Does Your Church have Fertile Soil?

When we launched MissionConnexion over two decades ago it was with a driving desire to help strengthen
local churches to be more effective raising up and sending out their own missionaries. Many of us were in
leadership roles in churches where we were doing that yet always interested in learning from others doing it
better.

Calvary Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania has been effectively raising up and sending out global workers
for many years using a robust training program they developed themselves. Former SEND workers, “Queen
Elizabeth and King David” Givens (what they asked to be called) presented an intriguing overview of their
program at their workshop in January entitled “Growing Workers in Your Local Church”.

Here are a few nuggets I took from them…

Using Acts 13:1-5, and Acts 16:4-10, WHO sends out the missionary? It is clear the Holy Spirit does, but
John is there to help them.

What about Isaiah 6 where God says: “Whom shall I send and will go for us?” and Isaiah responds, “Send
me!” An individual may sense God’s call, but the church can confirm the spiritual gifts in the worker.
Establishing a formal program gives the individual opportunity to grow…gives the Church time to observe
and train the individual to see if they SHOULD go into cross-cultural ministry…and utilizes the mission
Agency to show them who has been proven for cross-cultural ministry.

What does a person need to know and have experience doing before moving into cross cultural ministry?
1. Ongoing relationship with the Lord
2. Evangelism as a way of life (lead others to Christ)
3. Discipleship training to be able to disciple others
4. Aptitude to effectively share Jesus cross-culturally
5. Life skills to live & thrive outside the home culture
6. Personally integrated theological framework to present the gospel from one’s own understanding of
the Bible.

What are the four stages of the Cross Training Program?
Explore: trainee must register to participate; join a cohort; take the Perspectives course; participate in
multiple ministry areas of the church plus cross-cultural trips.
Equip: trainee must apply and interview with the cross-training team; complete assigned tasks then
interview to determine if they are a “GO-er” or, a “SEND-er”.
Engage: here the trainee “plows and pursues” to determine a People-Group and Agency; build skills in
evangelism & disciple making; meet monthly with a mentor; meet with the missions committee and elders.
Establish: here the trainee is preparing to launch onto the field…church partners with the agency; build a
financial support team; have a commissioning.

Why is it important to use mission agencies?
Because it is so easy to be in touch with the home church. The triangle of relationships holds the worker
accountable and provides a safety net both at home and abroad:

1. Church sends
2. Church is responsible to the missionary before deployment and on home service.
3. Church may limit the number of agencies they engage with.

1. Agency oversees the work.
2. Responsible for direct supervision, accountability
3. Specific training, security, financial structure.

What does Romans 10:13-15 teach us about the urgency of being sent?

13“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they
have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they
hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is
written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Try reversing that:
 If no one is SENT?
 If no one preaches?
 Who will hear?
 Who will believe?
 Who will be called?
 Who will be saved?

The great 19th century preacher, Charles Spurgeon once said “The great question is not, ‘will not the heathen
be saved if we do not SEND them the gospel?’” But are we saved ourselves if we do not SEND them the
gospel?”

Does your church have fertile soil for growing workers who are being raised up and sent out?
 If you would like more information on their training program from Calvary Church you may write
them at: global@calvarychurch.org
 If you would like to listen to this workshop recording, or others, please go to our website and scroll
down to Workshop Recordings until you find what you want.