INVOLVING EVERY CHURCH IN BUILDING MISSIONS SUPPORT with an ANNUAL MISSIONS CONVENTION

1. THE MISSING PIECES INVOLVING EVERY CHURCH IN BUILDING MISSIONS SUPPORT with an ANNUAL MISSIONS CONVENTION By Paul Brannan

2. EVERY CHURCH IS NEEDED TO BUILD MONTHLY SUPPORT FOR OUR MISSIONARIES ON THE FIELD THE MISSIONS CONVENTION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ASSURE THAT SUPPORT IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN NEEDED!

3. MANY OF OUR CHURCHES DO NOT YET CONDUCT AN ANNUAL MISSIONS CONVENTION THIS MEANS THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE

4. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THE CONVENTION CHALLENGE? CHURCHES CONDUCTING A FIRST-TIME CONVENTION GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO THEIR CONGREGATION TO OBEY CHRIST’S COMMAND!

5. YOUR CHURCH WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM AN ANNUAL MISSIONS CONVENTION • It opens the world to your congregation, equipping them to pray, give, and go • Your people will become more soul conscious – Churches conducting conventions report 67% more converts than those without conventions

6. The convention can give your people great joy and joyful Christians get along better with each other • Working together in a convention will result in better unity because people working for a common goal seldom fight each other

7. Faith Promise giving usually results in more than double their previous missions’ giving, following their first convention This will allow for more disposable income in your general fund, since your missions commitments are now paid from Faith Promise income

8. Faith Promise giving releases God’s principle of multiplication, many times by increasing general fund income An annual convention gives opportunity to obey Christ’s command to every believer to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”Mk 16:15 TLB

9. An annual convention puts you and your Church in agreement with God’s purpose THE FATHER is not willing that anyone be lost. (2 Peter 3:9) came to seek and to save all who are lost. (Luke 19:10) THE SON THE HOLY SPIRIT came to convict the world of sin and to draw all men to Christ. (John 16:8)

10. ‘BUT WON’T THREE OR FOUR MISSIONARY SERVICES EACH YEAR ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING? HERE’S WHY. NO!

11. SERVICE VS. CONVENTION Presents a service Presents a strategy Involves everyone Involves the missionary Presents the call to all Presents the call of one Results in consistent personal giving Results in emotional giving Results in monthly faith promise giving Results in one time offering Assists one missionary budget Supports the entire missions budget

12. SO WHAT IS A MISSIONS CONVENTION? • An awareness of spiritual need throughout the world • The individual believers responsibility to help reach the lost with the gospel IT IS A SERIES OF SERVICES DEDICATED TO PROMOTING:

13. IT SHOULD BE INFORMATIVE: • Exposing the Congregation to the Work of Assemblies of God Missions around the World IT SHOULD BE MOTIVATIONAL: • The Goal is to Enlist Every Believer to Pray and Give, and Some to Obey the Call to Go

14. IT SHOULD BE INSPIRATIONAL: • Our Emotions Must Be Touched Before We Will Respond Willingly • Our Response, However, Should Indicate a Long-term Commitment • We Should Seek the Spirit’s Direction and Anointing on Every Plan and Person Who Participates

15. WHAT ARE THE NECESSARY ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL CONVENTION? • A Series of Services, Conducted at Least Annually, That Focus on Missions • A Missions Speaker with Field Experience • A Faith Promise Challenge to Every Believer

16. NO SERIES OF SERVICES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MISSIONS CONVENTION… UNLESS FAITH PROMISES ARE RECEIVED!

17. THE GREAT COMMISSION IS GIVEN TO EVERY BELIEVER… AND THEY MUST BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME… PERSONALLY INVOLVED!

18. MUST WE SCHEDULE A FULL WEEK? THE WEEKEND CONVENTION IS THE MOST COMMON AND CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE - Saturday night Banquet - Sunday AM – Faith Promises - Sunday PM – Personal commitment

19. WHATEVER FORMAT YOU CHOOSE: • The Pastor should preach on missions on the Sunday prior to the Convention • It is critical that the congregation sees and hears the Pastor’s passion for the lost • Distribute the brochure What is a Faith Promise? at the close of this service

20. 1 SET A DATE • Begin your convention planning at least six months in advance • Plan your convention for the same month each year

21. SET A DATE: • When most of your people can attend • Peak months will depend on the circumstances in your area

22. WHEN YOU SET A DATE: • Avoid holiday weekends and dates when special school or community activities are scheduled each year • Take weather, vacation time and other special work schedules into consideration

23. KEEP THE DATE CLEAR OF COMPETING ACTIVITIES DO NOT PLAN ANY CHURCH ACTIVITY DURING YOUR CONVENTION WEEK THAT WOULD DISTRACT FROM THE FOCUS OF MISSIONS

24. 2 ESTABLISH A CONVENTION BUDGET • SPEAKERS EXPENSES 1. Hotel and food 2. Fares or mileage 3. Honoraria or free-will offerings • PROMOTIONAL EXPENSES • DECORATIONS • BANQUET

25. 3 SCHEDULE YOUR SPEAKERS - World and Home Missionaries - District Leadership - World and Home Missions Leadership YOU MAY INVITE:

26. SELECT A SPEAKER WHO: • Will present a worldview of missions rather than focus on one country • Has experience in presenting the Faith Promise Plan and inspiring your Congregation to action • REMEMBER: Your Annual Missions Budget depends on the success of this service

27. HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE NEED? • The number of activities and services planned • The availability of qualified speakers • The amount of funds available to cover speaker’s expenses THIS WILL DEPEND ON:

28. WHAT EXPENSES SHOULD WE BE EXPECTED TO COVER? • For Missionaries – A generous free-will offering and, when possible, a monthly commitment • World / Home Missions and District Leadership – Travel expenses and honorarium • Hotel and food for all speakers

29. 4 UTILIZE THE MISSIONS TEAM • Don’t try to do it all yourself • Allow your people to take ownership • Give your team the opportunity to dream big dreams for reaching a lost world

30. 5 GET EVERYONE INVOLVED • Plan Parades with children, youth and adults • Skits – Youth promoting the convention • Special music • Banquets for all ages • Booths and displays

31. 6 SET A GOAL • A goal that will encourage the congregation to reach beyond anything ever done before • A goal that is larger than last year and one that requires a growing faith

32. 7 ORDER OR PREPARE MATERIALS • Allow time to order or create banners, posters and other materials • Be sure to order the theme video • Faith Promise cards are a must! • The brochure, What is a Faith Promise?, should be ordered for every family

33. 8 PREPARE THE CONGREGATION • Begin promoting the convention at least two months in advance • Begin teaching about faith promises • Share the faith promise goal • Create excitement and anticipation FAITH PROMISE SUNDAY SHOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF THE YEAR!

34. 9 • Conduct a special prayer meeting to pray for the convention and to intercede for a lost world PROMOTE PRAYER • Distribute a list of requests for the convention and missionaries supported by the church

35. 10 CREATE EXCITEMENT FOR FAITH PROMISE SUNDAY • Provide a table with A/G Missions Ministries literature for all ages • Feature missions in each Sunday School class for the day • Decorate the sanctuary with flags, posters and banners

36. 11 PLAN THE FAITH SERVICE WELL • Build the program, music, etc. around missions, eliminating all unnecessary announcements • Plan baby dedications, reception of members, etc. for another time • Prepare the ushers and tabulators for their duties prior to the service GIVE THE SPEAKER AT LEAST 45 MINUTES TO PREACH AND RAISE FAITH PROMISES

37. WHY TABULATE THE FAITH PROMISES AT THE CLOSE OF THE SERVICE? • We can announce the total during the service, giving more importance to the occasion • It creates a special excitement • Reading each faith promise total aloud presents a model for others to follow • It produces more money for missions

38. 12 EVALUATE YOUR FINANCIAL BASE • Review the faith promises received • Subtract the current missions’ obligations to determine the amount of new income • Estimate the amount of solid income for the next year

39. 13 SET YOUR ANNUAL MISSIONS BUDGET • Leave a margin of safety as well as for unexpected urgent appeals • Designate a portion each month to a fund for: - Visiting missionary speakers - Next year’s convention • Now, decide which missionaries to pick up for monthly support

40. 14 EVALUATE THE CONVENTION • What did we do right? • What did we do wrong? • What did we not do but should have done? • What could we do better? • What dates will we set for next year’s convention? • Who will we invite to speak?

41. THERE IS STILL TIME TO REACH THEM WITH THE MESSAGE OF LIFE! BUT EVERY BELIEVER MUST BECOME INVOLVED COULD YOUR CONGREGATION BE HOLDING THE MISSING PIECES TO FINISH THE TASK?