The traditional overseas missions budget at most churches has also tended to encourage depersonalization. Everyone gives to “foreign missions,” with so much going to support a family in Peru, a nurse in India, a radio operator on “What field was it?”, etc.
Prayer letters come to the church office, are posted on the board or included, in part, in the bulletin. Perhaps the secretary who duplicates them is really informed as to their contents. But, it is too easy for the general public to overlook their prayer pleas. And, as a whole, the relationship between home and field is foggy and indefinite.
At Circle Church, we felt more and more that the solution to this situation came from encouraging individuals to give directly to the missionary, rather than to a church fund. Candidates screened by the International Outreach Module would, from time-to-time, present needs to the Circle Church body. But, those who responded financially made their pledges directly to that individual in care of his or her mission organization.
In order to maintain our own awareness of missions giving, the church office was informed of the pledge. If the givers move, they can still support the missionary. Over the years, a steady relationship grew between the missionary and the individual supporter. The interest was maintained firsthand through letters.
A further benefit of this system was that members could concentrate on understanding one or two areas, instead of being overwhelmed with the incomprehensible needs of the whole world of missions, to say nothing of varying cultures, governments, climates, histories, and approaches to ministry. This meant we might not have had as broad a base as before—dozens of lights on our missionary map, though we didn’t even have a missionary map!—but, we feel that we may have had a more valuable and certainly less frustrating relationship with our missionaries.
One person just can’t sustain a deep interest in every mission field. He or she is forced to be selective in one way or another by his or her own limitations. At the same time, there was nothing to prevent a person from carrying partial support for several people or projects, if he or she is financially able to do so.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
