World Missions Board Commits to Reach the Least, The Last, and The Lost
During April 8-9, 2014, the thirteen member Church of God World Missions Board and executive leadership convened a momentous board meeting in Cleveland, TN. Joined interactively by missionaries from three continents via video technology, the meeting reaffirmed the “Missional Mandate” of Church of God World Missions, further adopting an unprecedented strategy that focuses first on Unreached People Groups (UPGs), and secondly on the enhancement of global ministerial development and education.
World Missions reasserted its commitment to fulfill the visional mandate of the Great Commission even in the face of critical challenges of economic crisis in the global economy, ever-changing geo-political climate, and limited human resources. Understanding the magnitude of these issues, World Missions believes God has enabled them to seize the moment and examine resources, structure and values in order to make necessary shifts and realignments to maintain World Missions as a holistic next generation, cutting edge, global missions agency committed to reach the least, the last, and the lost.
With concentration on the future, World Missions identified the following key variables: Reaffirm Our Missional Mandate; Restructure Our Departmental Ministries; Realign Our Global Ministries; and Refocus Our Vision and Values.
The plan of action articulates specific goals and outcomes to fulfill a productive future. In an effort to Restructure World Missions Ministries, World Missions will intently maintain fiduciary responsibilities and a careful balance of human resources between both operational personnel and missionaries. Current ministry demands necessitate a restructuring of the operational and ministry grid both “in-house” and on the field making the outreach arm more efficient and in sync with the operation team.
Realignment of Global Ministries calls for operational changes and realignment in the Field Areas (Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Asia/Pacific) with operations, structure and implementation by World Missions leadership. While all five areas will not operate with the same structure, the mission and vision for all areas remain congruent. Latin America and Africa will continue to operate as is. The Caribbean model was changed at the last General Assembly with the Field Director serving in a dual role, which involves pastoring his local church. Europe and Asia/Pacific will operate directly under the oversight of the General Director and Assistant Director of World Mission. Field Directors Larry Hess and Ken Anderson will be transitioning to new positions within World Missions. Effective September 1, 2014, Larry Hess will lead in education and ministry resources and Ken Anderson will focus on Unreached People Groups. As World Missions projects future ministry vision, the methodology modifications provide a set of intentional targets or focal points to accomplish the missional mandate.
Refocus Our Vision and Values can be summarized in one word—FINISH. Serving as an acrostic, FINISH represents the following.
- Find It—finding unreached people groups through evangelism efforts around the globe;
- Intercede for It—through a global prayer initiative and prayer events flowing to every mission field area;
- Nurture It—with commitment to education, leadership development, online training, orphanages, and much more;
- Invest in It—affirmation of Marcelly’s Dream, donor enlistment, mission representatives (full-time, associate, local church), church planting and field area enhancement;
- Send to It—with missionary recruitment, donor engagement and other support ministry endeavors; and
- Harvest it—dedication to church planting and the “Africa Firewall,” an initiative to establish training centers for church planting in six primary centers in a line west to east from Senegal to Ethiopia then south to Mozambique, as well as, humanitarian/benevolent outreach.
Dr. Tim Hill, Director of Church of God World Missions, states, “The World Missions Board completed a superb meeting marked by a spirit of unity and an exceptionally positive approach to the opportunities and challenges that face us.” This was not just another board meeting, it was momentous, it was significant, it was missional, and it was visionary. World Missions believes that with the power of the Holy Spirit and shared vision we can fulfill the mandate of Christ to go into all the world and share the good news!
For more information, contact:
Church of God World Missions / Church of God International Offices
Phone: 1.800.345.7492 Website: http://cogwm.org
