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bfc board of missions |
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Edition Issue 31 Let’s Fish Bible Fellowship Churches sharing resources to evangelize the world. A place for the exchange of ideas on short term missions projects and local outreach. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
All responses can be sent to office@bfcbom.org
Current and past issues can be found on the web at: www.bfcbom.org look in Let’s Fish, Archives
Greetings from Allentown!
4. Trips in the works (updated weekly)
IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO BE PLANNING YOUR 2004 MISSIONS TRIPS!!!
A successful missions trip begins with long term planning! The time for planning is right now! In fact if you have a specific mission focus for your church you should be already thinking 2005 even 2006! The most disappointing least productive mission experiences are those that are ill planned or hastily but together.
Build your team on the following foundational principles:
1. As much as possible build ministry partnerships with your existing missionary families.
2. Develop an outreach focus goal for your church that includes your short term mission outreach. (See article #3 below).
3. Use the resources of the Board of Missions. Chris Merrick is available to assist you in developing work projects and work project teams. Nelson Randolph is available to provide expert advice on every aspect of short term ministry development. Let’s Fish should be required reading for all of your outreach ministry teams. Sign them up! The BOM missionary family provides you with contacts in many nations of the world. Don’t forget our sister organization Church Extension for many worthwhile BFC church planting projects.
4. PRAY PRAY PRAY! I am totally convinced that the short term movement in the BFC is God generated and is not a project fad! Seek His guidance in getting your church involved in world evangelization!
My Wednesday is not complete without reading the latest let’s fish. I know I am too late to be part of the sign-up contest but could I enroll my friend. She does not go to my church but has a love for missions. She went with our youth group last year on our trip.
Michelle
(Absolutely Michelle, all we need is her name and e-mail address. By the way, she and any of our newer readers can catch up on past issues at our website: www.bfcbom.org).
Thanks for Fish. Not sure how I missed this either. Yes we are visiting Sarolta. we leave 9/19 return 10/1. Speaking in 4 churches (via translators, of course) and will be giving testimonies at about a dozen bible study groups from the Czech and Ukranian borders to Budapest. We will also be delivering gifts from the church to those associated with the work there. Alfred Roberts
Write me. I love e-mail!
The following announcement was sent out to BFC churches today. This workshop is very useful in helping mission leadership get a handle and focus on how you can direct your church’s short-term ministry so that it is church goal initiated and is not moving counter to your church’s plan for outreach. Don’t allow any more short term “water go over the dam” without developing an intentional missions focus that is uniquely God’s plan for your particular congregation. Read carefully the just announced workshop:
Over and over, we have seen how the development and launch of a strategic focus has ignited greater missions passion within local congregations like yours. Therefore, I’m excited about the opportunity to help your leadership team consider whether God might want to lead your church to launch a strategic focus that fits who God has made you to be.
The aim of this event is that after several hours of discussion and brainstorming, your church will:
Both Don and I are trained as fascinators with Dual Reach. This is the best material we have seen in assisting a local church to discover its God-given potential for mission impact. You will case study other churches much like your own in vision and size as they work through the following steps:
Don and I will not provide the answers for your church. You and your leadership must seek God’s direction for your own global outreach plan. However, we will assist by facilitating your interaction.
This workshop is designed for small group church leadership teams (Pastors, elders, and key mission committee members). It is not suited as a whole church event.
You will need to set aside five hours for the workshop sessions. Therefore, you should plan for a block/blocks of time totaling five hours PLUS some breaks and, if appropriate, a lunch period. We recommend that the sessions span a single day beginning in the morning and ending in mid afternoon.
The Board of Missions is committed to providing materials at minimal cost that will enable local BFC churches be cutting edge. With the exception of expenses which include workshop notebooks and travel mileage, there is no fee for the seminar. This does not imply that the seminar is free. The Board of Missions has a substantial investment in this material, and provides it to the BFC in order that our churches will be highly effective in their missions outreach.
For information and bookings call the BOM at (610) 398-8776.
Thanks,
Dana
4. Trips in the works (updated weekly)
The Board of Missions is keeping statistics of all short term missionary trips (both by teams and individuals). As you can see the 2003 trips are quickly coming to an end. Please register your 2004 trips as soon as they materialize. WHO, WHAT, CHURCH, MISSIONARY, COUNTRY, and DATE. Contact: office@bfcbom.org
Aug. 30 - Dec. 1 Pastor Carl & Charlene Cassel in Kenya, Carl to teach at Moffat College of Bible and Charlene, hostess at Kijabe Motel. September 18- 29 Royersford Barnabas Team to visit with the Moyer's in France and with Rick Erb in the Ukraine. September 19- 29 Royersford Work Team to put roof on Church building in Palowice, Poland. September 19-28 Bethlehem to Romania September 19- Oct. 1 Harleysville to Hungary
Trips highlighted need our prayer support RIGHT NOW!
Oct. 9 - 17; work trip to Guatemala (Mi Refugio). Building skills sought. Several from the BFC mid-Hudson churches are planning to go -- elder Hans Waldvogel (Faith BFC, Holmes, NY) is the contact person hwaldvog@jhmc.org October date to be determined Cedar Crest to Kosovo Work and ministry.
2004 June 12-18 Paris Prayer Conference all invited!
Don’t forget to register your 2004 trips!!!
November 14-16 BOM Missions RWR
This annual work/study weekend sponsored by the BOM is for high school and post high school young people serious about knowing God’s will for their life and the possibility of career missions. This weekend fills up quickly so register early on line at:
This just in!!! Missionary Craig Tress from Australia will be with us for the entire weekend!
Registrations are already coming in! Don’t miss out!
Successful people do what unsuccessful people won't even attempt.
This quote caught my eye recently. A church leader once said to me; “the only reason your church has a successful short term missions program is because you have the resources to pull it off”!
I thought about that for some time. I come from a church with plenty of resources, an active missions committee, a dynamic youth program, and a vision. We as a church have been many places around the world! The majority of our people have had some type of short term experience. Is it because we are a bigger church? I came to the conclusion that the answer is a resounding NO! The one driving force in my church is VISION!
God given VISION is a resource open to any church regardless of size. In the workshop mentioned above (article 3), the dynamics of vision work just as well in a small church as they do in a large church. In fact a small congregation with VISION will far outpace a large church with unlimited resources but has no vision!
The Board of Missions is available with our limited staff to assist any BFC church find and fulfill its God given vision. As I write this the BFC churches have short term teams in Poland, Hungary, Kenya, and Romania! These trips are some of the final 45+ BFC teams that ministered this year! Each team or individual started with a first bold step of faith. I encourage you to take that first step TODAY!
Most of all, Keep Fishing!
Dana
A cooperative effort of the churches of the BFC to win the world for Christ Your response is always welcome at: office@bfcbom.org 610 398-8776 |
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