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Missional Steps for Churches

Looking at our congregations, we may wish that we could magically create a mission-shaped congregation with one event, one sermon, or one service-project.

The challenge is that most life change doesn’t happen overnight! Running a marathon, for example, takes months of training. Daily practice slowly shapes muscles and develops endurance until running 26.2 miles is possible. Becoming a mission-shaped congregation takes many small steps, all headed in the right direction.

Your Guide for Communicating With Missionaries in Closed Countries

Writing to your missionary and sending them mail is a great way to encourage them, but some missionaries serve in countries where Christians are persecuted or where sharing the gospel is cause for arrest. Governments monitor letters, packages, emails, social media, websites, and blogs; one word could jeopardize your missionary’s safety and ministry.

11 Social Media Tips for Short-Term Mission Trips

We live in a culture where every latte, sunset, or family gathering is fair game for a photo-op and social media post. But we have to be aware of how our love for photography and social media can play out when we are serving in mission.

Reflect on the following guidelines to ensure that your photography, social media use, and communications affirm the dignity of all people on your next short-term mission trip.

4 Questions to Ask Your Missionary Before Sending a Care Package

Care packages are a great way to encourage missionaries and send them a bit of home—but sending care packages can also be tricky. In some countries, care packages and their contents can present a huge hassle for your missionary. Always coordinate care packages with missionaries before sending them. Here are four questions you should ask:

November 8, 2018
When to Say "Yes!" — Vetting Financial Requests for Mission Work
As the people of God, we have a special calling to reach out to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. One of the ways to fulfill this calling is to send missionaries. But how do you decide which missionaries are the best fit for your church?
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October 25, 2018
5 Common Misconceptions About Missionary Kids
Children of missionaries may be known as “missionary kids” (MKs), but that doesn’t make them missionaries like their parents. God has unique plans and purposes for their lives, and it’s important to walk alongside them as they follow Jesus.

Here are five common misconceptions about life as a kid of a missionary—understanding these misconceptions can help us better support these youth.
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August 24, 2018
3 Tips for Teaching TCKs
With the increased movement of people around the world, it’s becoming more and more likely that students in academic classrooms or church groups will have lived in more than one country during their lifetimes.
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July 13, 2018
12 Bible Verses for Mission
Jesus’ final command to his disciples in the Bible was to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). As believers, we are called to spread God’s word throughout the world—whether that is just outside our door or across the globe. Use this collection of Bible verses to discuss the call to missions in your conversations, sermons, worship, work, and service.
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February 6, 2018
6 Great Ways to Make a Missionary Visit a Success
A well-planned missionary visit can make a big difference in how your church views mission. Here are some tips to plan a successful missionary visit:

1. Involve your missionaries in a worship service.
This will help your congregation get to know the missionaries and make the missionaries feel welcomed.

2. Schedule a visit between missionaries and your pastor.
Both will love the opportunity to talk about God’s work in the world.
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January 27, 2018
153 Themes for Your Next Mission Emphasis Event
The following list of mission emphasis themes is meant to help you choose a topic or message that you want to build a mission emphasis event/service around. The theme can influence the choice of music, sermons, and decorations.
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November 10, 2016
Fundraising Ideas for Missions Expenses
“From beginning to end, fund-raising is grounded in prayer and undertaken in gratitude...Gratitude flows from the recognition that who we are and what we have are gifts to be received and shared.” -- Henri Nouwen

Fundraising is as much a participation in ministry as it is a necessity to support ministry. When we invite others to give, we are asking them to invest themselves and their resources in God’s mission to expand his Kingdom and grow His church. Here are some practical ways to help fundraise for your ministry.
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