Missions Philosophy
Berean Baptist Church is committed to
financially partnering with men (and their spouses) who meet the qualifications
of a bishop in 1st Timothy 3 and are committed
to planting baptistic churches whose doctrine and objectives substantially line
up with Berean’s focus, Articles of Faith, and objectives as outlined on the
church’s website. Berean is also committed to financially supporting ministries
whose primary focus is proclaiming the gospel and discipling converts of Christ
and whose doctrine and objectives substantially line up with Berean’s focus,
Articles of Faith, and objectives.
Our goal is to provide missionaries with 10%
of their monthly support. Our ongoing intent is to reward those missionaries
and ministries whose labor is effective with more financial support (with more
monthly support). We believe it is wise stewardship to eliminate “one talent”
partners in accordance with the Lord’s Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 after
a period of no less than three years on the mission field. Berean refuses to
measure success merely in terms of “souls saved” or “people baptized” in so
much as no ministry ever truly knows who was or was not converted (1 John
2:19). Finally, Berean is not making a lifetime financial commitment to partners.
Berean supports missionaries in the following
manner:
1. Berean
supports fewer missionaries than a typical church of our size. This allows us
to:
a. Focus
our resources on fewer missionary families, which results in our partners spending
less time on deputation, fulfilling fewer demands on furlough, and a greater
probability of acquiring assistance with special projects or needs while on the
field.
b. Concentrate
our prayer energies on fewer missionaries and showcase them in corporate
worship, hallway displays, bulletin emphasis, and attendance/recognition at our
annual missions conference and other preaching services.
c. Create
a greater sense of responsibility with our partners. Berean wants our partners
to feel a strong level of spiritual accountability to their calling and
purpose.
2. Berean
desires to support missionaries with our presence.
a. Berean’s
focus will be to use mission trips to visit our partners on the field.
b. Trips
will be planned annually and members will be encouraged to participate in these
trips.
c. Involvement
with our partners on their field will give us a greater appreciation for their
work and contribute to creating a culture in our church where more members understand
missions.
3. Berean
will strive to support missionaries in proportion to the work we are doing
locally; we will not:
a. Salve
our consciences by supporting disciple-making churches globally when our
members are not willing to carry out the Great Commission here.
b. Expect
our partners to do overseas what we are not willing to do locally.
c. Send
money overseas to the neglect of its own mission and facilities.
Missionaries seeking to become partners
should not submit requests for financial support if they are not willing to
align with this mission philosophy and strive to meet the following
expectations:
Expectations for Missionary
Partners
1. Partners are expected to live lives that are
morally and ethically above reproach in accordance with the qualifications for
a bishop outlined in 1st Timothy 3. Partners guilty of moral or
ethical disqualifying misconduct will have their support immediately suspended
or terminated.
2. Partners must work hard as missionaries/pastors,
wisely manage their time, and be about their Father’s business every day. Partners
who wish to maintain their current level of support from Berean are not
permitted to engage in small business activities and/or secular employment
without prior approval from Berean. Berean expects its partners to effectively
plan for retirement and to purchase term life insurance.
3. Partners are to preach the gospel, baptize
converts, and make disciples according to the Great Commission in Matthew
28:19-20. All mercy ministries must be executed to complement and support the
proclamation of the person and work of Christ and the making of disciples.
4. Church planters are expected to build
their church to a sufficient size in order to no longer need financial support.
Church planters in nations where foreigners cannot be in country as salaried
employees of the church should expeditiously turn their church over to local
nationals and subsequently plant new churches. Berean will not financially support
church plants that are supporting other missionaries. We believe the pastor is
the church’s first missionary. A partner agrees to notify Berean when he no longer
needs monthly support because his church is able to support other missionaries.
5. Partners are expected to send accurate monthly
updates with absolutely no less than quarterly updates. Partners are expected
to read and respond to emails sent to them directly and to pray for Berean and
its ministries.
6. Partners must remain committed to the vision,
location, and objectives communicated to the church when missionary support
began and communicate changes in focus, location, or objectives with Berean
before the changes are acted upon. Planters who relocate to a different mission
field or substantially change their methodology or objectives without
communicating these changes will have their support suspended until the potential
issues can be resolved.
7. Partners are expected to notify Berean of
all plans to be on furlough or on leave from the mission field, and they are
expected to report to Berean during furlough or ask for an exception due to extenuating
circumstances or regional focus during furlough. Berean should receive priority
in scheduling in accordance to the degree in which Berean supports the
partner’s ministry in comparison to other churches. If Berean is a partner’s
largest financial supporter, then Berean should get first priority in
scheduling. We expect a Sunday visit no less than once every four years.
9. Partners must ensure that those whom they engage
with the gospel are not given false assurance of salvation (eternal life)
because of the articulation of a sinner’s prayer or a gospel presentation devoid
of the biblical expectation to place repentant faith (trust) in the Person and
Work of Christ.
10. Partners are expected to be completely
transparent in matters of discouragement, depression, financial needs, and
health issues without fear of immediate or heartless reduction in financial
support.
Sean
Harris
Pastor, BBC
