Mission Mandate, Values and Challenges

LCMS Black Ministry

 

Every Christian, through Baptism, is given the privilege of declaring the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

Mission Networking is mandated to adopt and communicate The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod emphasis: “Witness, Mercy, Life Together.”

For the purpose of church planting and revitalization, Mission Networking establishes active and productive partnerships with LCMS National Missions, districts and congregations.

 

Values for Mission

• We adopt as priority the LCMS emphasis: “Witness, Mercy, Life Together.”
• We inform, educate and motivate the LCMS constituency in reaching out with the Gospel to people of African descent and inspire the planting of new congregations.
• We provide leadership in training opportunities through conferences and workshops in creating and evaluating mission start-ups on the urban frontier.
• Create faith witnessing tools and on-site training opportunities for revitalizing existing congregations needing to address decline and refocus for Christ’s mission.
• Raise-up mission leaders from within LCMS Black Ministry.
• Partner with African Immigrant Missions for the sake of Christ’s ministry.
• Interface with national, district and regional leaders in order to share mission information and resources.
• Pray and encourage other ethnic ministries within LCMS National Missions.

 

Challenges in Mission

The LCMS has established a world-wide Gospel outreach movement, setting 2017 as the target date for igniting 100 million hearts, planting 2,000 new congregations and revitalizing 2,000 existing congregations.

Identify eight to 10 strong black congregations willing to sign on as a “Covenant Congregation,” each committed to birthing three to four new mission starts.

Count Gospel Contacts: A Gospel Contact is when a person gives a clear witness to Jesus Christ, and when there is opportunity to respond to the message—receiving it, rejecting it or asking for more information. We call it a “Faith Sharing Moment.” A critical first-step is recognizing an unhealthy situation, and then a bold assessment and transformation make for appropriate follow-up. It means speaking the truth in love about keeping Jesus the main thing and keeping His holiness the principle desire of our hearts. Faith in action!

Black Ministry Services encourages districts and congregations to intensify commitment to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to multiethnic/cultural people.

But in particular, existing black ministries are in steady decline, needing attention through prayer, equipping, resourcing, networking and trust in the power of the resurrected Christ to breathe new life into them.

How is your ministry? Are you willing to take a risk at becoming healthier and more productive?

A congregational self-assessment conducted by district staff in consultation with Black Ministry Services could be a viable option for your congregation.

Contact the Mission Networking office of Black Ministry. The fire is hot, and the time is now. Together we can thrust forward into reclaiming the ministries and souls that rightly belong to God through His Son Jesus, our living Savior.

 

Mission Resources

Faith Sharing Moments

Everyone in our congregations has opportunities to reach out and touch someone’s life with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Each faith sharing moment matters and is reason to give God praise. Use these forms to document the individual faith sharing moments flowing out from the congregation.

Completed Faith Sharing Moment forms can be prayed at worship before submitting to the outreach committee and or congregational District Unit representative for obtaining a cumulative value that is entered on the District Unit Leader’s report to Black Ministry.

Download

 

Metrics Questionnaire

District Unit Leaders will collect Congregational Outreach Surveys semi-annually and calculate the total number of people reached using the Metrics Questionnaire to report outreach, training and revitalization activities in the district.

Download

 

Congregational Outreach Survey

The distribution and retrieval of the survey to congregations within the district will allow Black Ministry to track the local ministry goals, planning and outcomes in the region.

At some point we hope to mobilize prayer partnerships on behalf of congregations, lay volunteers and professional church workers who serve the Lord Jesus in faith and fruitfulness. The frequency of reporting to the District Unit Leader may range from quarterly to semi-annually.

Download

 

Church Planters Task Force

Mission Statement

The Church Planters Task Force actively engages God’s people within Black Ministry for the Great Commission so Christ saves more souls and He is glorified among us.

The Church Planters Task Force exists to:

• Train African-American members of the LCMS for planting new churches and mission start-ups
• Raise-up mission leaders from within LCMS Black Ministry
• Help identify opportunities and resources that will assist, guide, and empower sponsoring congregations, mission leaders and their staff
• Partner with African-American Immigrant Missions for the sake of Christ’s ministry
• Interface with district and regional leaders in order to share mission information and resources
• Pray and encourage other ethnic ministries within the LCMS National Mission Affiliates

Key Issues

The reported 38.3 million African-Americans living in North America present an opportunity for outreach in many areas of our everyday lives.

As leaders in the LCMS, the African-American Ministries Church Planters Task Force is committed to working with the Black Ministry District Units, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Urban Ministries, African Immigrant Missions and the Center for United States Missions to raise up leaders in the church and the community so they are equipped to share the Gospel to people.

Task

We have opportunities to lead The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in reaching African-Americans with the saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Email LCMS Black Ministry for more information.

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’
(Matt. 28:18-20)