Missions Booklet. Summer/fall 2017

Transcription

1 living hope missions Missions Booklet Summer/fall 2017 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21

2 Why Missions? God told Moses,... you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex. 19:6). This was in reference to God s chosen people. These people were chosen to be Holy, to be different from other nations. They were set aside to declare His glory among the nations (Ps. 96:3). Believers at Living Hope should strive to meet God s standard for the Israelites of old. They should look at themselves as priests who should share the story of God among all the nations. Not only should the people of Living Hope share about God, they should make disciples of all the nations (Mt. 28:19). The kingdom needs to be expanded. The only way that can be done is if more disciples are made. It is up to the church to send its members into the world to share the message of Christ and assist others in becoming disciples of His. Jesus says it well:... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The vision of the missions ministry is that Living Hope will be a missionary sending and supporting church, allowing our church to take part in the Great Commission. some of us are senders and some of us are goers. neither is more important than the other. David Sills 2

3 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 Members and attenders need to realize how important missions is, not only in our church, but in their personal lives. The saving mission of Jesus constitutes the foundation for Christian mission, and the Christian Gospel is the message of mission, a mission that is not optional but mandatory. Andreas J. Kostenberger, senior NT and biblical theology professor at SEBTS. This mandatory charge by Christ, when realized and obeyed, is how others will hear about the Good News and believers will be blessed from being involved in God s mission. This ministry is important because it will give you an opportunity to spread the Gospel around the world. It will also provide a way for you to be senders who financially support, encourage, and pray for our missionaries and mission endeavors. Some of us are senders and some are goers. Neither is more important than the other. Neither is possible without the other... We all have a role to play... David Sills, professor of Christian missions and cultural anthropology at SBTS. Our role as a church is to be open to where God sends us and what He wants us to do. If we operate as a sending church and seek to send those from our church to the field, the Kingdom of God will grow. As you read and pray through the opportunities listed, you must ask yourself the question, Am I a sender or a goer or both? We pray that you would respond in obedience and joy to God s direction for your life. Clay Mullins Global Impact Pastor 3

4 General Requirements Membership Status Living Hope members have first priority for all teams. Non-members are eligible for designated trips only. Approval for a non-member to join a team is based on availability, membership in a SBC church, and covenant agreement to follow Living Hope guidelines while on a team. Children may participate with parents on designated family trips without completing membership. Mission Office Forms All team members must complete the following documentation in order to be eligible for a team: Application (for first time applicants) or Data Form (returning applicants), Mission Trip Covenant, Medical Release, and Background Check Permission. Designated trips with other organizations (non-imb) may require additional paperwork. Some international trips require a travel visa and medical requirements. See specific trip page for additional paperwork requirements. Forms can be picked up from the missions office or Team Training Most teams will require multiple training and/or preparation meetings. Team members should be prepared to participate in planning, preparing needed supplies and equipment, and participating in a pre-trip packing session. Evangelism training using The Story or other approved methods is required. Task specific training for most teams is required, including watching Equip training videos. Each person 18 years or older is required to complete the designated Child Protection Video training. Team fundraisers are team building and training opportunities. 4

5 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 Financial Responsibility to Team Living Hope, through the Gift For Christ Offering and tithes, provides membership with a significant reduction in trip fees. Eligible non-members are exempt from the discount and will pay a designated true cost fee. Each team member has financial responsibility to contribute his designated share of trip costs to the team. Fundraisers are provided to assist team members with these fees. If you remove yourself from the team after the deadline, you will be responsible for any expense acquired because of your previous commitment to the trip. Financial Guidelines Deposit and donation dates are set by the Missions Office. Members must meet their deposit and second donation goal dates in order to maintain team member status. This is required due to travel and housing reservation requirements. Inability to meet this goal will remove the person from the team and allow a person on a waiting list to take that spot. See specific trip packet for required dates and details. Payments can be made through the Missions Office on weekdays or in the Main Building at the drop box located at the 10/40 Missions Station. REMEMBER: Use of the provided envelopes is requested for all payments. Checks should be made out to Living Hope Baptist Church. All information regarding team name and designation of donor/recipient should be listed on the provided envelope. Do not place team donations in the offering plate during worship. The team name only should be listed on a check s memo line, no individual names, please. Mailed donations should be addressed: Living Hope Baptist Church Missions Office 1805 Westen Avenue Bowling Green, KY Online donations are accepted via the website by using the registration tab at: 5

6 Raising support (using LH guidelines) is suggested for those requiring scholarships or assistance. Should a team member raise an excess of funds, the excess will be applied to the team as a whole. Mission trip finances are seen as team donations and funds cannot be reimbursed. Small, weekly, online payments provide a great way to meet a larger goal. Final costs are due to the Missions Office no later than 2 weeks prior to trip departure. Partnership Perks Living Hope has some very special mission partners that have been called out from our church family. We have completed many trips to the areas where they serve. We have been blessed to see God work in mighty ways to call lost people to Him and build up His Church in these areas of the world. Our members have led people to the Lord, discipled them, and even baptized some of them. We see ourselves as a sending church. Therefore, we want to support these families that have been called out by making it easier for our local members to go. Partnership Perks allows us to invest in the ministries of these families by making these trips more affordable. The missions committee and elders have approved making our partnership trips a flat $1,000. Each year, based on our GFC dollars, the missions committee will determine the number of participants/slots that can receive this Partnership Perks rate. There may be times when additional team members can be added to a trip location, but the number of Partnership Perks slots will not change. 6

7 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 There are requirements to receive a partnership perk: You must be a member of the church. You must pay a $200 deposit. You can receive only one scholarship trip price for the 2016 missions calendar. You will be required to watch specific Equip study classes offered online from the missions department. You also must be willing to make a trip presentation to a Children/ Youth/College/Adult Bible Fellowship, small group, or the church. Your presentation will be assigned by the missions department. This is a huge opportunity for those who have a heart for missions. Start praying now on how you can plug into a trip that will share the love of Christ around the world. Other Expenses Often, your personal expenses for a trip will run more than the price mentioned. Your church costs will not change. However, if you need to get or renew a passport, that process can cost $100 to $150. Medical requirements are associated with most trips. For example, a required shot for West Africa costs around $200. Additionally, appropriate clothing and shoes for a particular location or culture may be required. 7

8 east asia June 2-11 Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due January 27, 2017 Passport & Visa required Team Size: 4 This is a Living Hope Missions Partnership Trip. The team will share their faith and prayer walk in a mountain village of East Asia. Vital to the work with an unreached people group, team members will pray, laying the spiritual foundation to prepare the land for the Gospel. Through prayer and spiritual conversations, the team will cast many seeds in the name of Christ. Team members should be prepared for life in a mountain community with hiking and sleeping in village homes. This unreached people group numbers over 1.3 million. Most live in mountainous locations, making it difficult for them to have access to the Gospel. Our partners recently moved to a city in the valley, surrounded by mountains where the people group lives. We gain access to this very closed region through a walnut business as this area provides the 2nd largest walnut crop in the world. closed 8

9 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 france june Cost $1,300 deposit $250 sign up & Deposit due Feb 9, 2017 By Invitation Only Passport required Team Size: 10 Team Lead JD Drake This team will share their faith through small groups, individual conversations, and musical concerts organized by our partnering church in the Clermont-Ferrand region of France. Team members are required to commit to an extensive pre-trip practice schedule to prepare for the concert tour. Most in France follow the tradition of Iaicite. This means that the culture tolerates any religion as long as it remains hidden behind the veil of an individual s private life. Musical venues provide an acceptable way for believers to share and nationals to experience the Gospel in France. closed 9

10 gatlinburg june Cost $300 deposit $60 sign up & Deposit due Feb 19, 2017 Middle School Ministry Team Size: 16 Team Lead Nathan Mattingly This team will partner with Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries. Middle school students and leaders will provide campground VBS and family night programs as well as service-based projects throughout the community. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the country. In Gatlinburg, religion was important to the original settlers and is a large part of the history of the area. Although the area was settled by others, the first church built was Baptist. closed 10

11 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 south africa june 30-july 11 Cost $1,750 deposit $300 sign up & Deposit due Feb 24, 2017 Passport required Team Size: 10 Team Lead Sean Latham This team joins On to Victory, an organization started by members of Living Hope, to grow the Kingdom in refugee camps in the northeastern part of South Africa. Participants will lead in worship, evangelism and discipleship in villages. Team members will encourage believers and help grow the church through service outreach. The Holy Spirit is bringing many to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, due to the diligence of On to Victory. South Africa is the richest and most industrialized country in Africa. While cities are growing, remote villages are struggling. In the Limpopo Province of South Africa, thousands of Tsonga- Shangaani people live in refugee camps, fleeing from the persecution in Mozambique. closed 11

12 chicago july 1-8 Cost $500 deposit $100 sign up & Deposit due Feb 25, 2017 High School Ministry Team Size: 16 Team Lead Chad Groff Many inner city kids lack hope and positive role models and need to hear and understand the Gospel. The team will work with Inner City Impact, an organization devoted to building inner city kids in practical skills and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, at one of its two locations. We will lead a day camp for children as well as assist with youth group meetings. This group will teach the Word of God, lead worship, drama, games, and educational elements with inner city kids. This group will stay and serve at the ICI facility in the north side of Chicago. The greater Chicagoland area contains nearly 10,000,000 residents. Chicago s population is 27% Hispanic, 33% African- American, 32% Caucasian, 5% Asian, and 3% other races. closed 12

13 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 Families on mission july 6-9 Cost $300 (per family) deposit $60 sign up & Deposit due Mar 2, 2017 Team Lead Mark Gilliam Team Size: 8 families This team will continue work with local church partner The Abundant Church to aid them in outreach efforts in Indianapolis. The team will participate in a few minor service projects and host a block party. Games, crafts, and Bible lessons will be shared with those who attend. This is a great trip for families with children in kindergarten or higher. Indianapolis is the 11th largest city in the Unites States with nearly 1.9 million people in the Metropolitan Indianapolis area. Currently there is only one Southern Baptist Church for every 20,000 residents. There is a large international population in Indianapolis, including about 300 Songhai people from West Africa, where our international partners, Mark and Parker Phillips, serve. 13

14 eastern europe july 7-15 Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due Mar 3, 2017 All-Male Team Passport required Team Size: 5 $500 Scholarship (First Timer) This all-male team will work with Southern Baptist missionaries in a country that is very closed to Christianity. Even though there are some churches within the country, due to recent religiousbased civil wars, there is much hostility toward the Gospel. This team will teach physical education topics to a variety of groups: an American football team, a runners club, a senior adult group, and at an orphanage. While working with the students and building relationships, participants will engage in one-on-one conversations. The prayer is that team members will lovingly show how God has changed their lives and how God can change the life of the listener, too. For many, their identity has more to do with cultural roots than with religious beliefs. Even among the most religious of the area, there is a disdain for religious leaders exercising any influence over day-to-day life. 14

15 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 northern Plains july Cost $500 deposit $100 sign up & Deposit due Mar 15, 2017 Team Lead Jason Graham Team Size: 6 $250 Scholarship (First Timer) This is a Living Hope Missions Partnership Trip. The team will partner with former Living Hopers John and Abby Fisher. They have planted three new churches in three different cities in the past several years. Team members will travel to North Dakota and on into Dilworth, Minnesota, to serve, provide care, and minister alongside the pastors of the Sojourn Ministry. This team will help with LOCO Daze, a city-wide, week-long event in Dilworth. Team members will assist in a variety of special events, set up a booth for kids and family activities, hand out information about the church, and provide servant evangelism. The team s evangelistic push will be reaching the families that come to the events. A lot of the people in the community are searching for a place to call home. Church planter John Fisher wants to show them that Sojourn East can be that home. The Fargo-Moorhead population is over 200,000 and there are now five Southern Baptist churches. The largest one has only 60 members. Warren County has a population of 109,000 people and has over 50 Southern Baptist churches. 15

16 scotland aug Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due Apr 14, 2017 Team Lead Chris Moore Passport required Team Size: 6 $500 Scholarship (First Timer) This team will continue to build on our relationship with Calderwood Baptist Church in East Kilbride, Scotland. They will minister to the people of Calderwood Baptist Church through various construction projects at the church and in their community. All skill levels are welcome. Team members must be able to participate in vigorous physical activity as well as be able to handle varying weights of equipment and materials. Calderwood Baptist Church seeks to be a community ignited by a passion for God. They are driven by a desire to worship God and serve the community in which God has placed them. 16

17 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 east asia Sept Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due May 12, 2017 Passport & Visa required Team Size: 6 $500 Scholarship (First Timer) This is a Living Hope Missions Partnership Trip. This team will partner with missionaries as they teach and equip local church lay leaders. Team members must be confident and experienced in the topic they will be teaching. It is critical that members are able to identify and communicate the Biblical principles related to their topic so that their teaching is relevant cross-culturally. Teaching days will be long but very fulfilling! Over 19% of the world s population lives in this massive country. However, most have never heard of Christ or even had a religious discussion. Now, because of the missionary Lottie Moon and hundreds of workers who have followed in her footsteps, God has raised national believers. There are over 42 million house churches but many more are needed to reach this country for Christ. 17

18 southern europe Sept 29-Oct 7 Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due May 26, 2017 Team Lead Nora Hubbard Passport Team Size: 6 $500 (x2) Scholarship (First Timers) This is a Living Hope Missions Partnership Trip. This team will work with our partners in a large Mediterranean city. This team will work with refugees to share the love of Christ through service, teaching, crafts, games, and the Gospel. There are currently 57,000 refugees, with more than half being women and children, stranded in Southern Europe. Many are seeking to move further into Europe, but recent laws have prevented movement and many now wait in limbo. Our partners reach out to refugees through meeting basic needs and giving them skills that will help them provide for their families as they wait. 18

19 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 East asia oct Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due June 9, 2017 Team Lead Clay Mullins Passport & Visa required Team Size: 8 $500 Scholarship (First Timer) This is a Living Hope Missions Partnership Trip. The team will share their faith and prayer walk in a mountain village of East Asia. Vital to the work with an unreached people group, team members will pray, laying the spiritual foundation to prepare the land for the Gospel. Through prayer and spiritual conversations, the team will cast many seeds in the name of Christ. Team members should be prepared for life in a mountain community with hiking and sleeping in village homes. This unreached people group numbers over 1.3 million. Most live in mountainous locations, making it difficult for them to have access to the Gospel. Our partners recently moved to a city in the valley, surrounded by mountains where the people group lives. We gain access to this very closed region through a walnut business as this area provides the 2nd largest walnut crop in the world. 19

20 kentucky oct Cost $225 deposit $45 sign up & Deposit due June 11, 2017 Team Lead Dwight & Anna Vincent Team Size: 20 Senior Adults (50+) will work with NAMB staff in the Appalachian region. Serving both children and adults, the team will provide programs and events to reach the community for Christ. Service projects including cleaning, sorting, and light maintenance will be available. All skill levels are needed but participants must be able to tolerate a 6-8 hour work day. Appalachia is home to deeply-rooted local cultures in a beautiful landscape. Life there is defined by environmental and economic issues that are fierce for both communities and churches to deal with. Poverty, lack of services and poor health care create many needs. 20

21 Missions 2017 Gift for christ 2016 hope for the nations Matthew 12:21 Southeast asia Nov 4-12 Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due July 1, 2017 Men s Team Passport & Visa required Team Size: 4 Team Lead Brent McDaris $500 (x2) Scholarship (First Timers) This is a Living Hope Missions Partnership Trip. This team of men will be hiking in mountains with high altitudes and humidity to find Palaung villages so they can share the Gospel. Team members need to be in good health and physical shape. It is vital that those attending strive to condition their bodies physically to be ready for the environment. Evangelism training will be provided. The Palaung s Buddhist practices are mixed with numerous animistic beliefs and rituals. Shamans, or witch doctors, are powerful figures in their culture. Their history has been tattered with bloodshed and they need healing and spiritual hope. 21

22 West africa nov 5-14 Cost $1,000 deposit $200 sign up & Deposit due July 2, 2017 All-Male Team Passport, Yellow Fever, & Visa required Team Size: 6 Team Lead Isaac Anthony This is a Living Hope Missions Partnership Trip. This all male team will continue in our work with Southern Baptist missionaries and Team Songhai. They will share the Gospel, make disciples, and develop churches along the Road to Tera and the Road to Namaro. The team will teach scripted lessons from the provided Creation To Christ (C2C) material. On occasion, participants will prepare and teach lessons on other discipleship topics. This is an all male team that will be doing some camping out in the bush during the trip in order to reach those who have no access to the Gospel. Our mission partners have targeted 61 different Songhai villages over the last 6 years. Working along with them, Living Hope teams have ministered in almost 50% of these villages. Also, a Living Hope team was present 28% of the time when the first person to believe in a village confessed Christ. 22

23 Please watch sunday morning bulletins & Next connect for updates throughout the year. For more information, please contact the mission office at (270) Nora Hubbard or Clay Mullins can help with further inquiries. If you are interested in signing up, please connect with the missions department quickly to fill out the appropriate forms and turn in your deposit. This will secure your spot on the team. Keep in mind that team spots often fill up quickly.

24 And in his name the gentiles will hope. Matthew 12:21 multiply IMB.org and Joshuaproject.net was used for some of the factual information found in this booklet. Whether you go on a trip or not, please use this booklet as a prayer tool to lift up our teams and missionaries.