Home >> Outreach >> Board of World Missions >> Purpose Statement
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." Acts 13:2-3
We believe God has ordained Woodbury Lutheran Church to play a vital role in His global mission by extending our church’s ministry as a “sender” of individuals and families to another part of the world as cross-cultural workers. Through healthy relationships with our missionaries and a growing involvement in their ministry, we endeavor to make a significant impact as ‘kingdom builders’ for the Lord.
What does it mean to be a sending church?
"And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?" Romans 10:14b-15a
- Our Role as Sending Church is essential for our missionaries to serve effectively in the mission field. Based on our knowledge of their walk with God, spiritual and emotional maturity, leadership experience, gifting, and calling we begin serving as their sending church when we prayerfully accept them to serve cross-culturally.
- A Home Team – As a sending church we will work together with the missionary to establish a “home team” within WLC that will be committed to providing prayer and other support prior to the official sending to the field as well as, during their term of service. When we as a body of believers officially “endorse” and encourage the formation of home teams we provide a way for more of our members to become actively engaged in God’s global mission.
- A Missionary Advocate/Liaison – The missionary advocate will be the primary, direct point of contact with the missionary and when appropriate, the leader of the home team. He/she will serve on the WLC mission board or be recognized by the board as the primary contact for the missionary. More than anyone else the missionary advocate is asked to commit to serve by providing the following:
- Develop and maintain a strong, healthy, interactive relationship of service with the missionary and their families.
- Maintain intentional, consistent, communication with the missionary via email, phone calls, and letters. It is essential that regular, ongoing communication be maintained between the missionary advocate, the WLC Mission Board and the wider church family as well.
- Provide prayer, spiritual and moral support and encouragement to the missionary.
- When missionary needs arise, the advocate will be the first point of contact to help address and resolve the issue and to involve sharing those needs with the mission board, church leadership or the congregation as a whole as necessary.
- Actively involved in communicating the logistical and personal needs of the missionary to the mission board when returning to WLC for furlough.
- Involved in, however not fully responsible for, the activities and schedule of missionaries during their furlough home.
- Visit to the Field – As a sending church we actively seek to provide support, accountability and encouragement to our missionary by making a visit to the place of service within the first two years of the missionary’s term. The purpose of the onsite visit to the missionary is to communicate the depth of our commitment in his/her work, and to ‘come along side’ the missionary in their work. It also provides an opportunity for those who visit to share first hand experiences with the wider church body so they, too, can catch a vision for this extension of our church ministry.
- Significant Financial Support – Acknowledging our missionaries as called by God and sent as an integral part of our church’s ministry also involves a commitment to provide ongoing financial support. Viewing our missionaries as extended church staff leads us to significantly support their financial needs. When this level of giving is possible it demonstrates that the two are truly connected. WLC supports and encourages our missionaries to develop relationships with other churches, organizations and/or individuals to gain and maintain any additional financial support that is needed. Significant financial support means that, we as a sending church, will evaluate the missionaries financial needs on an annual basis and prayerfully provide and adjust their support.
- Commitment to Learning and Growing as a Sending Church – This
document outlines and serves as a guide for the mission board as those
things which we believe are vital for having an effective partnership with
missionaries as a sending church, yet is not to be considered all inclusive.
Being a sending church means we are committed to the ongoing process of learning how to best support our missionaries and become strategically, logistically and spiritually involved in God’s global mission.
Resources used to develop these guidelines:
- The Bible
- Feedback from our missionaries currently serving
- Neal Pirolo’s book, Serving as Senders.