STORY: Church Partnership with Mission

Don McKenzie Spreydon Baptist

Several years ago we, the Missions team at Spreydon Baptist Church, Christchurch, developed a process whereby we could more effectively assist those with a sense of call to overseas missions.  The aim of this process was to better prepare them both technically and spiritually.  In addition, we wanted to see candidates working with a sending agency that believed in working in partnership with the sending church.  This agency would also be one which  would enable our mission candidates to work where their gifts could best be used for Kingdom growth.

After an initial meeting with the candidate and subsequent interview with the Missions Council to discuss self  preparation, theological preparation, ongoing study and work experience, the candidate, Mission pastor and Council begin discussing the selection of a sending agency. The mission agency and home church need to work together, with the candidate, overseeing their preparation, evaluation and subsequent overseas service.

SIM is one such sending agency. We have had a long and fruitful partnership with them. Currently two of our families (Mansons and Overtons) are working in different parts of Africa through SIM.

What are we looking for?
Foundational to this whole process are questions concerning what Spreydon is looking for in its overseas workers and how does a church member become part of our family serving overseas. We are looking for:

• Christian commitment and maturity
• a genuine sense of call to cross-cultural overseas mission service
• an openness to the guidance of others within the church and to be trained and  prepared
• active involvement  in Christian ministry either within the church or in some para-church organisation
• a fit with our established priorities for overseas service.

How does partnership work?
Throughout the process of preparation training and evaluation there is the expectation that the mission agency will be working in partnership with us.  SIM has been very good at this in that they have kept us in the loop regarding their own progress in relation to evaluation procedures.  They have visited us at Spreydon on a number of occasions to talk about developments and progress as they work with our candidates.  This has resulted in smooth, final selection procedures, that not only ensure sound partnership throughout the years of service ahead, but in addition, has given encouragement to the people heading out into overseas service. We believe that the pastoral care of the worker is a joint responsibility of the agency and home church and this care ought to continue through the preparation for service stage, service overseas and final re-entry and subsequent adjustment.

We are encouraged by the partnership we have with SIM and are looking forward to many years of fruitful ministry together.