10 questions a church should ask a mission agency
Jesus has commanded every believer to take part in “going into all the world and making disciples of all nations.” This command applies to your church today.
But how should we go about this? What should the role of a mission agency be? Church leaders often find themselves struggling to understand the differences between different mission agencies, different strategies, and different missionaries.
If you’re wrestling with any of these questions and trying to think Biblically through whether or not to support a particular missionary or to send someone from your church with a particular agency, these are some questions we recommend you put to the leadership of the mission agency. These questions apply whether you’re considering sending or supporting someone with any agency at all (not just Global Serve International), and they’re designed to help you and your church fully understand the agency’s strategy and values.
1. What are the doctrinal positions and core values of your agency?
Look for values and doctrine that align with those of your church. It is also important to clarify not only the agency’s beliefs on these issues but the degree to which they allow people who don’t agree with them 100% to work with them.
2. What is the goal of the work of your mission agency?
Evaluate the answer based on how closely the goal fits the Great Commission from Scripture. Compare it to other mission agencies’ goals and assess not only for which one is good, but which one is most Biblical. (Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:6-8)
3. How will the person we send out fit into that goal?
Ask for specifics about what kind of work their current field workers are doing. Do they directly impact the goal stated in the second question? Indirectly? If it’s a mixture, then what proportion have ministries that directly work towards the goal, and what percentage have an indirect impact?
4. What kind of accountability will there be for the person we send out in their ministry?
Evaluate the answer for specificity, i.e., don’t settle for vague “we expect the highest standards of integrity” but ask what steps the agency takes to ensure that their people are serving with integrity and faithfulness in their day-to-day ministry. (I Thes. 4:1, I Cor. 4:2)
5. Do you require missionaries to learn the language of the people they will be working among?
Look for agencies who can say a clear “yes” to this question.
6. If so, do you have standards for the level to which they must learn the language? How do you maintain these standards?
Again, be looking for specifics. The word “fluent” is hard to define, so go further and ask how the missionaries’ ability in the language is assessed to ensure that the Word of God is being presented clearly (Col.4:3-4).
7. What role do you expect our church to play in the ministry of the person we send out through your agency?
Remember that the Great Commission was not issued to mission agencies – it was issued to believers, who were expected to be gathered into local churches. Carrying out the Great Commission is not the sole responsibility of those you send out from your church as missionaries – it is the responsibility of your entire church body. Ask questions about how your church will partner with the mission agency to help support the field workers you send out to see the goal from question 2 reached. (Rom. 10:13-15, Acts 13:2-3)
8. What services or support do you offer the missionary as they seek to accomplish the goal?
The role of the mission agency is to provide some types of support to a missionary that the church is either unable or ill-equipped to provide. You will want to evaluate which services (financial, emergency support, member care, ministry leadership, visa services, etc.) the mission agency in question is prepared to offer the person you send out as they minister, and how they provide them.
9. How does your agency determine when a work is complete? What is a typical timeline for this to occur?
Look at how the agency assesses the work and decides when the ministry is complete, and the worker should leave the area. Look over the timeline they give you to make sure you understand it. (Acts 14:26-27)
10. How do you ensure that the ministry will not end when you leave?
Evaluate the answer to see if they have ministry strategies that are replicable without the support and/or finances from foreign sources, once the goals of the organization are accomplished. (Acts 20:28-32)
How can we help your church be equipped to join God in His mission both locally and globally? Contact us and let us know.