Mission and Outreach Ministry Leader (Draft)
Brindabella Baptist Church Core Value
Has its focus on mission and evangelism – express God’s desire to provide healing and freedom for the broken and trapped in the community and beyond. We see the church serving and extending God’s Kingdom amongst other cultures through strategic partnerships and missional activities. We aim to provide pathways, training and supports for all Brindabellan’s to discover and pursue their unique God-given mission.
Relevant Scriptures
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”
Matthew 25; 34-40
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’”
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Role of Mission and Outreach Ministry at Brindabella Baptist Church
These New Testament references suggest three key aspects to our responsibilities in mission and outreach. (The two terms mission and outreach, although in many respects interchangeable, are retained to reflect common usage - ie the cross cultural connotations of the term mission and the local nature of outreach.)
1 From Matthew 28:18-20, the primary role of mission and outreach is to preach the gospel to the unreached and make disciples.
The emphasis is on making disciples - not merely converts. We have a clear responsibility to present the gospel to people in our local community then nurture the spiritual growth of new converts. From a mission perspective, we have the same responsibility to preach the gospel and ensure the spiritual growth of new Christians within their own cultural setting.
2 Translating Acts 1:8 to our own situation, we are instructed to witness to our local community here in Tuggeranong, to other parts of Australia, to our nearest neighbours in the Asia - Pacific region and to all nations on the earth.
Local outreach and cross-cultural mission clearly require different approaches but it is important to appreciate that both aspects are part of the Great Commission - deserving of our attention and commitment. They should not be seen as separate or competing areas of ministry.
3 Scripture teaches that we have a responsibility to care for our fellow humans.
This should be an integral part of our mission and outreach ministry. Jesus is our role model; he invariably displayed compassion for the hungry, the sick and the suffering people he encountered.
Mission and Outreach are the fundamental reason we exist as a church. Mission is the central theme of Scripture – it involves the reconciliation of sinful mankind to God through Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Therefore mission permeates all areas of our church ministry, especially those that involve our dealings with the local community and beyond and with our relationships with fellow Christians within the church.
Role of the Mission and Outreach Ministry Leader
· Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seek God’s vision and plan for mission and outreach at Brindabella Baptist Church.
· Engender an understanding of and passion for mission and outreach within the church community, including through training programs such as Perspectives.
· Encourage those engaged in mission and outreach ministry within the church and assist in facilitating and resourcing those ministries.
· Ensure those serving in mission and outreach away from Canberra, either in Australia or overseas, remain connected with the church community and receive ongoing spiritual and material support.
· Identify and encourage others to identify further opportunities for mission and outreach and develop and facilitate the implementation of programs that capture these opportunities.
· Pray and encourage the church community to pray for the mission and outreach ministry of Brindabella Baptist Church and of others.
· Meet regularly, at least every six weeks, with the Senior Pastor and other ministry leaders to share, learn and encourage one-another – and ensure there is a coordinated and consistent approach to mission and outreach within other areas of ministry.
· Develop partnerships with Christian churches in other cultures where we have a mission connection and relationships with mission agencies. The primary objective of these linkages is to facilitate effective mission.
· Encourage and facilitate cooperation with other local Christian churches in outreach and mission ministry.
· Acknowledge the role of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in building up the body of Christ and encourage the application of these gifts in mission and outreach ministry.