Missions Policy

• God's Plan
  We, the members of Whispering Pines Baptist Church (hereafter referred to as "WPBC"), affirm that God’s love and offer of redemption extend to all peoples of the earth. It is His supreme desire to make disciples of His Son among all the peoples of the world and to see His church established among every tribe, tongue, and race. God intends to use His people as ambassadors in calling men to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:20). His followers have been charged to go (Matthew 28:18-20) and send (Romans 10:13-15) so that the world may hear the Good News of the Gospel. God’s heart for the world is clearly seen throughout the scriptures (Gen. 12:1-3; Isaiah 49:6; Acts 1:8; and Revelation 5:9-10).
  
  
• Our Participation in God's Plan
  We believe each Christian is personally accountable for carrying out God's plan. "Missions" is not a special interest for a select group in our church; it is for all.
  
  We also recognize that WPBC is corporately responsible to carry out God's plan for the nations. We believe the "Mission" of the Church is "Missions."
  
  We, therefore, commit ourselves to work together in a missions program that will be an appropriate, obedient response to God’s call to be involved in missions.
  
  

• Membership & Organization
  The Missions Committee shall consist of 6-9 members. The membership will include the WMU director, the Baptist Men’s director, at least one deacon, and the pastor (as an ex-officio member). The remaining members will be selected from the body of WPBC by the present members of the Missions Committee. Each member will serve a 3 year term. A member may serve a second term after a year sabbatical. Every year one third of the members will be newly appointed after the initial start-up period (2008-2009).
  
  The Missions Committee will select a chairperson from its membership to serve for three years in that position. The individual will be responsible for the proper functioning of the committee. Meetings will be held no less than once a month on the first Sunday of the month.
  
  
• Expectations of Committee Members
  It is expected that Mission Committee members will:
  1. Attend the meetings.
  2. Serve on any subcommittees assigned by the chairman.
  3. Be actively involved in making decisions.
  4. Continue to learn about world evangelism.
  5. Devote themselves to fulfilling the missions program of WPBC.
  6. Actively promote missions in WPBC.
  
  
• Responsibilities
  The Missions Committee is charged with the following:
  1. Prayer. Mobilize the congregation to pray for the missionaries of WPBC and for world evangelism in general.
  2. Education. Provide a comprehensive missions education program for all ages. This will include educating about our missionaries and WPBC missions program.
  3. Recruitment. Select and assist in equipping members of WPBC to become missionaries.
  4. Send. Support missionaries—spiritually, emotionally, and financially. This includes caring for missionaries with practical assistance while they are on the field and doing home ministry. The Committee will act as a liaison between the church, its missionaries, and mission agencies.
  5. Finances. Prepare a missions budget and oversee its implementation throughout the year. The Committee will always recommend changes in financial support (additions, deletions, or support-level changes of specific career missionaries, projects, and organizations) to the leadership of WPBC before implementation of the changes.
  6. Evaluate. Review the mission’s effectiveness of the church and its missionaries and make adjustments as necessary.
  7. Listen. Receive and consider input from church members relating to all areas outlined above.

• Budget Proportions
  In Acts 1:8 we read that our witness is to begin in our immediate area and radiate out in an ever enlarging circle from our neighbors to those who are far away. For sake of clarity, our missions giving is defined as giving designated to any endeavor outside of our local congregation and community (i.e. our Jerusalem) that will have a part in fulfilling the Great Commission.
  
  The following will define our circles of responsibility:
  
  Judea = the region just outside our local church ministry, such as:

  Ministries to the Homeless, Hapless, Helpless, or Hopeless in the Wilmington area
  Church Planting

  Samaria = the region to our USA borders, including cross-cultural missions, such as:

  Campus Ministries
  Ministries to communities that are Disadvantage or have suffered Catastrophe
  Church Planting in areas that do not have a like-minded church
  Church Assistance to churches that are like-minded but may be struggling for some reason or another

  Uttermost Parts = the world beyond our shores, such as:

  Un-reached peoples of the world
  Foreign missions works that have need of support
  Ministries through short-term foreign missions projects

  Since we are associated with the Southern Baptist Convention and therefore share ownership in its outreach, we will designate 10% of our missions’ dollars to the Southern Baptist Convention, 10% to the WMU, 5% to Lottie Moon, 5% to Annie Armstrong, and 10% to the WBA for a total of 40%. Furthermore, we will designate 10% to short term missions, 10% to the expenses of the annual church-wide missions’ conference, and the remaining 40% to long-term missions.
  
  
• Budget Priorities
  Priorities will be given to supporting career missionaries in the following manner:

  Career Missionary Support
  Short-Term Missionary Support
  Mission Projects Support

• Other Budget Guidelines
  1. Our annual missions’ budget is to be based on an annual Faith Promise to Missions by the members of WPBC. If this amount ever falls below 10% of non-designated receipts given to the general fund, then money will come out of the general fund to make up the difference. In addition, 100% of all gifts designated for missions will be so distributed.
  2. WPBC will seek to give as much as possible to each missionary she supports. Furthermore, no missionary supported by WPBC may solicit funds from individuals within our congregation (as that would be considered "double-dipping").
  3. 3. WPBC will provide support for its own short-term missionaries. The level of support will be decided on a case by case basis. Each potential short-term missionary must present to the Committee a description of his/her anticipated ministry and financial need. After presenting the need to the committee and receiving any funds from the WPBC missions’ fund, any short-term missionary may solicit funds from any individual member of WPBC with the committees blessings.
  4. When missionaries that WPBC supports retire, their support will be continued unless retirement is provided through their mission society or from some other source.
  5. All missionaries, without exception, receiving support from WPBC will be able to give a clear demonstration of financial accountability.
  6. Our monetary support of missionary personnel will be sent to their sponsoring agency on a monthly basis.
  7. Since our pastor is encouraged to take a short-term missions trip at least every other year, WPBC will support that trip from its mission budget.

• Long-Term Support
  1. Missionaries applying to WPBC for financial support must meet the following qualifications:
     • Be in agreement with WPBC’s Statement of Faith.
     • Be serving under a mission agency approved by the committee.
     • Have an unqualified support from their home church.
     • Be willing to spend time necessary to develop a meaningful relationship with WPBC.
  2. Missionaries applying to WPBC for financial support will follow these procedures:
     • Present a written statement of their call to mission service, aticipated ministry, and financial need.
     • Meet with the Missions Committee.
     • Be available to meet with the church leadership team.
     • Spend time at WPBC developing relationships.
  3. WPBC will look for missionaries with these priorities in mind:
     • First priority will always be given to any member of WPBC that is going full-time as a missionary.
     • Of the 40% long-term mission budget, we designate 30% to go to local missions with an emphasis on Native American evangelism and 70% to go to foreign missions with an emphasis on Latin American church planting/evangelism.
  
  
• Short-Term Support
  1. Candidates may come from other churches to solicit support but the priority will be to the members of WPBC.
  2. They will have acceptance for short-term service with a recognized evangelical mission agency and meet the requirements of that agency.
  3. They will present to the missions committee a written summary of their short-term ministry plans including:
     • Date, place, and nature of the missionary work.
     • Brief testimony of the Lord leading them to this short-term ministry.
     • Total cost and anticipated plan for raising it.
     • Brief description of mission agency (if requested).
  4. They will meet with Missions Committee.
  5. They will appear before the church body prior to and after their short-term experience.
  
  
• Responsibilities of WPBC to its Missionaries
  1. To pray faithfully for the missionary and his/her ministry.
  2. To communicate regularly with the missionary-at least quarterly.
  3. To promote the work of the missionary within the church.
  4. To send the money promised for support in a timely fashion.
  5. To encourage the missionary.
  6. To assist in securing an automobile and housing/furnishings for the missionary when he/she is home of furlough.
  7. To work toward a partnership relationship with the missionary and his/her agency.
  
  
• Responsibilities of the Missionary to WPBC
  1. To communicate regularly—at least quarterly.
  2. To inform the Missions Committee of any significant changes in ministry as soon as possible.
  3. To spend quality time with the church during furlough to deepen the missionary-church relationship.
  4. To solicit funds only from the Missions Committee.
  5. To provide the Missions Committee with yearly goals and a report of progress against those goals. In addition, annual support figures are to be provided to the Missions Committee.
  6. To work toward a partnership relationship with WPBC.

• Prayer for Missions
  To promote an effective congregation-wide ministry of prayer for missions, WPBC will:
  1. Make prayer for missions and missionaries a regular part of Worship services, Bible study groups, prayer groups, and Sunday School classes.
  2. Activate any "prayer chains" in response to special mission concerns.
  3. Encourage daily personal and family prayer for missions by members of WPBC.
  4. Provide members with current prayer requests from missionaries and mission agencies.
  5. Interface with WMU and Baptist Men in praying for missionaries.
  
  
• Missions Education and Promotion
  WPBC recognizes that it has a responsibility for missions: "Missions is The Mission of the Church." Missions therefore, should permeate all church life and programs.
  1. Missions will be mentioned, preached, and taught in the pulpit and classrooms throughout the church year.
  2. The Missions Committee will lead the congregation in a special Missions Conference on an annual basis.
  3. Missionaries will be highly visible as they visit WPBC and minister to its people.
  4. Mission resources, both print and audiovisual, provided by the Southern Baptist Missions Board and other agencies represented by the missionaries supported by WPBC, will be received regularly and put into the hands of the members.
  5. The Pastor will be encouraged to take and supported in taking a missions trip on a regular basis, at least every other year.
  6. Members of WPBC who are identified as potential missionaries will be encouraged to take short-term mission trips.
  7. Interface with the WMU and Baptist men on any missions’ venture that WPBC should undertake.