1.WHAT IS THE” MISSION “?

Global Mission is a worldwide church initiative to reach the unchurched with hope

  • FOCUS:
  • To establish a local Adventist congregation in all people groups where presently there is none, or few for a church organization
  • Beginning with those close to existing churches.
  • Further , on the global level , to establish an Adventist presence in every geographical group and every language group

 2. BACKGROUNG TO GLOBAL MISSION

The Global Mission initiative was voted by the World Church in session in 1990 but it was launched in 1993. Since then it has greatly contributed to the expansion of the Seventh-day Adventist mission around the world. It places special emphasis on the so-called 10/40 Window. This is an imaginary rectangle on the world map between the 10th and 40th degrees north of the equator and that encompasses much of Asia , the Middle East, and parts of Africa . Therein, more than 65% of the world population have not accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord although Christ offered his atonement death for all humanity.

According to Matthew 28:18-20, the mission of the church has three major inseparable components:1) the mission should lead people to Jesus as their Savior and Lord through conversion and baptism; 2) the mission is to incorporate a community of believers , the church , into an environment where they can grow in faith , knowledge, and the enjoyment of a universal fellowship of believers ; and , 3) the mission is to nurture and train members as active disciples who recognize and utilize their spiritual gifts to assist in sharing the gospel.

In order to fulfill this three dimension mission , the related program of Global Mission Pioneer was put in place. This is a lay-driven volunteer initiative designed to plant an Adventist presence among all unentered people groups throughout the world. Indeed, this initiative is patterned after Christ’s ministry as it seeks to involve the church laity in witnessing in every neighborhood by preaching the good news , serving mankind, developing disciples, and bringing people into meaningful church fellowship. Therefore, E. G. White supports :”Until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to work and unite their efforts with those of minister and church officers, the work of God on this earth can never be finished.”(9T117)

According to Dr Mike Ryan, by then director of Global Mission for the world church, pioneers are responsible for starting the majority of new Adventist congregations in the past ten years. They also avoid many of the pitfalls that can occur when mission takes place cross-culturally.

Global Mission pioneers are lay people, usually young, who go to an “unentered” area within their own culture to establish a new group of believers. They are recruited and trained at the local level, receive a small living allowance, and normally work for at least a year—usually much longer.

“Pioneers represent a new wave of mission—indigenous people working as missionaries to their own people,” says Dr Ryan. “They’re probably as far from our traditional view of missionaries as you can get. They understand the culture and language of their own people, blend with the local people, and communicate the good news in a unique way.

“The key is that the pioneers live, eat, and work with the people—at the same socio-economic level,” he adds. “They have a holistic ministry, helping the people, understanding the people, and sharing the love of God with the people.

3. STRATEGIC PLAN 2005-2010

“Then I saw another angel flying in midair , and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation, tribe, language and people…”Rev14:6.

“Until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to work and unite their efforts with those of the minister and church officers, the work of God on this earth can never be finished .”9T117

a. GLOBAL MISSION VISION : VISION 1000/2000

  • To penetrate every un-entered territory as defined by the unions by 2010
  • To plant 1000 churches within this quinquennium
  • To deploy 2000 GMPioneers division wide within this quinquennium

ECD Global Mission Vision 1000/2000 is to establish an organized group of Adventist believers in every unentered territory as defined by each union/attached territory .

The plan is therefore to plant new churches in the areas where there is no Adventist presence.

Global Mission, being an integral part of the church activities to fulfill its God given mission, falls under one of the major area of ECD 5 focus, mainly Soul Winning.

This vision area has been expressed through the following preferred futures:

-Have doubled the membership by 2010-Have doubled the number of organized churches /congregations by 2010-Every unentered territory has a congregation-Have 5 worshipping groups in Somalia and 3 in Djibouti

The quinquennium theme for Global Mission is illustrated through the following motto:

  • GLOBAL MISSION PIONEER : GO
  • GLOBAL MISSION PIONEER : PENETRATE A NEW TERRITORY
  • GLOBAL MISSION PIONEER : PLANT A CHURCH

b. SPECIFIC GOALS

  • to survey and illustrate on a map the Adventist presence across the ECD territory
  • to identify the un-churched people groups across the ECD territory
  • target areas identification
  • to develop simple material for the Global Mission Coordinator/ Pioneers
  • to strengthen and equip Global Mission Pioneers with a special emphasis on the call to GM pioneering and church planting.
  • to train the trainers of trainees
  • to raise awareness of sending GM pioneers from local churches ( for within and outside the area)
  • to orient unions on the operation of Global Mission
  • to address community needs through supporting ministries such as education, health,ADRA to serve as a way to bridge in the un entered territories.
  • to make budgetary provisions for the Global Mission Pioneers at all church levels
  • to involve the laity in sponsoring GM projects.
  • to share the frontline testimonies and pictures
  • to promote MISSION OFFERINGS

c. GOALS timing

YEAR 2006

- Appoint the GM taskforce at all level by the executive body

  • Avail the GM operation manual to all Union GM coordinator(see ECD first Advisory on GM, 2004)
  • Develop material for Union GM Coordinators/Pioneers on the Call to GM Pioneering and church planting )
  • Produce a map of the unentered areas
  • Identify the target new territories for the year 2006
  • To recruit 2 000 pioneers division wide to plant 1 000 churches
  • To report on funded projects
  • To encourage s upporting ministries as bridging in ways in new territories
  • Advertise GM frontline testimonies in church publication

YEAR 2007

  • Conduct GM advisory on union level for the GM Pioneers
  • Raise awareness among members in local churches on the need for outreach and church planting
  • Recruit pioneers, ongoing
  • Implement church planting strategy
  • Evaluate sponsored GM projects
  • Develop simple material for the 10/40 window in collaboration with AMR
  • Affirm the GM pioneers on the field

- Supporting ministries as bridging in ways to new territories

- Advertise GM testimonies in church publications

YEAR 2008

-Conduct GM advisory on Union level for the GM Pioneers( cont’ed)

-Deploy GM pioneers in the new territories, on going

-Affirm GM Pioneers and Follow up in new churches

-Evaluate the funded GM projects for the year 2006,2007

-Stress 10/40 Window GM penetration

YEAR 2009

-Supporting ministries-Educational, health institutions and Adra in new territories

-Involve laity in sponsoring GM projects

-Evaluate GM funding for the year 2008

-Stress 10/40 Window penetration

-Affirm planted churches

YEAR 2010

-Evaluation of GM goals

-Congress of GM Pioneers

Staff:

GM Coordinator:
Noah Kasereka Musema e mail : musemak@ecd.adventist.org

Project Developer:
Darlene Bina

Administrative Secretary:
Euginie Habimana