Expectations of an Engaging Church

Engaging ChurchAn Engaging Church is Expected to…

  1. Make a long-term commitment (minimum of 3-5 years) to evangelism, discipleship and church planting among a people group with the goal of seeing a self-sustaining movement among them.
  2. Employ strategies consistent with missiological principles that ensure church reproduction in the African context without creating dependency on outside resources.
  3. Plant Baptist churches. While partnerships can be developed with other Christian organizations, new churches should be Baptist in doctrine and practice.
  4. Form a Leadership Team that will keep a compelling vision before the church and enlist the involvement of the entire body. The Leadership Team will be responsible for building a prayer network; coordinating and training short-term mission teams; and evaluating and reporting progress to the church and the West Africa Engagement Team.
  5. Develop and implement a master plan for reaching the people group. This plan will include strategies for research, evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, church planting and transitioning out of the work.
  6. Train and regularly send teams (ideally at least 4-6 times per year).
  7. Become self-facilitating. While IMB missionaries will provide assistance for initial teams, the church should become increasingly responsible for arrangements like local transportation, housing, meals, currency exchange, translators, etc.

The Engagement Team Will Assist the Engaging Church by...

  1. Advising the church in the selection of an unengaged people group.
  2. Providing direction and advice for master plan development.
  3. Assisting with logistical facilitation for the first several teams who visit the field.
  4. Providing orientation and debriefing for the first several teams who visit the field.
  5. Informing initial teams about availability of supplies and local vendors, housing and transportation options, translators and other resources that will move the church toward becoming self-facilitating.
  6. Praying for the church and their focus people group.
  7. Advising on master plan revisions.
  8. Consulting as needed to complete the task.