Criterion 9

1. Criterion 9 Understands how to support missionaries and is actively seeking to do so

2. Criterion 9 • Goals: • To understand the rationale of both tentmaking and fully-supported missionaries and the pros and cons of each • To ensure the financial stability and well being of any missionary they send • To avoid dependency problems in missions and the need for transparency/accountability in dealing with mission funds

3. Criterion 9 • Goals: • To recognize the various ways they can emotionally and spiritually support missionaries • To understand the value of short-term mission trips

4. Fully-supported missionaries • Acts 13 – Paul and Barnabas’ Experience • Acts 18:1-5, 1 Cor 9:14, 2 Cor 11:7-9, Phil 4:14-15

5. Tentmaking Acts 18:3 - The tentmaking model possesses four main advantages. • The tentmaking model provides understandable roles for missionaries that will eliminate suspicion on the part of the locals. • The impoverished nature of the churches that are sending majority world missionaries makes this model necessary.

6. Tentmaking • There are many government restrictions in the countries of origin and destination, especially in regards to the transfer of funds. • Finally, most of the UPGs live in countries that are weary of foreign influence and do not hand out visas easily. This restrictive posture makes it difficult for missionaries to enter their countries unless they have a skill or service that is needed.

7. To ensure the financial stability of any missionary they send • The church should be intentional about understanding the missionary’s financial situation and work hard to meet his/her needs. • Why is it easy to forget about the missionary? • Phil 4:10-19

8. Dependency and transparency/accountability • Not only should Chinese churches avoid dependency on outside churches, they should also be careful not to create dependency problems as they begin work among the extremely poor UPGs. • Questions… • The core principle behind most of these questions is, “does the foreign money create dependency and weaken indigenization?”

9. Dependency and transparency/accountability • Transparency - Church leaders must realize their responsibility to transparently channel all funds to their designated accounts and practice strict financial accountability (2 Cor 8:19-21). A lack of transparency and accountability is hindering many Chinese Christians from generous giving.

10. Emotional and Spiritual Support • Asian churches may at times impose on missionaries a Confucian work ethic – one that promotes hard work at the expense of rest and renewal – as exemplified by Chinese missionary heroes such as John Sung, Watchman Nee and Wang Ming Dao.

11. Emotional and Spiritual Support • So, we could encourage our workers to pay attention to their spiritual life. • Culture Shock • Discouragement support • Team relationships and counseling

12. Value of Short Term Missions • Helping them obtain ministry contacts • Prayerwalking • Bringing ministry resources • Doing evangelism • Passing out tracks

13. Value of Short Term Missions • Leading Bible studies • Conducting trainings • Doing research in nearby villages • Ministering to the long-term workers • Help people realize their call to career missions • Reignite the sending church’s passion for missions

14. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS/ACTION STEPS • Discuss in small groups which paradigm of sending (tentmaking or full support) is most appropriate for their church right now. Why? • Discuss the best way to collect and distribute missionary funds and how to do it with transparency and accountability • Begin a designated missionary fund