About the
MEMBERS IN MISSIONS
As God calls us to mission beyond our own setting, we need the support of our local church, and then the support of many churches to fulfill the vision we have been given. In this age of growing cooperation between Christians of different denominations and mission boards of varying specializations, we find that God has called many women and men from our traditions to serve under a diversity of sending agencies. These folk are for various reasons not supported by a denominational mission board. We rejoice triumphantly in the discovery that the loudly lamented decline in mainline missions over the last two decades may be overstated! Praise God that there are dozens and perhaps hundreds of missionaries we just haven’t known about!!!
In 1989, Biblical Witness Fellowship discovered a number of missionaries and projects related to the United Church of Christ and its historic traditions who were not serving under the umbrella of the UCC’s World Board. Information about these servants of God was collected and published in a notebook as “UCC Members in Mission.” The listing now also includes missionaries associated with churches who are members of Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches or sponsored by churches with roots in reformed, congregational, Christian, and evangelical traditions.
The Members in Mission are in two categories: Missionaries and People and Projects in Mission. Many Members in Mission serve under the great, ecumenical, evangelical, inter-denominational missions boards such as Wycliffe, Campus Crusade for Christ, or YWAM that have assumed the dominant leadership role in the North American mission movement since WWII. Some are sent by their local churches to missions supported by small coalitions of our heritage churches. Some of the Projects in Mission are recommended because they minister where there is the greatest need for the Gospel and humanitarian aid and have ways to connect directly to our tradition’s churches.
All are doing the missions work of the historic church mission boards of proclaiming the Gospel and demonstrating God’s love to mankind. All of the missionaries and mission efforts in the Network need the support of our churches.
What we have done is to verify through extensive questionnaires, references, and interviews that each missionary we recommend to you has the following qualifications:
1. A strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives, and a life that reflects that faith commitment.
2. A call and ability to make disciples of Jesus Christ wherever and in whatever capacity they are serving.
3. A general agreement with the Dubuque or Dupage Declarations of Faith as well as the Statement of Faith of the Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches.
4. A reliable board, agency, or other means of sustaining support and accountability.
Also included in the Mission Renewal Network are other vitally important types of mission work called People & Projects in Partnership. Each has met basically the same requirements as the Member in Missions missionaries. These people and projects include:
1. Grassroots mission projects that have grown out of the vision of local churches in our tradition.
2. Missionaries that have been sent from local congregations of partner churches in other regions of the world.
3. Related mission churches which need temporary support to reach the people group to whom they minister.
4. Non-denominational agencies that work in strategic ways to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ while ministering to people’s physical needs. Many provide ways to mobilize the congregation to God’s Global Mission.
How Do You Use the Network?
It is not our intent to function in any manner as a mission board or sending agency, rather simply to put you, the church, in relationship with your sisters and brothers who are pursuing mission throughout the world.
A Notebook lists the Members in Mission Missionaries and the People and Projects in Partnership. An index makes it easy to find someone serving in a particular geographical location or home sending area. You are encouraged to contact the missionaries directly. Churches can use the Notebook in directing prayer for missions or in choosing a missionary to support.
It is our prayerful hope that your church will establish supportive relationships with these faithful servants who have responded to the call of God. Direct, personal relationship with others in mission is the most effective way to open the eyes of your congregation to a missions vision.
We recommend, as you step forward with us in this adventure, that you create your own local church missions policy. ACMC (Advancing Church in Missions Commitment) has published valuable how-to’s in this and other areas of local church missions that are widely recognized by churches of many denominations.
The Mission Renewal Network offers Suggestions for Missions Committees that can help in choosing and providing support for missionaries as well as other information we hope you find helpful as you work to deepen your church’s commitment to world evangelization.
Joining the Network
Members of churches related to the UCC or rooted in the congregational, Christian, evangelical, and reformed traditions who are serving in missions or preparing to serve are encouraged to apply to be included as Members in Mission. Also welcome are those missionaries with roots in our evangelical, reformed and congregational traditions and people sponsored by affiliated churches.
Missionaries who desire to be part of the network should apply to the National Missions Coordinator. They will be put forward for consideration by local churches after an evaluation for authenticity and adequacy of call, training, experience, commitment, supervision, and support.
Churches who which to get a Notebook listing the Members in Mission, should contact the Mission Renewal Network at 1-800-494-9172 or email worldetc@aol.com
We are confident that God will richly magnify your ministry as you join in partnership to do what we have each been so directly called to do by our Lord himself.
Yours for the Advance of the Kingdom of God,
Elizabeth Claver, National Missions Coordinator
Missions Renewal Network
P.O. Box 102
Candia, NH 03034-0102
tel: 1-800-494-9172
email: worldetc@aol.com