INTRODUCTION
The Jamaica Baptist Union has a Mission Agency (JBUMA) that “functions to remind all Christians that we are in this world for the mission which Jesus established and the Apostles advanced” (http://www.jbu.org.jm/JBUMA.pdf) . The Mission and Evangelism (M & E) team at Barbican Baptist Church (BBC) is aligned with the purpose of the JBUMA and is guided by the Great Commission:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on 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. (Matthew 28:18-20. NIV)
Taking seriously Jesus’ edict to go, disciple, baptize, and teach, a set of strategies and accompanying activities were designed for achieving the main objectives. The objectives to be pursued over the five-year period (2012-2017) are: to sensitize the membership of BBC to the requirements of the Great Commission; increase BBC membership; strengthen the avenues for incorporating and retaining members of the BBC family; facilitate involvement of all BBC members in missions and evangelical activities; and to influence BBC members to practice a consistent and fervent prayer life.
Through training, mentorship and prayerful support, we seek to assemble a diverse group of believers who make use of every opportunity to declare the gospel graciously, fearlessly and clearly (Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:2-6). Altogether, our mandate is to transform the growing church family into an enthusiastic group of believers committed to extending the Lord’s kingdom here on earth, until He comes.
The main programmes in this ministry are:
- DISCIPLESHIP
- MENTORSHIP
- NEW MEMBERS DRIVE
PURPOSE
The Mission and Evangelism committee serves to impress upon the minds of all believers the need to obey the great Commission, to invite their neighbours, families and friends to Bible Study and church.
VISION
Mission and evangelism at BBC will manifest the fulfillment of God’s kingdom on earth in so doing good news will be preached to the poor, captives will be set at liberty, the blind will recover their sight, the oppressed will be freed and all will know the time has come when the Lord shall save his people. (Luke 4:18-19).
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To reach out to the wider community through evangelism, discipleship, stewardship and social outreach
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
i) To win 20 new converts per year for five years.
ii) To train dedicated members for the mission field.
iii) To increase the involvement of all believers in the mission and evangelism effort generated by regular announcements from the pulpit and endorsements from class leaders.
SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
Strengths
Members of the M& E team are:
- Talented, committed members with a passion for winning the lost to Christ
- Compassionate and caring for retaining and retrieving disconnected members
- Enthusiastic and able to influence other BBC members to get involved in M&E
- Engaged in vibrant prayer life and regular fasting service
Weaknesses
- Too few core members
- Gender imbalance (too few males)
- Inconsistent youth involvement
- Gaps in technological support (e.g., no wireless access)
- Risk of burnout among members
Opportunities
- Increasing the attendance at Sunday School
- Increasing the attendance at Youth fellowship
- Encourage parents and children to attend Sunday services and other church gatherings
- Community evangelism
- Socially diverse community (middle and lower income groups)
Threats
- Divisions in the community (e.g., gangs, reprisal killings)
- Crime
- Migration of church members to other areas and overseas
- Unmet material needs among community members and believers (e.g., jobs, food, clothes)
- Negative image of the church (e.g., boring, exclusive)
- Generation gap – disconnect between the interests of the youth and the mission of the church
STRATEGIES
- Discipleship Workshops and Seminars
- Establishment of Mentorship Programme
- Community Evangelism
- Increase membership participation in church activities
- Target Sunday School and Youth Fellowship
- Cultivate a culture of prayer for the sovereign move of God
- Reaching out passionately for lost humanity
- Cultivate a spiritual connection in terms of keeping in touch with other members in order to have the spiritual interaction going and to improve growth
ACTIVITIES
- Conduct Discipleship and training workshops in April and June and one-day seminar in August – approx 15 persons
- Mentorship Coordinator to:
- Select team of mentors
- Prepare form for capturing pertinent information
- Establish parameters within which mentors and mentees will operate
- Conduct mentorship workshops
- Launch programme with a social
- Monitor mentors monthly for first 3 months
- Mentoring core to meet every 3 months
- Community Evangelism
- House to house visitation
- Prepare flyers for new gated communities
- Sporting Activities
- Parenting Seminar
- Health Workshops
- Plan and execute crusade
- Bible Studies
- Conduct enquiries class
- Increase membership participation in church activities
- Monthly prayer and fasting service
- Target Sunday School
- Encourage teachers to speak to children and youth about salvation
- Memorise Bible verses for each lesson
- Youth Fellowship
- Sports Evangelism
- Personal Development
- Cultivate a culture of prayer for the sovereign move of God
- Encourage the need to have prayer partners
- Have a committed group of prayer warriors
- In constant prayer for the church:
- The Pastor
- Leaders
- Young People and children
- Surrounding communities
- Reaching out passionately for lost humanity
- Make prayer the #1 priority and core value of the church
- Equip each member to become characterized by prayer
- Cultivate a spiritual connection in terms of keeping in touch with other members in order to have the spiritual interaction going and to improve growth
- Encourage the call to the family alter
- Encourage the children to pray for their friends, school, family members