vineyard missions: frequently asked questions

What is “Local Church Based Missions” (LCBM)?
LCBM is the foundation of our missions strategy in the Vineyard. We
believe that all ministry has been released by God through the local
church. It is the church that has been commissioned to evangelize and to
make disciples in the nations. Mission begins “right next door” and
extends to the nations that have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus
Christ. In every local church there is both the potential and the gifting to
fulfill its purpose in the Kingdom of God. We believe that we are called to
be Missional churches. This requires more than having a “missions
department” in the local church; it is more than simply sending money or
people to a mission agency. LCBM occurs when a local church hears
God’s call to reach the nations and responds to that call. LCBM
empowers the local church to have a proactive vision, made more viable
when several churches partner together in pursuit of a common goal.

What is a partnership?
A partnership is a group of churches doing together what none of them
could do by themselves. It is a concept that uses synergy to its fullest. A
partnership is formed when a group of churches agree to join their
resources together to pursue what God has called them to do. A common
commitment is shared by each church, and their energy is directed toward
seeing churches planted in their target area. Each church shares in the
vision, and in the development of a strategy to bring to fruition God’s call
for their churches. A partnership allows small to medium size churches
make a significant contribution toward the accomplishment of the Great
Commission. Together, a partnership is able to do things that a single
church, with limited resources, may not be able to do. In the Vineyard, we
are seeing this mission strategy work for many local churches, especially
as they partner with other churches in their geographic area. A partnership
expresses what Paul taught in I Corinthians 12 about the strength and
importance of diversity in the body. Every part has something to contribute
and working together allows more dynamic participation.

What about Mission Agencies?
We are very thankful for every group that has made a contribution to the
advancement of the Kingdom of God. In championing Local Church Based
Missions we do not, in any way, want to disregard what many mission
agencies have accomplished over their years of commitment and
sacrifice. We realize that many of these groups possess the same passion
as we do. Our focus is facilitating the involvement of the local church in

fulfilling the Great Commission. In the Vineyard we are committed to the
equipping and releasing all the saints. Our observation has been that with
most agencies only the professionals “get to play.”

How do we begin to move our church toward LCBM?
Involving your church in LCBM, whether you are currently using a more
traditional approach or not actively engaged in missions, is a process that
takes time. You must be prepared to allow missions to become one of the
main emphases of your church’s ministry. For LCBM to be really effective
it must be relational, hands-on, and sacrificial. Additionally, pastors and
leaders will need to introduce a new paradigm for international ministry.
Financing and sending out missionaries won’t be the exclusive method of
deployment to the nations; the churches themselves must also become
the missionary. Making this shift may require a new allocation of your
mission resources and, while challenging, can be done with sensitivity and
integrity. One Vineyard pastor who has successfully made this is transition
is Floyd Butler in Arcadia, California. You might want to contact Floyd to
learn from his experience (floydbutler@vineyardusa.org). AVC-Missions is
developing a number of resources to help in developing a missions
strategy and plan for your church. A first draft is available here (link to
draft).

What is a short-term mission trip?
A short-term mission trip is typically seven to fourteen days in length (but it
can be longer), with people going to minister in a culture different from
their own. The focus of these trips is always to serve the group being
visited, and may include evangelism, teaching, prayer, construction, or a
combination of these activities. It is also an opportunity for Christians from
the U.S. to enjoy the blessing, as well as the challenge, of ministering
cross-culturally. It is the opportunity to share your gifts and abilities with
others and to receive from people of a different culture. Paul’s words to
the Romans summarize the heart of short-term missions when he writes
that he longs to see them so that he “may impart to you some spiritual gift
to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged
by each other’s faith.” (Romans 1:11-12)

How can we get our church involved in short-term trips?
Because of our commitment to missions based in the local church, it is
essential that the Senior Pastor gives his/her support, and it is best if they
actually participate. This may require a paradigm shift from viewing
missions as simply a ministry area within the church to understanding
missions as a key task of the church. The first step in planning to take a
short-term mission trip is to determine the country or region you may want

to visit. Perhaps God has already been speaking to you about a nation, or
you are aware of another church working in a particular nation. It is often
good to travel with someone else more experienced the first trip. We often
gain vision by serving along side someone with a vision. The second step
is to determine what you will do on the trip, even if the purpose of the trip
is simply to “check things out.” This normally requires dialogue with people
in the country you intend to visit. Remember, taking a short-term ministry
trip involves sacrifice on both sides. People from the U.S. give up their
limited vacation time and spend hard-earned money to visit a place very
different from their home. The people we visit are also giving up time in
their busy schedules to receive the team, to organize transportation and
housing, and to work on making the time a good experience for all
involved. In light of this cost, it is important that something valuable be
done (for example, building relationships is very valuable). Identifying how
best to serve can only be done in dialogue. Dennis Bourns at the Vineyard
in Phoenix, Arizona has developed a helpful manual for leading teams. He
can be contacted at dennisbourns@vineyardusa.org

How can our youth be involved in a mission’s experience?
Seventy-five percent of missionaries have said that a major factor in
recognizing and affirming their call to the mission field was a short-term
mission experience they had as a young person. When young people are
involved in mission outreaches, amazing things happen. Youth often have
a paradigm shift, returning from a mission trip as “global Christians,”
committed to doing their part to see the Great Commission fulfilled. These
young people have a new passion not only for missions, but also for local
outreaches in their church.

God uses youth in a unique way on the mission field. When youth are
ministering abroad, there is often an increased interest and openness
among people, especially among the young people in different countries.
In many developing nations, youth account for over 50% of the entire
population. Television, music, and the Internet have brought youth
together to share many of the same interests and values. For this reason,
youth in developing countries often have a great interest in what American
youth have to say.

There are many ways youth can have a mission experience. First, local
churches can begin their missions emphasis locally. In almost every city in
the United States, there are populations of people from other cultures.
Missions or cross-cultural ministry opportunities are at the doorstep of
most churches. The Vineyard in Las Cruces, New Mexico, recently had a
“Banquet for the Nations” where they targeted the international community
that lives near their local university. They emphasized that this was an
opportunity not just to invite the international community to church, but to

begin relationships that could lead these people to Christ. The new
converts could then become missionaries to their own countries.

Another way youth can have a mission experience is through short-term
mission trips. We believe Vineyard churches should establish
opportunities for youth to go on trips to help Vineyard churches be
planted. In July 2000, we had our first mission outreach called “Extreme
Mission 2000.” Over seventy youth from ten different Vineyard churches
participated in this weeklong outreach in Janos, Mexico. The trip to Janos
coincided with the launching of a Vineyard church plant in that village. God
used the youth in amazing ways! They lovingly served the poor, prayed for
the sick and oppressed, brought strength and encouragement to our
church planters, and were a blessing to the entire community. Most
importantly they brought people to Christ. The youth testified that this was
a life-changing experience! We hope to make our Vineyard youth missions
conference and short-term mission outreaches annual events. This year
we will hold our Extreme Mission 2001 Conference in Juarez, Mexico, July
23-31. The conference will last three days followed by an opportunity to go
on one of four outreach trips into Mexico. Click here for more information
on Extreme Mission.

Next year, we are looking into the possibility of having a national Vineyard
missions youth conference in Houston, Texas. We hope to have hundreds
of youth gather for this conference and then spread out across the world
for short-term mission outreaches. Glen Schroeder and the Vineyard
Youth Task Force are working to coordinate this event. Please check out
their web site later this summer for details.

What is the Missions Task Force (MTF)?
The Missions Task Force is composed of Vineyard pastors with a heart for
missions and a proven track record of effectiveness in cross-cultural
ministry. Their purpose is to help mobilize Vineyard churches in cross-
cultural ministry, to help train them to do that ministry effectively, and to
help coordinate the efforts of U.S. Vineyard churches working
internationally.

Click here for the current members of the task force and their contact information.

Please contact the MTF member nearest your region if they can be of
assistance.

What are “theaters?”
The concept was originally developed by Bob Fulton for the purpose of
ensuring that in each nation where Vineyard churches are being planted,

they are also being cared for and not ignored. Originally, the theaters were
determined geographically with, for example, the United States having
responsibility for Latin America and Canada for Asia. More recently, it was
determined that it would be better to base the composition of the theaters
on relationship rather than on geography alone. In late 1999 the theaters
were redefined to reflect the actual nations in which each AVC was
working. Currently the following nations, and regions, are the primary
responsibility of the AVC-USA:

- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Caribbean
- Central Asia
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Japan
- Korea
- Lebanon
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Puerto Rico
- Spain
- Turkey
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela

With theaters shifting away from the former focus on geography, we are
looking for a new term to describe these areas of responsibility. Theaters
are only intended as a temporary structure while the Vineyard movement
is developing in a nation. The ultimate goal is the release of Associations
of Vineyard Churches within each country, or group of countries, under the
leadership of a person from that nation. Because of this emphasis, as well
as the addition of new countries within which U.S. Vineyard churches are

beginning to work, the countries within the U.S. area of responsibility will
be changing regularly.

What is the Vineyard philosophy on Missions?
We believe that God has called us to minister to the nations. We are
committed to cross-cultural ministry as an essential part of the calling of
local churches. Because of the cost, and complexity, of ministering cross-
culturally, we have found that individual churches are most effective when
they work together in partnership with other Vineyard churches. We
currently have about two dozen of these partnerships in various stages of
development within the U.S. While our missiology is developing, the
“Seven Keys to Vineyard Missions” represent the core values with which
we minister cross-culturally.

What are the “Seven Keys to Vineyard Missions?”
The “Seven Keys” were developed several years ago at a meeting of the
MTF. They were, and are, an effort to briefly express our non-negotiable
values in working cross-culturally. We have used these principles in
ministry around the world. These “keys” have been used effectively in a
variety of settings as a basis for teaching Vineyard missiology. We are in
the process of expanding the brief descriptions.

How can I find out what is going on in Vineyard missions around the world?
We are working on better ways of communicating what is happening in the
Vineyard movement around the world. Currently, your best sources of
information are the members of the MTF and the AVC-Missions office.
They can help you determine what other churches, if any, are working in a
specific nation, as well as point you toward other sources of information.

What resources are available to help us in ministering cross-
culturally?
- We have a list of Key Books for Vineyard Missions and are working
to produce our own written resources in the future.
- A first draft of our paper on developing a missions strategy for your
church is available on this web page.
- Dennis Bournes has produced a very good manual for sending
short-term teams.
- The members of the MTF are available to assist you.

- Phil Strout is available to do “Mission Awareness Weekends” at
your church.
- The materials listed below are in the process of being developed
and will, hopefully, be available in final form over the next year. You
can contact the AVC-Missions office to get further information about
their availability.

• Developing a missions plan for your church
• Partnership Development Manual
• Manual for sending missionaries from the local church

 

I want to be a Vineyard Missionary. What do I do?
The Vineyard does not have a centralized missions sending agency.
Missionaries are sent by partnerships of Vineyard churches. Because of
this focus on the local church, the first and most important step is to talk
with the pastor of your own church and share your sense of calling with
him/her. We believe that calling is affirmed within the local church. If your
pastor needs more information, they are welcome to contact a member of
the MTF or the AVC Missions office. We are developing a variety of
resources that we would be happy to make available as they are
produced. We are able to offer suggestions about screening candidates,
options for cross-cultural training, practical matters (e.g. determining the
level of financial support needed, and obtaining health insurance
overseas) and providing pastoral care for missionaries sent by Vineyard
churches.

We have a short-term mission team going out this year. Can we get money from AVC?
We are committed to Local Church Based Missions (LCBM). As such,
each individual church develops and funds its own mission activity, often
in partnership with other Vineyard churches. The “one percent” given to
the AVC for international ministry is earmarked for the mobilization,
training, and coordination of Vineyard churches working cross-culturally. In
addition, these funds are used to facilitate the development of the
Vineyard movement within the countries of the U.S. Theater.
Unfortunately, money is not available to support the ministry trips of
individual churches.