An Exciting “New” Approach to Mission

1. An Exciting “New” Approach to Mission

2. HisHands • Your Church a launching pad for Mission.

3. What is HisHands? Every Church/Organization • sponsors one missionary volunteer annually. • hosts one • missionary • volunteer • annually.

4. HisHands will: • Revive a spirit of mission. • Provide thousands of volunteers who are available to serve in all the world.

5. The GREAT commission Jesus Said: All authority is given to me therefore GO

6. Jesus said, • MAKE DISCIPLESof all nations. • BAPTIZE. • TEACHthem to obey everything I have taught you. I AM with you always.

7. Who? What? How? • WHO SENDS? • ON WHAT BASIS are we sent? • WHO IS SENT? • WHO ARE WE SENT TO? • WHAT IS TO BE DONE? • WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF POWER FOR THIS • MISSION? • 7. HOW LONG DOES THIS MISSION LAST? The risen Christ through the medium of His Church. a. Go—action is required. b. Make disciples. c. Baptize. The Authority and Command of Christ. d. Teach them to obey Jesus’ commands. All disciples. Jesus is with us always. • All nations (peoples/ethnic groups). Until the very end of the age. NOT a temporary assignment.

8. The PROPHET SPEAKS • “He calls for volunteers who will cooperate with Him in the great work of sowing the world with truth. . . . In every place to which they can gain access. . . . His kingdom is to be enlarged.” 1 Selected Messages, page 112

9. Reflex Influence • The Church Family – “The home missionary work will be farther advanced in every way when a more liberal, self-denying, self- sacrificing spirit is manifested for the prosperity of foreign missions; for the prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off.” 6 Testimonies, page 27 • The Individual Church Member – • “Those who take up their appointed work will not only • be a blessing to others, but they will themselves be • blessed. The consciousness of duty well done will • have a reflex influence upon their own souls.” • Ministry of Healing, page 148

10. New Testament Model • A small prayer group at Antioch was asking God for guidance. He answered with a call to mission service. • Paul and Barnabas were commissioned to go and spread the message about God’s kingdom.

11. End-Time Mission • Why should not the • members of a church, • or of several small • churches unite to • sustain a Missionary • in foreign fields? • Gospel Workers, page 466

12. We are His Hands! • Heavenly angels employ human hands in practical ministry . . . This is heaven’s way of administering saving power . . . Human agencies are called to be hand helpers. My Life Today, page 305 • We have a great work to do by cooperating with Him as His Helping Hands. Upward Look, page 76

13. Overview Each church • sponsors a minimum of one volunteer annually. • selects from projects advertised on division or General Conference websites or call books, unless assigned to home church. • volunteer serves in another division, the home division/union/conference/mission, or home community. • receives a minimum of one volunteer annually, • funded by sponsor. • advertises positions on division or General • Conference websites or call books. • is not required to enter into an exchange with • another church. • chooses assignment as permanent • arrangement until project is completed.

14. Every Church • Appoints A CoMission (a committee to organize the program). • Sends a Missionary. • Hosts a Missionary.

15. The CoMission • Works with local congregation, cooperating with pastor, church board. • Designs local project, funding, staff and implementation. • Selects project to sponsor - raises funds. • Selects HisHands missionaries. • Monitors projects while underway. • Holds CoMissioning service for missionary.

16. Appoint Coach To: • Provide hospitality and guidance to missionary. • Provide training when needed. • Engage missionary with local congregation. • Monitor local mission project. • Mediate in conflicts.

17. Sponsorship Means: • Spiritual Support • The CoMission coordinates spiritual nurture, prayer • support. • Physical Support • The CoMission coordinates regular communication • with missionary—sending evangelistic, personal and • other items. Financial Support • fares. • accommodation expenses. • stipend. • insurance costs. • visa fees. • medical examination fees. Financial responsibilities and/or services may be shared with receiving organization, e.g. accommodation, food, etc.

18. Definition of a HisHandsMissionary: • A “HisHands” Missionary Volunteer is a baptized Seventh-day Adventist, at least eighteen years of age, who is willing to devote his/her gifts on a full-time basis, preferably for a period of six months to two years, to serve in some form of witness to spread the gospel.

19. Project Possibilities • Church planting in cities and towns where there are no Seventh-day Adventists. • Door-to-door visitation. • Public evangelism. • Bible studies. • Teaching. • Medical and dental care. • Building construction. • Office work. And much more……..

20. HisHands Missionary • Selected by CoMission (Interviews). • Assists in fundraising. • Serves at project site. • Implements project. • Provides regular financial and narrative reports.

21. Training • Cross-cultural training essential for missionaries working in another culture – Passport to Mission Manual. • Witnessing and evangelism training provided by departmental directors – HisHands Training Resources Handbook. • HisHands Missionary Handbook. • HisHands Host/Sponsor Handbook.

22. What is Different aboutHisHands? • It is a team approach to mission • The Conference/Mission assists the congregation in creating structure and provides training. • The CoMission in the local congregation plans and initiates the project. • The CoMission selects the missionary. • The CoMission provides the resources.

23. HisHands Differences • The Coach introduces the missionary to the project. • The Coach links the missionary with host community. • The Coach nurtures the missionary—culturally, socially and spiritually. • The HisHands Missionary is selected for a specific • position. • Is accountable to the home CoMission for project • fulfillment and use of project funds. • Will receive training for mission service on-site as • well as in home church/conference/mission. • Has specific support—CoMission, Coach.

24. Catching the Vision • Take time to understand the “reflex influence.” Pastor and/or church member(s) may visit the project site. • Sponsoring church may convene short-term mission trip with several members to lay the groundwork.

25. BENEFITS of Pastor or Group Visiting Project Site • Face-to-face connection with project hosts. • Evangelistic plans agreed upon. • Budget refined. • Needs clarified. • Inspiration shared with home church.

26. How to Initiate HisHands • Personal Ministries Council recommends to Church Board. • Church Board approves and recommends to Business meeting. • Business Meeting approves. • Church Board nominates CoMission Members and appoints Chairperson. • CoMission voted into office as for any church office.

27. Launching HisHands • First at Home. • Learn by doing mission projects close to home. • Less expense. • Then to Foreign Fields. • “A company of believers may be poor, uneducated, and unknown; yet in Christ they may do a work in the HOME, the NEIGHBORHOOD, the CHURCH, and even in the “REGIONS BEYOND,” whose results shall be as far-reaching as eternity.” • Desire of Ages, page 640

28. The Sending Church/Organization — • Becomes the missionary organization. • Expects and receives regular reports from the missionary and is blessed. • Doubles its prayer and financial support. • Develops greater dedication to mission and to the Church. • Becomes a pool of potential missionaries to serve at home and abroad. • Develops a new vision of what can be done.

29. The “HisHands” Missionary Volunteer — • Is blessed by the experience. • Sees a broader perspective of the community and the world. • Has an opportunity to test gifts and talents for service. • Has a chance to enlarge the Christian family and make new friends. • Derives sense of satisfaction from serving. • Learns what true giving means. • Learns to value other cultures and new ways of doing things.

30. The Host/Receiving Church/Organization • Is blessed. • Is exposed to the care and interest of missionaries. • Gains a new perspective on the world outside their local area. • Receives material and spiritual aid they would otherwise never know about. • Invites individuals to join God’s remnant Church who are discipled by the missionary volunteer.

31. You Can Make It Happen • “He calls for volunteers who will cooperate with Him in the great work of sowing the world with truth. God’s workers are to plant the standards of truth in every place to which they can gain access. The world needs restoring. It is lying in wickedness and the greatest peril....God calls upon His people to labor diligently for Him, so that Christian efficiency shall become widespread. His kingdom is to be enlarged.” 1 Selected Messages, page 112