Greetings!
More and more churches are re-awakening to the power of intentionally and actively engaging their congregations in reaching peoples at the ends of the earth. As these reawakened churches taste the joy of participating with God in His great global enterprise, many will inevitably want to send their own church planting team to the field. This, however, is a daunting task. But by partnering with the right missions organization a church CAN effectively send their own team without forfeiting a "seat at the table." If your church is exploring the possibility of raising up and sending  out your own church based team to the mission field you will definitely want to take a look at this installment of ETools.
'Til all have heard,
Matthew Ellison
President and Missions Coach |
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Partnerships in Mission |
Interview with Pastor Rick Commisso
of Rockpointe Community Church  Sixteen:Fifteen interviewed Pastor Rick Commisso of Rockpointe Community Church in Sterling Heights Michigan. We wanted to know how Sixteen:Fifteen and Avant Ministries have helped them put their passion for missions to work.
Sixteen:Fifteen: How did you hear about Sixteen:Fifteen Church Missions Coaching?
RC: I was invited to attend and share at a conference at Avant. Matthew Ellison was one of the keynote presenters at the same event. He talked about how Sixteen:Fifteen Ministries developed and how they come alongside churches to help them discover, define and execute a clear missions vision. Our church had already begun that journey, but we immediately saw the potential benefits a coach could bring to guide us along that path.
Sixteen:Fifteen: How has going through the missions coaching process benefited Rockpointe?
RC: When we began to consider the missions coaching process for Rockpointe, we went back and forth about whether we needed a coach or could walk the path without outside input. We've facilitated similar processes within our church body before, but decided to go with a coach this time because of certain time constraints we were dealing with. We didn't want the process to get stalled. We are now about 4-5 months into the coaching, and that accountability has proved itself valuable. We've also benefited from the coaching process because it has given freedom for senior leadership to participate in the journey rather than have to direct or guide the journey. I think that's provided a bit more honesty in the discussions and has allowed for broader input and buy-in.
Sixteen:Fifteen: Tell us a little more about your partnership with Avant.
RC: Rockpointe is partnering with Avant to send a church-based team  of several families to an unreached people group in Senegal. Avant is a well-established agency focused in its mission to plant and develop new churches in unreached areas of the world. And Rockpointe feels called to raise up reproducing communities of Christ-followers both locally and among the nations. So it's a good fit. Rockpointe has the people, passion and resources, but needed the expertise, experience and support of an agency like Avant. So when we heard that Avant could help mobilize members of our church to serve together overseas, it caught our attention. Now we have a team with common history and values being trained by Avant and sent by Rockpointe.
Sixteen:Fifteen: More and more churches seem to be awakening to the local church's role in world missions and have a desire to send their own team to the field but some are skeptical that agencies won't treat them as full partners, this, I think is a legitimate concern...still, churches that go at it alone usually aren't prepared properly for the massive challenges of church planting in some of the hardest places on the planet. Talk about your partnership with Avant, specifically how you not only have a "seat at the table" but how they are helping prepare you for the challenges that await?
RC: Wow. That's a big question. I can understand that skepticism, but that wasn't our experience. It has really felt like a full partnership with Avant since day one. We probably wouldn't have partnered with them if we hadn't felt that, though. The Holy Spirit was stirring up stuff at Rockpointe and we came to Avant and basically laid it out to them. We spent a bit of time interviewing them (and I'm sure they were interviewing us) to see if we had discovered a divine match. And when it came to identifying the location for a church plant, our church and the team was involved at every level. Avant asked us where we felt God leading and we began to narrow down locations and take survey trips together. Now that we've selected a location, Avant's experience ministering in challenging locations around the globe is invaluable. Among our trainers, two of them have spent several years in Africa ministering in areas known to be hostile to the gospel. The team is learning much from their experience and developing appropriate church-planting strategies.
Sixteen:Fifteen: Any final words for churches, that like Rockpointe are experiencing a missions awakening and are thus moving from being request driven in missions towards active strategic engagement? RC: Our church's journey is one that can't be replicated. I'm not so sure anybody's really can. The Holy Spirit sort of thrust us into this as we responded in obedience. So it couldn't (or maybe I should say shouldn't) have happened any other way. We were on a journey and felt called to sending a team to church-plant in Senegal before we really even thought through our broader mission's vision. We discovered the need to do that, and a process for that, along the way. So, obviously, as the Holy Spirit guides, the church must follow. But if I could design a journey, I would encourage churches to take the time necessary up-front to narrow down & define their global calling allowing that to drive requests the church responds to and partners and areas of the world with which they choose to engage. |
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World Missions: A Local Church Venture |
An Interview with Dave Hansen VP of Global Partnerships Avant/Joint Venture
 Since 1892, Avant Ministries has been focused on church planting, with the goal of taking the gospel to unevangelized areas of the world. Employing a team based approach, Avant is partnering with national believers who will carry on the work and multiply the results, minimizing dependence on the North American missionary. With more than 350 missionaries in more than 24 countries around the world, God continues to bless Avant.
Sixteen:Fifteen: What is Joint Venture and why is Avant partnering with local churches in this capacity?
DH: Joint Venture is the church-based team program through Avant Ministries. It is a group of individuals from a church congregation who serve together with the goal of seeing a church planted in a location where presently there is no evangelical church presence. We call this our Joint Venture model, the church and Avant serve, send and train the team.
 We value the church. Our goal is to partner with the local church with the hope of seeing lives transformed across the world. Your church and Avant together will accomplish the job of planting the church where the church does not exist.
Sixteen:Fifteen: What are the benefits of Joint Venture?
DH: Church-based teams create a singular mission focus, allowing the congregation to target a specific people group or area of the world. It also raises awareness within the congregation; since many are personally connected to the team members, they will be more aware of the needs and status of the team. Joint Venture also empowers the church in decision making, as the church selects the team, provides Biblical training and is instrumental in field selection. Because the team is from the same congregation, it also mobilizes members of the church, sending them to expand the kingdom. Your short-term mission program could support the church plant and your church-based team. All of these benefits expand the church community as members are more connected and active in missions.
Sixteen:Fifteen: What kind of church is prepared to be a part of a Joint Venture?
DH: A church with a passion to plant churches internationally is the kind of church prepared to be a part of a Joint Venture. A clear, compelling vision of the goal from the church in addition to people willing to lead a team-these are the two most important values in churches that send Joint Venture teams. A church that has a history of growing missionaries will be able to recruit a Joint Venture team faster than a larger church without a missions record. In general we normally focus on working with churches with approximately 1,000 + in attendance.
Sixteen:Fifteen: Why should a church consider sending a Joint Venture team in partnership with Avant?
DH: Apart from over 100 years of serving, sending and supporting missionaries globally, Avant can provide logistical support for setting up in country. We provide team training, international medical coverage and a retirement plan. Also, we provide in country support, personal development and on-going logistical and team support. We have experience with church-based teams which are currently serving internationally. Through Joint Venture the church is a mutual owner of all decision making. The church chooses members to be on the team, provides the Bible training, and is instrumental in field selection. Together, Avant and your church share responsibilities for the team of missionaries: supporting, sending, praying for and encouraging the members. Because the members of the team are from the same church, more people in the congregation will pray for the team, care for the team, and connect with what God is doing globally.
Sixteen:Fifteen: What are the steps for sending a Joint Venture team with Avant?
DH: Because every church is unique it begins with a relationship between Avant leadership and the church leadership. Together the path is determined. The overarching goal of Joint Venture is to mobilize the church reaching their passion of seeing churches planted oversees. It is more than just supporting the churches in the vision; it is also helping those who will care for the church-based team.
Sixteen:Fifteen: How will the sending church's involvement differ from that of a church sending an individual to the field?
DH: Through Joint Venture, the involvement of the church is proactive in setting a vision and finding the people in the congregation to partner in the vision. Sending an individual to the field is reacting to the heartbeat of the individual and the church takes on the role of being a financial supporter.
 We also encourage churches to visit their people. How often and to what extent these visits occur is determined between you (the church) and your team. We would hope your Joint Venture team would integrate your missions program-allowing for short-term trips, internships and apprenticeships, all culminating into more people ready to serve in missions. Your church will have a lifetime relationship with the church you helped plant. |
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Merry Christmas from Sixteen:Fifteen |
We wish all our church partners a blessed Christmas and joyous new year. It is a privilge working along side you to reach the unreached to see fulfillment of the Great Commission.
If Sixteen:Fifteen has helped your church with its missions vision, drop us a note; we'd love to share your story!
'Til all have heard, The Sixteen:Fifteen Team |
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January 9, 2011
Perspectives Loop
Maryland
Matthew Ellison will be speaking
February 13, 2011
Perspectives Loop
Central CA
Matthew Ellison will be speakling
February 24, 2011
C.A.N. Conference
Phoenix, AZ
Matthew Ellison will be speaking
April 19-21, 2011
Berean National Convention Omaha, NE
Matthew Ellison will be speaking
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Avant Ministries Overview Video: Sixteen:Fifteen is pleased to partner with Avant Ministries. In this video, Avant President, Dr. Jack Elwood gives an overview of their ministry and shares how you church get involved with what God is doing around the world.
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 Virgil Dugan, President of the
has referred to Sixteen:Fifteen as being like a house key. The key may seem small and insignificant by itself, but when used as intended it opens the door to all the valuable items in the home. He says that, in the same way, we are small but can unlock the valuable missions' potential within local churches. I think that pretty well sums up the 3D process. By allowing us to serve them, local churches often have a better understanding of the Great Commission potential that exists within their own body. When church leaders set aside the time to craft, commit to, and articulate a missions' vision and focus to their congregation, they begin to unleash the potential that often lies latent within their churches. Feeling that they are working together toward a common cause, people are inspired to care, to pray, and to give. They find creative ways to use their spiritual and vocational talents to contribute to reaching a people group or region. Time and again, our partner churches experience wider (and deeper) church involvement in global missions, an increase in Great Commission giving, and an overall greater impact in their endeavors. While the 3D process is not "rocket science", it is a unique opportunity for your church to have experienced outsiders assist you in evaluating your current missions' activities, and then help you formulate a plan for the future. By Jerrid Stelter, Contributing Researcher/Writer |
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