A Proposal for Strategic Partnerships

Re-Thinking Missions
4 Point Strategy
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VISION – New Missions Emphasis
STRENGTH – Mature & Healthy ULBC
PARTNERSHIP – More Significant Relationships
GOAL – Growth of ULBC & Growth of Missions
VISION – New Missions Emphasis
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 Mission Statement
 ULBC’s God-glorifying and joy-producing mission is to
know Jesus and make Him known.
 New Vision for ULBC Mission Partnerships
 We desire to form significant partnerships with
missionaries whose goal is to penetrate unreached
people with the gospel, plant indigenous churches and
mobilize its people for Great Commission work
themselves.
STRENGTH – Mature & Healthy ULBC
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 Community Outreach
 Community Picnic
 Other Outreach Events
 Leadership Development
 Training Resources & Events
 Overall Mentoring & Training Elders
 Addition to Pastoral Staff
 Move toward 2nd Full-Time Pastor
 Significant Maintenance Needs to Church
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Exterior Brick
Lighting
Windows
Parking Lot
Carpeting
PARTNERSHIP – More Significant Relationships
 Spiritual Partnership
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 Emphasis in Worship Services
 Deliberate Church-wide Prayer
 Encouragement
 Communication & Counsel
 Training & Resources
 Physical Partnership
 Goal of Significant Support Levels
 Regularly Visiting Fields
 Meeting Occasional Needs
 Accountability
 Expectation of Frequent Reporting
 Regular Evaluation of Ministry Progress
GOAL – Growth of ULBC & Missions

 Growth of ULBC
 Increased maturity, depth and effectiveness of local ministry
 Increased desire to be personally involved in missions
 Lord willing, increased financial & human resources
 Growth of Missions
 Partnership with growing number of ULBC members involved
 Sending of ULBC Church-Planters to the Mission Field
 Support Level & Number of Missionaries to increase in
proportion to ULBC Growth
Things to Keep in Mind as You
Consider the Proposal

 Responsibility often requires tough decisions
 Evaluation of people’s ministry is difficult work
 All Christian ministry is not missions
 Stop supporting ≠ bad people or bad ministries
PROPOSAL – Smaller Team of Strategic Partners
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 Retain 4 of Current 15 Missionaries
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Boese (Ivory Coast) – Strong Connection to Church-Planting*
Lundquist (Austria) – Church-Planting*
Somers (India) – Church-Planting*
Vasquez (Arkansas, U.S.) – Church-Planting
 Short-Term Goals
 Propose 1 New Missionary
 Increase Monthly Support
 Increase Our Involvement
*Either Unreached or Mobilizing
PROPOSAL – Smaller Team of Strategic Partners
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 Support Amounts
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Boese (Ivory Coast) - $2,700 (same)
Lundquist (Austria) - $3,200 down to $3,000
Somers (India) - $3,000 (same)
Vasquez (Arkansas, U.S.) - $4,200 down to $3,300
New Missionary - $3,000 (new)
 Missions Fund
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$3,000 up to $6,500
Missions Conference
Leadership of Missions Trips
Periodic Missionary Needs
PROPOSAL – Gradually Discontinue Others

 The Biblical perspective of missionaries being supported
from others:
“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have
revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me
but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in
need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be
content . . . I can do all things through him who strengthens
me.” Philippians 4:10-13
PROPOSAL – Gradually Discontinue Others
 Group 1
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Affleck
Campbell
Childs
Stomps
Yahr
 Group 2
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Dawe
Munger
Detroit A.A.M.
Porwoll
 Group 3
 Shady
 Sutherland
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4 months – 100%x2…75%x1…50%x1
5 months – 100%x3…75%x1…50%x1
7 months – 100%x3…75%x2…50%x2
PROPOSAL – Ramp-Down to Healthier Budget
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 2014 Missions Budget - $47,200
 2015 Missions Budget - $31,523*
 2016 Missions Budget - $21,500
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This is a significant missions budget (cf. sister churches)
It allows for a significant partnership
It allows for ULBC to get healthy and strong
It allows for growth in accordance with our new strategy
 Please note:
 *2015 Missions Budget includes Ramp-Down Monies
 Congregation will vote on who we support
 Congregation will vote on specific dollar amount of support (not %)
4 Point Strategy

VISION – New Missions Emphasis
STRENGTH – Mature & Healthy ULBC
PARTNERSHIP – More Significant Relationships
GOAL – Growth of ULBC & Growth of Missions
Heed the Scripture

Remember the danger of the tongue
“No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full
of deadly passion” James 3:8
Remember the source of disunity
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? It is
not this, that your passions are at war within you?” James 4:1
Exercise genuine wisdom
“The wisdom from above is . . . peaceable . . . And a harvest of
righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:17-18