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SEC/ChSponsorVolTask/ChSponsorVolTask/ADCOM/CEvang&Wit+SecC/GCDO03AC/03AC to VBP 147-03G CHOSEN--TO GO, TO SERVE, TO SAVE VOTED, To approve the document Chosen--To Go, To Serve, To Save, which reads as follows: Chosen--To Go, To Serve, To Save proposal What Is "Chosen"? "Chosen" challenges every Seventh-day Adventist church and institution to accept the responsibility of sponsoring a person annually to serve as a "Chosen" missionary volunteer,[1] either in its home division or in some other part of the world, while at the same time opening its doors to receive a "Chosen" missionary volunteer to serve in its community. The current attitude towards mission in the Seventh-day Adventist Church could be radically revived if every local church became involved in "Chosen." At the same time it would provide an opportunity for missionary volunteers to serve in countries where currently there are very few volunteers because of lack of finance. The "Chosen" proposal is not intended to replace the current Adventist Volunteer Service plan but is to be a supplement to the same program. Section I - Philosophy Why are "Chosen" Volunteers Needed? Would not employees do a better job? Why is anyone needed at all? Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) contains the great commission. "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" This passage tells us seven things about the sending of volunteers: 1. Who sends? The risen Christ through the medium of His Church. 2. On what basis are we sent? The authority and command of Christ. 3. Who are sent? All disciples. 4. Who are we sent to? All nations (peoples/ethnic groups). 5. What is to be done? a. Go--action is required. b. Make disciples. c. Baptize. d. Teach them to obey Jesus' commands. 6. What is the source of power for this mission? Jesus is with us always. 7. How long does this mission last? Until the very end of the age. This is not a temporary assignment. "He calls for volunteers who will cooperate with Him in the great work of sowing the world with truth. . . . in every place to which they can gain access. . . . His kingdom is to be enlarged."--1SM 112 "Christ is calling for volunteers. . . . The church is languishing for the help of young men [and women] who will bear a courageous testimony, who will with their ardent zeal stir up the sluggish energies of God's people, and so increase the power of the church in the world."--MYP 24, 25 Leadership Responsibility "Those who have the spiritual oversight of the church should devise ways and means by which an opportunity may be given to every member of the church to act some part in God's work. Too often in the past this has not been done. Plans have not been clearly laid and fully carried out, whereby the talents of all might be employed in active service. There are but few who realise how much has been lost because of this. . . . The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers."--GW 351, 352 "Those who stand as leaders in the church of God are to realize that the Saviour's commission is given to all who believe in His name. God will send forth into His vineyard many who have not been dedicated to the ministry by the laying on of hands. Hundreds, yea, thousands, who have heard the message of salvation, are still idlers in the marketplace, when they might be engaged in some line of active service."--AA 110 Reflex Influence Denominations where churches select and sponsor their own missionaries have convincingly demonstrated again and again that giving increases dramatically as a result and that the funds generated are usually more than adequate to meet their total financial commitments. Ellen G White supports this principle and calls it the "reflex influence." "The home missionary work will be farther advanced in every way when a more liberal, self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit is manifested for the prosperity of foreign missions; for the prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off. It is in working actively to supply the necessities of the cause of God that we bring our souls in touch with the Source of all power."--6T 27 Short-Term Evangelical Missions (STEM 1993:8) states, "A structured short-term mission has tremendous possibilities for increasing involvement back home. Mission related support activities were found to increase 64%." This "reflex influence" is felt, not only by the church which engages in this work, but also by the missionaries who agree to serve. Their lives are changed forever! And these missionaries must be given the opportunity to tell their stories. "Those who take up their appointed work will not only be a blessing to others, but they will themselves be blessed. The consciousness of duty well done will have a reflex influence upon their own souls. The despondent will forget their despondency, the weak will become strong, the ignorant intelligent, and all will find an unfailing helper in Him who has called them."--MH 148 The Greatest Volunteer Ever "Christ volunteered to come to this earth and stand at the head of fallen human beings, who were heirs of guilt, under sentence of eternal death. We must have perished had He not borne our guilt and the wrath of God."--12MR 61 "Christ had not been forced to take this step. He had contemplated this struggle. To His disciples He had said, 'I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!' 'Now is your hour, and the power of darkness.' He had volunteered to lay down His life to save the world" (ST December 9, 1897).--5BC 1104.1 An Appeal "Shall not missionaries be multiplied? Shall we hear of volunteers, who are willing to go into the field to bring souls out of darkness and ignorance into the marvelous light in which we rejoiced, that they also may see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."--Ellen G White, Review and Herald, February 4, 1896. Section II - The Concept The Council on Evangelism and Witness (GCC-S) has challenged us to push beyond the borders of what is known as traditional evangelism, to be creative, and to involve as many church members as possible in outreach. The following concept may be considered to be outside the box but it provides an opportunity for the whole Church to be involved in some way in evangelism, with far-reaching results. In fact, it has the potential of changing the climate in regard to mission in all of our churches, and of dramatically increasing the workforce of the Church. "Chosen" provides opportunities for missionary volunteers to be sent to places all over the world, particularly to those countries where the local church administration cannot afford to pay for insurance costs, as in the current Adventist Volunteer Service plan. On the other hand divisions may need to offer incentives to missionaries who are willing to work in their home territory. An Overview of "Chosen" "Chosen" challenges every local church to sponsor and send a minimum of one church member each year to serve as an interdivision or intradivision missionary volunteer. Where possible, the church will select its own missionary to serve in another division, or somewhere within its home division/union/conference/mission, or perhaps in its own community. An essential element of the program is that the sending church play an active role in the selection of the project and the location where it will send its "Chosen" missionary. However, the selection will be made from previously approved projects advertised on division or General Conference websites or call books, unless the volunteer is assigned to serve his/her home church. An integral part of "Chosen" includes the possibility that churches will sponsor missionary volunteers to work in their hometown/conference/union/division. The advantages of such an arrangement are that:
Also envisaged is that each local church become a recipient organization, providing an opportunity every year for a "Chosen" missionary volunteer to serve on a full-time basis, sponsored by the sending church, organization, individual or family. These positions will also be advertised on division or General Conference websites or call books. In this way, while it might be argued that additional funds are leaving the sending church, there is a balancing factor that offers the sending organization the opportunity to receive as much as they give. Small Churches Can Participate A small church may prefer to team up with another church or group of churches for the purpose of raising adequate funds and the selection of a "Chosen" missionary volunteer. These same churches might benefit by receiving a missionary. In either case, it will be necessary for them to appoint a coordinator or regional pastor who will foster this work on behalf of all churches and who will direct the work of the missionary. What Sponsorship Means The word "sponsor" is used here as an all-inclusive word which includes financial, spiritual, and physical sponsorship. The sending church will take on the responsibility of assisting the missionary volunteer with fares, accommodation expenses, stipend, insurance costs, visa and medical examination fees, etc. Church members (a group appointed by the Church Board) will be responsible for providing spiritual nurture, prayer support, and regular communication with the missionary while at the same time offering to send evangelistic or other tools which might be helpful to perform his/her duties. It is conceivable that the sponsoring church may negotiate the sharing of financial responsibilities with the receiving organization. And if the receiving organization is unable to participate financially, it may be able to offer assistance in the form of services such as accommodation, food, etc. The missionary volunteer in return undertakes to keep the sponsoring organization appraised of everything that is happening in the location where he/she is serving. This is not intended so much as an administrative requirement but rather as an opportunity to share the inspiration of what God is doing through the volunteer. While there will inevitably be some challenges, for the most part the volunteer will bring excitement into his home church as he/she reports God's blessing upon his/her efforts. Institution/Individual Sponsors In addition to churches, "Chosen" provides for institutions to be sponsors, e.g. publishing houses, colleges, universities, conference/mission/union/division offices etc. It is feasible that these institutions could select and support several "Chosen" missionary volunteers on an annual basis. These same institutions will be encouraged to be recipient organizations as well and provide opportunities for service for numerous missionaries. In fact "Chosen" allows for anyone to be a sponsor, whether as an individual, a family or some other entity. Every effort must be made however, to ensure that whoever is the sponsor, they are able to sustain the sponsorship for the entire life of the project or for an agreed period of time. This must be achieved by ensuring that the total amount needed of the funds is in hand before the volunteers take up their assignments. Section III - Basic Details of the Proposal Definition of a "Chosen" Missionary Volunteer A "Chosen" missionary volunteer is a baptized Seventh-day Adventist, at least eighteen years of age, who is willing to devote his/her gifts on a full-time basis, preferably for a period of six months to two years, to serve in some form of witness to spread the gospel. Project Possibilities Typical projects for "Chosen" volunteers to consider include: church planting in cities and towns where there are no Seventh-day Adventists; door-to-door visitation; public evangelism; Bible studies; teaching; medical and dental care; building construction; office work; etc. Opportunities to serve in 10/40 Window countries will need to be included as possibilities for service. Integrated with ministry initiatives such as Sow 1 Billion and Go 1 Million programs, this plan provides an army of workers to follow up interests thereby created. "Chosen" volunteers may be assigned to assist and support the regular missionary (Interdivision Employee) in his/her role. Experienced and professional missionaries (retired pastors, educators, etc) will be able to work with Global Mission pioneers to train and support them. Working in Pairs Where possible, "Chosen" missionaries will be encouraged to work in pairs and in some locations participate as part of a larger group. Every effort will be made to match missionaries with each other according to their compatibility as well as their gender, if single. If volunteers are assigned to work in areas where there is little or no supervision, especially in pioneer locations, it should be arranged for them to serve in pairs or groups. Screening The sending church and conference will be responsible for screening the applicant which will include tests for physical and mental health, character, commitment to mission, church membership, qualifications to match the position, conflict of interest, etc. Finances Every request for a volunteer, listed on the web site or in the Call Book, will identify the essential expenses for each project site. However, the sponsoring church will help to determine finally what funds are needed and, together with the applicant, will become involved in officially approved fund-raising activities. It is essential that funds be transferred expeditiously from the sponsoring church to the recipient organization to ensure the timely disbursement of funds, so that they are available as soon as the volunteer arrives on location. Funds raised by churches should not be pooled for the support of all volunteers, but rather the total amount received for a specific project should be kept sacred for that project. However, it is conceivable that a small levy could be placed on all funds to provide a pool of money so that missionaries from lower economies might serve in higher economies. Training Every "Chosen" missionary volunteer assigned to work in another culture will be required to undertake appropriate cross-cultural training either on a Seventh-day Adventist college/university campus, or a program offered by the Institute of World Mission, or a seminar conducted by an official church organization or through the Passport to Mission correspondence course. Missionary volunteers with specific witnessing and evangelism assignments will also be required to participate in specialized training programs offered by church departmental directors or to undertake an approved distance learning course by Internet or by correspondence. A special curriculum will be crafted to ensure that this training equips the missionary volunteer to carry out his/her specific duties. Re-entry programs may be convened for returning missionary volunteers on a regional basis, or through an alternative correspondence course like Passport to Mission. The Church's Departmental Directors, together with the Institute of World Mission, will be responsible for developing and implementing the training component. Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities shall be encouraged to include a mission emphasis component in all courses and an elective offering special training in cultural sensitivity and contextualized ministry. Web Site The current Adventist Volunteer Center (AVC) database and web site must be enhanced and serve as a model for the development of a software package to be offered to all divisions for the management of their Intra Division programs. The General Conference web site will advertise all interdivision positions while division web sites will advertise all intradivision positions. Each requesting organization will submit its requests through the regular channels, as explained in the current General Conference Working policy, and each position will be placed on either the General Conference or Division web sites as interdivision or intradivision requests. Likewise, appointments will be processed in accordance with policy through the regular channels. The General Conference and divisions will also assist with matching missionaries to projects, particularly assisting most needy territories. Each listing must include as much information about the position as possible. A detailed job description, costs (excluding air fares), accommodation arrangements etc, and information about the location will need to be included. The web site will also become a venue for "Chosen" missionary volunteers to share their stories, but not before the content has been approved by the General Conference and relevant division. Catching the Vision in the Local Church Innovative methods may be helpful initially to help some churches catch the vision. Local church pastors must understand the concept of the "reflex influence" in order to value and support the concept of "Chosen." The church pastor could be sent, either by the conference (on the basis of a continuing education sponsorship) or by his/her church, to visit the site where the "Chosen" missionary will be placed. Or the sponsoring church could elect to convene a short-term mission trip that would include a number of church members. Either method would serve several purposes: 1. A face-to-face connection would be made with the people they will be supporting. 2. It would be easier to ascertain what funding is needed and the returning pastor or group would be in a better position to report first-hand on the needs. 3. If the pastor or small group becomes inspired, the church will become inspired and will be more likely to take ownership of the project on a longer term basis and stay with the project until completed. It is recommended that each church board appoint someone as a coordinator, as well as a committee, to be responsible for overseeing the various aspects of "Chosen" and to care for such items as--fundraising, promotion, annual selection of appropriate missionary volunteer, preparation and training, selection of missionary site, etc. Innovative methods of keeping the program before the church members could include the placement of photos on the notice board in the foyer of the church, a phone call to the missionary on location during Sabbath School or divine service, etc. Intradivision Program Divisions and unions must appoint taskforces to help organize for action. One assignment will be to create positions for the large influx of intra and interdivision volunteers who will work in their territory--whether they originate from within their territory or come from outside their division. These positions would then be advertised on a division web site or published in an annual booklet. Churches, together with their missionary volunteers, would choose an assignment that fits the gifts and talents of the person chosen, or they may choose a project/location as a permanent arrangement until a new church has been established or the project is completed. Expected Results of "Chosen" Sending and receiving a minimum of one volunteer per year per church as a "Chosen" missionary will have the following results: The sending church/organization--
The "Chosen" missionary volunteer--
The receiving church/organization where the "Chosen" missionary volunteer works--
Section IV - Development of the Proposal Funding Consideration needs to be given to a financial plan for producing the necessary materials. Initially funding will be necessary for the following items:
Staffing The General Conference Adventist Volunteer Center will need extra staff, when the program is finally launched, to process larger numbers of missionaries. There is no doubt also that divisions and other levels of the church will need to consider staffing needs as the program develops. However, the best approach may be a redeployment of current staff as the need demands or alternatively the engagement of volunteers to accomplish this work. Launching "Chosen" Launching "Chosen" at the 2005 General Conference Session, should be in two ways:
To prepare for the launch, a timeline must be approved to include the following:
Promotion/Advertising Recommended to develop the following promotional materials:
Functional Materials Recommended to produce the following manuals-draft documents only (divisions will be responsible for translation and production of copies):
Creating Positions It is recommended that every division submit to the General Conference Secretariat at least 50 interdivision positions for placement on the AVS web site in time for the launch at the General Conference Session. These positions must fit the model recommended for "Chosen." It will be necessary also for each division to accumulate a significant number of intradivision positions on its web site or in its call book by July 2005. Challenges to Consider to Make the Plan Work 1. Ensure an adequate number of positions so that no one is disappointed. 2. Provide service positions for all language groups whether at home or abroad. 3. Create positions in the 10/40 Window. 4. Offer suitable training for special needs, e.g. working with Muslims, etc. 5. Streamline methods of processing to handle larger numbers. 6. Provide adequate staffing in the Adventist Volunteer Center and other levels of the Church. Initially this might be accomplished on a volunteer basis. 7. Devise a method for transferring funds expeditiously from sponsor to volunteer on location Financial Costs (Estimates) 1. Contract to develop manuals and promotional materials for a cost of $54,000. A further $1,000 will be needed for software, equipment and miscellaneous expenses. 2. Contract to develop web site and database for all divisions--approximately $25,000. 3. Development and production of advertising, promotional materials, and manuals for an estimated cost of $64,400. 4. Development and production of training materials-how to methods of evangelism--for an estimated cost of $20,000. 5. Therefore an estimated $164,400 will be needed over a period of almost two years to launch the program. (See Appendix A for details.) Section V - General Conference "Chosen" Taskforce Secretariat appointed a taskforce some time ago to develop this proposal and to determine such issues as insurance, policies, finance, housing, training, promotion, travel, methods of appointment/recruitment, medical examinations, fund-raising, streamlining the appointment process, screening applicants, etc. This taskforce has been given the assignment of preparing a packaged plan to give to every church/conference/union/division so that there will be consistency of operation throughout the world. The "Chosen" Taskforce currently includes the following individuals who are involved in directing outreach for the Church and whose current activities need to be coordinated with this plan. If this proposal is approved by the relevant committees, it is recommended that this committee become a standing committee of the General Conference Administrative Committee. Members EVANS, LARRY R, Chairman Parmenter, Vernon B, Secretary Erntson, Jan, Recording Secretary Bediako, Matthew A Clayville, Douglas Cress, James A Dabrowski, Rajmund Galicia, Agustin Handysides, Allan R Howard III, Roscoe J Jones, Theodore T Krause, Bettina Lizardo, Jose R Luxton, Andrea T Maxson, Benjamin C Muganda, Baraka G Rojas, Jose Ryan, Michael L Sabot, Claude Stenbakken, Ardis D Zackrison, James W LEGAL ADVISORS Burrow, Lisa Wetmore, Thomas E "CHOSEN" PROPOSAL FINANCIAL ESTIMATES 2003-2005 It should be noted that most figures in this document are estimates. Expenses will include: Software/Equipment $1,000 Total for 2003 $1,000 The following expenses would be necessary for 2004: Contract to write policies, manuals, PR program $36,000 Development of software for database and web site for each division $25,000 Development of video, brochures, manuals (Organizational, for churches, for volunteers) $44,000 Evangelism Training Manual (Curriculum) $20,000 Total for 2004 $125,000 There will be a need to submit a further budget for 2005 at a later time, although most items are significantly cared for in the 2004 figures above. The estimated costs for 2005 are as follows: Contract to write policies, manuals, PR program $18,000 Development of video, brochures, manuals (Organizational, for churches, for volunteers) $20,400 Total for 2005 $38,400 Grand Total for Project $164,400 Promotion/Advertising Recommended to develop the following promotional materials:
Functional Materials Recommended to produce the following manuals:
Database and Web Site ISS has indicated that we can build a simplified version of what could include the essential elements of a program that would get the divisions started and if it was agreed at a later stage it was deemed suitable we could join it all together in a combined program that would allow the original ideas to be included. Evangelism Curriculum and Manual A scaled-down version of a manual and curriculum could be developed on the basis that the General Conference would prepare the originals in digital form and allow divisions to translate the materials and produce their own copies. [1] The term Missionary Volunteer has historical roots with the Youth Department, but in this "Chosen" proposal "missionary volunteer" is used in a revised manner with broader meaning. This concept, or the word "missionary" may be problematic in some fields. In such cases divisions are at liberty to devise alternative expressions. |
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