Missions Policy

(Approved by IBC Members on 12/9/2007)

 

I. Purpose

 

A. Definition of Missions

International Baptist Church of Hong Kong (IBC) affirms the definition of missions to be any evangelistic endeavor outside of our local congregation to fulfill the Great Commission by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, making disciples, and gathering these disciples into local congregations, while relating to the needs of the total person (spiritual, physical, emotional, and social).

 

B. Purpose Statement

The goal of the IBC missions effort is to win individuals to the Lord, equip them in the faith and establish them in a church plant or an existing church that has the same purpose as IBC to reach every tribe, tongue, people and nation with the Gospel (Acts 14:21-23, and Rev. 5:9).  The IBC Missions Team shall seek to guide in the light of this purpose.

 

C. Missions Team Policy

1. Purpose of IBC missions policy shall be to:

 

a. Provide guidelines to stay on a straight course.

b. Avoid making important decisions on an emotion only or haphazard basis.

c. Maintain consistency as the Missions Team members change.

d. Ensure good stewardship in the allocation of missions funds.

 

2. Exceptions

This policy is a statement of principles not a rigid set of rules. Occasionally exceptions will need to be made.  When that occurs a two-thirds consensus of the Missions Team needs to vote in favor of the change.

 

3. Revision to IBC Missions Policy

The policy shall be reviewed and revised as often as needed, with a thorough review every odd numbered year.  Before changes are implemented, the Pastors and Deacons (hereafter in this document referred to as Leadership Team) must approve all revisions.

 

 

II. The IBC Missions Team

 

A. Size and Selection

The IBC Missions Team shall consist of 5 to 10 members including the chairperson.  The Leadership Team shall approve the names of the candidates before they are asked to join the Missions Team.

 

B. Term of Office

Each member will serve for a two-year term.  Even though the term is only for two years, ideally each person will continue to be involved with missions at IBC for many years.  After a year sabbatical, they will be eligible for another two year term.

 

C. Chairperson

The Missions Team will select a chairperson each year from within the team.  This person is responsible for the proper management of the Missions Team.

 

D. Expectations

1. Attend all meetings.

2. Serve on assigned task forces.

3. Take an active role in the decision-making process.

4. Continue to learn more about world missions.

5. Devote significant effort in furthering missions at IBC.

 

E. Responsibilities (Acts 13:1-3)

1. Pray – for our missionaries and for participation of our congregation in the outreach of world evangelism.

 

2. Educate – assist in providing a comprehensive missions education program for the congregation and this will include information about both local and world-wide evangelism.

 

3. Recruit/train – select and assist in the equipping of members of the congregation to become missionaries.

 

4. Send – support missionaries spiritually, financially, and emotionally during their time as a missionary.

 

5. Care – provide practical assistance to missionaries.

 

6. Manage support – prepare an annual missions budget and oversee the allocation of the funds throughout the year.

 

7. Represent – serve as a liaison between the church, its missionaries and mission agencies.

 

8. Evaluate – review the missions programs of the church and make changes as necessary. This includes evaluating the existing IBC Mission Policy and current supported missionaries.

 

III. Strategy

 

A. Goals

The IBC Missions Team shall seek to establish short and long-range goals for their various responsibilities in dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

 

B. Priorities

Recognizing that there will always be more mission needs than can be fulfilled, the following is meant to assist in the mission team decision making.  There is a two-fold mission strategy: – mobilization and global evangelism.  Mobilization includes efforts to help IBC members become more missions active.  Global evangelism includes efforts to help complete the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20).  While there is overlap between these strategies, there are different goals.

 

1. Mobilization priorities

a. Mission ministries sponsored by IBC.  This includes short- term mission teams or cross-cultural ministries that IBC initiates.

b. Mission ministries sponsored by IBC members and endorsed by the IBC Missions Team.

c. Other

 

2. Global Evangelism priorities

a. Missionary support – priority will be given to members of IBC first and missionaries with an organization.

b. Strategic partnerships – these ministries are more encompassing than primarily the giving of funds.  IBC commits to be an active partner in a particular ministry.  This may encompass sending short-term missions teams, hosting or attending a conference, etc.

c. Strategic ministry support – this category is for those opportunities where IBC can make a difference for the Kingdom of God, regardless of any direct benefit to IBC.  We assist because it is strategic.  We may never see the missionary or nation we support.  This support could be for people or projects.

 

3. Church Priorities

a. Priority will be given to church planting and to the teaching of nationals in Hong Kong or wherever they may live. (Acts 1:8)

b. Priority will be given to missions mobilization.

c. Priority will be given to those who have least access to the Gospel (traditionally called unreached peoples).

 

C. Mission Budget (annual projections)

1. It is the desire of the missions committee that our IBC Missions Budget approximate the following percentages:

*Hong Kong 45%

Evangelism/Church Planting 60%

Support Ministries 20%

Mission Point/Project 20%

*International (outside Hong Kong) 45%

Evangelism/Church Planting 70%

Teaching Nationals 15%

Missions Mobilization 10%

Support Ministries 5%

 

2. Explanation of ministries

Hong Kong Evangelism/Church Planting

Target group is the ministries within Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Support ministries

These individuals are the support personnel who assist the previous category of workers.  Also, agencies or individuals who are working within a context of non-accountable people.

International Evangelism/Church Planting

Target group is the ministries outside Hong Kong.

International Teaching Nationals

Target group is nationals outside of Hong Kong.  This activity is one where an individual teaches a national either the Bible or ministry skills. This category would include Bible institute teachers, theological education by extension instructors, Bible translators, etc.

International Mission Mobilization

Mission mobilizers are people who consult with churches, agencies and student groups to help them participate more aggressively and strategically in International evangelism.

International Support Ministries

Their goal is to assist others in International ministries.

 

 

IV. Short Term Missions

 

A. Definition – Any missions activity of duration of one day to one year. It must be field driven. The primary benefits must go to the missionaries and those who are served in the field, not IBC.

 

B. Purpose – First it is to strengthen national believers and/or evangelize non-believers. Second it is to mobilize and educate IBC members to be more missions active.

 

C. Short-Term Missions Criteria

1. The short-term mission must be in a subordinate partnership with either a national church, a long-term missionary, or mission agency.

2. There must be a clear strategy in place.

3. There must be a qualified leader.

4. There must be appropriate pre-field training.

5. There must be appropriate debriefing and follow-up plans for those who ministered from IBC.

 

D. Priorities

1. It is a key part of our strategic plan.

2. The ministry is sponsored or endorsed by our church.

3. The ministry will help evaluate the potential need of a long-term missions ministry.

 

E. Support – IBC may provide support for short-term ministry.  We will use the order of Priorities in the Financial Policies section (V), as a guide in determining how much to give.

 

 

V. Financial Policies

 

A. Annual Budget

The Missions Team shall prepare an annual budget that will be submitted to the Church Leadership Team for review and approval. After it is approved by the Leadership Team, the budget will be presented at the annual business meeting for church approval.

 

B. SBC Missions Program

IBC’s annual budget goal is that 10% of its mission support goes to the SBC Missions Program.

 

C. Monetary Support

The goal of supporting missionaries who are church planters is that they become self-supporting over a period of time.  Not all missionaries are church planters as has previously been stated. Therefore the classifications of support are as follows:

 

1. Church Planter – This individual will be supported for six months at full support if needed.  After six month an evaluation will be done as to whether full support will be continued or can be adjusted lower due to income from the church plant or other source.

 

2. Support Missionary – This individual is not a church planter, but they are working in a support role, such as evangelism.  This person operates in some way to support other missionaries or mission points/projects or a local church.  They also are seeking to reach people for Christ and move them into a local church.

 

3. Mission Point or Project – This is a location that is seeking to minister to people with the gospel.  This place may be seeking to establish churches in the local community or it may simply be seeking to build up the local churches already existent.  This Mission Point may be ministering to people who will never be able to understand the gospel.  The support may be ongoing support for the specific Mission Point or it may be a one time support of a Project.

 

*Footnote – IBC understands that circumstances vary from person to person.  Therefore, each situation will be prayerfully evaluated and support adjusted accordingly.  The support for each missionary or mission point shall be given on a monthly basis.

 

D. Ministry or Ministry location changes

If there is a major change in the ministry, ministry location, or mission agency, then the missions committee will immediately re-evaluate its commitment to the ministry. IBC requests advance notice of any significant changes in the ministry of the missionary.

 

E. Missions Support Termination

Termination of financial support for a missionary is the exception.  However, when termination is to occur both the IBC Missions Team and the Leadership Team need to vote in favor of the decision to withdraw support.  Reasons for termination would be if the missionary did not fulfill the responsibilities asked of them in this policy. If it is a decision to terminate support, this would include failure in moral or theological responsibility, our desire would be to do it in such a way as to limit the negative effects this could cause to the missionary.

 

F. Annual Budget Review

Each year an evaluation will be made concerning the existing missionaries and mission points supported by IBC as well evaluating the ability of taking on new missionaries or mission points for support.

 

G. Priorities

The expenditure of funds will be consistent with the priorities mentioned in this policy.

 

H. Budget Items

The missions budget will not only include missionary support but also other items as they are needed to fulfill the goals of the missions team. Examples of this might include: missions festivals, money for the Pastor/s to travel to mission fields, books, short-term projects, etc.

 

 

VI. Selection Policies

 

A. Qualifications

1. Applicants must be in agreement with IBC’s Statement of Faith, high moral standards and doctrinal statement.

2. Applicants must be going out with a mission agency approved by the missions team.  Tentmakers and nationals may be an exception in special situations.

3. Applicants must be willing to go through training paid by IBC.

4. Applicants must be willing to go through continued training every year.

5. Applicants must be willing to spend quality time at IBC in order to develop a meaningful relationship with us.

6. Applicants must demonstrate the qualities found in I Timothy 3: 1-10.

7. Applicants home church must be in agreement with their decisions.

 

B. Procedures

1. Fill out an application for support.

Missions Team, Leadership Team and church members will be proactive in seeking people who need support and present it to the Missions Team.

2. Spend time with IBC developing relationships.

3. Meet with the missions chairperson or representative of the missions team.

4. Meet with the full missions team.

 

C. Responsibility of IBC to supported Missionaries

1. Remember missionaries in prayer.

2. Communicate with them every month.

3. Promote the work of the missionaries within the church.

4. Encourage the missionaries.

5. Help in the evaluation of the missionaries.

6. Send the money that has been committed in an orderly fashion.

7. Assist in the securing of housing and furniture while they are on home assignment.

8. Work towards a partnership relationship with the missionary and his or her agency.

 

D. Responsibility of the Missionary to IBC

(Acts 14:26-28)

 

1. Communicate with IBC each month.

2. Update the missions team with any significant change in the ministry and/or location in advance.

3. Declare any other organization or church support.

4. Spend quantity time with the church during home assignments.  This requested so that we can deepen our relationship with missionaries by exposing them to our church in a variety of ways:  Bible studies, Small groups, in front of the church, etc.

5. Provide the missions team with yearly goals and an appraisal of last year’s activities.

6. Conduct himself/herself in a manner worthy of the calling received from the Lord. (Eph. 4:1)

7. Be in agreement with IBC’s doctrinal statement and purpose. (Articles of Association)