Missions
Connecting The Local Church to God's Global Mission
We encourage churches to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. In order to assist local congregations and individuals in missions, we work cooperatively with the Mission Renewal Network, which serves as the missions arm of the Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches. The network matches full-time missionaries who are members of or sponsored by churches of the Christian, Reformed, Congregational and Evangelical tradition with supporting churches. This enables local congregations to have direct, personal relationships with their missionaries and the choice of whom to support financially. We believe there needs to be a direct link between the local church, the missionary, and the mission field.
Mission Renewal Network
P.O. Box 102
Candia, NH 03034
(800) 494-9172 or (603) 483-0597
Mission Renewal Network Project Spotlight
Lion of Judah Academy - Tanzania, Africa
The Lion of Judah Academy is a Christian primary school located on the shores of Lake Victoria, in Bulima, Magu District, Tanzania, Africa. Established in 2001, the goal of the Academy is to provide an outstanding Christian education to some of Tanzania's most disadvantaged children, AIDS orphans and the children of poor Tanzanian pastors and church workers. Currently over 450 students benefit from this mission's ministry. Lion of Judah Academy is a sponsored mission of a number of EA affiliated congregations from around the country.
Needs include a capital campaign for constructing dorms and scholarship aid in this very poor country. Sponsor a child: One Child - One Year - $200 annually, including books and materials. Short-term mission teams are welcome. Get donation and contact information on the Lion of Judah Academy's website: www.thelionofjudah.info Latest news on the Academy is published online on the Lion of Judah Academy Blog.
Missions Resources for the Local Church
Below are helpful resources developed by the Evangelical Association and the Mission Renewal Network to enable local churches to engage in both a local and global missions witness:
The Evangelical Association 2011-2012 Desk Calendar provides a pictorial listing and contact information for missionaries and mission projects in the Mission Renewal Network. Mission committees should utilize this 16 month ministry planning calendar as a resource to help them select missionaries and mission projects that might be sponsored by the local congregation. Make sure you order enough copies for all of the ministry team leaders in your congregation. The Calendars are priced at $12.00 each or 2-3 for $10.00, 4+ for $8.00 each. Prices include shipping. To order the EA Desk Calendar, send an email to natmin@evangelicalassociation.org or phone toll free 877-424-1472.
Coming Soon: The Mission Herald e-magazine. The Mission Herald will be a quarterly online magazine published jointly by the Mission Renewal Network and the Evangelical Association. It will feature updates on missionaries and mission projects affiliated with the Mission Renewal Network along with articles showcasing how EA congregations are engaging in missions locally and globally. The Mission Herald will also feature articles on biblical foundations, strategies, and practical ideas for developing a vibrant missions witness ministry within the local church.
Mission Renewal Network FAQS (pdf) - Learn about the criteria that Mission Renewal Network uses to screen global missionaries and projects that are listed on Mission Renewal Network.
10 Principles For Building Your Missions Vision (pdf) - Explore the 10 principles needed to guide mission committees in building an effective mission vision within the local congregation.
Suggestions For Missions Committees (pdf) - Explore 15 pratical ideas to help Mission Committees develop an engaging missions witness ministry in the local church.
Top Picks For Missions (pdf)- Here is a listing of the best books, videos/dvds, and other resources available on the topic of missions as suggested by the staff of Mission Renewal Network. Topics include: Biblical basis of missions, missions history, current strategy and trends, prayer needs and practical ways the local congregations can get involved in God's global mission.
Suggested Commissioning Service for Local Church Missionaries (pdf) - Got a missionary or missions team that your congregation is sending out on a short-term or long-term mission trip? Here's a worship resource to send them out with the Lord's blessing.
Additional Global Missions Agencies
Church World Service
Church World Service works with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world. Around the world, Church World Service supports sustainable grassroots development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance, and we educate and advocate on hunger-related issues. In the U.S., we help communities respond to disasters, resettle refugees,and provide educational resources. Founded in 1946, Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 37 denominations embodying the love of Jesus Christ in over 80 countries worldwide. Learn more online: www.churchworldservice.org. In the United States, Church World Service is most recognized for its CROP Hunger Walks which annually mobilizes congregations in more than 1,500 communities around the country to raise funds for local and global hunger relief efforts. Learn more at www.cropwalk.org.
Compassion International
Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Founded in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training. Today, Compassion helps more than 1.2 million children in 26 countries through one-to-one child sponsorships in partnership with local indigenous churches and missions. Learn more online: www.compassion.com Read the most recent issue of Compassion Magazine here.
World Relief
World Relief makes a difference providing disaster and development help with food, clothing, medicines, immunizations and other child survival programs, shelter, refugee resettlement, and vocational and agricultural training. Aisstance is given through local churches who minister the aid in the name of Jesus to those suffering in crisis situations. World Relief represents more than 75 denominations, provides long-term help in 19 countries, and emergency aid where ever the need. Learn more online: www.worldrelief.org