THE HENDRICKSON AVENUE BIBLE CHURCH
MISSIONARY COUNCIL
PHILOSOPHY AND GUIDELINES
AS AMENDED
MARCH 2001

Missionary Philosophy

Section 1a. We believe that "Missionary Endeavor" is clearly defined by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20 as consisting of the world wide evangelizing of the lost through the preaching of the Gospel (I Cor. 1:21-23; 15:1-4); the baptizing of those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41); the establishment of those baptized believers into organized churches (Acts 14:21-23); and the edifying of such through the teaching of the Word of God.

Section 1b. Another missionary endeavor designated as "Missionary Social" is also found in Scripture. Acts 11:28-30 shows the necessity of a church being involved in social needs within the body of Christ. Local Church run Bible schools, camps, orphanages, medical facilities, social missions, etc. will also be considered for financial support at a level appropriate to their nature.

Section 2. The Missionary Council believes that the solemn obligation for missions work rests solely on the Local Church (I Tim. 3:15) and not with any other agency, denomination, fellowship or other parachurch organization. We believe that central to any missionary endeavor is the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Local Church, specifically in the areas of training, approving, commissioning, sending, supporting, or disciplining; and that any delegation of a church's authority or control in these areas is both unscriptural and dangerous. Although God has blessed many Gospel activities apart from the New Testament pattern of the Local Church we believe it is because God has promised to bless the proclamation of His Word (Isa.55: 11), and evidently does so even when those proclaiming it are not following His perfect plan. We believe there are many sincere men who, because of ignorance or some other reason, are working apart from the Biblical pattern of the Local Church. And, although we rejoice in every soul saved, we still desire to follow and participate only in that which we discern to be God's perfect will as He has outlined in His Holy Bible.

Section 3. We also believe that there is no Biblical distinction between "foreign" and "home" missions, but that "Missionary Endeavor" is entered into when a missionary, bearing the approval and authority of his church, is sent forth by that church into a field of service (Acts 13:3).

Section 4. We believe that any fundamental church of like precious faith and practice may cooperate in the missionary endeavor provided the sovereignty, independence, and autonomy of each church so involved is unaffected, and provided the responsibilities to the missionaries and missions of each church so involved are not delegated.

Section 5. The Missionary Council also believes that it is the responsibility of the Local Church, through her pastor, to properly train missionaries.

Section 6. In the Missionary Council's effort to maintain a biblical balance in regard to financial support there must be sufficient flexibility so as to not ignore nor overrule the leading of the Holy Spirit in instances of specific needs.


Article I
The Purpose
of the
Missionary Council

Section 1. The chief purpose of the Missionary Council is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Matthew 22:37; Philippians 1:20); to love Him (I Peter 1:8); to serve Him (Acts 20:19); to obey Him (John 14:15); and to confess Him to every living creature (Mark 16:15).

Section 2. It is also the purpose of the Missionary Council to be concerned for the salvation of all men (1 Timothy 2:4; John 3:16); and to make available the means for all men to become the disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20) even if it is one town, village, or city at a time (Acts 1:8).

Section 3. The Missionary Council also has the responsibility to watch out for the needs of the brethren in other locals and to give aid to them if possible (Acts 1, 1: 28-30).


Article II
Duties and Responsibilities

Section 1. The duties of the Missionary Council are found in Article VII, Section 2 of The Hendrickson Avenue Bible Church's Constitution and By-laws. It reads, "The responsibilities of the Missionary Council shall be to prepare an Annual Missionary Conference; to keep the Missionary Bulletin Board up-to-date, attractive and interesting; to allot monies for missionary support and projects; to keep in direct contact with all agencies and missionaries supported by us so that we can be knowledgeable on our giving and prayer."

Section 2. It is also the duty of the Missionary Council, as prescribed in Article X, to aid the Church in locating, interviewing and recommending proper persons for missionary support.

Section 3a. That under the direction of and in cooperation with the Pastor and Elders, the Missionary Council will assist both our "In House" and "Associate" missionaries in raising sufficient funds for their endeavors by giving the Church constituency an annual opportunity - during the Missionary Conference - to participate in the Faith Promise Giving Program as prescribed in Article VII, Section 3 of the Hendrickson Avenue Bible Church Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 3b. That under the direction of and in cooperation with the Pastor and Elders this Council will assist our "In House" missionaries by making available to them its resources and provide without charge a clearing house service for their finances and mail. This Council guarantees to convey all funds received and designated to our missionaries without deduction, and in accordance with any arrangements previously made with our missionaries.

Section 3c. That under the direction of and in cooperation with the Pastor and Elders this Council will provide suitable counsel and assistance to our "In House" missionaries in matters pertaining to their personal business, banking, finances, health, and travel.

Section 3d. That under the direction of and in cooperation with the Pastor and Elders the Missionary Council will provide spiritual counsel and watchcare to our "In House" missionaries, both during their deputation or furlough, and on the field of service.

Section 3e. That under the direction of and in cooperation with the Pastor and Elders the Missionary Council will undertake the serious responsibility of overseeing our "In House" missionaries, of being knowledgeable of their lives and work, of accounting for their financial matters, and of exercising any necessary discipline which may be required.

Section 4. The Missionary Council members promise to support our "In House" and "Associate" missionaries both in finances and in prayer.


Article III
Missionaries

Section 1a. A Missionary is a person who bears evidence of a divine call to the ministry of the Gospel (I Tim. 1:12), who fulfills the spiritual qualifications for leadership (1 Tim. 3:1-7;Tit. 1:6-9), who has received proper training for the ministry to which he/she has been called (2 Tim.2:2; Tit. 1:9), accompanied by a conviction of the Holy Spirit's leading to a field of service (Acts 13:4).

Section 1b. An "In House" missionary is a missionary who regards the H. A. B. C. his/her home and therefore, sending church as opposed to an "Associate" missionary whose home and sending church is another fundamental church of like precious faith and practice.

Section 2. The Missionary is to report his/her activities to the supporting churches, visiting them from time to time in order to rehearse the blessings that God has given as a result of that church's ministry to him/her (Acts 14:26-28), and to receive physical rest from his/her labors (Mark 6:3 1).

Section 3a. The Missionary Council will recommend for support only those missionaries who are members in good and regular standing of the H. A. B. C. or of a Fundamental church of like precious faith and practice.

Section 3b. The Missionary Council will recommend for support only those missionaries who have been approved and commissioned by their own church.

Section 3c. The Missionary Council will recommend for support only those missionaries who themselves are in agreement with the Doctrinal Statement as recorded in Article II of The Hendrickson Avenue Bible Church's Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 3d. The Missionary Council will recommend for support only those missionaries whose practices, goals and methods are in harmony with the practices, goals and methods of The Hendrickson Avenue Bible Church.


Article IV
Church Planting

Section 1. We believe that it is the duty of every Local Church to be involved in the business of Church planting (see Article II, Section 1. of these guidelines). And, that church planting begins with personal involvement.

Section 2. The Missionary Council believes that the establishment and development of a New Testament Fundamental Local Church passes through four phases:

A.   A Conception Phase which focuses upon planning. In this phase four vital questions must be answered before phase two can be implemented. These four questions are:

1)   Who should plant the church (leadership)?
2)   Where should the new church be planted (location)?
3)   Who should the new church reach (demographics)?
4)   How will the people be reached (philosophy of ministry)?


(a)   Tentmaker approach - a "tentmaker" missionary is a person who works a secular job while serving a church. Paul used this method while founding the church at Corinth (see Acts 18).

Advantages:

a.   Used in communities too small to support a full time pastor.
b.   Pastor has greater opportunity to have contact with people in the community.
c.   Pastor has better understanding of working people's needs.

Disadvantages:

a.   Numerical and spiritual growth of church is usually stunted because the bi-vocational pastor has too little time for soul winning and discipleship (2 Cor. 12:13).
b.   The bi-vocational pastor may become too dependent upon his secular salary and never step out on faith to become a full time minister of the gospel.
c.   The church may become accustomed to having a bi-vocational pastor and slow to assume his full time salary.


(b)   Mother/Daughter approach - a missionary pastor is sent out by a local church to plant a new church which will be "mothered" to maturity by the parent church. There are various models which can be followed.

(1)   Colonization model - members of the parent church move to a new locale with the specific intent of planting a new church.

Advantages:
a.   Probably the fastest method for planting a new church.
Disadvantages:
a.   Probably the most expensive method of planting a new church.


(2)   Task force model - members of the parent church are "loaned" to the new church until it is large enough to stand on its own.

Advantages:
a.   A rapid way to plant a new church.
Disadvantages:
a.   Requires a large parent church that can afford to give up some of its members.
b.   It runs the risk of losing some of the "loaned" families permanently to the new work.



(3)   Satellite model - a large parent church plants several small semi-autonomous home Bible studies, missions or churches in the surrounding area.

Advantages:
a.   The gospel can be rapidly spread throughout a large area.
Disadvantages:
a.   Requires a large parent church with many dedicated people.



(4)   Indigenous model - a parent church sends a missionary pastor out who plants a new church that will become completely independent over time (see Acts 13).

Advantages:
a.   It is the most biblically correct method of church planting.
Disadvantages:
a.   Requires a spiritually mature parent church with a dedicated membership.



(5)   Adoption model - a parent church "adopts" an already existing, but struggling church.

Advantages:
a.   Instant church.
Disadvantages:
a.   Instant old existing problems that may not be easily solved.


(c)   Founding pastor approach - an independent missionary pastor plants a new church from scratch having little to no outside support. He usually stays for a lifetime.

Advantages:

a.   Generally accomplished by very aggressive evangelistic types.

Disadvantages:

a.   Generally accomplished by very independent types.
b.   This approach is the most stressful on both the missionary pastor and his family.
c.   This approach is also the most suspect by the community as being cultic.


(d)   Missionary initiated approach - a missionary pastor sent by a missionary agency begins a new church in a needy community but does not stay on permanently.

Advantages:

a.   It is the "traditional" method of church planting.

Disadvantages:

a.   Churches can become dependent on the missionary's resources (sending agency) to a point where they may withhold their giving.


(e)   Area fellowship sponsored approach - a fellowship of churches or pastors pool their resources to send out a missionary pastor plants a church.

Advantages:

a.   More resources are immediately available to begin a new church.

Disadvantages:

a.   Too many voices in the decision making process could slow down progress.


B.   An "Indigenous Fellowship" Phase (A Mission Church) which is a group of believers, meeting for Bible study, under the leadership of a missionary. During this phase the group has not yet been duly constituted nor has it opened its doors to the public for services.

C.   An "Autonomous Church", one which has been duly constituted, but is still under the leadership of a missionary and is still related to the Mother Church for assistance. When the following six items have been addressed this group will be ready to open its doors for public worship services.

1)   Pre-evangelism activities in the community to establish an identity and some credibility within that community.
2)   Outreach evangelism by the core group using various pre-approved methods (personal evangelism, in house visitation, tracts, etc.).
3)   Trained leaders available to disciple and assimilate new converts.
4)   Organizational documents prepared, including a constitution, covenant, doctrinal statement and preliminary budget.
5)   A facility approved for public meetings.


D.   An "Independent Church" Phase, in which the church has matured to a place of competence, where qualified leadership and sufficient income to fully support a pastor and meet its other financial obligations have been achieved. Other evidences of this phase are:

1)   New members are being added and assimilated successfully.
2)   New leaders are being developed through deacon training, teacher training, etc.
3)   Necessary ministries are being developed.
4)   Careful records are being kept of baptisms, membership, giving, etc.

Section 3. We believe that great care needs to be exercised so as not to violate the Biblical principal of Local Church autonomy during each of the growth stages of the infant church.

Section 4. We also believe that with the exception of the Missionary Pastor's wages (and even some of that coming from the new group as soon as it is practicable) all other funds for equipment, buildings, etc. must be raised by the indigenous fellowship themselves.


Article V
Financing a Church Planting Missionary

Section 1. Because the various church planting methods differ in their specific details financial need will also vary. The H. A. B. C. will support a church planting missionary at a rate to be decided at the time of approval by the church at a duly called business meeting.

Section 2. We believe that any church planting missionary who is working in this country and plans to remain in the church he has planted should be able to be self-sufficient, Lord willing, within five years or less from the time that his first meeting is held. Therefore, the H. A. B. C. shall decrease the support of a U. S. based missionary pastor who plans to remain in the church he has planted by 20% per year of the original amount.

Section 3. It is possible that circumstances could arise whereby support might have to be extended, therefore a church planting missionary may seek a continuance of support by making a written request to the H.A.B.C. Missionary Council. The Missionary Council will review such request and make a recommendation to the Church body at a specially called business meeting.

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