroad.

Home Missions: Full-time Christian workers serving as missionaries in their own country.

Indigenous Missionary: A full-time Christian worker whose ministry is in his home country.

Short Term Missionary: Serving in a missionary capacity or on a missions project for less than two years.

Local Outreach: Support for Christian-based ministries that reach out to the local community.

Benevolence/Relief: Support for the poor and those touched by tragedy.