Missions
Will you Go?
At Jaffrey Bible Church we understand that God is on mission to be loved, served and worshiped by people from all humanity. His purpose throughout the story of the Bible can be seen in the double direction of God’s glory:
God reveals His glory to all nations
In order to receive glory from all nations.
World evangelization is the fullest expression of God revealing His glory to the nations with the purpose of God receiving glory from the nations. We, as a church body, are challenged to pray, give, and go to take a small part in fulfilling His purpose.
He said to His disciples, “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields.” Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT)
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Below is a list of overseas Missions we presently support. You may visit their sites by clicking the Logo to the right. To join Jaffrey Bible Church on a short term missions trip with e3 Partners ministry please click the globe.
Wycliffe Bible Translators
John and Brooke Bryant: The Bryants reside in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They are translating the scriptures in Western Red Karen.
MissionOne-Partnership with Nationals
We partner with Mission One in the support of a national couple in the Middle East. This couple shares the grace of Jesus Christ in word and deed in planting home churches.
World Gospel Mission
Russ and Beth White:Russ is a Surgeon at Tenwek hospital, Kenya. Besides his work as a surgeon, the family is actively involved in evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
Below is a list of Home Missions we support
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THE JAFFREY BIBLE CHURCH
Revised Mission Policy – 2009
I. The Scriptural Purpose of our Church’s Involvement in Missions: The purpose of Jaffrey Bible Church is to be fully committed followers of Jesus Christ while leading the lost to Christ. In light of this purpose, the purpose of our Church’s involvement in missions is – To Share the Father’s Heart for the World by Fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Rev. 15:4)
(John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
(Matt. 28:19-20) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Acts 1:8) But 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.”
(Rev. 15:4) Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
II. Our Definition of Missions: Evangelizing, discipling, planting churches both nationally and internationally.
III. The Purpose of Our Missions Policy is:
a. To help us achieve a clear sense of direction.
b. To avoid making important decisions on an emotional or haphazard basis (for example, based on
the charisma of the speaker, the “connections” of those seeking support, the mood or time a
decision is made).
c. To help us be good stewards of each missions dollar.
d. To help new Mission Team Members to familiarize themselves with our purposes and to maintain
consistency as leadership teams change.
IV. Flexibility of Interpretation of Our Missions Policy
Exceptions to the policy can be made at any time, but must be approved by the Mission Team with recommendation to the Elder Team for final approval. Such exceptions should be carefully documented to avoid establishing irreversible precedents. However, such exceptions could form a basis for future policy changes.
V. Revision of Policy
The Missions Policy should be reviewed for applicability every two years or as needed. Any revisions will be made by the Mission Team and will require the approval of the Elder Team.
VI. Selection of Members to the Mission Team
Members are recruited on the basis of their potential contribution to the mission’s ministry by the Mission Team and are approved by the Elders. One must be a member of Jaffrey Bible Church for 6 months prior to serving on the Team
VII. Criteria for Selecting Members of the Mission Team
a. Must be a member of Jaffrey Bible Church
b. A deep interest in missions
c. Availability to serve on a regular basis
d. A willingness to work hard toward the success of our missions program
VIII. The Size of our Mission Team: For an effective Missions’ program there should be a minimum of 7 members on the board with a commitment of at least 2 years.
IX. Responsibilities of Each Member of the Mission Team
a. Attend the meetings (usually monthly);
b. Serve on or chair one or more of any subcommittee that may be appointed;
c. Maintain a regular prayer life, Bible study and other aspects of Christian living and spiritual
maturity as outlined in JBC’s Church Covenant.
d. Pray for our missionaries on a regular basis;
e. Maintain an interest in communicating with supporting missionaries;
f. Be familiar with the missions policy of the church;
g. Attend all missions’ events (missions’ conference, reports by returning missionaries and others).
h. Attend scheduled missions education conferences or events.
X. Mission Team Officers
a. Chairperson – must have mission experience
b. Secretary
c. Treasurer
d. Prayer Coordinator
XI. Frequency of Meetings: The Mission Team will meet monthly on a regular basis and other meetings as required. These meetings will not conflict with regularly scheduled meetings of the church which could involve the Team Members.
XII. Long-Term Continuity for the Mission Program: The long-term continuity for the missions’ ministry will be the responsibility of the Elder Team.
XIII. Responsibilities of the Mission Team
a. Evaluate and recommend missionaries, agencies, and policies
While challenging the congregation with the dimensions of the un-reached world and the
unfinished task, the Mission Team – along with the church leadership – will pray for God to
raise up people for His harvest and help stimulate and recruit candidates for missions service.
It will be specifically on the lookout for young people with promise, encourage summer service
programs to identify individuals with missions’ talents and to offer counseling and guidance
through the critical years of decision.
b. Develop and administer the missions’ budget.
c. The Team shall set goals against which our program can be measured but also those which
involve a step of faith. One day shall be set aside annually for committee goal setting for the
following year.
d. The Team will oversee all missions’ education in the church. It will identify goals in terms of
present church awareness and interest and determine methods of education – missions’
conference, missions’ library, missions’ emphasis Sundays – the second Sunday of each month,
missions’ banquets, pictures of missionaries displayed, sending members to ACMC conferences
and more. A Missions Conference will be held every year at approximately the same time.
The Team will be responsible to present news and needs from the pulpit, in the bulletin, and in the
Sunday School regularly. It will seek to stimulate the church’s intercessory prayer for missions and
our missionaries. It will encourage interaction between missionaries and congregation through
letters, e-mail, videos and by visits from missionaries on home assignment and by assigning
missionaries to stay in members’ homes during such visits.
We will be open to learning from the missions experience of other local churches, maintain active
involvement with ACMC and other missions networks and would consider joint missions
trips/projects with other churches.
XIV. The Responsibilities of the Missionary to the Church: In Fund-raising, our supported missionaries should communicate with the Mission Team and then are free to communicate with the whole church concerning their financial matters. The missionary must correspond with us quarterly. We place no requirements to spend time with us while on furlough though we would like to have at least one visit. Missionaries should also communicate in advance anticipated major changes in ministry assignments.
XV. Short-term Programs and Mission Trips: Short-term is defined as three months to three years. Mission Trips are from 1 week to 2 months. All trips come under JBC’s definition of Missions to evangelize, disciple and plant churches both nationally and internationally. We will help applicants get in touch with short-term/mission trip opportunities. We will encourage people to make their own arrangements with mission agencies. We require a pre-selection questionnaire and interview. A young person would need parental support and approval. The candidate must be a member of our church, have evidence of faithfulness in ministry, cooperative spirit, submission to authority, and fruit of the Spirit. He is responsible to raise the majority of his own support. Candidates must be supported by the Mission Team and the Elder Team. The Mission Team is available to mentor and encourage the applicant through out the process of raising his/her support. Support for the candidate which comes from outside the Missions Budget will be directed to the candidates agency and not through the church
Funding for Short-term/ Mission Trips and Projects
Participants are encouraged to raise their own support by sending letters. One letter for every $50 needed towards the trip. A Short-term Mission line item will be included in the General Fund Account to help supplement the needed support.
XVI. Establishing Partnership with National Workers and National Organizations: National Workers will be supported only through known and trusted organizations which can provide ministry and financial accountability.
XVII. Doctrinal Requirements for the Missionary: The missionaries we support must be in agreement with our doctrinal statement. JBC channels all of its support and gifts for the missionary through his support agency. JBC respects the agencies
responsibility to train, supervise and evaluate mission personnel under their care. However, JBC requests each agency supported to submit a copy of its doctrinal statement to the Mission Team.
XVIII. Financial Policies
a. The mission team prepares the budget for the approval of the church. All the funds will be raised through the faith promise system.
b. JBC will work only with agencies and organizations who meet the standards of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) or other accountability groups which can demonstrate financial integrity.
c. JBC will support people through approved organizations. The people we support will shape our strategy for distribution taking into consideration overseas vs. domestic ministries.
d. Recognizing that agencies are contractors who agree to supervise the work of the missionary on the church’s behalf, we look carefully at each contract before becoming a party of the agreement.
e. When and if the need arises, we expect status reports of the missionary from the agency concerning the missionary we support.
XIX. Procedure for Selecting New Career Candidates for Support
We require an interview before selection. The candidate must agree with the doctrinal position of JBC, have a clear indication of conversion and call to the ministry and meet the standards of I Tim. 3 and Titus 1. The candidate must be accepted by an organization approved by JBC and fit our purpose and strategy for world evangelism. Our own members will be given priority for support.
XX Amount of Support Allowable for Missionaries: We will need to know the total requirement for each missionary’s support as designated by their agency. We will develop criteria to determine the amount allotted including a) alternative sources of support; b) membership in JBC; c) total amount needed; d) type of work that will be done. We will assume a certain percentage of member’s needs and a certain percentage of non-members needs. (For example, 10% of members budgets, 5% of non-members.)
When Support Begins: Support begins when an agency has officially accepted the candidate. Once on the field, we will consider support of our missionary for advanced study, provided that we have the assurance of the missionary’s intent to return to missionary service for a least one full term. We consider the total needs of the family when considering support. The Mission Team may recommend termination of support and or projects in order to reach a better balance for the total strategy of the church. We will give 3 month notice that support has been terminated. In the event there is a failure to maintain the standards used to originally qualify for support, or a change in assignment or affiliation is made, a re-evaluation of support will be done. When a missionary who has been on the field at least one full term (4 years) resigns or retires under honorable conditions, we will extend support for up to 6 months through the Mission he was affiliated with. We will challenge individuals of the congregation to designate monies for outgoing expenses. Any funds needed over and above monthly support will be handled by a love offering basis. No provision will be made for the education of potential missionaries.
XXI. Designated Giving: JBC strongly encourages giving to the general missions’ budget. Designated giving will be encouraged for specific one-time projects, not for general support. Designated gifts will be returned to the donor or, after explaining to the donor the complexity of designated giving, the gift will be placed in the general mission fund. Large, one-time designated gifts will be received when it is for a church-approved missions’ project. If it is not, the donor will be encouraged to send the gift to the recipient’s mission agency.
XII Funds Shortage: If, after undertaking a mission budget, the expected monies are not received, the Board will unite the congregation in prayer, appeal for the money that is needed and set a priority system on every item of the mission budget.
XIII Funds Surplus: In the event there are surplus funds, a special presentation will be made to the congregation outlining how these funds should be used.
XIV Allocation for Missions Administration: We will have no missions’ administrative costs in our church at this time. Money will be allocated for registration fees for attendance of Board Members at approved missions conferences but not travel expenses.
XV Honorariums for Speakers: Honorariums for guest speakers at missions’ conferences or other mission emphasis Sundays will be provided through the regular church budget, the General Fund. Special offerings can be taken for our own supported missionaries at their missionary of the month report through a “retiring offering”. Special fund appeals are permitted from the pulpit for the support of the missionary and his or her project. All offerings will be processed through JBC and sent to the missionary’s agency.
Jaffrey Bible Church Short-term Evangelism Mission Trip Fund
STEMT FUND
( Money in Franklin Templeton Investments)
The STEMT Fund is to be used to encourage JBC members to take short term evangelism trips. The following criteria determine how the JBC Mission Board will allocate money from this fund:
1. The individual who receives some fund money must be a member or regular attendee for 6 months at JBC.
2. The primary effort of the short term trip that the member takes must be evangelism (to include, when possible actual verbal sharing of the gospel by the member and asking the prospect for a decision to receive Christ as Savior). This trip does not need to exclude some handing out of new testaments or tracts, mime, or music. But the trip must spend only a minimum amount of time attending church services, social service work (handing out food, clothes, medical supplies, etc.) construction work and other Christian work.
3. The trip must be a minimum of 7 days and no longer than 1 year.
4. The fund will provide no more than one half of any one individual’s trip cost with an upper limit of $1000 per person.
5. The entire JBC Mission Board must interview each prospective fund recipient individually
6. A majority of the JBC Mission Board members must approve of each interviewed person
7. After the trip a verbal trip report will be made to the JBC congregation at a Sunday morning worship service.
