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Future Missionary Fellowships: What Are They? These are small fellowship groups made up of those who have a sense of calling to serve as long-term missionaries. Members join at any time and participate in the group until they join a mission agency. What Happens at These Meetings? Accountability and encouragement are the main “functions” of these meetings. As for the meeting content, (which really is secondary), there are unlimited options readily available on the Internet today. Inviting guest speakers (missionaries or mission agency representatives), working through the “Send Me” book, learning about support raising, finding and meeting with a personal mentor and attending further training are just some of the myriad of opportunities available today for missionary preparation. But the most important aspect of these groups is the ongoing fellowship amongst the members. Why are They Needed? Most mission leaders today would agree that there are still 6,000 to 10,000 unreached people groups yet to have their own church. Some have estimated that we need at minimum at least 400,000 new missionaries. Yet today, for example, in the top two missionary sending countries (USA and South Korea) the vast majority of those who decide to be missionaries never make it to the mission field (estimates for both countries are that only 1 out of 100 potential future missionaries eventually joins a mission agency and goes to the mission field). What about Training for Future Missionaries? While participating in a Future Missionary Fellowship members can find out about a variety of training options from one another, the Web, and the guest speakers. The role of the fellowship group would then be to encourage members to engage in such training and then to continue on the path towards the mission agency after each “training” opportunity is completed. Keeping in touch with fellow members while they are off at a distant training program and/or encouraging them to start or join a similar group at the training site would be essential. Where do Short Term Mission Trips Fit In? One of the biggest unsolved problems with the exploding short-term mission trip movement is the question of “follow-up” for those who catch a vision for long-term mission service. If every local church already running regular annual short-term mission trips would also start permanent Future Missionary Fellowships, these churches could help their members who commit to long-term mission service eventually go to the mission field. When do Future Missionaries Join? Due to the incredibly high drop-out rate of potential future missionaries (99 of 100 currently drop out), the most important part of joining a Future Missionary Fellowship is to join soon after deciding to become a missionary. What Organization is Sponsoring These? Our vision is that mission agencies, mission mobilization ministries and most of all, local churches, would be free to use this simple concept. In the future, God may raise up a handful of new mission mobilizers who will serve as advisors and consultants to these fellowship groups as well as helping to start new groups in cities and churches around the world. Already such groups exist in Mexico, Australia, South Korea and the USA. How do I Start a Group in my Church or City? · Talk with mission pastors, mission agency recruiters and mission mobilizers or anyone in your city or local church that wants to help more potential future missionaries make it to the mission field. · Then use any sources available to discover all those in your church or city who have made a commitment to serve as a long-term missionary. · Gather a small group of these future missionaries together (less than 10 is ideal) and decide as a group when and where you will meet. · Assign two of the future missionaries to serve as leader and assistant leader. · Allow the group members to choose the content for the meetings which will allow each local fellowship to meet the real felt needs of their particular members. · Most importantly, never stop meeting. Who will Train and Coach the Group Leaders? We are currently working on a video based training seminar which will focus on how to start and lead a Future Missionary Fellowship. A leaders manual will also be made available. An Advisory Team should be formed in each country operating Future Missionary Fellowships. Advisory Team members can coach and advise local leaders. To learn more write to: pcfquestions@gmail.com How Long Does This “Program” Last? Nothing is more important to understand than the fact that this ministry is an ongoing fellowship group and not a start-stop program. Members will participate in a variety of outside stop-start programs and events while maintaining membership in their local Future Missionary Fellowship. When participation in each outside program or event ends, the future missionary has a group of people who will always be there helping them process what they learned and encouraging them on towards the next step. This encouragement and the ongoing nature of the future missionary fellowship group are what set this apart from a program or event. These meetings never end. Members move on when they join mission agencies. Remember, this is a fellowship group, not a program. Revised:
January 20, 2008 |
