Core Values
- Christ-centeredness. Jesus Christ is our all in all. In Him we are complete. Ministry is not an end in itself, but the outflow of our personal relationship with Christ.
- The biblical Gospel. The method that God uses for the conversion and transformation of lives is the biblical Gospel. Just to plant churches is not enough. Planting churches is in vain if they are not deeply rooted in the biblical and historic faith “which was once for all delivered to the saints.”(Jude 3b) The accurate understanding of God’s message will also determine effective missionary methodology.
- Compassion. Compassion is the fruit of genuine faith. It is also the nature of God. If we genuinely know God, we will love others and care for those in need. The conviction of Gospel truth always impacts every area of life, both spiritual and physical.
- The guidance of the Holy Spirit. Where we work and how is not determined by ourselves but by the Holy Spirit. We determine His guidance through the Word of God and through God’s providence when great needs, great opportunities, and an ability to help intersect.
- Prayer. Because the task of making disciples of all the nations is far beyond our own ability, we must devote ourselves to continual prayer. Through prayer we remain dependent upon the Spirit who alone can do the work.
- Church planting. The church, established in every locality, is God’s instrument in reaching out to the world. Often, mass evangelistic efforts only produce quick superficial decisions leading to false conversions. The local church’s influence, however, is not short-term or haphazard. Each biblically based church is a beachhead from which the Gospel continues to be preached and disciples taught.
- Leadership training. The key to church planting is leadership. Without strong leaders planted churches will fall apart. Our part is to come along side of leaders that are called of God and equip them for service.
- Working through relationships. Fulfilling the Great Commission is only possible through the body of Christ working together in unity. Fruitful ministry flows out of Christ-centered relationships.
- Indigenous methods. Our aim is to plant churches which are not dependent on outsiders for their continuance. Dependency robs native leaders of initiative and stifles responsibility. Indigenous churches are self-governing, self-financing, and self-propagating.
- Building for the long term. Our aim is not to engage in random, short-term ministry having no sense of continuance in the fields where we labor. Our priority is to build works that will stand and keep functioning after we leave, even for generations. The true test of missionary work is not what happens when we are on the field, but what continues to happen after we leave.
- Cultural sensitivity. We prove that we value and respect the people we are trying to reach by becoming learners of their language and culture. We should adapt ourselves to all cultural practices that do not compromise the Gospel.
- Unreached and receptive peoples. Our first priority is to the completely unreached peoples over those who already live within the reach of a community of believers. We also place a priority toward receptive peoples above those who are unreceptive. Receptive peoples are those who, by the Holy Spirit’s working, are open and hungry to hear the Gospel.
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©2005
Church Planting International
