Date: Jun 30, 2003 [ 8: 22: 45]
Subject: Summary - Supporting Missions
© 2003 BCP Harry Shelton Cole
Subject: Summary - Supporting Missions
SUMMARY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTING LIST
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Moderated and edited by Pastor Harry Shelton Cole
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Introduction: This Summary is a one for the archives. It not only reflects
the attitude that makes most independent Baptist's different from others it
defines the strength of our fellowship and the desire we have to win the
lost through out the world. It epitomizes the very heartbeat of our
churches -- MISSIONS. Thanks to all who answered the question of the week.
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Baptist Church Planters List - Question of the Week
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When should the new church planter begin to support missions in his new work
and Why?
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Brother Missionary Dennis Ebert answers the question of the week with a
missionaries perspective but we must remember that they are planting
churches and teaching missions in their new churches just like home church
planters are. I like what he has to say.
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It is my opinion that the new church should begin to support missions
as soon as there are people to give.
I have heard all the other various views and arguments and find most
of them wanting. A church should teach the new Christian the Doctrine
of the Word of God ASAP and giving should be one of the earliest.
If the planter is not going to start missions giving immediately, when will
he start. Why is it important to teach tithing but not missions? If the
answer is to wait until it the Church is stable, when is stable? If the answer
is when the pastor is supported full-time at what dollar figure will
that be?
No sir, the Church should learn the philosophy of missions from the
beginning. I believe that "at the same time" means that. Have a
conference as soon as there are enough people to attend. Build on that
conference and the next one will be better.
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Pastor Jim Ragsdale is a church planter in an area of the country that is a
Mission field of itself. California is often thought of as the left coast
and that all Christians from there must be compromisers. Jim is no
compromiser and loves the Word of God and preaches it straight. He has
planted two churches in this wilderness and if men like him continue to do
just that, springs of living water will restore this barren land. He
responds to the question of the week simply and scripturally.
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>When should the new church planter begin to support missions in his new work
>and Why?
The "First Service" when an offering is taken...
I have started two works and the first thing I did was support someone that
I knew. Fulfilling the principle of giving and receiving. I have always
felt that the more I give the more the Lord blesses. I do not give to get,
solely for the getting "but" I do believe that the principle of giving and
receiving teaches us that if we are faithful over little the Lord blesses
with more "getting" to give.
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed
down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your
bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured
to you again."
"...the same measure that ye mete withal..." is a condition of the heart
about giving, it has nothing to do with the size of your measurer! (cf..
the lady and the mites...)
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Bill Britt, missionary to Zambia, gives every question on this list a unique
perspective. He is planting churches in Zambia but has also planted
churches in the Northeastern US.
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>When should the new church planter begin to support missions in his new work
>and Why?
Brother Cole, I have a strong opinion on this one, so here it is.
When we started our churches in New York, the very first check that we wrote
from both churches was to a missionary. I realize that these churches were
receiving support themselves, but I believe there is a Bible principal for a
church to have a desire to be the one that is helping others. The first
church in Utica was in a inner-city, and the people did not have much money,
but they had that desire to give. To their credit, and not mine. When their
general budget was $950.00 a week, they were giving another $400.00 a week
to missions. I`m happy that God stopped me from telling them that they could
not do that. If you wait until you are able or in a position to give, that
time may never come. The Lord blessed them, they have a nice building that
is almost paid for, the Pastor is full time. They have a van, and the Lord
has blessed them with many things. I don`t think this would have happened,
if they had not put others first. This church on top of all that paid the
entire bill for shipping our container to Zambia. I could not hold back the
tears when I saw what God had allowed them to do. I encourage any church
planter to start supporting missionaries right from the very beginning. I`m
sure it will be a step of faith, but God will bless the church in a
wonderful way. I could spend the rest of the evening sharing how God blessed
the church as a whole and the individuals who were the ones God used to do
these things through their church.
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Marc Leverett is a pastor and church planter in Mobile Alabama and offers
this answer to the question of the week based on his conviction and
experience. The truly successful church will be missions minded no matter
what size it is. Thanks Marc.
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When it comes to church planting and missions, I agree with all those who
said that one of the first things or even THE first thing a new church
should do is to start supporting World Missions. We did that the first
service in our church well before we organized as a separate body from our
Mother church. Our bulletin board had pictures of missionaries and their
report letters were read from the pulpit. It makes the new group aware that
this is a vital part of what a church IS.
Another factor is that I have always believed and preached that we do not
have any right to pray and ask God to bless our local work if we are not
obedient in Missions. There is no reason that there should be such a
comparative glut of churches here in the USA (speaking in comparative
terms, mind you) unless it is to use our abundance to fulfill the Great
Commission. The same goes for the blessings of God upon our country. I
believe God has blessed America so that we may export the gospel and
continues to bless as we continue to be generous in this area. As far as I
can see it, there is not much else that God has any reason to bless us for!
Every church regardless of size has a scriptural and a Spiritual mandate
to support WORLD missions.
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Pastor Jeff Ables, Calvary Baptist Church, Knob Noster Missouri, emphasizes
in his response the focus of every growing church should be the growth and
others. Makes sense and explains the biblical principle that has made his
church grow as well as other independent Baptist churches. Thanks Jeff.
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The very day the new church begins is the day that the mission begins to
focus on missions. If a church wants itself to grow numerical and spiritual
I believe its first priority will be to find at least one missionary that
they can support financially and prayerfully. This is what the sending
church is doing for them so they in turn can do this for the missionary.
Why? Because missions is the heart beat of the church. Start out right,
focus on missions. We have a new church starting in Henderson NV. The first
priority of the new mission was to get one missionary, and to begin to do
the things I just spoke of. I believe because of this focus and priority God
will bless the efforts......
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Brother Terrell R. Sears, of First Bible Baptist Church, Bakersfield, CA, is
counted in agreement with Brother Ebert and makes the following statement in
reply to his message makes some interesting assertions concerning the tithe
and how missions giving can bless all facets of giving in the church.
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A wholehearted agreement with Ebert. He got it exactly right. I have never
found giving to missions has ever hurt the giving in other areas of the
church. In fact, quite the opposite. When missions giving is taught and
practiced some who have never tithed before begin to tithe as well. I find
that mission emphasis blesses the rest of the giving to the church.
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Pastor McKenzie is in Astoria Oregon in the great Northwest. Truly a
mission field, Pastor McKenzie is a "been there, done that" preacher. He
adds to the already great advice given by our list supporters. Thanks Pastor
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>When should the new church planter begin to support missions in his new work
>and Why?
It looks as if almost all the responses to this question have been nearly
identical. I think that is can be attributed to at least a couple of things:
1. The Bible
If a thing is Biblical, it makes sense that more than a few honest students
of the Bible would see it.
2. Our Teachers
The Pastors of the BBFI have always been convinced about missions and have
done a good job of convincing those under them.
Not all Independent Baptists believe so strongly in missions. I read a
sermon once by Tom Malone where he said that one of the ways to "kill" a
soul winning church is to over do missions. I suppose it would be possible
to get anything out of balance. However, this does illustrate a different
philosophy than ours towards missions among those who taught him and those
he has taught.
I can put myself in the church planter's shoes in this regard, because I
have been there. When I co-planted a church in Colorado, one of the first
orders of business was to take on a missionary. When my wife and I came to
Astoria to plant this church, one of the first orders of business was to
take on a missionary. When we plant new churches out of our church, one of
the first things we want them to do is to take on a missionary.
Why? - The Great Commission of the Church is missions. We are to win souls,
baptize the converts, and get them into church to be trained to observe all
things Christ commanded. We are not only to do that in our own locale, but
in all the world. The only way to do that is through missions. A church is
a church by virtue of its purpose or mission. I do not believe a church is
a church unless it gets its mission statement directly out of Matthew 28.
Therefore, in order to be a church, we must be involved in missions.
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It all comes home -- doesn't it? Home missions is the foundation that must
be laid to have a structurally sound foreign missions program. Brother
Terrell Sears responds to Dr. McKenzie and completes the circle. We are
here to support , encourage and promote Baptist church planting and I think
most of us are agreed that this starts at home. Thanks Brother Sears for
your thoughtful insight on the Question of the Week
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Question of the Week
>When should the new church planter begin to support missions in his new work
>and Why?
>From Brother McKenzies post:
sermon once by Tom Malone where he said that one of the ways to "kill" a
soul winning church is to over do missions. >>
Brother Sears response:
The premise of Malone's sermon would probably be to illustrate what happened
to such groups as the Christian and Missionary Alliance. They were heavily
into foreign missions, but they did not build the home . . . their failure to
place any emphasis on start new churches at home eroded their base and they
could not maintain their large foreign missions program.
We of the BBFI consider (for the most part) starting new churches as
missions, albeit home missions, nevertheless missions.
One of the strains of the fellowships missions program over the years has
been that we do not have enough churches to make it possible for new
missionaries to get to the field in a timely manner. I know that this
question was not about foreign missions but since that was brought up, just
thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth.
If anything, this is an argument for even a more aggressive home missions
program.
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Jeff Odell is one of the newest members of the list and started the
Fayetteville Baptist Church four years. Jeff, as a church planter, has a
heart for home missions and realizes the importance of balance. Welcome and
thanks for posting.
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I have a simple unwritten rule for my missions program. We have to support
home missions in equally 50/50 to foreign missions. If we have 4 foreign
missionaries on for support, and 3 home missionaries, the next missionary I
bring on for support must be a home missionary. Keeps things balanced.
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Conclusion:
Missions is a vital part of a church plant and should be acknowledged from
the on set. Without reaching out to others both at home and around the
world the church exists without purpose and direction. The local NT church
was given a commission to be fulfilled and it's prime directive is to reach
the lost at any cost. When a Baptist Church planter gets a vision for his
area he must remember that the driving force behind that vision will always
be the Word of God and the mission from the Matthew 28:18-20.
End