• FEATURE: A church stirs passion for global outreach in its congregation by sending prime leaders on short-term missions.

• TOOL PACKAGE: A missions pastor shares his checklist of most important principles in organizing an effective short-term mission for church leaders.

• GREAT IDEAS: Pastors share their best ideas for inspiring missions commitment among church leadership.

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

INTENTIONALLY ENGAGING KEY LEADERS

Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Rolling Hills Estates, California has a long history of sending short-term teams overseas, and as they have returned, these teams have become a transforming part of the DNA of this congregation, a catalyst for change. What is the secret that makes them so effective? Their strategy is one of mobilizing their congregation by sending key leaders of the church on these short-term teams! This is especially true when the church is seriously considering launching a new ministry.

Associate Pastor of Outreach Ministries Joe Handley says his aim is to raise the bar with missions at the church, and sending church leaders on short-term missions is one of the most effective ways of accomplishing that goal. According to him, every short-term missions trip is a vision trip, designed to include leaders so they can be exposed to the field and then come home and make a difference in the church!

The South Africa Team
In July of 2006 a team of fifteen departed for South Africa. They were all significant leaders of RHCC: three pastors and their spouses, three elders and their spouses, and three other influential church members with prior leadership positions. As he always does, Pastor Joe hand-picked the participants, and he says he was "super-intentional" about it from the beginning, sharing the same message with each one: "I believe God is calling you to this particular trip to South Africa for a reason beyond just serving during the trip itself. I don't know what that is, but I believe He has something more for you to do when we come home." Joe firmly believed that God had a longer-term plan for this team and for each individual's part in it.

The Project
Though the project was billed as a vision trip, each participant had opportunity to use his or her unique gifts and talents doing practical service on the field. All of them gifted leaders, they had much to offer! Working with the missionary to meet specific needs identified by him, they ministered in diverse ways: teaching seminars, visiting and praying with the sick, tutoring and mentoring in an after-school program, and construction on a church building.

Follow-up Task Force
The project itself was just the beginning. During debrief the day before they returned home, Pastor Joe shared a devotional with the team, reminding them again that they didn't come just to serve in South Africa for two weeks. This was to be more than just "a trip". God had some work for them to do back home, and he added "Please pray about what God wants you to do."

After their return, team members responded to Pastor Joe one at a time, wanting to do more! Joe invited one of the men to consider chairing a church task force for South Africa, to be a point person or overseer for the team and the congregation's response. This leader set up an aggressive task force. The prime contact of the church with the field, this team meets monthly to pray, discuss ministry needs and goals, and to consider how to best highlight the South Africa partnership and involve the congregation in future projects. Missionary Dennis Wadley says,

"I believe this is an incredible model for churches which has built a fantastic connection between our staff and leaders in South Africa and the congregation at RHCC."

Impact on the Church
A year later, all fifteen of the team members are still actively and intentionally engaged in South Africa, mobilizing the rest of the congregation to focus on the needs there and be involved! The entire team remains energized, engaged and excited, making an impact on the whole congregation. The church is changed because of this team! Pastor Joe says that giving has skyrocketed, including special giving. There is so much interest in South Africa now that he could send five or even ten teams a year if the field could handle that many. (They can't!)

The South Africa team is only one of many such teams of influential leaders that the church has sent to various places around the world. And each time these leaders return, the church feels the impact. Wherever they go, they return with a new excitement and passion for the ministry on the field. Their contagious enthusiasm ripples through the congregation, and following their vision and leadership, church members are inspired and spurred on toward continuing involvement with the fields.

What Team Members Say
The dynamic effect of these teams is reflected in comments of team members:

"We immediately saw how strategic it is to have the leaders on the field for they meet the missionaries, see what the Lord is doing first hand, and come into 'ownership' of the project for the church. Because of this, they are invaluable in communicating the vision to the congregation."

"When you get the Senior Pastor, Chairman of the Elder Board, the Mission Committee, and key 'movers and shakers' to buy in and own the overall vision..., then mobilizing people to go on short-term mission trips is easy."

For more information about the missions program at RHCC, contact Pastor Joe Handley at jhandley@rhcc.net or see their website at www.rollinghillscovenant.com.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

TOOL PACKAGE
Learn more from Joe Handley about the principles used by Rolling Hills Covenant Church in sending short-term teams. See Joe's Checklist at the Tool Package.

GREAT IDEAS
Discover thirteen Great Ideas to help you mobilize your congregation through exposing your church leaders to firsthand missions experience.