nine strategies. connect with god’s heart for the world strategy #1: disciple deeply

NINE STRATEGIES

CONNECT WITH GOD’S HEART FOR THE WORLD

Strategy #1: Disciple Deeply

• Pray for new believers to become mature Christians, to learn the Word and allow it to shape their lives.

• Pray Christians will have access to discipleship materials in their heart language and fellowship with other believers.

CONNECT WITH GOD’S HEART FOR THE WORLDPray

Read Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility, by Duane Elmer.

CONNECT WITH GOD’S HEART FOR THE WORLDGrow

Give to the “Bible for Every Believer” fund to provide a Bible for just $5.00 to help a new believer be grounded in the truth.

CONNECT WITH GOD’S HEART FOR THE WORLDGive


Strategy #2: Embrace All

• Pray for those who live in the 10/40 Window, home to many of the world’s unreached people groups.

• Pray for churches and individual Christians to be welcoming and hospitable to refugees relocating to their communities.


• Read Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate, by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang.

• Read Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible, by M. Daniel Carroll R.


• Find ways to build bridges with internationals in your community.

• Identify one or more practical ways to live out the biblical truth that we are blessed so we can, in turn, bless others.



Strategy #3: Engage Urban

• Pray for Free Methodist church planting efforts in urban areas.

• Pray for urban dwellers as they face challenges inherent to most large urban areas.


Read Red, Brown, Yellow, Black, White – Who’s More Precious in God’s Sight? A call for diversity in Christian missions and ministry, by Leroy Barber with Velma Maia Thomas.


• Invest in ministries to strategic cities through Country Support Accounts.

• Participate in community events. Learn about your city and be a contributing part of it.



Strategy #4: Develop Leaders

• Pray for leadership development methods being used throughout the worldwide Free Methodist Church.

• Pray for the development of new means of multiplying well-trained, godly, effective leaders.


Read Just Courage: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian, by Gary A. Haugen.


• Invest in the worldwide development of godly, effective Free Methodist leaders through Country Support Accounts.

• Give to International Child Care Ministries’ “Emerging Leaders Scholarship Fund.”

• Provide practical assistance to help your pastor and other church leaders participate in cross-cultural ministry, whether local or global.



Strategy #5: Multiply Ministries

• Pray for strategic Community Church Planting efforts around the world.

• Pray for church planting trainers and those they train.

• Pray for the world’s many villages and towns that have no churches.


Read Being the Church in a Multi-Ethnic Community: Why It Matters and How It Works, by Gary L. McIntosh and Alan McMahan.


• Give to Community Church Planting efforts.

• Invest time, talents and resources to help local ministries and charity organizations grow stronger and multiply.



Strategy #6: Partner Strong

Pray for the Free Methodist Church and other Christian organizations partnering with local churches to respond to spiritual and physical needs of people around the world.


Read Western Christians in Global Mission: What’s the Role of the North American Church, by Paul Borthwick.


• Partner with Free Methodist missionaries as they work alongside the national church and as they pioneer work in unreached places.

• Support FMWM partners such as International Child Care Ministries, the Set Free Movement or SEED, as well as affiliate partner groups.



Strategy #7: Cultivate Health

Use FMWM resources to help your church be a praying church. • Weekly Missions Hotline prayer update • FMWM quarterly magazine prayer

calendar• Ministry Prayer Directory• Missionary bulletin inserts and prayer

cards


• Use “Evaluating Our Missions Heart” to discover how you might grow in missions effectiveness globally and locally.

• Read When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.


• Identify ways to practice generosity by investing in global ministry.

• As soon as you wake up in the morning, reflect on five blessings in your life. Develop a grateful heart by thanking God for each one.



Strategy #8: Honor Fruitfulness

• Pray believers and churches will remain in Jesus, the vine, so they are able to bear fruit.

• Pray Christians will have increased spiritual vitality that will bring renewal to the Church.

• Pray effective methods are found and used to reach many for God’s kingdom.


• Read Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships that All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward, by Henry Cloud.

• Share stories of kingdom fruitfulness with your congregation.


• Support the work of international leaders, churches and ministries through Country Support Accounts.

• As you hear or read missionary stories of kingdom fruitfulness, write a personal note to the missionary, rejoicing with them in what God has done.



Strategy #9: Go Global

• Pray regularly for the missionaries you support.

• Pray for unity and the Holy Spirit’s power as Christians across the globe seek to live out the Great Commission.


• Read Strangers Next Door: Immigration, Migration and Mission, by J.D. Payne.

• To send well-prepared short-term ministry teams, contact VISA Ministries for training opportunities.


• Commit to support a missionary financially, in prayer and by building an ongoing relationship.

• Plan a vacation with a purpose, such as well drilling, planting trees or construction.

• Contact Free Methodist World Missions to learn about short- or long-term service.


nine strategies. connect with god’s heart for the world strategy #1: disciple deeply

Documents

gods heart

world grow slide

world strategy

urban slide

gods sight

strategies slide

heart language

gods great expedition