mission malawi initiative

MISSION MALAWI INITIATIVE

Mission Policy Version 1.1

April, 2014

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Table of Contents

ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................................... 4

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 5

The Background .......................................................................................................................................... 5

Definition of Missions .................................................................................................................................... 5

Scriptural Basis for Missions ......................................................................................................................... 5

The National Executive Committee ................................................................................................................ 5

MISSIONS SITUATION IN MALAWI .................................................................................................................. 6

Africa Regional Situation ............................................................................................................................... 6

Malawi National Situation .............................................................................................................................. 6

POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ................................................................................................................ 7

POLICY FRAMEWORK .................................................................................................................................... 7

POLICY APPLICATION .................................................................................................................................... 8

POLICY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................. 8

Vision Statement .......................................................................................................................................... 8

Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Policy Goal .................................................................................................................................................. 8

Policy Objectives .......................................................................................................................................... 8

GUIDING PRINCIPLES .................................................................................................................................... 9

CAREER MISSIONARIES .............................................................................................................................. 10

Prospective Missionaries ............................................................................................................................ 10

Career Missionaries ................................................................................................................................... 11

SHORT TERM MISSIONARIES ...................................................................................................................... 18

SPECIAL SUPPORT CATEGORIES ................................................................................................................ 20

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MISSION AGENCIES AND CHRISTIAN ORGANISATIONS .............................................................................. 21

TARGET AREAS ........................................................................................................................................... 21

GOVERNING STATEMENT ON GIFTS RECEIVED .......................................................................................... 22

FINANCIAL POLICY ...................................................................................................................................... 22

POLICY REVIEW ........................................................................................................................................... 23

ENFORCEMENT OF THE POLICY ................................................................................................................. 23

MONITORING AND EVALUATION .................................................................................................................. 23

STAKEHOLDERS .......................................................................................................................................... 24

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ACRONYMS

CCAP Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian

EAM Evangelical Association of Malawi

ETTC Emmanuel Teachers Training College

MANI Movement for African National Initiatives

MMI Malawi Missions Initiative

M & E Monitoring and Evaluation

NEC National Executive Committee

NEMA Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association

NIV New International Version

NSO National Statistic Office

SIM Society for International Ministries

WCC World Council of Churches

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INTRODUCTION

The Background

This mission’s policy is written in order to explain and guide members, partners and stakeholders of Malawi

Missions Initiative (MMI) in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) across the borders of

Malawi. While appreciating the mission’s work undertaken within our borders since 1800s, the policy

directs the Church in Malawi to concentrate on an emerging dimension of united external missions.

The MMI is a formal, practical and local response to several Pastors’ Book Set Missions Conferences

conducted across Malawi between 2010 and 2013, participated by many Christian Church leaders,

organized by Society for International Ministries (SIM) in conjunction with Evangelical Association of Malawi

(EAM). As such, MMI serves as an ecumenical platform facilitating external missions through promotion,

mobilization, networking, empowerment and mutual accountability activities.

Definition of Missions

MMI defines missions as the task of taking the gospel within and beyond the borders of Malawi in order to

evangelize and to instruct in the Word of God, for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ, and of

establishing and strengthening local churches.

Scriptural Basis for Missions

1) Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

2) Matthew 28:18-20 “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 every end of the age.” (NIV)

3) Matthew 9:37-38 “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (NIV)

4) John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes

and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (NIV)

The National Executive Committee

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The first MMI National Executive Committee was elected at the end of a Church Leaders Meeting of

representatives of Head of Denominations that participated at the 2013 Pastors Book Set Conference held

at Shaeffer Conference Centre. The Church Leaders Meeting hosted by EAM at Emmanuel Teacher’s

Training College (ETTC) in Lilongwe District in August, 2013 elected the NEC composed of the following

and has the mandate to operate for 2 years:

Chairman: Rev. Paul Mawaya CCAP Blantyre Synod

Secretary: Mrs. Rose Kumwenda Ng’oma Christian Hospital Association of Malawi

Members: Mr. Nico Bontebal Mthenga Wabwino

Rev. Elton Kananji Malawi Assemblies of God

Rev. Luckwell Mtima Zambezi Evangelical Church

Rev. Louis Ndekha Africa Evangelical Church

Rev. Gideon Manda Christian Community Church

Mr. James Kalikwembe Evangelical Association of Malawi

Ps. Gray Mwalabu Evangelical Association of Malawi

Mr. Hans-Jorg Richter Society for International Ministries

MISSIONS SITUATION IN MALAWI

Africa Regional Situation

Africa has been regarded as a ‘mission field’ for decades (WCC, 2014). Egypt and Ethiopia have been

exceptional because of the ancient orthodox churches while South Africa has had a growing influence of

several autonomous churches due to the increased presence of Dutch and British colonization.

Over the years, the African Church has become a fast growing Church in the world. The ripple effect of

1910 World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh and the subsequent formation of World Council of

Churches in 1948 motivated the African Church to launch national initiatives aimed at mobilizing churches

and ministries for national and global evangelization. As a result, the African Church has endeavored to

ecumenically mobilize and promote Churches into evangelism movements since the 1960s. Presently, it is

widely acknowledged that the centre of gravity for world Christianity has shifted to Southern Hemisphere

with Sub Saharan Africa registering 20% of world Christian population.

Malawi National Situation

The mission work of Dr. David Livingstone opened Malawi for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and introduced

Christianity in 1859. The Church in Malawi has expanded so that almost 82.7% of the country professes

Christianity (NSO, 2008).

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The Church in Malawi has sporadically engaged in few external missions that have seen Malawian

missionary presence in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Chad and South Africa in Africa and

Canada, United Kingdom, India and Israel across the globe. These first fruits of Malawian mission efforts

provide the impetus for more coherent external mission work facilitated by MMI.

The Church in Malawi can adequately fulfill the Great Commission stated in Matthew 28:19-20 on the

following conditions (EAM, 2012):

1) The Church in Malawi should approach missions as united force.

2) The Church leadership should be committed to missions.

3) The Church should exist for the Great Commission.

4) The Church should have appropriate training institutions in Missions.

5) The Church should place more financial emphasis on mission work.

6) The Church should become independent.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

The Missions Policy was developed through a consultative process. The policy ideas were collected from

the presentations and feedback received from Pastors’ Book Set Missions Conference held at Robins Park

in Blantyre District between 18th and 22nd June, 2012 that were consolidated and ratified by the same as a

National Communiqué on Missions and the National Communiqué on unreached and less reached people

groups in Malawi developed and ratified by the Connect Conference held at Namoni Katengeza Lay

Training Centre in Dedza District between 1st and 5th October, 2012.

The policy was also developed through learning from other institution’s best practices like the Nigeria

Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA), The Bible Church of Little Rock, and Liberty Evangelical Free

Church.

POLICY FRAMEWORK

The MMI Missions Policy is based on and guided by the following frameworks:

1) The Lausanne Covenant

2) Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) South Africa 2008 Conference Report

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3) 2013 The World Council of Churches General Assembly Leaders Guide

POLICY APPLICATION

This policy shall apply to all partners, stakeholders and members of the Malawi Missions Initiative.

POLICY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Vision Statement

Malawian mission-minded churches that are engaged in sending and supporting Malawian missionaries in

external missions in order to fulfill the Great Commission.

Mission Statement

MMI is an ecumenical platform called by God as part of the visible Body of Christ upon the earth that

desires to magnify the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world and to be faithful to the work He

committed to His disciples in the Great Commission (Mark 16:15). MMI will achieve this by encouraging

denominations and specific missionaries in their work of evangelism, discipleship and church planting

through promotion, mobilization, empowerment and mutual accountability.

Policy Goal

1) To facilitate the sending and supporting of Malawian missionaries across the border.

Policy Objectives

1) To promote greater involvement and participation of Malawian Churches in external missions.

2) To mobilize Malawian Christians missionaries in different disciplines of their expertise across the

borders.

3) To facilitate and support missions work in other countries through establishing and sustaining

viable networks with other missions agencies.

4) To enhance the capacity of Christians and Churches in Malawi to effectively participate in global

missions through increased engagement of cross boarder missions.

5) To provide policy guidance to denominations and ministries involved in internal missions in Malawi.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The fundamental principle guiding this policy is that missions is the ‘heart beat’ of God and should be at the

centre of every Church in Malawi as an urgent call. MMI focuses on engaging the Church in Malawi in

order to effectively attain missions work across the borders. The mission work will be done on both long

and short term basis.

In pursuance of this policy, the MMI shall be guided by the following principles:

1) Effective missions hinge on united force of Christian Denominations.

In John 15 and 17, Jesus Christ stressed on the oneness of the Church in order to create an effective

witness of the Kingdom of God to the world. Biblical mission transcends denominational jurisdiction in

order to bring the lost for total transformation in Christ Jesus. Churches in Malawi will form a united

force in MMI which facilitates the creation of effective compatriots of denominations in cross border

missions.

2) The commitment of Church leaders in missions plays a crucial role.

The will of Church leader at the apex of the Church hierarchy influences the structures and system of

the Church on missions. Where Church leaders are not committed on missions, missions work has

faced difficulties due to lack of policy, resources and expertise.

3) Recognition of missions as a neglected issue of the Malawian Church.

The Malawian Church has done less on cross border missions as compared to evangelism efforts

within the borders. The Churches have struggled to grow health churches that are efficient and

effective in promoting Biblical models of mission work. As such, the Church must rise to the challenge

through promotion, empowerment and mobilization for external missions.

4) Theological and pastoral training institutions should place an emphasis on missions.

Currently, theological and pastoral training institutions undermine missions. Through MMI, theological

and pastoral training institutions can be sensitized and helped to implement a realistic mission’s

curriculum. MMI shall also help denominational churches to develop and implement missions’

curriculum in their structures.

5) Placing more financial emphasis on mission work.

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Churches raise finances to provide for the welfare of the pastorate, infrastructure development and

operations of the Churches at the peril of mission work. When more finances is given to mission work,

the Church experiences fast growth.

6) The Church in Malawi should be independent.

The Church suffers from dependency syndrome. The support of the Western Church has weakened

the development of Malawian Church to independently engage in external missions. As a result, the

church needs to understand that missions work does not belong to ‘a white man’ as has been held for

decades but it is the mandate of the independent Church in Malawi.

CAREER MISSIONARIES

Prospective Missionaries

1) MMI strongly support and desire to encourage believers who are seeking the Lord’s will in their

lives regarding missions as a full-time vocation.

2) In selecting Career Missionaries, MMI shall look for someone who is or has:

a. A believer with assurance of salvation.

b. Personally interested in missions and is motivated by the Holy Spirit toward missions.

c. Growing spiritually.

d. Strong interpersonal skills.

e. Active in Christian service and in the local church’s ministries in such a way that fruit

bearing is evident to other members of the Church.

f. Views MMI and local sending congregation as an important part of ministry.

g. Thoroughly familiar with and in agreement with the doctrinal statement of MMI.

h. Open to counsel regarding preparation and plans.

i. Shows a willingness to be accountable in goals, methods, communication and evaluation.

j. Possess a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and theology.

k. Prays regularly and specifically for the Church in Malawi and MMI.

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l. Established and will maintain key contacts with local sending church and MMI.

3) MMI commitment to the prospective missionary include, but is not limited to:

a. Appropriate counseling and encouragement as well as opportunities to minister in ways

designed to strengthen personal abilities.

b. Prayer with and for the prospective missionary, seeking God’s will in his life.

c. Advice and suggestions regarding the selection of a mission board or agency.

Career Missionaries

1) MMI will hold the missionary accountable for consistent service to Jesus Christ, and holds itself

accountable for a set amount of the missionary’s monthly financial support and for his welfare.

2) The support of effective missionaries is a key element of MMI’s missions’ programme.

Recognizing that there will always be more needs than we can fulfill, MMI primary objective is to

support members of local church who have demonstrated a pattern of faithfulness and active

involvement in their commitment to MMI. With this in mind, the following priorities will be

considered when evaluating an applicant for the position of Career Missionary.

a. Priority will be given to members of local church that subscribe to MMI Constitution.

b. Priority will be given to church planting, evangelism, discipleship, teaching nationals and

support ministries that facilitate evangelism and church planting (e.g. medicine, aviation

etc).

3) The following requirements must be fulfilled before a prospective missionary for full time service

can be chosen as a Career Missionary of our initiative:

a. Doctrinal Agreement

The candidate shall review the doctrinal statement of MMI (Refer to MMI Constitution

Section 3) and express agreement or cite an exception in writing for consideration by the

MMI.

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b. Completion of a Career Missionary Application.

c. Provision of appropriate references.

d. A personal interview with members of the Missions Committee to cover such items as:

i. Background and salvation experience.

ii. Reasons for choosing missions.

iii. Educational background.

iv. Choice of a receiving missions Board or Agency.

v. Immediate plans prior to assignment.

vi. Financial Support.

vii. Abilities, spiritual gifts, and interests as related to the chosen type of ministry.

viii. Ministry experience.

ix. Evangelism skills and ability to share one’s faith.

x. Knowledge of the Bible and Theology.

xi. Practice of worship, prayer and Bible reading.

e. Acceptance by a receiving Mission Board or Agency.

i. There must be acceptance by a receiving Mission Agency approved by MMI.

Written evidence of this acceptance must be provided, including a statement by

the receiving Board regarding the candidate’s proposed ministry and immediate

plans.

ii. Only evangelical Mission Boards which are in essential agreement with MMI

doctrinal and mission’s purposes will be approved. MMI will give consideration,

also, to the agency’s management, leadership, and ministry methods and

effectiveness. A receiving Mission Board new to the MMI will be carefully

evaluated and must be approved by both the NEC and the Board of Trustees of

MMI.

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iii. Approval by the MMI National Executive Committee

Once the above items have been completed, the NEC will meet regarding the

candidate’s application. The candidate will then be recommended to the MMI

Board of Trustees if there is consensus to do so.

iv. Formal approval by the MMI Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will discuss the recommendations of the NEC and may also

review the candidate’s application. Upon acceptance by the MMI Board of

Trustees, the candidate will be designed as a Career Missionary of the MMI. As

such, the missionary will be commended to the local congregation for both prayer

and financial support. If possible, prior to sending, the missionary will be

commissioned before the congregation.

Acceptance of a missionary for recommended support by the NEC and the MMI

Board of Trustees may be appealed by any local Church in writing to the NEC.

f. Responsibility of the NEC to the Approved Missionary

i. To support the missionary in prayer and to promote prayer for the missionary

within the congregation/denomination through established communication tools

(e.g. the monthly mission’s prayer Bulletin, the MMI newsletter and the MMI

brochures).

ii. To communicate with the missionary regularly.

iii. To encourage the missionary, being open to helping with any problems.

iv. To send our pledged monthly financial support to his mission agency in a timely

manner.

v. To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness on the field, and to continue the

process of holding the missionary accountable through an annual report.

vi. To develop the procedures to implement all of the above.

g. Responsibility of the Missionary to MMI through the NEC

i. To support the MMI in prayer

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ii. To communicate with the MMI at least quarterly and, preferably, more often.

iii. To submit a report of ministry, personal welfare, and finances as requested.

iv. To inform the NEC, in advance, of plans to be in Malawi so that a personal report

to the NEC can be made.

v. To spend quantity and quality time with the local church and MMI during

furlough/home assignments. This will allow MMI and the local church to deepen

relationship with the missionary through reports to the local church, participation in

Care Groups and Missions Conferences involving MMI.

vi. To seek to stimulate the world vision of the local church

vii. To assist the NEC in placement of Short-Term Missionary candidates.

viii. To regularly communicate with key supporters in the local church or Malawi.

ix. To notify the NEC immediately of:

1. any variance with the doctrinal statement of the MMI

2. any significant changes in ministry and/or location

3. any problems with or change in status with the missionary’s receiving

mission board

4. any change in receiving mission board

5. substantial changes in financial status

h. Financial Support of the Career Missionary

i. MMI will strive to support new candidates, who have been accepted as Career

Missionaries by facilitating fundraising activities.

1. The actual support level will be determined by the amount of pledged

giving from the sending congregation/denomination and by the support

needs of the missionary candidate.

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2. The actual support shall be revised during their furlough/home

assignment.

3. If a missionary’s monthly support needs should increase, this need will be

presented to the congregation/denomination, and giving will be increased

if additional support is pledged.

4. If a missionary is fully supported, and their budgeted support (as

determined by their receiving board) should decrease, MMI giving may be

adjusted downward.

5. It will be the responsibility of the missionary to advise the NEC of

significant changes in budgeted support.

ii. Career Missionaries will be listed with their target support on a roaster that will

include a brief summary of that missionary and his ministry.

1. This roaster will be distributed annually to all stakeholders and partners for

their consideration of pledged giving.

2. This roaster will also be given to all new members.

iii. Undesignated Fund, besides listing approved missionaries for commitment giving,

will be listed and stakeholders and partners will be encouraged to give to it.

1. This fund will be used to bring on new career missionaries, support short-

term missionaries and cover shortfalls if they should occur.

iv. All designated financial giving for an approved missionary will be directed to that

missionary’s account on a monthly basis.

1. Distributions from that account on a monthly basis will not exceed a

predetermined monthly budget set by the NEC.

2. Excess contribution will accumulate to meet that particular missionary’s

future budget requirements.

3. Each year at the end of January any money in excess of a missionary’s

budget will be forwarded to that missionary as a gift.

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4. If monthly giving does not cover all MMI commitments, funds from the

Undesignated Fund will be used to meet those needs.

5. In the unlikely event the balance from the Undesignated Fund is

inadequate to meet these needs, a request will be made to the MMI Board

of Trustees to approve funds to be taken from the General Fund of the

MMI to cover those, and an announcement will be made to stakeholders

and partners regarding the shortfall.

6. If monthly giving consistently falls below our pledged amount,

missionaries will be removed from the roaster.

a. Which missionary or missionaries to remove will only be

determined after serious and prayerful consideration, and will be

influenced by the number of members of

congregation/denomination who have pledged support in that

missionary’s name, by the level of giving pledged, by the length of

service, and by the importance of that missionary’s ministry to the

overall goals of MMI.

b. No missionary will be dropped from the roaster without prior

approval of the MMI Board of Trustees and at least three monthly

advanced notices.

v. The MMI partners and stakeholders will be apprised regularly about missions

giving.

vi. All members and particularly any member who pledges financial support for a

missionary or missionaries will be encouraged to pray for that missionary on a

regular basis.

vii. Each missionary will be sent a list of members of the congregation/denomination

who have pledged prayer and/or financial support for that missionary to facilitate

communication with those members. This list will be updated annually.

i. Change in Status

i. Each missionary is responsible to inform the NEC of any change in status. The

Committee will monitor the ministries of all approved Career Missionaries of the

MMI. Support for a missionary may be reconsidered when a significant change in

the missionary’s status occurs. Support may be reconsidered when:

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1. The affiliation of the missionary with receiving mission board or agency is

altered or severed, or when the missionary makes an unapproved transfer

to another receiving mission board.

2. Transfer to another receiving mission board must first be reviewed and

approved by the NEC.

3. The missionary’s beliefs no longer conform to the doctrinal statements of

the MMI

4. A personal, family, or health problem requires the missionary to change or

leave the field of service for longer than one year.

5. The missionary fails to fulfill his responsibilities to the MMI, as outlined in

this mission’s policy.

6. The missionary chooses to relocate for personal reasons.

7. There is a significant change in the nature of the missionary’s ministry.

8. Adequate evaluation of the missionary’s ministry is not available.

9. There is evidence of lack of effectiveness in ministry.

10. The missionary remains on furlough or educational leave for longer than

allowed by the receiving mission board.

ii. In all cases, the NEC will endeavor to allow the missionary to give an account of

any situation which might lead to accusations that the missionary’s work is

unsatisfactory. Additional information may be obtained from the missionary’s

supervisors, field chairman and receiving mission’s board.

j. Termination of Support

i. Normally, support from the MMI is terminated concurrent with the date of the board

of Trustees’ termination of support. If support is to be terminated, the NEC will

provided 3 months written advance notice to the missionary and the receiving

mission board. However, such action may be taken immediately if circumstances

warrant.

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ii. Recommendation for termination of support for reasons other than retirement or

leaving the ministry requires prior approval of the MMI Board of Trustees.

k. Retiring Missionaries

i. Support for retiring missionaries may be continued, if needed, at an appropriate

level. Any determination regarding retirement support requires approval of the

NEC and the MMI Board of Trustees, and will be closely coordinated with the local

Church.

SHORT TERM MISSIONARIES

1) Purpose

a. As a method of developing prospective missionaries, members of the MMI network are

encouraged to take advantage of short-term missionary opportunities. It is hoped that the

short-term mission experience will:

i. Broaden the participant’s world vision and burden for the lost.

ii. Support the mission or missionary in the field with skills and service that are

needed.

iii. Increases MMI’s knowledge of and commitment to world missions.

2) Term of Service

A missionary will be designated a ‘short-term’ missionary if the anticipated length of

service on the field is two years or less.

3) Requirements

a. The following requirements must be fulfilled before a prospective short-term missionary

can be considered by MMI.

i. Acceptance by a mission board or agency

We prefer that candidates be accepted by a receiving mission agency,

which is in essential doctrinal agreement with MMI. Candidates who

anticipate servicing outside the supervision of a receiving mission agency

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must have a clearly defined purpose and must be accountable to a

designated missionary on the field who will supervise their service and

activities.

ii. Doctrinal Agreement

The candidate must agree with the doctrinal statement of the MMI.

iii. Completion of a short-term missionary application

iv. A personal interview with members of the NEC. The interview will cover the items

such as:

1. Background and salvation experience.

2. Choice of and acceptance by an approved receiving mission board.

3. Financial support

4. Abilities, spiritual gifts, and interests as related to the chosen type of

ministry.

5. Ministry experience.

6. Evangelism skills and ability to share one’s faith.

7. Reasons and objectives for pursuing short-term service

8. Knowledge of the Bible and theology.

v. Approval of the NEC.

Once the above items have been completed, the NEC will meet regarding

approval of the candidate’s application. If approved, the short-term

missionary will be presented to the MMI network and will be permitted to

solicit funds from members of his or her denomination/congregation.

4) Responsibility of the NEC to Short-Term Missionaries

a. To support the missionary in prayer, and to promote prayer for that missionary within the

MMI network.

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b. To encourage the missionary, being open to helping with any problems.

5) Responsibility of the Short-Term Missionary to MMI

a. To support the MMI in prayer

b. To communicate with the MMI periodically.

c. To submit a ministry report to the congregation upon return from the field.

d. If not serving under the auspices of a receiving missions agency, the short-term missionary

must submit an expense report for all funds received directly from the MMI

SPECIAL SUPPORT CATEGORIES

1) Tentmakers

a. Description

A ‘tentmaker’ is one who uses his secular job skills to gain entry to a restricted-

access country with the purpose of witnessing for Christ. The tentmaker may be

affiliated with a receiving mission agency or he may be operating on his own. The

tentmaker is self-supported by virtue of his or her employment.

b. Affiliation

i. A tentmaker may choose to establish a relationship with MMI for the purpose of

mutual ministry. To do so, a tentmaker must:

1. Complete a Career Missionary Application.

2. Be a spiritually mature believer who is in agreement with the doctrinal

statement of MMI.

3. Provide a description of the proposed work and ministry on the field.

4. Provided appropriate references that establish competency in his field of

employment, ministry effectiveness, and personal character.

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5. Agree to abide by the Mission Policy of MMI as pertains to Career

Missionaries.

6. Have a personal interview with the NEC.

ii. The NEC will then meet regarding the candidate’s application and recommend to

the MMI Board of Trustees if there is consensus to do so. Upon acceptance by

the MMI Board of Trustees, the candidate will be commended to the

congregation/denomination for prayer support. If possible, the missionary will be

commissioned before the congregation/denomination.

MISSION AGENCIES AND CHRISTIAN ORGANISATIONS

MMI will accept donations to be passed on to approved receiving mission agencies and Christian

Organizations. In order to be approved, such organization shall maintain, as a minimum, the standards

outlined below:

1) The Organization should be properly controlled by a board of directors, council or similar body.

2) The Organization should be willing and able to supply a complete, up-to-date, audited financial

statement upon request. The Organization should give evidence of financial accountability.

3) The Organization should adhere to a doctrinal position which is substantially similar to that of MMI

and which is clearly stated in their publicity.

4) The Organization should show proof that it is a permanent organization and that it has been

organized to assure its stability.

5) The Organization should evidence adequate control and concern for its missionaries.

6) The Organization must be willing to explain how support funds for its missionaries are handled,

including percentage deducted for administrative charges, insurance, taxes, etc.

TARGET AREAS

From time to time, strategic opportunities for evangelism may arise in certain areas of the world which

warrant concerted financial and personnel investment. These opportunities will be made known to the MMI

fraternity, and we will encourage the sending and support of missionaries to these areas.

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GOVERNING STATEMENT ON GIFTS RECEIVED

The NEC shall seek to diligently conform to all governmental rules and regulations regarding charitable

giving.

1) Cheques written for missions should be made to MMI. Cheques written to individuals will not be

accepted. Cheques written to other approved receiving mission agencies or approved receiving

Christian Organizations will be passed on to those agencies.

2) Designated contributions (giving toward a specific missionary) will be accepted, but MMI will

maintain full administrative authority over the use of these funds. While the NEC will attempt to

honor designations, it will do so under the guidelines outlined in this policy.

FINANCIAL POLICY

1) Annual Budget

The NEC shall prepare an annual budget each year which is to be submitted to the MME Board of

Trustees for review, approval and recommendation.

2) Minimum/Maximum

It is desired that the monthly support for members serving on the mission field shall be a significant

sum, up to fifty percent (50%) of a person’s total need. Organizational support and special projects

should be handled on a case by case basis.

3) Monetary Support

Support for a missionary shall be given on a monthly basis. In order to help with outfitting

expenses for members serving on the missions’ field, it suggested that up to 3 months of a monthly

commitment be given to this need.

4) Ministry Evaluation

A missionary will be evaluated and support re-assessed at agreed times when he/she is on home

assignment.

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5) Review

Each year prior to the church budgeting process, an evaluation will be made to see if more money

can be given to a currently supported missionary as well as to the taking on of new missionaries for

support.

6) Priorities

The expenditure of funds will be in light of the priorities mentioned earlier.

7) Budget Items

The mission’s budget will not only include missionary support but also other items as they are

needed to fulfill the goals of the MMI. Examples might include: missions conferences, money for

the pastors to travel to missions fields, books, short term projects, pensions, etc.

POLICY REVIEW

This policy shall be reviewed five years after its approval by the General Assembly of MMI, to take into

account the progressions of the task of missions, development of best practices, and experience in

managing mission activities and its impact on mission fields.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE POLICY

MMI, its employees and appointed officers, shall jointly select the Task Force Committee to champion the

policy and oversee its management and ensure its effective operationalization. The policy shall also be

disseminated to all employees, missionaries and stakeholders.

To ensure effective implementation of the policy, the MMI shall have enforcing structure of officers and

committees as stipulated in MMI Constitution Section 6-7 and 9-10:

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

MMI shall put in place mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of this policy to ensure that all

concerned strictly adhere to the dictates of this policy. The Executive Secretary, Regional Executives and

receiving mission’s board shall work hand in hand to oversee the full implementation of the policy. They

will do this through M & E frameworks like periodic reports, periodic visits and annual reviews.

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STAKEHOLDERS

Below are the stakeholders that MMI is working with in the area of missions mainstreaming:

1) All members of EAM

2) SIM

3) Individuals and Churches that subscribe to MMI doctrinal statements.

mission malawi initiative

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