missions strategy Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

The Church is Shifting South — and That’s Good for Missions

Serving in ministry with Mexican believers has taught Emily to ask different questions and read Scripture with a new perspective.

Nov 16 2021

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon warns us, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (1:9). With that said, I believe we need to pay careful attention to what God may be doing in each generation. Today, I am thankful for the shift in the global Church from the Global North/West to the Global South. As Christian belief declines in the North, it is thriving in places like Africa, Asia and Latin America. And these regions are increasingly sending their own missionaries. Now, before you worry that I’m somehow…

With limited internet access, one Peruvian church has had to think differently about how to do church during an ongoing pandemic.

Jun 10 2021

Throughout the pandemic, churches have celebrated the power of online services. People who would never have set foot in a church could casually hop online for a bit of hope. But for people in the community of Ciudad de Dios, going online for church is an impossible luxury. Located on the outskirts of Arequipa, Peru, the neighborhood is made of people working simple jobs with meager wages. Any internet access comes in the form of cell phone data. And with schools online during COVID-19, families have had to use most of their data for their children’s educations. Now, well into…

We’ve focused so much on church planting teams and strategies that we’ve forgotten what church planting is really all about: conversions.

Apr 20 2021

Many contemporary church-planting ministries are conceived much like a business. The model centers on administrative, gifted leadership that guides already-committed Christians to organize the birth of a new church. But can I be bold and say this isn‘t a true “birth,“ but rather a reorganization of believers from one location to another? Therein lies the crisis of contemporary church planting in the Western world: organizing churches without birthing them. See if this sounds familiar: A called and gifted leader inspires other Christians to start a new church. They meet regularly to pray, plan and lay out a strategy they’ll use…

Seeker Bible studies let people explore Scripture without the pressure of showing up for a church service. Will you pray for missionaries leading these studies?

Nov 01 2020

Leticia* thought she was only going out to pick up her senior discount card. She never expected the errand to change her life forever. But as the she stood in line, Leticia began chatting with the woman next to her. Two hours later, a clear friendship had formed. And two weeks after that, Leticia invited her new friend over for a visit. Leticia’s new friend was TEAM missionary Sandy Rios, who serves in Mexico with her husband. The couple eagerly accepted Leticia’s invitation. And soon, they began a small Bible study with Leticia and her two brothers. Leticia didn’t know…

Missions is a complex topic, but the most important thing is actually quite simple. And getting this right will impact everything we do on the field.

Sep 04 2020

With each generation, the Church learns (and forgets) vital factors of success in missions. We want to lead ministries that are authentic, culturally sensitive, holistic in care, empowering to local believers, effective in planting churches — the list goes on and on. All of these are important things, worthy of deep, rich discussion. But what is the most important thing in Christian mission work? The answer is simple: Jesus. As cliché as it sounds, Jesus really is the most important part of mission work. He’s at the center of it all, He’s the reason for it all, and He’s the…

The first step to serving God overseas is serving Him at home. Find out how these missionaries took their first steps! Photo courtesy of Kit Tischler.

Aug 20 2020

If you’re the typical aspiring missionary, there’s a question you may be dreading: How are you making disciples in your everyday life? When you’re applying with quality missions agencies, the question is unavoidable. Before you go through the trouble of raising support, learning a new language and moving abroad, agencies want to know you have a good chance at success. “If a person isn’t involved in ministry and reaching out for the Lord back home, it will be even harder to do that when they arrive in a new culture,” says TEAM missionary Jann Vander Mey. But if you’re like…

A busy pastor checks his phone to keep up with his work.

Sometimes the busyness of pastor life makes it difficult to engage in missions. Keep reading to see ways you can help give your church a global perspective.

Jul 25 2019

Yes, you want your church to engage in missions. But you also want to get home before 9 p.m. at least one day this week, right? As a pastor, you likely have a long to-do list and are an expert at balancing priorities. As one mentor told me when I first became a children’s pastor, “It’s all about spinning plates, and most weeks, you are deciding which plate is OK to fall and break.” While most pastors would agree they want their church to engage in missions, it’s easy for missions to become an afterthought or goal for after things…

When it comes to missionary care, most of us have good intentions — but how do you make sure those intentions become reality?

Jan 24 2019

Working at TEAM, the number one question I get from local churches is, “How do we take better care of our missionaries?” As a missions agency, TEAM provides proactive care for the ups and downs of missionary life. But most churches understand that they can offer something an agency simply can’t provide. As one missionary shared with me during a training session, “Sometimes you just need someone to make a casserole and eat it at the table with you.” This “casserole care” belongs to the community who has discipled and walked alongside the missionary long before they were sent with…

What does it take to be a church planter? Find out as one TEAM missionary couple shares their church planting strategy!

Oct 09 2018

“The word that sticks in my mind is walls,” TEAM missionary David North told his wife, Kathy when they scouted out the location of their last church plant. “There are cement walls everywhere, it’s industrial, it’s dirty, it’s gray, but there are also spiritual walls.” When David and Kathy moved to the Filipino city of Mandaue they could feel an overwhelming darkness. But still, they moved. David and Kathy North have been church planters for over 20 years and have successfully planted several churches. They are champions for growing the Kingdom. But it hasn’t always been an easy road. Several times…

As a missionary, what does it look like to really deepen your relationship with God? Keep reading to discover ways to rest in His grace.

Sep 24 2018

I listened as a seasoned missionary, more educated than myself, shared from his heart. He leaned forward and asked a question I wasn’t expecting: “Mike, what does it really mean to be loved by God?” I fumbled for a moment under the inner pressure to respond with just the right theological answer. Thankfully, I hesitated and replied honestly: “I’m not totally sure. I am still learning that myself.” The missionary leaned back with a sigh of relief and said, “Thank you. I was so afraid you were going to give me a formula.” Since then, I’ve met with many successful…

Tag - missions strategy

The Church is Shifting South — and That’s Good for Missions

When Your Church Still Can’t Meet in Person — or Online

Why True Church Planting Must Start with Conversion

How to Pray for Seeker Bible Studies [November Prayer Focus]

Ask TEAM: What is the Most Important Thing in Christian Mission Work?

6 Ways to Serve in Cross-Cultural Ministry Before the Mission Field

4 Ways Busy Pastors Can Engage in Missions

Creating a Missionary Care Plan

‘We Don’t Want to be Heroes’: One Couple’s Church Planting Strategy

Why Missions Can’t Fix Your Relationship with God