VILLAGE MISSIONS

MANUAL

Web Address: villagemissions.org

United States Office: P.O. Box 197

Dallas, OR 97338-0197
Phone: 503-623-4107 Fax: 503-623-3357

Canadian Office: Box 3400

Mission, BC V2V 4J5
Canada
Phone: 1-866-885-3885
mgraham@villagemissions.org

2017 EDITION
© COPYRIGHT 2017 BY VILLAGE MISSIONS

Revised 11/4/2017
 Table of Contents

1 HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION.............................................................................................................. 1.1

A BRIEF HISTORY OF VILLAGE MISSIONS ................................................................................................... 1.1
FOUNDATIONAL MINISTRY COMMITMENTS ............................................................................................. 1.5
PURPOSE OF OUR ORGANIZATION ................................................................................................................ 1.6
VALUES................................................................................................................................................................ 1.6
DECLARATION OF FAITH ................................................................................................................................. 1.7
PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY ............................................................................................................................. 1.7
THE CHURCH IS A MISSION FIELD ................................................................................................................. 1.8
OUR PROGRAM .................................................................................................................................................. 1.9
2 MINISTRY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH ...................................................................................................... 2.1
PASTORAL SPIRITUAL CARE .......................................................................................................................... 2.1
MINISTRY OF PREACHING ............................................................................................................................... 2.3
WORSHIP ............................................................................................................................................................. 2.7
CHURCH PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES................................................................................................... 2.10
COMMUNION .................................................................................................................................................... 2.10
BAPTISM ............................................................................................................................................................ 2.11
MINISTRY ELEMENTS .................................................................................................................................... 2.11
OTHER OUTREACHES OF THE CHURCH ..................................................................................................... 2.13
ADMINISTRATION AND THE LOCAL CHURCH.......................................................................................... 2.14
RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 2.20
CHARISMATIC EMPHASIS ............................................................................................................................. 2.29
STATEMENT: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SIGN GIFTS............................................................................ 2.29
OTHER DIVISIVE ISSUES ................................................................................................................................ 2.31
PARSONAGE ..................................................................................................................................................... 2.38
3 MINISTRY IN THE COMMUNITY ............................................................................................................ 3.1
HAVE A MISSIONARY HEART ......................................................................................................................... 3.1
EVANGELISM ..................................................................................................................................................... 3.3
FOLLOW UP ......................................................................................................................................................... 3.7
CHURCH INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................................................. 3.8
VISITATION ......................................................................................................................................................... 3.8
DEFINITION OF A CALL .................................................................................................................................. 3.10
PROSPECTS FOR VISITATION........................................................................................................................ 3.10
CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY ..................................................................................................................... 3.15
MISSIONARY ETHICS ...................................................................................................................................... 3.15
YOUR IMAGE IN THE COMMUNITY ............................................................................................................. 3.15
FAMILY LIFE ..................................................................................................................................................... 3.17
4 DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE RELATIONSHIP .................................................................................. 4.1

5 POLICIES AND GUIDELINES .................................................................................................................... 5.1

MONTHLY REPORT ........................................................................................................................................... 5.1
FINANCIAL POLICIES ........................................................................................................................................ 5.3
CHURCH FINANCIAL POLICIES: ..................................................................................................................... 5.4
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT ................................................................................................ 5.6
PERSONAL FINANCIAL POLICIES: UNITED STATES .................................................................................. 5.7
PERSONAL FINANCIAL POLICIES: CANADA ............................................................................................. 5.13
DAY OFF / FAMILY DAY ................................................................................................................................. 5.16
CONTINUING EDUCATION ............................................................................................................................ 5.16
 LEAVE OF ABSENCE ....................................................................................................................................... 5.16
VACATIONS ...................................................................................................................................................... 5.17
PLACEMENT OF LEADERSHIP ON A FIELD ................................................................................................ 5.17
MOVING DETAILS............................................................................................................................................ 5.19
ORDINATION .................................................................................................................................................... 5.20
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE ........................................................................................................................... 5.20
INTRODUCTORY PERIOD ............................................................................................................................... 5.20
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS................................................................................................................................. 5.25
INTERNSHIPS .................................................................................................................................................... 5.25
APPENDIX A: A STATEMENT CONCERNING THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT .................................. 5.27
6 INDEX .............................................................................................................................................................. 6.1
 1.1

HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION

A BRIEF HISTORY OF VILLAGE MISSIONS
The story of Village Missions began in Ireland with a sermon preached by Thomas DeWitt
Talmadge and subsequently printed. A young man read that sermon over 100 years ago, called
upon God and found Jesus Christ as his Savior. Walter Duff, Sr. was gloriously saved that night.
When he announced this to his parents the next morning at breakfast, his father told young
Walter, “Walter, all Duffs are Christians. We attend church and give heavily to support it.”
Walter looked at his dad and responded, “I know, Father, but last night, God saved my soul!”
Walter then proceeded to live out his life motto: “I would sacrifice my all for my Christ; to be a
soul winner.”
The day came when Walter fell in love with one of the secretaries in his office. They married
and had five children: Helen, Evangeline, Walter Jr., Olive, and Haldane. In 1912, he decided to
take his family to America. The custom of the day was that the father traveled to America first,
and then sent for the family after making all the housing arrangements. The ship the Duff family
was to sail on was none other than the Titanic; after all, it was unsinkable and safe. However,
Mrs. Duff decided she and the children could not wait that long and booked passage on another
ship that would arrive earlier. They did not hear of the Titanic sinking and the loss of 1200 lives
until they reached Boston.

The Duff family then made their home in International Falls, Minnesota. A year later, the family
boarded the train for Portland, Oregon and a climate wet and warm like Ireland. During his
growing up years, Walter Duff Jr. took part in this father’s evangelistic ministry. He passed out
invitations door to door, took up the offerings, and played trombone solos. Later, as a young
man, he was a traveling preacher in the Pacific Northwest for 13 years.

In February 1934, Walter Duff Jr. preached at the Methodist church in Dallas, Oregon where he
met Miss Edith Dunn. They were married on June 12, 1936 and spent the following summer in
Ireland because Walter Jr. said, “You’ll never understand me unless you know where I came
from.” Three children were born to them: Priscilla Ann, Mary Margaret, and Walter David.
Reverend Duff served as pastor in several churches in Oregon and one in Nebraska while
attending seminary.

In 1938, Miss Mary Clark joined Mrs. Baugh, Walter Duff Jr.’s sister, in ministry. A lifelong
working partnership began that eventually resulted in what is today known as Stonecroft
Ministries. It was through this ministry that Village Missions was born as a mission to send
pastors to rural areas. It was launched at the American Bank Building, Portland, Oregon, on
September 9, 1948. The Rev. Walter Duff Jr., was designated as National Director.

In the first year, three couples were sent out to rural America. Village Missionaries continue to
serve some of the early fields, which have grown to become effective, vital churches. They
include Arago, OR, and Skokomish, WA

Soon news began to spread of a missionary society proposing to send out pastors to closed and
weak churches. Village Missions began to hear from all over the West. They received scores of
letters asking for help to secure a pastor for their church. Rev. Walter Duff, Sr., challenged his
 1.2

son to “send out 100 missionary pastors to rural North America,” Rev. Duff Jr. directed the
sending out of over 600 missionaries during his lifetime.

The Village Missions’ International Service Center moved several times during its first decade of
existence. These locations included Dallas in Oregon, Sterling in Kansas, Kansas City in
Missouri, and back to Dallas, Oregon. The first Village Missions office was located in Rev.
Walter Duff Jr.’s garage. Then for many years, the office was located in a doublewide trailer on
the Dunn farm just outside of Dallas, Oregon. The present office, located in Dallas, was
purchased, remodeled and became the Headquarters for the International Service Center for
Village Missions in September 1991.

In 1968, interested Canadians asked if Village Missions would consider the spiritual needs of
Canada. Village Missions commissioned Christine Schuman, a youth home missionary, to go to
areas in Canada where God might have our mission agency serve. The very first Village
Missions field was opened that same year in Willow River, British Columbia. Now these many
years later, Village Missions is providing leadership from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia in
many communities and villages. Since that time, we have been "One mission--two nations!

From 1968 through 1978, God continued to bless and move Village Missions forward.
During this time, the Village Missions manual was developed and Candidate schools started
being held during summer staff conferences. By the end of 1978, Village Missions was serving
235 fields in the US and 25 in Canada. Many people were hearing and responding to the clear
presentation of the Gospel. God truly blessed and brought many people into His kingdom.

In the 1980s, the growth rate was not as fast, but God’s hand was obvious on the Mission as it
steadily moved forward. The early growth of Village Mission had been in the Western districts,
but during the 80s, we grew to serve over 50 communities in the Eastern districts as well.
Affordable retirement facilities were purchased in Dallas OR, Oregon, as many missionaries
were reaching retirement age and in need of housing. At present, two other retirement facilities
exist in Clifton, CO and New Gloucester, ME. In Canada, the number of fields served grew to
35 and in 1980, Castle Thompson was appointed as the first Canadian DR.

Rev. Walter Duff Jr. officially retired in 1991. In 1993 he was ushered into the presence of God
after leading Village Missions for 45 years. In honor of the one who he had served so faithfully
all of his adult life, the Tempo magazine (now Country Matters) issue in May/June, 1993
headlines comprised just two words, “Well Done.” Rev. Walter Duff Jr. was a man of
conviction and prayer. His supreme goal was taking the Word of God to those in rural areas who
did not have access to a gospel preaching church, or a compassionate shepherd to help them in
the crisis needs in their lives. His conviction was expressed in his simple admonition to, “Preach
the Word and love the people.”

Village Missions continued to move forward under the leadership of Dr. Jack Canady,
Who became the Assistant Director of Village Missions on January 1, 1989 and National
Director in March 1991. Under Dr. Jack Canady’s leadership, a permanent office was purchased
and remodeled. The office staff was increased as the accounting was moved from Kansas City to
the International Service Center in Dallas, Oregon. The Development Department was
 1.3

established and many other crucial additions were completed. This was a time of transition in
many ways. To move Village Missions from a Founder/Director to a Chief Executive Officer is
no small task and it was accomplished by His grace. Dr. Canady was given a sabbatical in July
of 1999 and officially retired in June of 2000.

Rev. Donald Still became the Interim Acting Administrator in July 1999 and served in this
position until a new Executive Director was hired in November 2000.

The National Board of United States and Canada selected Rev. Brian Wechsler as the new
Executive Director of Village Missions and he began his duties in November 2000.

Under Brian’s leadership, the Purpose statement was revised and a Statement of Values was
developed. In addition, Village Missions created a new logo, tag line (Keeping Country
Churches Alive), several brochures and banners, and a revised publication called Country
Matters. We expanded our internet presence and added a Facebook presence. We became a
member of A.N.A.M. (Association of North American Missions).

The mission expanded its ministry to Alaska and to the Native American Navajo in Arizona and
New Mexico. In order to meet the challenges in recruiting, the Village Missions Contenders
Discipleship Initiative was instituted. This is an in-house approach in training lay people and
future Village Missionaries through local church Bible Institutes and other means of training.

Since 1948, Village Missions has served a variety of rural and “rurban” communities across the
United States and Canada. God continues to call us to send out dedicated, called, and gifted
Village Missionaries to “Preach the Word and love the people.” Only heaven can measure the
impact this has had on individual lives, communities, churches and even the world.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the word of

the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”1

1
1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB
 1.4

Village Missions U.S. Corporate and

Administrative Structure Chart to
Support Village Missionaries

Members of Corporation
Seven Permanent

Board of Directors
Eleven Total
Seven Permanent
Four Elected

Corporate Officers
Board Chair
Vice-Chair
Sec/Treasurer

Executive Director
All Missions Operations

Missionary & Field

Support Services Stewardship Equipping
Services

Chief Financial Assistant Stewardship CDI Director

Officer Director Director

District
Representatives

Missionaries/Church
 1.5

Village Missions CANADA Corporate and

Administrative Structure Chart to
Support Village Missionaries

M
e
m
b
e
r
Board of Directors
s Corporate Officers
o
f Board Chair
M Vice-Chair
i
s Sec/Treasurer
s
i
o
n

Executive Director
All Missions Operations

District Representative Stewardship

 1.6

FOUNDATIONAL MINISTRY COMMITMENTS

PURPOSE OF OUR ORGANIZATION
Village Missions exists to glorify Jesus Christ by developing spiritually
vital churches in rural North America.
VALUES

Qualified Leadership

We value the placement of full-time, spiritually qualified missionary leadership by invitation of

the local people as the primary means of developing spiritually vital churches.

Supported Leadership

We value supporting the leadership we place through prayer, financial, and innovative forms of
logistical assistance.

Leadership Approach

We value an approach to ministry that proclaims and demonstrates the Gospel of Jesus Christ
(Preach the Word and Love the People), and is evangelistic, relational, and involved in
community life.

Focused Approach

We value a focused approach of reaching people in rural areas of North America—places

without an ongoing demonstration of the gospel.

Long-term Approach

We value a long-term approach that enables churches that have reached financial stability to
collaborate with us in helping other churches, while receiving leadership and encouragement
from us.

Christian Character

We value Christian character, specifically integrity, Christ-like love, humility, and faith, in all
that we do as a Mission and as individuals in our Mission. We are committed to the Word of
God for all that we are and all that we do.

Spiritually Vital Churches

We value spiritually vital churches that are making substantial progress in the areas of
evangelism, instruction, prayer, worship, and fellowship.
 1.7

DECLARATION OF FAITH

We Believe:

• the supernatural and plenary inspiration of the Scripture—that they are inerrant and that their
teaching and authority are absolute, supreme, and final, and complete;

• the Trinity of the Godhead—God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit;

• the personality of God—the personality and deity of Jesus Christ, begotten of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man; the personality of the Holy Spirit;

• the resurrection of Jesus Christ—that His body was raised from the dead according to the
Scriptures, and that He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God as the
believer’s Advocate;

• the sinfulness of man—that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, are totally
depraved and need a Savior from sin;

• the Atonement—that Jesus Christ became the sinner’s sacrifice before God and died as the
propitiation for the sins of the whole world;

• the necessity of the new birth—salvation is by grace through faith and not of works; saving
faith will maintain good works in the life of the believer;

• the literal resurrection of the body, both of the just and of the unjust;

• the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost;

• the evangelization of the world—the supreme mission of the church in this age is to preach
the gospel to every creature;

• the second coming of Christ according to Scripture.

PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY
Village Missions is a spiritual ministry, which endeavors to keep the rural church open and
effective. It is dedicated to those hundreds of communities where the church has no source of
leadership. The status of the local church remains exactly as it was before our missionaries were
appointed to serve it. Our missionaries are expected to work in harmony and cooperation with
the local church board, whatever it may be. There is no such thing as a “Village Missions”
church; we serve a church and community at the request of the congregation or interested
persons in the community.
 1.8

Our missionaries may be serving in a community of several hundred people with thirty-five or
fewer attending church. Their goal is not primarily to be a pastor to those thirty-five people.
Their calling is to go out into the surrounding areas, as our Lord commanded, and bring in the
lost.

Our purpose is not to be satisfied with a handful of people, setting up a little pastoral program for
the nurturing of the saints, and letting everyone else in the community be forgotten. Our
missionaries have the responsibility of pursuing a missionary and evangelistic thrust with vigor
and enthusiasm.

Village Missions is dedicated to those hundreds of communities that in most cases are out and
beyond the reach of the organized church. We do not serve denominational churches. When we
are invited to serve in such a missionary capacity by the church or community, we anticipate that
the church will remain community in spirit. Under no circumstances are we, through personal
influence or otherwise, to encourage or lead the group we are serving to change its status from
being a Community Church.

We go into a community with anywhere from four hundred to several thousand people. There
really is no such thing as a typical field. It may be in a residential area or way out in the country
where you have cows and horses for neighbors! Perhaps the roads are paved, perhaps not. There
may be a doctor. There may be a store or two. There may even be a traffic light.

THE CHURCH IS A MISSION FIELD

Rarely will the local church be the kind of biblically oriented, missionary zealous church you
may have dreamed about in the past. In all situations where Village Missions serves, the
community is your mission field. In some situations, the church as well as the community is
your mission field. It is your responsibility to win a hearing, win the love of the people, win
them as friends, and you eventually win many to Christ.

Charles Trumbull once said, “About the only duty that one man can safely and unconditionally
prescribe for another man is the supreme duty of surrender to God’s will. If one is right at the
center (heart), he is likely to get right at the circumference.”

In other Village Missions situations, the people have been taught and trained for years by former
missionaries and a degree of maturity and commitment will be evidenced. Caution, tact, and
most of all, genuine Christ-like love are the keys to your success with people. Get involved in
legitimate activities in the community. Make yourself a part of the community. Such
institutions as 4-H, the fire department, Scouts, etc., are all means that can be used to meet and
influence people for Christ. Be discerning, ask direction of the Holy Spirit, weigh the relative
merit or demerit of each activity. As your ministry enjoys the blessing of God and becomes
more demanding, you may have to limit these initial avenues of public exposure.
 1.9

“…the minister of the gospel must be governed by several practical considerations in deciding
just how deeply he will involve himself in community affairs.

1) Is the thing essentially good or bad? There are some activities that simply are not
appropriate.

2) Even though the thing itself may not be evil, the question of its implications must be faced.
What will be the result to both the minister and the church? How will the work of the Lord
be affected? Could it be that the unchurched might get the wrong impression of the Christian
life? Might people be prejudiced against the church because of the minister’s choice?

3) What effect will the minister’s engagement have upon his primary calling? In a struggling
community, the helpful pastor may quickly become over-committed. Be wise in not
neglecting your own time in prayer, in personal study of Scripture, in preparing to preach and
pastoral visitation.

There are effective ways by which a minister may become a vital part of his community without
always doing something. It is actually as much a matter of attitude as anything else. One need
not do things just to prove you are a part of the community. Just resolve to be a part and you will
discover that almost imperceptibly you are accepted as one of the people.

“The minister should be as much concerned about public school functions as others. Fit into the
local community practices as much as possible.”2 Attend ball games, band concerts, school
Christmas programs, or anything else that will help you build wholesome relationships with
people.

OUR PROGRAM

Our program is basically a spiritual program. The main thrust, then, should be predominantly
spiritual. You are a missionary, not merely a pastor. A primary concern will be to reach for
Christ as many people as possible in your area. You will achieve this through:

Your preaching -positive, attractive presentation of the “Good

News” of salvation and new life in the Savior;
(negative preaching is not a help, but a hindrance.
Jesus’ approach to the woman at the well met her
heart’s need for the water of Life.)

Calling in the community -with an intense outreach to all the people of the
community, regardless of who they are or what
they claim to be religion-wise;

2
Longenecker, Harold, Building Town and Country Churches, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1973) 97-98. Used by
permission
 1.10

Visiting the sick and needy -getting well acquainted and learning to love
them for Christ;

Outreach and discipling -endeavoring to reach all the children of the area
children and bring them under the teaching of the Word;

Small Group Studies -in the homes, particularly; this method has
proven to be eminently successful;

Various youth ministries, etc. -a full program as time and schedule permits:
meetings, retreats, outings, etc.

Where you can expand your outreach to include a neighboring community, do so, serving that
area regularly and consistently so that those people, too, may learn to love the Savior. You need
not request permission to serve other areas; our vision is to reach as far and wide as possible with
the gospel.

In most villages or rural communities, many denominations will be represented in the

backgrounds of the people, and to emphasize any one of them is, potentially, to discourage others
from attending your services. Thus, the community church program has proven over many years
to be most effective in the endeavor to reach all for Christ, working in all possible harmony with
everyone toward these objectives:

1) to make clear presentation of the Gospel message;

2) to teach the Word of God in simplicity;

3) to avoid non-essentials and controversial subjects.

 1.11

VILLAGE MISSIONARY COUPLE AND SINGLE MISSIONARY3

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Primary Purpose: Because the Village Missionary couple or single Village Missionary is so
essential in completing the purpose of Village Missions, recall that the purpose of Village
Missions is: to glorify Jesus Christ by developing spiritually vital churches in rural North
America.

The Village Missionary is the most important and primary position in fulfilling this purpose.
The Village Missionary serves the community where assigned, with the express purpose of
building a vital, Christ honoring community church. The missionary invests significant time and
energy in visitation, evangelism, Biblical teaching and pastoral care. The foundation of this
work is modeling commitment to Christ in daily life, revealing the difference the Gospel makes
in a life. Village Missionary couples and singles are called, not to be separate from the
community, but to integrate the life of the Church into the Community so that the Church
becomes an important spiritual influence throughout the Community.

At Will Employment: It is important to understand that this position is, as are all positions in
Village Missions, an "at will" position. "At will" employment means that the Mission may
offer or withdraw employment at any time. It means that the employee, if otherwise qualified,
may accept open and offered employment at any time, or end such employment. The Mission or
the Missionary do so at any time and for any reason, or for no reason, so long as such
termination is not for an illegal reason.

Qualifications: Qualifications for employment as a Village Missionary couple or Village

Missionary are set forth in detail in the application, the Candidate’s School curriculum and
through the acceptance process.

Responsibilities: Specifically, the Missionary couple or Village Missionary is expected to

initiate and maintain an active, effective, program of ministry in the church and community.
This may include: evangelism, corporate worship services, Christian education classes, special
youth and adult activities, personal contacts in the homes, Sunday Schools, V.B.S., home and
group Bible studies and prayer meetings, and more. An intensive visitation program on the part
of the missionary couple is expected. In general, the Missionary couple or Village Missionary is
to become an integral part of community life, winning the friendship and confidence of the
people.

The Missionary husband is to be the spiritual leader, a man gifted with communicating the
Gospel to those about him and bringing them into the Kingdom of God, and providing the
pastoral leadership that equips the church to do the same. He should divide his time between
serious study to maintain a working knowledge of the Word of God and daily involvement
outside the study to know and meet the people's needs. He must conduct himself with absolute
purity toward women, avoiding even the appearance of evil. If married, he must balance his
3
It is understood that Village Missions only appoints men to serve in the role of missionary pastor.
 1.12

ministry responsibilities with his family responsibilities so that he does not neglect his family nor
the ministry. He shall submit a complete monthly report to the Village Missions International
Service Center and his District Representative immediately following the last Sunday of each
month.

The Missionary Wife is an integral part of the ministry of Village Missions. The contribution
she makes as a missionary to the cause of Christ is incalculable. She is to work along side her
husband to complete a Missionary team. Her first duty is to support her husband as a partner as
described in Scripture. Together with her husband, she is to nurture and raise Godly Children if
she has them. She is to be an example of a Godly woman, as defined by Scripture, and to lead
and help in the Church Program, as her time permits. All Missionary Wives are to be appointed
with their husbands.

The Missionary Couple or Village Missionary is expected to adhere to the policies and
procedures as established by the Board of Village Missions. They are also expected to cooperate
with the existing Board of the church, always seeing themselves as missionaries to that
community and that church. They should recognize that their privilege of serving the church
results from a request from the church and an agreement between the church and Village
Missions, who has assigned them to serve the church. The church is not their church and they
are not there to correct every single wrong. Their approach shall be to pray and encourage a
closer walk with our Savior as a means of correcting any errors.

In terms of organizational accountability, the Village Missionary Couple or Village Missionary

is under the supervision of their District Representative to fulfill the agreement Village Missions
has with the church. They are ultimately accountable to the Board of Village Missions through
the Assistant Director and Executive Director.
 1.13

VILLAGE MISSIONARY
STATEMENT OF LIFESTYLE AND MORALITY STANDARD
The Reverend Walter Duff, his wife Edith, and the others associated with him in the founding in
1948 of this missionary organization were very godly people. While rejecting both legalism and
liberalism, they scrupulously embraced the clear directives in God’s Word concerning the
lifestyle of the believer. This balanced approach of the founders has been and should be the basis
as we continue to adapt to the times and serve our God.

The Board of Directors has become increasingly grieved and concerned with the eroding
standards and compromise so very evident even among evangelical believers today. All too often
it is difficult for the unbeliever to recognize any significant difference in his standard and that of
the Church.

Because of this deep concern, the Board has voted to put in place this Village Missionary
Statement of Lifestyle and Morality that applies to all serving as Village Missionaries. It is
important to understand that this is not a new standard, but is simply a statement of the Scriptural
Principles upon which Mission personnel have been governed and guided since the beginning of
Village Missions. This is an effort by the Board of Directors to keep this standard before all so
that Village Missions can maintain and preserve a holy, godly, pure, and righteous testimony
before the Lord as well as before the world.

Scripture makes clear that a leader must exhibit certain character qualities (1Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:6-
9). In addition to reflecting the character of a leader, specifically the lifestyle of the Village
Missions family must be above reproach in the following areas:

1) Confidentiality and Trustworthiness - in matters of personal confidences: Lev. 19:16;

Psa. 50:20; Prov. 11:13; 20:19; 25:9; 2 Cor. 12:20; 1 Tim. 5:13

2) Truthfulness - avoiding all lying and deceit: Exod. 23:1; Lev. 6:2-3; Prov. 6:16-17, 19;
Prov. 12:17; Matt. 5:37; John 8:44; Eph. 4:25, 29; Col. 3:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:9-10

3) The Sacredness of Marriage. Village Missions adheres to the Biblical witness regarding the
sacredness of marriage: The term 'marriage' has only one meaning and that is marriage
sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union,
delineated in Scripture

a. Because of the nature of this relationship we would view a Village Missionary who
divorces as being no longer qualified for service as a Village Missionary (Mal. 2:13-16;
Matt. 5:31-32, 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; 1Cor. 7:10-16; 1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6).

b. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman
who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate
sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
Therefore, we believe that all behavior that runs counter to the Biblical teaching on
 1.14

marriage …is sexual immorality. We oppose all inappropriate sexual conduct including,
but not restricted to:

i. Adultery: Exod. 20:14; Matt. 5:27-28: Rom. 2:22a; 13:13; 1Cor. 6:18-20

ii. Fornication (all premarital sex): Prov. 5:3-13; 7:6-27; Mark 7:21-23; Eph. 5:3;
Col. 3:5-7; 1Thess. 4:1-8

iii. Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Incest: Lev. 18:6-18; Deut. 22:25-27

iv. Homosexual and Transgender Relationship(s) including medical changes to

sexuality: Gen. 19:1-19; Lev. 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27; 1Cor. 6:9-10; 1Tim. 1:10;
Jude 1:7

v. Reading or Viewing Pornographic Material: Matt. 5:27-28; Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:5;
2 Tim. 2:20-22; James 1:13-16; 2Pet. 2:19

4) Physical Aggression and Physical, Mental, or Verbal Abuse: Rom. 13:10; 1Cor. 13:4-5;
Gal. 5:19-24; Eph. 4:29, 31-32; Col. 3:8

5) Theft, Fraud or Any Other Illegal Activity: Lev. 19:11,13; Rom. 2:21; 13:1-10; Eph. 4:28;
Titus 2:9-10; 1Pet. 4:15

6) Illicit and Psychoactive Drugs (other than prescription), Tobacco, and Alcohol: Village
Missions recognizes that the Bible is clear regarding the prohibition of drunkenness but not
as clear regarding the consumption of alcohol or the use of tobacco. We recognize that with a
changing legal environment illegal drugs may become legal. We minister within a culture
where the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are devastating and specifically in a
rural culture where the behavior of the Village Missionary is apparent. Therefore, Village
Missions expects Village Missionaries to abstain from the above-mentioned products. Prov.
20:1; 21:17; 23:20-21, 29-35; 31:4-7; Matt. 24:48-49; Luke 21:34; Rom. 13:12-14; 14:17-21;
1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:18; 1Tim. 3:2-3

7) Financial Integrity: Lev. 19:13; Prov. 11:1; 20:10,17,23; 22:1; Isa. 32:7; Jer. 22:13;
Amos 8:4-5; Luke 16:13; Rom. 13:6-10; 1Tim. 6:6-10; James 5:4

8) Respect for Authority: Matt. 26:39; Rom.13:1-5; Eph. 6:5-8; Tit. 2:9-10; Heb. 13:17;
1Pet. 2:13-18;

Village Missions stands upon the unchanging Word of God as its final authority for faith and
conduct. All who serve with the Mission are encouraged to establish personal disciplines that
will foster and promote a deep and intimate relationship with God, which are essential to
effective service as a Christian believer. This includes prayer, personal Bible study, consistent
times of fellowship, and the sharing of the Gospel with others, all of which are elements of a
healthy and growing spiritual life.
 1.15

We remind you that reconciliation with God comes from faith in the atoning work of Christ;
our behavior is the expected fruit of our position in Christ and all that comes from our position
including the indwelling Holy Spirit.

In the event of a violation of one or more of the elements of this standard and dependent upon
the nature of the violation, the Mission will attempt to bring about the restoration of the
individual in order that a working relationship with Village Missions can be maintained. In case
of serious allegations, the Investigation of Serious Allegations policy will be followed.

AGREEMENT WITH AND ADHERENCE TO, THE STANDARD SET FORTH HEREIN IS
A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE WITH VILLAGE MISSIONS.

All persons presently serving as missionaries, associate missionaries, and interns must
acknowledge agreement with this lifestyle and morality standard in writing. Such
acknowledgment by those presently serving and by new appointees/employees will be made by
signing this statement:

I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND WILL SUBMIT TO THE FOREGOING

VILLAGE MISSIONARY LIFESTYLE AND MORALITY STANDARD OF VILLAGE MISSIONS.
I ALSO AGREE THAT ANY VIOLATION OF THIS STANDARD BY ME MAY BE JUST
CAUSE FOR TERMINATION OF MY EMPLOYMENT OR VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH
VILLAGE MISSIONS.

Signed ___________________________________ Date _____________________

Signed ___________________________________ Date _____________________

 2.1

MINISTRY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

PASTORAL SPIRITUAL CARE

Unfortunately, we live in a society in which there is an ever-increasing number of lawsuits filed

against pastors involving alleged clergy malpractice involving pastoral counseling. We have
established the following directives to protect our Missionaries and Village Missions from
allegations and claims of wrongful conduct and to protect people in the communities served by
Village Missions:

1) The Village Missionary is to understand and communicate that they are Pastoral care givers
providing advice based solely on Biblical principles derived from Scripture alone.

2) The Village Missionary is responsible to become familiar with all state laws and regulations
involving spiritual counseling in the state in which he serves.

3) The District Representative is responsible to make sure that the church carries adequate
liability insurance covering spiritual counseling with the Missionary as an additional named
insured.

4) The Village Missionary must not charge for any spiritual care services, other than possibly
for a pre-marital preparation course.

5) Do not use secularly accepted counseling tools such as the TJTA, DISC, etc. unless you have
been specifically trained in using these tools and will discuss their insights from a clearly
biblical perspective.

6) Do not hesitate to refer someone to a Christian or secular counselor if you feel the problems
are beyond your time constraints, your ability to help, or your ability to protect the person
from harming himself or herself.

7) All spiritual care must be strictly voluntary with no elements of coercion in any respect
whatsoever.

8) The Village Missionary must take extensive notes of all sessions, including the date and time,
the problem presented and the spiritual advice given, and preserve them for a period of not
less than three years.

9) All notes and discussions must be kept in strict confidence unless the person being advised
gives specific permission in writing.

10) Village Missionaries must not engage in spiritual care with a female or a child without
another adult, preferably a female, present or easily and visibly accessible to the room where
the spiritual care is taking place.
 2.2

11) The Village Missionary must document and report all evidences of physical and or sexual
abuse to the proper authorities.

Although these directives may seem restrictive, they will protect you and aid you in your primary
mission of reaching your community for Christ. Remember that if someone had been with
Joseph when he entered Potiphar’s home he could have defended himself against the false
accusations of Potiphar’s wife! These directives are designed to protect you from false
accusations and to help ensure years of fruitful ministry.

Our confidence in providing pastoral care must not be in our ability or insights, but in the power
of God’s Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work.”1

Avoid the temptation to lean more heavily on human understanding than on God’s work through
His Word. Also, be alert to the danger of helping because you “need to be needed” by others.
Don’t allow a deeply troubled individual to monopolize your time and energy who isn’t making
significant progress, instead refer that person to a counselor who is paid for their time.

1
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
 2.3

MINISTRY OF PREACHING

SOME SEED THOUGHTS:

Aim to communicate the Word of God clearly and in a way that helps people know what God
wants them to do with His truth.

When God is using the ministry of His Word to change people’s lives, people return and invite
friends to join them.

It will be easier for people to hear what God is saying, when you gain and hold their attention.
Those who feel they are enduring a sermon are unlikely to be changed by it.

There may not be a great crowd at your first Sunday morning service, but if you have an
informative, interesting ministry of the Word of God, people will come on the recommendation
of those who were there. Many people are in church on Sunday morning out of a sense of duty.
Effective biblical preaching can get them coming because they are afraid they might miss
something by being absent.

SOME TIPS:

1) Use illustrations. They are windows into the truth you are presenting. Help people see how
this truth or principle works in real life.

2) Stay within a time limit. Few preachers can hold the attention of people more than 30
minutes. There are no “bad” short sermons. When the sermon exceeds the audience’s
attention span it is over even if the preacher is still talking.

3) Good humor is an asset from God. Learn how to use humor effectively. This is not telling
jokes, but helping people see that life is funny.

4) Give the congregation an opportunity to respond. This does not necessarily involve an altar
call but your message should call for a response of some sort. The purpose of God’s Word is
not to fill our minds, but to change our lives. Romans 12:2

5) As you preach aim for clarity over “depth.” Resist the temptation to impress people with
your insights, we are pointing people to Jesus, not creating our own fan club. Even the most
senior saint still needs the basics of spiritual life. Preach to make the Word of God clear and
applicable. If you wish to dive deeper, leave that for a Bible Study time where people can
interact and ask questions.

6) Never yield to the temptation of aiming the sermon at specific people. This merely hardens
resistance instead of inviting change.
 2.4

7) Instead of merely copying others develop an effective personal style. Preaching God’s Word
is a skill to hone for a lifetime. This may be the single most important task in a week. As
you preach this is the time God’s Spirit can speak to the church family as they are gathered.
Make sure that you have prepared in a way that doesn’t hinder His work.

8) You may learn from others but resist the temptation to use their material as your own. As
unethical as plagiarism is, a “stolen message” first robs you of hearing God speak through
His Word. Preaching another’s sermon, even if you have personalized it, communicates with
borrowed conviction at best. Share what God is teaching you, He chose you for this task with
this church, let His Truth flow through your personality to His people.

9) Keep on refining your skills. Ask your wife or other trusted person to let you know if you
have a distracting mannerism. Give them permission to help you improve your delivery.
Occasionally record your message and review it as if you were hearing from the audience.
Ask yourself, “How would I respond to this message”, both in content and delivery?

10) Do not merely read your sermon. Know the message well enough that your notes serve as a
communication help not a hindrance. Learn to see the congregation and respond to them as
you preach. Eye contact will help them hear and see that you believe what you are saying.

11) Focus on the major issues, the core themes of the Gospel and how we are to live our faith.
Do not teach controversial doctrinal issues in a way that divides God’s people. The great
central themes of the Christian gospel, when preached and taught, will unify followers of
Christ.

Be very cautious when you encounter a controversial issue in Scripture. Teach the Scriptures
without compromising your own convictions, but do so with enough grace that those who
disagree will hear you out rather than tune you out. Our calling is, after all, to win souls, not
arguments. In matters of doctrinal differences, cults, theological diversity, and minor issues;
the only way to reach people for Christ is to preach the truth with sensitivity, compassion and
gentleness.

Be careful not to express displeasure with anyone’s ecclesiastical affiliation. It is wise not to
mention any denomination in an unfavorable light. It will only tend to destroy the lines of
communication you are endeavoring to establish.

Let your preaching create a hunger to know Christ and His Word. Help the church family learn
that true disciples learn to do everything Jesus commanded. (Matthew 28:19-20) It is the Word
of God that transforms our minds and hearts, not the rhetorical skill of the preacher. (Romans
12:2)
 2.5

KEEP THE WORD OF GOD PRE-EMINENT

This should be our settled conviction: The Word of God given in the power of the Holy Spirit is
the thing God promises to bless. Whether in children’s work, youth work, or preaching ministry,
let us give the Word. No clever schemes, elaborate programs, or gimmicks can in themselves be
a blessing. We must give forth the Word of Life, which is itself, life-giving.

The responsibility of the Bible teacher or preacher is to help people hear what God is saying
through His Word and to see how He wants us to put that Truth into practice. Help people hear
from God by clearly teaching the Bible.

STUDY TIME
The preparation of good messages requires significant study. Invest in understanding the text,
check your understanding with reliable commentaries and publications. If you do not have an
office in the church, maybe there is an old storefront not being used, a room in some local
building that could be used, or maybe you have adequate facilities in the parsonage.

Study is imperative! Every pastor faces the challenge of maintaining a balance between
preaching the Word effectively and being with people and building relationships in the
community. While there are no easy answers to this dilemma, there are several principles that
can help.

1. We should devote ourselves to spending at least half our time in our study preparing for
the various services.
2. Train yourself to begin studying the passage at least one to two weeks ahead of time.
This allows time for thinking through the passage. Allowing the Word of God to
“percolate” through your soul will change you and enrich your preaching in ways that are
impossible with rushed or last-minute preparation.

3. Focus on exegetical messages rather than topical ones. Help people see and hear what
God is saying through a key passage of Scripture. Every topical message runs the risk of
having cherry-picked a few selected ideas to serve the preacher’s purpose. Preaching and
teaching systematically through a book of the bible or a portion of a book enables us to
keep our messages biblically focused and allows Scripture itself to address the whole
spectrum of human experience.
4. We must study deeply enough to be sure we understand what the Scripture we will teach
is saying. Only as we first have a clear understanding of the message will our hearers
ever have a chance of understanding it. “Mist in the mind of the preacher becomes fog in
the minds of the hearers.”2
5. Many churches are on the rocks because of careless hermeneutics, ignorance of
biblical languages and unsystematic theology. Rough estimates as to what this or that
passage means will not do. We need qualified expositors who will take the time and

2
Robinson, Haddon, Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages
 2.6

make the necessary sacrifices to do their homework well and bring clarity to the minds
of God’s people as they read and study God’s holy Word.3

LEADERSHIP

Leadership is the effort to influence others. Every Christian is called to lead. We are
commanded to lead others to the knowledge of Jesus. We are expected to conduct our personal
ministries and interactions with others in ways that reflect the teachings of Jesus. We are asked
to conform our lives to His example. Biblical leadership is for every believer, but especially for
the one called to lead the church.

There are many options on the marketplace for leadership; CEO, Autocratic, Participatory, Free
Rein, Manager, Administrator. Village Missions has an approach to leadership that is not only
biblical, but that has and will make a major impact in North America. It is important that you
embrace biblical values and principles for ministry. As Peter writes, “…Don’t lord it over the
people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” 1 Peter 5:3

In a word, that approach is ‘Servant leadership’. We believe that the effective missionary/pastor
will preach the Word and Love the People with a spirit of being a Shepherd. We believe you will
most effectively influence the people in your community through the shepherd approach.

To this end, you will be challenged to develop in six areas as a Shepherd; Character,
Relationships, Protector, Communicator, Community, Leader. These will become the focus of
your ministry and life as you serve the Lord through the local church. These will be the areas of
measurement, of success, of cooperation.

Character – We expect you to maintain and continually develop a vital growing relationship with
the Lord personally. You will need to have a proper perspective regarding the mission, the
church and their role. Being a good leader presupposes being a good follower. Understanding
and embracing the authority of the local church will be a testimony to your leadership and
character.

Relationships – Your charge is to develop positive relationship with people within the church in
order to foster a good working atmosphere and cooperation. Learn to the love the people.
Develop effective teamwork. Build relationships with ALL the people.

Protector – An aspect of your role is to protect your people from false teaching and influence.
You must have theological, cultural and behavioral discernment in order to lead towards a
biblical lifestyle and worldview.

Communicator – We want you to faithfully preach and teach the scriptures in a relevant and life
changing manner. It is imperative that you become an effective communicator of the Word of
God.

3
Theissen, John C. Pastoring the Smaller Church, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1962), 15-16, Used by permission
 2.7

Community – Your mission is beyond the local church. We want you to become established in
your community. See your purpose as reaching the entire community. This will require
involvement at many levels and in various capacities. Develop community ministry. Engage in
effective visitation. Get out there.

Leader – Ultimately, you are the spiritual leader. You must be willing to effectively manage the
ministry to which God has called you. You must understand leadership and administration in the
local church regardless of its size and location.

You are called by God to a task beyond your means and abilities. Servant leaders look at
leadership as an act of service…for the one doing the appointing. It is not an issue of control.
You must ask yourself the question, “Am I a servant or self-serving leader?”

All Village Missions offers you is the opportunity to SERVE the Lord and disciple people.

People need the Lord. People need to hear the Word preached.

Are you a servant leader? If you are – God will use you.

“He never sends you into any situation with a faulty plan or a plan to fail.” Jim Elliott

WORSHIP

Worshipping together ought to be a highlight of the week for every follower of Christ. Worship
is our heart response to the presence and goodness of God. While we can worship individually at
any time, Sunday morning offers us a moment in the week where our hearts can join together
with one voice to worship, praise, adore and thank our Almighty God and to listen to Him
through the preaching of His Word.4
As pastor, you help set the tone for how the church responds during this time. The sermon itself
is the core of the worship service, and the music, prayers and other elements ought to work
together to honor the Lord and bless His people.

BASIS FOR WORSHIP

True worship requires a personal faith in the God to whom we bow. Only we who truly “know”
Him can relate to Him in worship. Those who do not yet know Christ are invited to observe our
expression of love to Him, in hopes that the Holy Spirit will also draw them to true repentance in
the presence of the Holy One.

Since the church is people, the way we worship God will be influenced by the culture of those
who make up the church. As we lead the church in worship, we seek to find a balance of

4
See Psalm 100:4
 2.8

connecting with the culture and bringing people to God. We come to Him as redeemed sinners
entering into the presence of a holy God.”5

Worship focuses on God. We are gathered to honor Him to express our love for Him and to hear
from Him through the preaching of His Word. In worship, we focus on God’s character. Our
confidence in the redemptive work on the cross for us is rooted and built upon His infinite
character. He is who He said He was. He did what He said He did. He is God; He does not
change!

Worship focuses on God’s activity. He is the God who acts. He is not passive in the affairs of
life or in the events of the world. He is actively involved in our everyday lives. Faith believes
He is working even when we do not see how.

“The reason the small church can have a great worship service is because it does not require a
worship team, a musically talented song leader, a dynamic preacher, or a gifted pianist. All that
is required is a sincere and pure heart before God. All too often, the focus is upon the form
rather than the heart. God’s concern is for the heart of the worshipper, not the form by which he
or she worships (John 4:24).”6

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

In the same way, your investment of time studying Scripture and preparing the message helps
people hear from God through the sermon, preparation is necessary for the rest of the worship
service as well. Many areas can be planned weeks in advance: those who play and lead music,
read Scripture, pray, usher, and those who help with nursery care for example. Any bulletin or
special announcements can be prepared near the beginning of the week. Last minute changes
may be made, but should be carefully considered to avoid detracting from the overall service.
In some situations, you will oversee all preparations for Sunday, including cleaning, heating,
snow removal and bulletins. On other fields, many hands will relieve you of any concern
regarding the facilities. Some will even relieve you of the weekly planning, but never the
responsibility. No matter the situation, you would do well to stand in the back of the sanctuary
on Saturday night or early Sunday morning to just observe what the congregation will see as they
enter the meeting place and make sure that all is in readiness.

Set the tone for friendliness in the church body by greeting people as they arrive and showing an
interest in the significant events of their lives. Make yourself available before and after the
service to interact with people. Your conversations may not be long, and if you sense there is
more that needs to be said, set a time to get together during the week, but seek to connect with
people on Sunday. “For many ministers, the minutes before the Sunday morning worship service,
during that fellowship period between the Sunday school hour and the worship hour, and while
people are preparing to leave the building, can be the most productive minutes in the week for
pastoral care.”7

5
Colossians 1:12-20
6
Glenn C. Daman, “Developing Worship in the Small Church,” Mikros, Vol. 3 Num. 3 (May, June 1997): 2.
7
Lyle Schaller, The Small Church Is Different, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1982) 91.
 2.9

In most settings, starting on time and ending at the agreed time is a sign of respect to others.
Don’t begin a practice of waiting for latecomers, this will not help them arrive on time and it
wastes the time of those who are punctual. Concluding the service at the expected time assures
the church that you can be trusted. If a service must be extended for a special event, notify the
church family in advance so they can plan accordingly.

COMMITMENTS FOR WORSHIP

1) It is Resurrection Day; each Sunday we worship in remembrance of our Lord’s death, burial
and resurrection from the dead as our Savior!

2) Worship is our offering to Him. We are not there to receive a blessing, but to be a blessing to
Him. Is He pleased with our worship? Are we lifting Him up? Is what we offer to Him
acceptable? Whether in preaching, song, gift or prayer, we bring our offering to Him.

3) Worshippers are not just to provide support, funds and prayer for those who minister. They
are ministers themselves. In worship both leaders and congregation join together with God
alone as the audience.

4) In worship, we meet with the people of God and are met by God Himself.

MUSIC AND WORSHIP

Worship with music is designed by God to engage both our minds and our emotions. Musical
worship at its best turns our attention to the God who loves us and welcomes us to come to Him
with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to Him with thankful hearts.8 But music is powerful and
preferences vary across generations and cultures. Since not all agree on musical worship, we
need to consider some principles here.

The music in your church may be of fine quality and you can relax while others take this
ministry upon themselves to the glory of God. Music and the words of the songs speak to us and
help us reflect our feelings to the Savior! This needs to work in harmony with the teaching of
God’s Word, and not overshadow the importance of the sermon.

You may find the quality of music to be less than you had hoped. “Many a small church pastor
would trade two Sunday School teachers, one building coordinator and three cows for a person
who has musical abilities and a feel for worship.”9 Yet even with few skills, worship in song can
still honor the Lord.

Principles:

8
Colossians 3:16
9
Daman, “Developing Worship in the Small Church,” 1.
 2.10

1) Include songs that declare God’s character and His works.

2) Include songs that sing praise to God, not only about Him.
3) Select songs or hymns of praise and thanksgiving.
4) Pay attention to the theology of the music that is sung. We will believe the message of the
songs we sing; make sure that message aligns with Scripture.
5) Prefer songs that focus on God and His works more than our experiences.
6) Give some thought to what people can and will sing musically. Some songs are too difficult
for most people, others may be out of step with the culture of the church and thus be a poor
fit for worship there.
In some churches a choir or occasional special group could be a blessing. In others, a children’s
choir or a special song by a solo or duet could enhance the service. Remember that you are
unlikely to find a polished singer or group, but you may find wonderful people who are
adequately gifted and willing to serve the Lord. As you lead the church seek to make the music
program work for the glory of God.

CHURCH PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

Modes of baptism, order of communion service, dedication of babies, etc., are left to the
conviction and discretion of the Missionary. Usually the people in the community will learn to
love and respect the ministry of their leaders and will accept whatever you suggest. However,
should an individual make a request which is contrary to the Missionary’s convictions, it is
always permissible to secure the services of another pastor in a nearby town or city.

We do not overemphasize church membership, but as hearts come to the Savior, it is expected
that they will wish to become a part of the local assembly. By uniting with the church in
membership, new Christians have privileges such as leadership roles and voting which is
important to the policy making of the body of believers.

COMMUNION

Though there is no set procedure for communion, we cannot minimize the value of the Body of
Christ sharing the Lord’s Supper together. It is a special service, with special and personal
meaning to the believer. You should make it special in the life of the church you serve.
It is not a funeral memorial service for a friend. It is a joyous victory celebration, remembering
with dignity and grace, Christ’s birth, life, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, present reign
and soon return. “Never forget that pastors are educating each time they lead worship.”10

How often you observe the Lord’s Table will often depend on local custom. You should try to
establish a balance between too often with its danger of routine familiarity, and infrequency,
breeding indifference and misunderstanding.

10
Willimon and Wilson, p. 69
 2.11

BAPTISM

The mandate given to us is to “make disciples…baptizing…teaching.”11 Each then becomes a

member of a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may
declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”12
That private, personal decision, identification with a crucified and risen Lord, is then declared
publicly through the ritual of baptism. “We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into
death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in
newness of life.”13

Bear in mind these points:

1) Whether baptism takes place in a heated baptistery or in a river or lake, it is a celebration of

new life in Christ. “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God…and when they were come
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no
more.”14

2) The one baptized must be a believer, as the water is not efficacious for salvation.

3) There must be a public, believing community to witness the event.

Baptism signifies a person’s acceptance, adoption and initiation into God’s family, but also that
person’s public accepting of the adoption. He or she now joins the local “family.”

MINISTRY ELEMENTS

Ministry programs in churches often include Sunday school, one or two services on Sunday,
small groups or Bible study service, and a youth meeting. We must do more than hold meetings,
each of those events should be designed to accomplish a purpose. In all we do we should aim to
glorify God through worship, evangelism, and instruction. Like Paul, our purpose is, “tell others
about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us.
We want to present them to God, complete in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and
struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” 15

Each program of the church must work toward discipling followers of Christ toward maturity.
Disciples in turn invite others to join them in following Christ, whatever works toward these
goals will be welcome parts of the church program.

11
Matthew 28:19-20
12
1 Peter 2:9
13
Romans 6:4
14
Acts 8:37-39
15
Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013), Col
1:28–29.
 2.12

SUNDAY SCHOOL

When you go to a new field, you may have just one or two Sunday school classes with one or
two teachers and perhaps a “Superintendent” who presides over opening “exercises” because no
one else will do it. Don’t be disheartened! If there is someone appointed to lead this, don’t try to
change things. If they ask for suggestions, be ready with some positive ideas!

Sunday School may be an effective means of instructing children and adults in the faith. It may
be that the church you serve finds small groups during the week to be as effective, or some
combination of the two. You may need to invest time in training leaders and teachers to make
the program more effective. Seek to develop disciples with methods that are working, and over
time adapt those that seem less effective.

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

Finding workers for this program is usually the hard part of getting started. You may have some
people in your church who believe the children should not be taken away from the preaching
service. You will need good material with an order of service for your Children’s Church. The
workers in this program will need to know how long the service will be and if the Adult service
goes overtime on Sunday morning this will hinder the program. Young children need teaching
that considers their attention spans and parents often have trouble focusing on the message and
overseeing their children at the same time. An effective program that helps children worship and
learn can be a powerful influence in their lives.

YOUTH PROGRAM
Many rural communities have many students and teens, many of whom will not attend Sunday
services at church. An effective youth ministry may be able to reach them. Consider the needs
and interests of the youth in the area. Seek to find a time that least conflicts with other events.
Develop a program that interests students, that they enjoy and that helps them understand Christ
and Scripture. The relationships you develop with students and between students will likely
have as much influence as any teaching you do. Look to show them that Jesus genuinely cares
for them.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Vacation Bible School provides an excellent means of reaching out into the community with the
gospel message. Be enthusiastic and encourage your boys, girls, and young people to invite
those in their neighborhood. Encourage the moms and dads to fill their cars with guests. If you
have a well-run event, parents will notice. Many have become involved in the church program
after seeing the excitement generated by Vacation Bible School. As you listen to the testimonies
of older children and adults, you will learn that many came to Christ in Vacation Bible School.

Some communities prefer having the school immediately after public school lets out for the
summer—others prefer July or August. Some prefer an evening school when the entire family
 2.13

can become involved. Some run programs for adults while the children are in Vacation Bible
School. Be flexible to the needs of your community.

A good way to reach moms and dads is through their children and young people. If they observe
a lively, active, worthwhile program they’ll be cheering for you! Involve the parents in bringing
cookies, transportation, helping with games and crafts, you will be ministering to them as well.

OTHER OUTREACHES OF THE CHURCH

Explore the possibilities of the following in your area: Pioneer Clubs, AWANA, Bible Camps,
and Good News Clubs.

Local regulations differ, and what is acceptable in some areas is unacceptable in others.
Sometimes our missionaries find it possible to go into the local school with some type of Bible-
teaching program. Some states allow release time during school hours. Some fields have found
it possible to hold a Bible Club right after school in a nearby home or in the church.

If enthusiasm dies, let that method of outreach die a natural death and start something different.
You may want to try a children’s club for a 10-12 week period during the fall or spring. Be well
prepared! Make it an exciting time. The Good News of Christ is anything but boring!

Missionaries are encouraged to utilize the best curriculum available to help the church body
grow spiritually. Some missionaries have started a Bible Institute for adults that meets one night
a week. Contenders Discipleship Initiative16 is one such program. This video based program
provides solid Bible training, allows the leader to customize the training, and encourages the
students to learn how to study the Bible, and what the Bible teaches. While the class size will
likely be modest, imagine the impact of a few believers taking significant steps of faith. Be sure
to speak with your District Representative before you begin such a program, they will want to
know what you plan, and will be able to offer some helpful guidance.

In creative ways, work to share the Good News of Christ with every segment of your
community. A church cannot grow without adults and a church will not have a future without
youth and children.

16
www.vmcontenders.org
 2.14

ADMINISTRATION AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

NO LITTLE PLACES

Because Village Missions assigns you to a small place does not mean that you will have a small
ministry. In most communities, you will have the whole area as your mission field. God by
passed Jerusalem for the small town of Bethlehem as the place for Jesus’ birth. The place where
God has called us to minister is important. It is important to the local residents just as your
hometown is important to you. God can make big things happen in small places.

Is it possible that the small-town church’s difficulty in getting past the survival mode is simply
the rapid turnover of pastors? “Longtime members have seen pastor after pastor sweep in and
pressure the congregation to adopt their ideas. After three or four or five years, they move on,
leaving the churches to deal with the turmoil caused because they set significant changes in
motion but left before seeing them through to completion.”17 Most experienced pastors know
that it takes about five years to lay the groundwork for an effective ministry in the small church.
“Because they fail to adjust, some pastors move on before making a significant contribution to
the life of the church. Perhaps even more unfortunate, they leave before they have had a chance
to learn what the church can teach them.”18

NO CHANGES YOUR FIRST YEAR!

The above statement seems like a very harsh one, but it has been our experience that it can be a
very grave mistake to make changes before you have the love, confidence, and support of the
people. Sometimes it takes several years to gain credibility where the congregation can trust you
and realizes you are not going to do anything to harm their church or destroy what they have
worked so hard to put together.

Often a church board member or members will tell you when you arrive on the field; “We are so
pleased you are here and want you to know we will stand behind you and support whatever you
do. Make any changes you see we need as we want our church to grow and reach people for the
Lord.” If you take this statement at face value, you will certainly regret it. They have no idea
what kind of changes you might suggest and often they will not agree with your ideas even
though they said and thought they would be when you first arrived.

There is often a temptation to change or upgrade the Constitution, but don’t yield to this
temptation! Changing the Constitution may create problems that you will not be able to handle
in your early years on the field. For example, the people who wrote the Constitution may still be
on the Board. Make sure you know the church and the people well before you suggest any
changes. Only then you may suggest that they need to evaluate the Constitution considering
changes that have taken place.

17
Ron Klassen and John Koessler, No Little Places, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House Co, 1996) 35.
18
Klassen and Koessler, No Little Places, 70.
 2.15

Village Missions asks you not to change anything the first year. Do not change the Sunday
School literature, church bulletin, number of Church Board Meetings and the furniture in the
church building. These are only a few of the areas you might be tempted to change but there are
many more, resist the urge to make changes! The time will come when you will be able to make
changes carefully without placing your ministry in jeopardy. Don’t give them cause to question
what and why you are making changes they have lived with for years. If you are wise and
careful in this important area, you will have a pleasant time becoming acquainted with these dear
folks and your time in this community and church will be much longer. Remember, focus on
preaching the Word and loving the people!

What you ARE expected to change begins on the inside. Like all followers of Christ on earth,
you have room for spiritual growth. Let people see that God is still growing you. Encourage
spiritual growth in others. Preach God’s Word with clarity, help people see what God wants
them to do with the truth they hear each week. Teach them to study the Word of God for
themselves. Lead by example, pray for increasing spiritual maturity in the church body. As God
uses you to help the church mature, you will slowly gain some credibility and have a more
mature group of people to work with!

INFLUENCE AND POSITION

As you grow to know the church family, you will begin discern who has influence in the church.
They may have an official title or no title at all, they may be members of a founding family, or
they could be influential in the larger community. Some of those with influence may be servants
of Christ, others will be self-serving. Do not fall into the trap of assuming that an official
position represents actual influence in the church family. Learn how the church you are serving
truly functions and work with what you find.

As you serve a church, or move to another field, be aware that when a church changes in size or
congregational makeup, relational dynamics also change. A wise leader will adapt his leadership
style in order to continue to effectively serve and lead the church as it is, not as it was or as he
wishes it was.

As you serve the Lord, love the people of the church and community and faithfully preach His
Word, your influence will grow. Churches learn to trust pastors who come to serve Christ in His
church. Work willingly, serve graciously, teach faithfully and lead prayerfully and Christ will
grow His church.19 Ultimately His evaluation of your ministry will matter most.

MULTIPLY YOUR EFFECTIVENESS

If you would multiply your effectiveness, start at once to train others who know the Lord to carry
responsibilities to release your time to minister elsewhere. On a new field, this may take a
considerable length of time, but you should make efforts in this direction.

19
See 1 Peter 5:2-4
 2.16

When seeking someone to take responsibility, choose carefully, because later it may be very
difficult to make a graceful change. Stress the importance of the job, outline what you expect,
but do not pressure the person into taking the position. Set the standard for quality and people
will usually try to meet that standard. Remember you had to learn and so do they.

Find someone mature that you can trust to answer some questions and give you some insights
into the people and culture when you are uncertain what should be done in a situation. A person
like this can be very valuable to you. You may not need to go into all the details of a situation,
you are seeking his help in understanding the community you have come to serve.

EFFECTIVE COOPERATION WITH A CHURCH BOARD

Although it is to be expected that you will be invited to participate in an advisory capacity,

Village Missionaries are not sent to the field to administer the business affairs of the local
church. This is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees, the Elders, the Deacons or some
similar body. It is preferred that the missionary declines the post of Chairman of the Board
(unless the church by-laws require it). This will avoid problems that could arise from such an
arrangement.

There are all kinds of church boards. If you have a problem board, you could try to knock it
down with force or you can tactfully work within the present structure. You’ll stay longer if you
follow the latter. Pray and you will be amazed at what the Holy Spirit will do in a few years.
We have dozens of Village Missions fields to prove it. Don’t pit your ideas against the Board’s
ideas. If they don’t buy your idea, back off.

We insist that you not set out to change the church organization to your persuasion (elders vs.
deacons, constitution, or church polity). It is Village Missions policy to work within the
framework of the present structure. Healthy changes will come, generated by the people
themselves, as they mature under your capable leadership.

HOW TO CONVEY IDEAS SUCCESSFULLY

Don’t force your ideas on people. Find a respected person in the church and outline a program,
then ask for constructive comments. Drop the issue if the reaction is unfavorable. Your plan
may come up later as someone else’s idea and generate a lot of enthusiasm.

Be careful not to belittle someone else’s idea no matter how impractical it may be. Just ask, “If
we go this route, what would this do to present plans—how would it work in the light of this
body of information?” Never lose your cool! Never let heated words pass your lips. Anger
never sounds like love.
 2.17

MINISTRY RELATIONSHIPS

Unlike the shop foreman or the truck driver whose attitudes, vocabulary and life-style are
generally separated from performance of his duties, everything you do affects your ministry.
You live, as it were, in a ‘glass house.’

To put it simply, our lives should be an example of righteous living all day long, every day. We
can take steps to help prevent people from misunderstanding who we are and the Lord we
represent. Our ministry relationships will involve several areas:

1) Personal Appearance: While appearance is only external, it is the very first thing people will
notice about us. Do what you can to show yourself as one who takes adequate care of his
health and appearance. A careless attitude about appearance does not create confidence in a
pastor.

2) Personal Attitude: Your ministry can be greatly enhanced or severely impaired by your
attitude toward other ministers and churches in the area. Choose to relate to other churches
and their ministers with grace, a superior or hostile attitude will harm your reputation in the
community.

Chuck Swindoll wrote regarding attitude, “I believe the single most significant decision I can
make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my
education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of
me or say about my circumstances, my position, or me.” Our attitude will determine our
response to circumstances, and how others respond to us.

How we view others determines how we respond to them. Christ calls us to love one
another, He does not call us to love only those who are already “loveable.” We are to put up
with each other’s shortcomings and bear one another’s burdens. (Colossians 3:12-17) Only
when we truly love others will this happen.

3) Personal Study: Since the words of God are our message, it is imperative that the missionary
be a man of the Word. Consistent, organized study is vital to a growing, maturing ministry.
We must guard that regular study time so that other necessary areas are not pre-empted to
make up for lost study time. However, we cannot afford the luxury of spending most of our
time in study. We must be with people so we can relate the Word to their everyday
situations. The missionary who studies diligently and then goes where his people are, will
have greater understanding of how to help them and will then have the opportunity to help
them.

4) Personal Devotions: We are well aware that the results of our ministry are dependent on the
power of God. That power in our lives is directly related to our own quality time spent in
intimate communication through Bible reading and prayer. No amount of sermon
preparation or ministry activities will substitute for our daily time with God in His Word.
 2.18

5) Personal Behavior: We have the same personal freedom of any Christian layman, but our
special calling demands a sacrifice of ‘rights’ to further the gospel. If our behavior is no
different from those of the general community, we may be bringing reproach upon the cause
of Christ. Let us be a pacesetter for Christ, not a leader in fads. Live intentionally as one
who serves and represents Christ. Please also note our Statement on Lifestyle and Morality
found at the end of this section.

6) Personal Development: Ministry is our prime concern, but not our only one. We have been
trained for the work we are doing, but there is always room for growth and improvement.
There are helpful seminars, correspondence courses, and classes to develop and improve our
skills. Currently, Village Missions allows two weeks per year for conferences and seminars
in addition to the required Staff Conference.20 In addition to growth in spiritual things we
need to develop other areas in our personal lives. Consider participating in recreational
activities and hobbies. We need the change of pace and it may be an excellent family
activity. We should be reading in new areas as well as special interest areas. News is
important; keep up on the issues of the community and the world.

Before we can be effective in helping the church begin to do what it is not now doing, we must
be effective in helping it do what it is doing, only better! The “credit” we earn by doing a good
job in preaching, Bible teaching, visitation and our ministry relationships will allow us the
credibility to advance new ideas. Everything we do will reflect on our ministry.

“This command I entrust to you... that... you may fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good
conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”21

MANAGING YOUR TIME

Because of the countless demands on your time, both spiritual and social, it is imperative that
you organize your time if you are to work effectively. Since you are not only a pastor but also a
missionary, you will want to make contacts for ministering in the surrounding area wherever
possible and as soon as possible.

As a missionary, our life's work is a calling of God. Because we are called by God, we also
account to Him for how we serve. Neither laziness nor overwork please the Lord. Instead we
are invited to use wisdom and to call on His Spirit to guide us and enable us to serve Him will. 1
Peter 5:1-4

Time management is a skill than anyone could develop. Since time is limited and continually
moving forward, we must learn to manage our use of time well. In the business world,
considerable attention has been given to this subject. Much of this information is a very useful
resource. Some of the elements of time management, which you will want to consider in more
detail are:

20
Please see “Time Off Field for Conferences, Pastor’s Retreats, etc.” in OTHER POLICIES
21
1 Timothy 1:19-20
 2.19

Assessment: before we can intentionally manage our use of time, we must understand how we
are presently using it. We simply track how we are using our time each day for a week or more.
Often the written record of our current time use will reveal areas that need adjustment. This step
helps us be honest with ourselves where our time is going, and allows us to prioritize with facts
rather than imagination.

Goals help us organize how we want to use our time. Setting a goal for the completion of
sermon preparation, for example, requires us to build study time into the week(s) ahead of the
day we have set for being fully prepared. A goal to spend Wednesday afternoon in visitation, for
example, requires us to protect that time from competing demands. The goal of a full day with
your family each week will require you to protect that time. Set goals for growth in personal,
family and professional life.22

Customize your schedule to fit your unique strengths and the needs of each day. Schedule your
study time when you are most alert and productive. Include some flexible time in your schedule
so that you can be available when the unexpected occurs. Periodically re-assess your use of time
and adjust as needed. Our goal is to use our time well: for work, for rest, and for family so that
we can effectively care for all our responsibilities.

Schedules are a simple planning tool for the use of time. A weekly schedule of those tasks you
must do yourself, helps assess whether you can add another activity. As requests come, evaluate
whether this (or another task in your schedule) could be delegated to another who could do it
80% as well. Your role is not to do everything, but to do what God has called you to do, and to
do that well. A monthly and annual calendar will help you plan without overbooking a season of
your year.

Many good sources for tools are available. One of the better ones is listed below.* Attending
seminars can also be very profitable in developing techniques of time management. Many are
secular but still are useful for the Christian worker. Computers and hand-held devices also can
aid in organizing your time, projects, and visitation.

Time wasters or obstacles to effectiveness should also be considered. Procrastination is not the
only thief of time. There are many thieves, some of which are actually spiritual problems and
need our serious attention. Scripture urges us to take great care how we live, thoughtfully
making the best use of our time, in these evil days.23

22
1 Timothy 4
23
Ephesians 5:15,16
 2.20

RESOURCES

Allen, David Barkas, J. L.

“Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress- “Creative Time Management”
Free Productivity” Prentice-Hall Press, 1984
Penguin Books, 2015

Challies, Tim Covey, Stephen R.

“Do More Better: A Practical Guide to “First Things First”
Productivity” Free Press (reprint), 1996
Cruciform Press, 2016

Littleton, Mark MacKenzie, Alec and Kay Waldo

“Escaping the Time Crunch” “About Time!”
Moody Press, 1990 McGraw Hill, 1981
 2.21

POLICY FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN

Ed begins attending First Church. After a few weeks, he volunteers to work with
the youth group. Church staff members do not know Ed, but they are delighted to
have another worker. He is put to work immediately. The youth group has an
overnight activity a few months later. Following the activity, two minors report
that they were sexually molested by Ed. The parents of one of the minors contact
an attorney, and a $3 million lawsuit is brought against Ed, the Church, and the
Church Board. The parents claim that the church (and the church board) acted
negligently by not doing any background investigation before using Ed as a
volunteer worker.

“This tragic story represents an increasing problem facing churches today. Hundreds of churches
have been sued because of the sexual molestation of minors by church workers. Unfortunately,
some church leaders ignore this concern and fail to implement a child sexual abuse prevention
program. They think, ‘no child has ever been molested in our church, so why worry?’ This
attitude of denial is a very dangerous response to what one church insurance executive has called
‘an epidemic.’ Doing nothing to respond to this significant risk may subject a church to
‘punitive damages’ (which ordinarily are not covered by a church’s liability policy) and can
expose board members to personal liability. The lack of a prevention program leaves the
children, the church, and church leaders vulnerable.”24

The following are highlights of the full policy which is below.

1) The purpose of the Child Abuse Prevention Policy is to protect children, volunteers, the
church body and the Mission. Child abuse brings terrible consequences and followers of
Christ have moral and spiritual obligations to protect those under their care.
2) The testimony of Christ in a community will be severely damaged if abuse occurs.
3) The District Representative will ensure that each church has adopted an adequate Child
Abuse Prevention (CAP) Policy by obtaining a copy. The policy shall include:
a. Six months of involvement with the church before serving in a position where
minors are involved.
b. Annual training for volunteers and staff on the CAP Policy.
c. A written application to work with children or youth for all staff and volunteers
that includes permission for a criminal background check. This should be
renewed every three years.
d. Reference checks, and if the staff or volunteer has worked with minors, references
from the organization(s) where they served.
4) Those who are disqualified or who refuse to comply with the application process or
policy may not serve in a position that has contact with minors.
5) A Two-Adult rule where the adults are not related. See the Policy paragraph G for
further detail.
6) A response plan if an allegation should be made or abuse should occur. This plan must
include notifying the proper authorities as required and the District Representative.

24
R. Hammer, S. Klipowicz, and J. Cobble, Jr., Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in Your Church,
(Matthews, NC: Christian Ministry Resources, 1993), 11.
 2.22

7) The Village Missionary is responsible to see that CAP Policy is being followed in the
church, and to report any allegations or incidents immediately.

Both for the safety of children in the field you serve and for your legal protection, you must
act on these directives!
 2.23

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY

VILLAGE MISSIONS
AMENDED RESOLUTION NO. 2010 - 1

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

VILLAGE MISSIONS, Establishing a CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION POLICY FOR THE MISSION.

WHEREAS, Acts of sexual molestation of children by paid and volunteer church workers are
illegal, immoral and antithetical to the mission of churches and para-church organizations;
and

WHEREAS, Some church leaders ignore the risk because "It couldn't happen in our church,” and
thereby unknowingly fail to take reasonable steps to prevent abuse and therefore expose a
church to ‘punitive damages’; and

WHEREAS, To ignore the problem and potential risk seriously damages the name of Christ in
the community, as well as subjecting children to serious emotional trauma, from which
they may never recover;

WHEREAS, The church should be a place of safety for all vulnerable members, participants,
attendees, and parishioners including children and youth, persons with disabilities, the
newly arrived, and the elderly.

NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VILLAGE MISSIONS, a

religious non-profit corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:

Section 1. PURPOSES: The following policy directives are established for the following
purposes:

A. To protect children from physical or sexual abuse (as defined by the laws of the state
where the act or acts may occur) in the fields where Village Missions provides spiritual
leadership;

B. To protect the church and congregation where Village Missions is providing leadership
from legal liability;

C. To protect the Village Missionary from legal liability; and

D. To protect Village Missions as an organization from legal liability.

 2.24

E. To protect victims and their families with a sincere commitment to their spiritual and
emotional well-being.
F. To protect transparency and openness within the community while at the same time
guarding privacy.

Section 2. DEFINITIONS:

A. For the purposes of this Policy, "SEXUAL ABUSE" is defined by the laws of the State
where the act or acts are alleged to have occurred.

B. The terms "child" or "children” include all persons under the age of 18 years and those
persons whose mental capacity is that of a child as defined herein.

Section 3. BACKGROUND CHECK: All applicants for staff service and applicants for certain
volunteer positions with Village Missions will submit to a national criminal background
check. References will be obtained from at least two sources that are of an institutional
nature, preferably from organizations where the applicant has worked with children in the
past.

Section 4. POLICIES: Village Missions will follow the Child/Youth Protection Policies
containing the elements listed under Section 6 A - G, below, for all Mission sponsored
activities that involve children. (e.g. Staff or Mini Conferences).

Section 5. PROOF OF INSURANCE: The District Representative shall obtain written proof
from each church served by Village Missions within his District, that the church carries a
policy of liability insurance covering professional liability for the pastor, general liability
for the church, and acts of sexual molestation occurring on church property or at any
activity sponsored by the church, and whether the coverage has been limited in any way.
The coverage for sexual abuse/molestation must provide a minimum of Three Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) coverage. Where permissible, Village Missions shall be
named as an additional insured on such policy. The District Representative shall make a
copy of a Certificate of Insurance which will be retained in the DR's files and the original
will be sent to the Village Missions office to be filed in the Field's file.

Section 6. CHURCH CHILDREN/YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY: The District

Representative is to verify that each church served by Village Missions has adopted a
Children/Youth Protection Policy by obtaining a copy of it. The DR shall make a copy of said
Policy to be held in the DR's file for that field and send the original to the Village Missions
office. Upon receipt of the policy from the DR, the office will make a copy of it and forward
such copy on to the agent for the Mission's insurance company for approval by the company.

The Policy will include, at a minimum, the following elements:

A. Six Month Rule: No volunteer will be considered for any position involving contact
with minors until they have been involved with the church for a minimum of six (6) months.
 2.25

B. Annual training of all volunteers and staff will be conducted involving the C.A.P. Policy
of the church and general information regarding the prevention and recognition of child abuse
and other forms of abuse. Village Missions will work with the local church to obtain such
training and supply updated information as needed.

C. Written Application: All persons seeking to work with children must complete and sign
a written application. The application will request basic information from the applicant and will
inquire into previous experience with children, previous church affiliation, reference and
employment information, as well as disclosure of any previous criminal convictions and the
names and addresses of at least three references. The application must be accompanied by a
signed statement authorizing a criminal background check, which statement will be kept on file
with the application. The application form will be maintained in confidence on file at the church
and be made available for inspection by the District Representative.

D. Reference Checks: Before an applicant is permitted to work with children, at least two
of the applicant’s references will be checked. These references should be from an organization,
preferably from organizations where the applicant has worked with children in the past. If such
an organizational reference is not available a family or neighbor reference will be sufficient.
Documentation of the reference checks will be maintained in confidence on file at the church and
be made available for inspection by the District Representative.

E. Criminal Background Check: A national criminal background check is required for all
employees (regardless of position) and for the following categories of volunteers:

1. Those who will be involved in school/preschool/day care center;

2. Those who will be in involved in overnight activities with minors;

3. Those counseling minors;

4. Those involved in one-on-one mentorship of minors; and

5. Those having occasional one-on-one contact with minors (that is, church sponsored
athletic team coaches and vehicle drivers).

Documentation of the background checks, but not the actual results, will be maintained in
confidence on file at the church.

F. Disqualified Persons Will Not Serve: Generally, convictions for an offense involving children
and/or for offenses involving violence, dishonesty, illegal substances, indecency and any conduct
contrary to our Mission will preclude someone from being permitted to work with children.
Failure to disclose a criminal conviction on the application form will also be a disqualifying
event. What constitutes a disqualifying offense that will keep an individual from working with
children will be decided by the governing body of the church on a case-by-case basis in light of
all the surrounding circumstances. Decisions regarding disqualified persons will be documented.
 2.26

Decisions allowing otherwise disqualified persons to serve will be documented, enumerating the
conditions under which service may be performed. Such agreements will be acknowledged by all
parties in writing.

G. Two Adult Rule: It is the goal that a minimum of two unrelated adults workers will be in
attendance at all times when children are being supervised during programs or activities. In
those situations where the workers are related the door of the classroom must remain open. In
those situations where there is only one adult teacher in attendance during class session in a
youth class, the door of the classroom must remain open and there should be no fewer than three
students with the adult teacher. Children are not to be left alone with one adult unless it is in a
counseling situation, and then only if they can be readily observed.

H. Response to Allegations: In the event that an individual involved in the care of children
becomes aware of suspected abuse or neglect under his/her care, it will be reported immediately
to the Village Missionary for further action, including reporting to authorities as may be
mandated by state law. If the Village Missionary is the alleged perpetrator, the chair of the
church board shall be notified immediately or if not available, then the District Representative.

In the event that an incident of abuse or neglect is alleged to have occurred at the church, or during
a sponsored activity, the following steps shall be taken:

1. The parent or guardian of the child will be notified immediately.

2. The worker alleged to be the perpetrator of the abuse or misconduct will be immediately
placed on leave from working with children pending the completion of an investigation.

3. The church's insurance company will be notified, and .the church will complete an
incident report.

4. The church will comply with the state's requirements regarding mandatory reporting of
abuse as the law then exists.

5. The District Representative will be notified.

6. The church will cooperate with any investigation of the incident by state or local
authorities.

7. Church leadership will act only in consultation with their insurance company and/or
attorney.

8. In the event it is found that the alleged abuse or misconduct did occur, the person
involved shall immediately and permanently be removed from any position involving
contact with children or youth.
 2.27

9. A church leader will be designated as spokesperson to the media concerning incidents of

abuse or neglect, unless he or she is alleged to be involved. All others will refrain from
speaking to the media. Any public statements shall be limited to a statement that an
incident involving sexual misconduct is alleged to have occurred, an investigation is
being conducted, and that the church has the utmost concern for any victims of abuse.

ADOPTED at the regularly scheduled mid-year meeting of the Board of Directors of Village
Missions November, 2010.
 2.28

SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES

Village Missionaries and all Village Missions Staff must take responsibility for their
influence and representation of the Mission through social media including, without
limitation: blogs, wikis, and social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,
Flickr, and YouTube.

Use wisdom as you comment or post, including your profile photographs and any images
you may post. The following guidelines will assist you in representing Christ faithfully and
the Mission well.

1. Protect your private information. Use appropriate privacy settings and do not share
confidential information that could compromise your family’s safety or identity.
2. Be honest. Post and comment as yourself, rather than under a pseudonym or
anonymously. Be sure to fact-check whatever you might post, credibility takes time to
build and moments to lose.
3. Respect copyright laws and fair-use provisions. Link to another’s work rather than
reproducing it.
4. Treat others with respect, as you would in face-to-face communication. Your words will
represent Christ, Village Missions and the field you serve. Read and re-read before
posting. Recognize the value of James 1:19-20 “….be quick to listen, slow to speak, and
slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”
5. Be quick to admit any mistakes you make and apologize promptly. Whether the mistake
is in facts or attitude, maturity results in a prompt and sincere apology.
6. Be aware that what you post, text, or email is not confidential, in practice. Regardless of
your intention it may be shared, and anything posted or sent could be retrieved even after
being deleted.
7. Handle sensitive issues through in-person communication. Email or text is far more
likely to increase conflict than it is to reconcile.
8. Social media may serve to encourage or share information. Attempts to use it as a means
of correcting others are doomed to fail.
9. Set appropriate boundaries for communication. Avoid “private” communication to
someone of the opposite gender or to a minor(s). If the conversation would not be
appropriate for the two of you in person, it is not appropriate in the virtual world.
10. Avoid posting on political or other controversial issues. Let your only offense be the
“offense of the cross” (1 Cor. 1:18-25). You should take the same approach on social
media that we require in your community regarding divisive issues.
Set the example for others in grace, wisdom and integrity with your use of social media.
 2.29

DIVISIVE ISSUES
CHARISMATIC EMPHASIS

Definition: There is at present in Christendom an observed phenomenon variously called the

Pentecostal Movement, Neo-Pentecostalism, Pentecostal Renewal, Charismatic Movement,
Charismatic Emphasis or Interpretation, tongues movement, glossolalia, the laughing movement,
etc. Many common characteristics are observed among the various aspects of this movement:
the seeking after and promotion of the baptism of or in the Holy Spirit as an experience distinct
from and subsequent to conversion, the seeking after, manifesting of, and promotion of tongues
or other sign gifts as the evidence of such baptism or as the mark of a higher and more spiritual
experience, the acceptance of so-called new revelations as providing instruction and guidance
equal in validity to the Scriptures, and the unifying nature of commonly shared experiences even
where serious doctrinal and ecclesiastical differences would otherwise preclude association. For
the purpose of this statement, the term “charismatic emphasis” refers to the broad sweep of such
phenomena.

The characteristics of the “charismatic emphasis” mentioned above represent a denial of the
completeness of Christ’s work on the cross. This denial often fosters confusion and division in
many churches in the homeland and on the mission field.

STATEMENT CONCERNING
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SIGN GIFTS

We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at the time of conversion and is the act
of placing the believer into the body of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a second
work of grace, nor were the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift
of healing, ever the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling.

We believe that the gifts of miracles, healings, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues were
temporary and having fulfilled their purpose are no longer necessary. Therefore, these gifts are
not viewed as normative in the present era and Village Missionaries shall neither teach, practice,
nor promote the sign gifts.

THE PRACTICE OF VILLAGE MISSIONS BASED ON ITS POLICY STATEMENT

CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SIGN GIFTS

Identification: Village Missions is in no way a part of, related to, or identified with the above
defined charismatic emphasis.

Appointment: Village Missions appoints only those who believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit
into the Body of Christ is experienced at the moment of conversion and, therefore, does not appoint
those who believe that baptism in, with, or by the Spirit is a “second work of grace” or who believe
 2.30

tongues to be the evidence of such baptism and the indication of the presence of the Holy Spirit in
power in the life of the believer.

Village Missions appoints as missionaries or staff only those who adhere to the position herein
set forth and, therefore, does not appoint those who seek the experience of speaking in tongues,
or who purpose to manifest it or promote it. We advise applicants of such persuasion to
affiliate with groups of similar emphasis.

Maintenance of position: The Village Missions District Representative will counsel with any
missionary on whose part there may be manifestation of tongues or where there may be
associations with those of charismatic emphasis in such a way as to identify him with or cause
him to become involved in such emphasis. If he is unwilling to adhere to Village Missions’
position, the Assistant Director may require him to withdraw from the Mission. It is better that
he serves with others who have views like his than that he causes doctrinal confusion and
division in Village Missions.

Association and cooperation: While many in the charismatic movement are brethren in Christ,
cooperation in a spiritual ministry could bring about doctrinal confusion in our own ranks and in
the churches we serve. It could set an example that we would not want the churches to follow.
Therefore, to avoid setting the wrong example and to avoid confusion and division, missionaries
must refrain from any association or cooperation that, in the judgment of the District
Representative or the church, would give rise to doctrinal confusion or lead to division.

The independence of the churches must be recognized, however, and where churches choose to
go ahead with such cooperation, the Mission must maintain a position that will enable it to give
corrective counsel and teaching from the Word.

In judging cooperation, there needs to be careful definition so that friendships, acts of helpfulness,
such as lending of equipment, showing hospitality, participating in study sessions, etc., are not
defined as close cooperation.

The need for missionaries and Christians to receive positive biblical instruction on the ministry
of the Holy Spirit must ever be kept in view. A genuinely Spirit-filled life based on the authority
of the Word of God is the best protection against entanglement in that which is not in full
agreement with the Word of God.

Finally, this statement is not intended to underemphasize or deny the Scriptural teaching of the
Holy Spirit’s essential role in redemption, baptizing the believer into the body of Christ at the
time of his conversion, filling and empowering him for godly living and effective service, and
sovereignly bestowing gifts which enable the believer to exercise a fruitful spiritual ministry.
All believers have Spirit-endowed “charisma” and should respond properly and with
responsibility to the gifts of the Spirit with a life truly charismatic in the Scriptural sense.

THE POSITION OF VILLAGE MISSIONS CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT

1) He is one of the three Persons of the Trinity (Mt. 28:19).
 2.31

2) His ministry to the world is to restrain lawlessness (2Th. 2:7) and to convict sinners (Jn.
16:8-11).
3) His ministry in and for all believers at the moment of their conversion is:
a. to regenerate them, giving them eternal life (Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5).
b. to baptize them into the Body of Christ (1Co. 12:13).
c. to seal them (Eph. 1:13, 4:30).
d. to indwell them (Rom. 8:9: 1Co. 6:19).
4) His ministry to believers subsequent to their conversion includes:
a. guiding them (Rom. 8:14).
b. teaching them (Jn. 14:26, 16:13).
c. glorifying Christ in them (Jn. 16:14).
d. sanctifying Christ in them (Rom. 15:16).
e. empowering them (Eph. 3:16).
f. producing fruit in them (Gal. 5:22, 23).
g. filling them
i) for bold and fruitful witness and utterance (Acts 1:8, 4:31-33).
ii) for worship, thanksgiving and praise, and (Eph. 5:18-19).
iii) for harmonious relationships within and outside the home (Eph. 5:18-6:9)
h. working through them by spiritual gifts of His sovereign choice (Rom. 12:4-8; 1Co. 12;
Eph. 4:8-12).

For further discussion on our position and a detailed statement by Rev. Walter Duff Jr. see
Appendix A / Section 5.27

OTHER DIVISIVE ISSUES

There is always some local figure who wants to enlist you in his crusade for righteousness:
closing the bars, banning abortion, expelling sex education or evolution from the schools, etc.
These are his passions and he delights to have you on his side. If you are on his side, you have
lost your hearing with the other side. Remember, you are there to reach people for Christ and to
teach believers. The ministry of the Word of God will eventually change lives and in turn solve
most of these problems.

Jesus did not attack the black-market hog business in Israel. He diverted the hogs toward the sea
and they destroyed themselves. If you can divert an issue so that it dies of its own accord, you
will find this solution far less disrupting than that which would come from openly fighting the
issue and dividing the community.
 2.32

STAY OUT OF LOCAL POLITICS

The school may or may not be of good quality in your thinking but never express yourself. The
Fire Department, the P.T.A. (or P.T.O.), etc., may not be to your liking, but as soon as you put
yourself on one side or the other, you have alienated a portion of the population you are trying to
reach for Christ.
Avoid becoming party to any community, school or church disputes, and never enter
political arguments.

THE SECRET SOCIETY

Sometimes, especially in rural areas, you will face the dilemma of the secret society, the lodge.
The one who has been born again of the Spirit of God; the one who has honestly given his life to
the study of the Word of God; the one who seeks to bring others to know Christ will recognize
that the lodge has no place in his or her life.

One of our missionaries once said, “I attained the highest degree of achievement in my lodge. It
had been my dream. Within thirty days, I was converted to Christ and I immediately saw the
difference between the teaching of the lodge and the message of God’s redeeming grace. I have
never been back to a lodge meeting since the day I was saved.”

The big question is, how do I tactfully work with people, many times in the church, without
deliberately alienating them from the influence of the gospel message. It is not easy--Satan will
see to that.

Here are a few suggestions that should be of help. Of primary importance, we must ask God to
give us strength to rise above our personal feelings for His glory.

1) Never preach against the lodge publicly or privately. If the day-by-day teaching of the Word
of God does not bring spiritual illumination, we cannot expect our human effort to
accomplish what God has yet not deemed to do.

2) Do not let your feelings build an invisible barrier between you and the people in your
community who are involved in the lodge. They may never be converted under our ministry,
or they may be Christians and never see the fallacy of the teaching and practice of the lodge
under our leading. However, we must still love them for Christ.

3) Recognize that your ministry in each community may be quickly terminated or slowly
dissolved by your objectionable response to those with whom you disagree. The Spirit of
God is our only resource to enable us to rise to the challenge.

4) What should I do if I am asked to participate in a lodge funeral? Lift up the Lord Jesus with
tenderness and love. Try to bring comfort to the bereaved. Offer your help and sympathy,
and then step into the background.
 2.33

5) What should I do if a church family requests me to have the lodge participate in the funeral
service? First, graciously suggest that you would prefer that the lodge ceremony be
conducted the night before. Most people will respect your desire. If the family insists, you
have one or more options.

a. You could request that the family ask some other minister to officiate.

b. You could abide by the family’s wishes. Privately ask God to overrule the fallacies of
men and lift up His name despite the circumstances.

c. You must choose the option, being willing to accept the consequences of your choice.

6) It has been the observation of Village Missions’ leadership that if there is a strong lodge in a
small town, there will be a weak church; if there is a strong church, there will eventually be a
weak lodge. Many of our older missionaries have seen the latter relationship develop over a
period of years.

7) Don’t try to argue the issue. If someone comes to you honestly seeking enlightenment
because the Spirit of God has been working, discussion is in order.

8) Constantly pray that God would open blind eyes to the reality of this issue and that God
would give you a gracious, loving spirit in working with these people.
It is to your advantage to think this through before the dilemma ever arises. “If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God . . .”25

25
James 1:5a
 2.34

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
VILLAGE MISSIONS AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

Village Missions is privileged to share with you the following information relative to providing
Christian leadership in your community. We are a service organization; therefore, it is not our
intent to govern the local church but to provide spiritual guidance and leadership. Our
missionary may suggest changes, with the approval of the District Representative, that would be
helpful in advancing the cause of Christ through your church. However, the government of the
local church remains the responsibility of your church membership.

Village Missions assumes that the elected board is representative of the membership. All normal
interaction will be conducted between the board and Village Missions.

The following agreements are not to be considered legally binding but are to be considered as the
moral and ethical basis for our working together.

Village Missions agrees:

1. to provide spiritual leadership by invitation.
2. to supply leadership that is qualified and acceptable to you, the membership.
3. to assign new leadership, if for some reason the present leadership is not acceptable.
4. to supplement the missionary’s support, as God enables, to the minimum base support.*
5. to counsel, encourage, and guide the missionary assigned.
6. to act as liaison, if the need should occur, between missionary and congregation.
7. to terminate this relationship with the local church by no less than two-thirds vote of the
church membership.

*Our missionaries are to be in full-time service and are not to have outside employment,
unless in emergencies and then only with the approval of the Mission board.

Local Church agrees:

1. to provide adequate housing and utilities for the Village Missionary and family (to be
evaluated by the District Representative).
2. to fund the Mission-provided "Benefits Package" (medical, life and disability).
3. to designate 10% of the general church offerings each month for Village Missions. This
offering to be used to bring a missionary couple to you and assist in providing leadership to
other rural communities.
4. to provide as much of the missionary’s support as possible, periodically reappraising and
adjusting as God enables, realizing that the end goal is to carry the full financial
responsibility. The missionary’s support level should be reviewed annually with the
District Representative.
5. to make the Village Missionary the principal “Missionary Project” of the local church and
to give to other missionary endeavors no more than $100.00 or an amount equal to 10%
total of the salary paid by the church to the Village Missionary until the church reaches
minimum base support.**
 2.35

6. to assume no financial responsibility (such as building programs, etc.) until the local church
reaches the minimum base support, as provided herein, without special written permission
from the Village Missions administration. Your present budget or other obligations may
affect Village Missions’ decision to provide leadership.
7. to help and encourage the Village Missionary to fulfill his job description. (see Missionary
Job Description).
8. to establish and maintain a “Child Protection Policy”.

**Village Missions desires the local church to be “missions-minded” and believes the most
critical mission during the non-minimum-base-support phase of the church is to strive to
meet the financial responsibilities of providing for the Village Missionary. After that goal is
reached, Village Missions encourages the church to take on additional missions projects at
home and abroad as the Lord enables.

It is our prayer that together we might make God's free gift of salvation known to all, and that we
might be used of God in strengthening, encouraging and teaching God's people in the things of
our wonderful Lord.
______________________________________________________________________________

The above information and agreement relative to our proposed relationship with Village
Missions has been presented and explained to our church board by your District Representative.
We are requesting that you appoint a Village Missionary and his family to minister in our
Church, Community and surrounding area.

Field Name ____________________________________________

District Representative Date ____________________

Board Chairman _______________________________________Date ___________________

Church Name _________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________

Town, State/Province Zip Phone

 2.36

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
VILLAGE MISSIONS AND THE LOCAL CHURCH (Sliding Scale)

Village Missions is privileged to share with you the following information relative to providing
Christian leadership in your community. We are a service organization; therefore, it is not our
intent to govern the local church but to provide spiritual guidance and leadership. Our
missionary may suggest changes, with the approval of the District Representative that will be
helpful in advancing the cause of Christ through your church. However, the government of the
local church remains the responsibility of your church membership.

Village Missions assumes that the elected board is representative of the membership. All normal
interaction will be conducted between the board and Village Missions.

The following agreements are not to be considered legally binding but are to be considered as the
moral and ethical basis for our working together.

Village Missions agrees:

1. to provide spiritual leadership by invitation.
2. to supply leadership that is qualified and acceptable to you, the membership.
3. to assign new leadership, if for some reason the present leadership is not acceptable.
4. to supplement the missionary’s support, as God enables, to the minimum base support.*
5. to counsel, encourage, and guide the missionary assigned.
6. to act as liaison, if the need should occur, between missionary and congregation.
7. to terminate this relationship with the local church by no less than two-thirds vote of the
church membership.
8. to allow a fixed operating cost (to be adjusted annually) to be deducted from the general
offering to cover ongoing monthly expenses.

*Our missionaries are to be in full-time service and are not to have other employment,
unless in emergencies and then only with the approval of the Village Missions’
administration.

Local Church agrees:

1. to provide adequate housing and utilities for the Village Missionary and family (to be
evaluated by the District Representative).
2. to designate 10% of the general church offerings each month for Village Missions. This
offering to be used to bring a missionary couple to you and assist in providing leadership
to other rural communities.
3. to provide for the Missions’ benefit package and the missionary’s salary based on the
following sliding scale. General offering minus 10% to Village Missions, minus rent for
parsonage and/or church facility, minus a fixed operating cost (amount to be adjusted by
the mission on an annual basis). Remainder to first pay for the Mission-provided benefit
package, and then salary to the missionary.
4. to give to other missionary endeavors out of the fixed operating cost provision until
minimum base support is reached. **
 2.37

5. to assume no financial responsibility (such as building programs, etc.) until the local
church reaches the minimum base support, as provided herein, without special written
permission from the Village Missions administration. Your present budget or other
obligations may affect Village Missions’ decision to provide leadership.
6. to help and encourage the Village Missionary to fulfill his ministry description. (see
Missionary Ministry Description).
7. to establish and maintain a “Child Protection Policy”.

**Village Missions desires the local church to be “missions-minded” and believes the most
critical mission during the non-minimum-base-support phase of the church is to strive to
meet the financial responsibilities of providing for the Village Missionary. After that goal is
reached, Village Missions encourages the church to take on additional mission projects at
home and abroad as the Lord enables.

It is our prayer that together we might make God's free gift of salvation known to all, and that we
might be used of God in strengthening, encouraging and teaching God's people in the things of
our wonderful Lord.
______________________________________________________________________________

The above information and agreement relative to our proposed relationship with Village
Missions has been presented and explained to our church board by your District Representative.
We are requesting that you appoint a Village Missionary and his family to minister in our
Church, Community and surrounding area.

Field Name ______________________________________

District Representative _____________________________ Date

Board Chairman ___________________________________Date

Church Name __________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________

Town and State/Province ___________________________Zip _________ Phone ___________

 2.38

PARSONAGE

Before your arrival on your field, the people are aware of their responsibility to provide housing
for you and your family. The parsonage may be one of the nicer homes in the community or it
may be fairly small and very basic. If it is the latter, accept it with grace. The people will make
improvements if you have won their love and respect. The District Representative will talk with
the people about your need when he feels the appropriate time has come. With few exceptions,
our fields started out with the most basic of accommodations – but God has blessed.

Some fields have appliances, furniture, etc. We will try to inform you of such as soon as an
appointment has been made. Treat the parsonage with tender loving care. It is likely the pride
and joy of the local people. Don’t let your family or pet abuse it. Keep up the lawn…apply
paint…fix a pane of glass…don’t be afraid to work with your hands. This will have a profound
impact on all those people who are convinced that preachers only work on Sunday and fish the
rest of the week. If you don’t know how to do a job, ask someone to show you how – you might
win a friend!

Upon arrival, check with your District Representative for parsonage information.
 3.1

MINISTRY IN THE COMMUNITY

HAVE A MISSIONARY HEART

Our motto of “Preach the Word and love the people” has two facets. We have dealt with
preaching and study earlier. Now we will see how loving the people help make that message of
the Word palatable. The Mission’s reason for being is to please God and introduce people to
Christ in rural North America.

You, the Village Missionary must begin with the fact that you are first a missionary. You do
pastoral duties and activities, with a pastoral heart, but you must never lose sight of the
missionary vision and attitude. You are a missionary to the whole area.

If you reach out to the people, they will respond to you. Go out of your way to be friendly.
Don’t wait for people to come to you. Find out their interests. Ask questions even if you think
you know the answers. They are delighted to teach the unknowledgeable preacher. Show an
interest in a man’s cows, new truck, etc., or in the wife’s new range or handiwork. Be interested
in people, particularly their children, and even the dog. The latter may be of great help!
Remember, people are not going to rush out and throw their arms around you just because you
graduated from one of the nation’s finest Bible colleges. They have probably never heard of it,
but they can give you the won and lost record of State “U,” or the present price of wheat and
livestock. Many of today’s farmers and ranchers have a college degree.

It is impossible to alienate just one person in rural America, because the Jones’ girl married that
young Brown boy and because Jim Smith is a cousin of Bob Bates twice removed. They may
not get along with each other, but they will sure join hands against an outsider. You cannot
afford to knowingly alienate anybody. The gospel will alienate some but try to keep them as
friends. Perhaps the next missionary will be able to reach these persons.

You will find many petty people in this world, but you must rise above them in spirit. They may
never be big enough to apologize, but they may send a cake down to show you everything is
okay-and you can eat the cake! Thank them and keep on going as though the unfortunate
experience had never happened. If you have wronged someone, be quick to apologize sincerely.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

If you were assigned to a remote jungle tribe, you would know that you needed to study their
culture. In addition, ever since Hudson Taylor, missionaries have realized that a missionary, as
much as possible, must become a part of a culture to reach that culture for Christ. Paul tells us
the same thing when he writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22:
 3.2

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I
might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to
those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are
under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without
law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are
without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have
become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (NKJV)

The need for cultural understanding holds true just as much in rural areas. In your first year
especially, you must learn and adapt to the culture of your area.

Vast cultural differences exist within rural areas. A high amenity area will be quite different than
a farm belt area. Not only will differences exist within a state but differences will exist within a
few miles, especially if there is a different ethnic background.

Study the culture of your area and continue to do so. If your area has community leaders, ask
them about your community. Talk to police officers about the needs they see. Visit the local
museum if there is one. The census department will be a source of demographic data about your
community. Learn what it is like in the various occupations in your area.

Dr. Glenn Daman states, “Attempting to build an effective church without a knowledge of the
community is like trying to build a boat without understanding the waters it will ply. A boat built
for inland waterways will be far different from one made to sail the ocean.”1 His book,
Shepherding the Small Church has a helpful chapter on understanding the community.2

In addition, your church has a culture. For example, if your church has been a church used as a
steppingstone or an earlier pastor succumbed to moral failure, that history will affect how they
treat you. Through careful investigation, you need to understand the typical characteristics of a
rural/small church and the characteristics and culture of the church you serve. Again, Dr. Daman
has a chapter on understanding your church and lists more references.3

An investment of your time in understanding the culture of your community and church will help
all areas of your ministry.

KEEP AT YOUR WORK

When Satan whispers words of discouragement in your ear and you ask yourself why you ever
thought you could be a preacher, there is only one answer. Simply stand up straight and say out
loud, “God called me to this place and I’ll stay until He sends me away.” Did God make a

1
Dr. Glenn Daman, Shepherding the Small Church. (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2002), 22.
2
Daman, 29-41.
3
Daman, 42-64
 3.3

mistake when he sent you? Is God through here? Is God ready for you to leave? “The enemy
cannot be allowed to determine the intensity nor the outcome of our ministry.”4

“Growing a magnificent ministry in any location can be started or renewed by finding a need that
breaks your heart and breaking your back to meet that need.”5

A pastor speaking to students in a Bible college chapel challenged: “As pastors, you are resident
representatives of the King of Glory. Plead His cause often and well. Walk your talk. Allow the
strength of your personal faith to direct the details of ministry for you. An imposter subverts the
credibility of us all. And remember, one pastor cannot sustain satisfaction in this work if he is
only a play actor.”6

We can become quite disillusioned in ministry by assuming that activity is an indication of a

great work being done. We may feel that since we are busy and always tired, we must be doing
the Lord’s work and we are to be commended.

On the other hand, we may not be seeing anything happen and wonder why. Because it is self-
directed, ministry can be an easy job. Self-discipline to keep at the work, to “beat the bushes”, to
go “down the road” to the next place, will open up opportunities to meet needs and, by God’s
grace, bring fruit. Before seeking a new assignment, we need to satisfy ourselves, and the
Mission, that we have really put our back to our God-given task. Nothing kills discouragement
like hard work.

Underlying this is the power of the Holy Spirit. No amount of effort can produce fruit aside
from His intervention. We must come alongside Jesus when He said, “I must work the works of
Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.”7 All the while
realizing that, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”8

EVANGELISM

The heartbeat of Village Missions is to reach people for Jesus Christ. You may call it
witnessing, personal evangelism, or soul winning, but the object is to share the facts of the
Gospel so they will know what Jesus Christ has purchased for them and how they can receive
Him.

J.E. Conant once said, “Witnessing is the main work of the whole church, in the whole world,
throughout the whole age.”

4
H. B. London, Jr. and Neil B. Wiseman, The Heart of a Great Pastor, (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1994) 96.
5
London & Wiseman, The Heart of a Great Pastor, 60.
6
London & Wiseman, The Heart of a Great Pastor, 148.
7
John 9:4
8
1 Thessalonians 5:24
 3.4

OUR AUTHORITY

Jesus said, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”9

Jesus also said, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’?
Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”10

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Jesus commands “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”11

“The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all
nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” 12

OUR APPROACH

Point them to Jesus.

David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.”13

Jesus clearly said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but
through Me.” 14

SOME ESSENTIALS IN EFFECTIVELY SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

1) Love for people (Galatians 5:22-23) – Showing kindness, good-natured gentleness in

expression and attitude.

2) Patience (James 5:7-8) – Avoid anger, sarcasm or flippancy. Never argue.

3) Faithfulness (1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Timothy 2:2) – Be steadfast, obliging, reliable, ever-

willing to help with Bible questions; every-ready and willing to witness and give testimony.

4) Wisdom (James 1:5) – Ask God’s help in dealing wisely with people and ask Him to bring to
mind needed verses that you have studied from His Word. (John 14:26)

9
Mark 16:15
10
John 4:35
11
Matthew 28:19-20
12
Matthew 24:14.
13
Psalm 51:12-13
14
John 14:6
 3.5

5) Prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17) – Pray before, during, and after witnessing.

6) Adaptability to all situations (1 Corinthians 9:22) – Always use the positive approach.
Avoid criticizing the unsaved person’s religion, church, false beliefs, habits or way of life.
Present Christ.

7) Competence – Study for facility with God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15; Joshua 1:8). Memorize
salvation and other practical Bible verses. (But do not wait until you have learned them
perfectly before using them.) Have some form of a Bible available and be prepared to share
your hope in Christ with others. (Ephesians 6:11; 1 Peter 3:15-16)

Highlight a Bible verse in your Bible and write the next scripture verse beside it that you
need to read and do that with each one so you can follow the Scripture references and share
the Gospel with the listener.

8) Pairs (Luke 10:1) – Consider visiting or sharing the Good News in pairs. Handled with
grace and tact, this often prevents awkwardness in the conversation. Do not pass up the
opportunity to share with someone simply because you are alone.

9) Conversation (Philippians 1:27; 2:14; 1 Corinthians 14:40) Never interrupt one who is
dealing with another about Christ.

10) Appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Take care that your personal appearance is not a hindrance for
the person hearing the message.

11) Sensitivity (1 Peter 2:12; 3:15) Be attentive to their interest level, they will only hear what
they are willing to hear. Share where God the Holy Spirit has been preparing a hearer, only
He can create interest. With some this may take a long time. Where you have shared the
essentials of the Gospel, give them the opportunity to pray and put their trust in Christ.

12) Build Relationships (John 1:43-46) The credibility of your relationship with them will allow
you to share Christ effectively.

WHY IS EVANGELISM A CHALLENGING FACTOR IN CHRISTIAN LIVING?

It is because of our fearfulness:

Fear of failure (I do not know how or what to say)

Fear of rejection (People will not like me and look down on me)

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto
me.”15

15
Hebrews 13:6
 3.6

DEVELOP A PRESENTATION
The following are three examples of presenting the Gospel from the Bible:

Romans Road to Heaven

Romans 3:23 – All are sinners

Romans 5:12 – The reason all are sinners
Romans 6:23 – The result of sin
Romans 5:8 - God’s concern for sinners
Romans 10:9,10,13 – God’s way of salvation made plain
Prayer to trust Christ

Elements in the message of salvation

1) Man’s Condition
a. Show the inquirer that he is a sinner. (Romans 3:23)
b. Show the inquirer that in God’s sight he has no righteousness. (Romans 3:10-12 and
Isaiah 64:6)
c. Show the inquirer the consequences of sin. (Romans 6:23)

2) God’s Provision
a. Show the inquirer that Christ died in the sinner’s place. (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24; 2
Corinthians 5:21)
b. Show the inquirer that the atoning work of Christ completely satisfies God. Man need
not attempt to add to it. (Ephesians 2:8,9; 1 Peter 1:18,19)
c. Show the inquirer that the blood of Christ atones for all sins, the future as well as the
past. (1 John 1:7,9; 2:1,2)

3) Man’s Responsibility
a. Receive Christ as his Savior (John 1:11, 12; Romans 9:11-13)
b. Place their confidence in what Christ did for him (John 6:47)
c. Stand upon God’s promise (John 5:24)

4) Believer’s Growth
a. Show the person that salvation cannot be lost. (John 10:28: Romans 8:35-39; 1 Jn. 5:13)
b. Show the person they must call upon God. (Prayer) (Romans 10:9,10,13)
c. Show the person their need to study God’s Word. (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17)
d. Show the person their need to be a part of the body of believers (Hebrews 10:25)

Biblical Metaphors of Salvation16

As you get to know the concerns of the person you are speaking with, you may find that one of
the following biblical metaphors speaks to their fears, concerns or needs.

16
From The Unbelievable Gospel: Say something worth believing by John Dodson, Zondervan Publishers,
September 2014
 3.7

• Justification – Galatians 2:16 uses a legal metaphor. In Christ the Righteous God relates to
unrighteous people, making us righteous through Christ’s sacrifice.
• Redemption – Ephesians 1:7 use a slavery/freedom metaphor. In Christ our incurable status
is cured by a substitute who dies our death, freeing us from slavery.
• Adoption – Colossians 1:13-14 uses a family adoption metaphor. We are rescued from the
satanic family and brought in to God’s family as His dearly loved children.
• New Creation – Ephesians 2:5 uses a life/death metaphor. In Christ the old life is exiled and
the new life introduced by His resurrection.
• Union with Christ – Ephesians 1:3 uses a body/marriage metaphor. We were alienated/cut
off from God. Now we joined to Christ and permanently connected God.
• Sanctification – Hebrews 10:14 we have been made holy and we are progressively being
made holy.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Find a Gospel presentation plan and make it yours. Study, memorize, and mark it in your Bible.

Keep your focus on sharing the Good News of Jesus do not try to answer all the questions. You
may acknowledge they are good questions and if they are not answered in your presentation you
will deal with them later. Do not get side tracked. They need Jesus and He alone is the answer
they need.

Do not be afraid to stop and pray if you sense the need for additional guidance and direction
from the Lord. Remember John 6:44a: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me
draws him.” He does the saving. We have the privilege of sharing the Good News.

ADDITIONAL HELPS

How Can I Share My Faith Without an Argument? Bill Fay

How to Give Away Your Faith, by Paul Little Inter Varsity Press
The Unbelievable Gospel: Say something worth believing by John Dodson Zondervan
Living Proof by Jim Peterson NavPress
Know What You Believe, by Paul Little Scripture Press

FOLLOW UP

This is where discipleship moves from initial sharing to helping the new believer grow. This will
take extra time and effort on your part, but the time invested will help this new believe become
firmly established in their faith and connected to other members of God’s family. As God’s
Spirit begins changing them, they will have opportunities to share the reason for their new-found
hope in Christ.
 3.8

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT

Encourage new believers to get connected immediately to the church you are serving. While it
may not be the only good church around, you know they will hear the Word of God taught
accurately. You already know the Christians with whom they will be connecting. You have a
role in guiding how the church worships God together. Your desire to connect them with the
church your serve is an expression of your care for them and their spiritual well-being.

BIBLE STUDIES

The Pal Plan

This is an excellent follow-up program for new Christians. It is a systematic instruction course
that will produce rapid growth in the earnest new Christian. It works best as a one-to-one study
and gives opportunity for lay leaders to develop in taking this responsibility. This is the best
study to start with new believers.
The Pal Plan materials are available on the missionary portal.

Thrive: A Handbook for New Christians

This introductory 15-session study gets a new follower of Christ well-grounded. Designed to be
done one-one or with a small group led by a more mature Christian, this is a great resource. The
original Adobe document can be purchased for $10 and reproduced for use in discipleship at no
charge from New Christian Life Ministries at www.newchristian.com.

VISITATION

Aside from the pulpit ministry, visitation is the chief responsibility of the Village Missionary.
When first arriving in a community, visit in the community. Seek ways to get to know people
and engage them in conversation. Make it your goal to build relationships with people
throughout your community. If you can visit in people’s homes, do so. In some cases, once you
have established a relationship a home visit will then be welcomed. Look for ways and places
where you can connect with people, you may have to be creative in finding ways to connect in
the community you serve.

Visiting is mission. We’re helping people with their lives and destinies in the name of Christ.
Visiting is evangelism. We’re helping people discover God in their lives. Visiting is sacred.
We go knowing we are sent by God, that we have been given a sacred trust. Visiting is a
genuine art. It’s not simply a skill or an enterprise the church does to avoid dying. It is an art
that needs to be shared and practiced. We need the new discovery of visiting with persons in our
community. Mission movements exist as naturally as people breathe, as regularly as the sun
rises and sets. With mission movements, visiting with community persons is in the very fabric of
 3.9

their being. It is through visiting that they reach out in sharing and shepherding ways to those in
the community”17

Visiting advances preaching. There is a direct correlation between the two. The more visiting
the pastor does, the stronger his preaching. There are two reasons for this. (1) The preaching is
in touch with the lives of those in the community and the congregation. (2) The people know
their pastor loves and lives with them. Without this, the preaching will be less in touch with
people’s lives and they won’t usually sense a mutual bond of love” 18

Visitation will afford people opportunity to get to know you and in turn, you will get to know
them. Since ministry is more than the preaching of sermons, important though that is, it is
imperative that we spend time in the homes. You may find this easier with those who are
already connected with the church, but the home is the only place we can practically and
effectively observe the truth about people. You will discover what problems confront the lives
of those in the community and may need to be addressed in your daily ministry or preaching and
teaching. Personal contacts with them through the week will open doors of evangelism as well.

Perhaps the greatest obstacle in visitation is in getting started. Some calls, such as accidents and
hospital calls, are almost automatic. Shut-ins are a must. Some visitation is more difficult.
Certainly, there needs to be good planning for the calls to be made and a set goal helps in getting
at the work, but going is of necessity. Discipline is the key

Jesus, the Master Preacher, majored in the practice of mingling with people. His preaching and
teaching regularly highlighted illustrations from real life, such as shepherds with their sheep,
fishermen with their nets, and farmers with soils, seeds and weeds. Your knowledge of the
culture and people you live among will enhance the opportunities to minister and open doors to
evangelize.

EXPECTATIONS
Generally, if you are new on a field, it is best to begin by visiting the people who attend your
church and your immediate neighbors. Following this, begin seek ways to build relationships
throughout the community. Where you can arrange to visit in people’s homes you will be able to
“bring Jesus with you” in ways that are not possible outside of the home.

Continual friendly contact is invaluable in the progress of the work. You must win a hearing.
Let people in the church and out of the church see that you care. In these visits, it is not always
necessary to “preach” to the people. Come to listen, to care and to learn. Be ready and willing
to speak about spiritual issues, but be just as ready to learn about their children, their work or
their hobbies. Give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work in lives and pray for the contacts you
will make and the contacts that have been made. Make friends with those on your field, and then

17
Kennon L. Callahan, Visiting in an Age of Mission, (San Francisco: Harper, 1994), 4-7
18
Callahan, 128
 3.10

the task of leading them to Christ will be considerably easier. Although a hard and fast rule
cannot be made, eighty hours and calls in the community per month is our viable goal.

When you visit family at home, do not overstay. Make your visit brief and do not arrive at
mealtime.

The eventual goal of visitation is to create the opportunity to present the person and claims of
Jesus Christ. Until that is done, our calling has not achieved its purpose. Calling also is vital in
the personal development of believers and in the comforting and shepherding of those who have
spiritual needs.

The calling ministry can be one of great blessing. If you cannot develop an affinity for calling, it
may be that God has not really ordained you to the ministry of Village Missions. Missionaries
bring the Gospel to the community, they don’t wait for the community to come to them.

DEFINITION OF A CALL
What constitutes a call? A “call” is a visit to a home, a hospital room, or any place where you
have contact with people as a missionary pastor. A call is not merely casual conversation, but
where you are deepening a relationship or talking about spiritual things. If you have an occasion
to pray with a person this is definitely a call. If someone comes to you, at home or the office
with a concern and you provide some spiritual guidance this is a call. Calls, for the purpose of
the Monthly Report may be made by either the Village Missionary husband or wife, but not by
anyone else in the church.

PROSPECTS FOR VISITATION

A Missionary considers how he or she can go and connect with people in the community.
They realize that Christ has sent them to bring the Gospel to the whole community, not merely
to care for those who have already put their trust in Christ.

On whom should I call?

1) Those Who Are Sick. There is scarcely ever a time when there is not someone sick, even in
a small church. Some have illnesses of long standing while others have occurred suddenly.
The sick people always have first claim on the pastor’s call. Jesus said, “They that be whole
need not a physician, but they that are sick.”19 This is true spiritually as well as physically.

The sick should have the first claim on the pastor’s time. True, sometimes he does not know
about a member’s illness for several days. Often they are highly offended if he does not find
it out and does not call. Be sure to ask that the church family promptly inform you when an
illness occurs so that you are able to visit and to pray. The pastor is there to minister, but he
cannot minister unless he knows the need.

19
Matthew 9:12
 3.11

2) Those Who Are Bereaved. This applies whether or not death has been expected or comes
suddenly. News of a member’s death may reach the Pastor five minutes after he has come
home from calling on that member. He should go back immediately. People are very
appreciative of a Pastor’s thoughtfulness in such a case. Your priority with the initial visit is
to communicate sympathy and comfort. There may be too much excitement and confusion to
read from the Bible and pray, but you can at least quote a few appropriate words from the
Bible.

In most cases community members will regard you as “their” pastor. You should, therefore,
try to visit anyone in your ministry area who is bereaved or ill. Word will quickly spread that
you care about the entire community!

3) Those Who Are In Trouble. Every Christian at some time passes through a crisis
experience. It may be an accident, a sudden illness, an unexpected bereavement, a financial
distress, an emotional upset, or a threatened mental breakdown. Such experiences drive
some people to acts of desperation. Some say nothing about their troubles, and only a few
call the pastor for help . . . It will be a little easier if some of the facts are known. But infinite
tact will be required to deal with such a situation. Each case will be different and it is
impossible to lay down an infallible rule of procedure. Christian people (with marital
problems) need to be reminded of the sacred vows they took. They should be shown what
the Bible teaches about the relation between husbands and wives. Wise counseling and
prayer may prevent the wrecking of a home.

4) Those Who Are Lonely. It has sometimes been said that a large city can be a very lonely
place for one who has come from the country or small town. But the country or small town
can also be very lonely for one who grew up in the city. In most cases, these lonely people
are strangers who have just come into the community. The pastor should make it his business
to find such strangers, make them welcome, invite them to church, and see if there is any
service he can perform for them. It is not wise to make a call while the household goods are
still being unloaded from the van, but do go as soon as the people are settled. Most
newcomers will resent the intrusion of a visitor while their furniture is in disarray.

Another class of lonely people is found in the widows and single women who live alone.
They should by no means be neglected, but extreme care needs to be taken in making such
calls. A warm friendliness is in order, but extreme care should be used to keep within proper
bounds. Someone in the community will soon notice it if the pastor makes frequent calls in a
home where a woman lives alone, or is at home alone all day with no one else in the house.
His visits may be perfectly in order, but the appearance is not good. And any community
scandal can wreck a church, or bring an untimely end to a pastor’s work. It is best if the
pastor’s wife or one of the other men in the church accompanies him on such calls. If he is
an unmarried man, the danger is even greater and it is impossible to lay down a hard and fast
rule. Some places may have to be avoided altogether, or it might be possible to make the
visit in the company of a friend.

Exercise caution in your interactions with women. While your intentions may be pure, it is
not uncommon for a woman who is lonely to be attracted to a kind and caring man. Even the
 3.12

suggestion of impropriety may damage a ministry. If there is infidelity, people will never be
sure that pastor who has failed morally will not repeat that failure.

4) Those Who Are Discouraged. Various experiences can cause discouragement.

It may be the business failure of an individual in town. If the pastor calls on that
person, speaks words of encouragement and prays with them, the burden usually
becomes lighter.

A farmer may be discouraged over a crop failure. He maybe on the verge of

losing the family farm. A businessperson may find that they are failing to make
enough profit to keep their business. A teacher may despair over the student
who drops out of school or who has an unbearable home life. Parents or
grandparents may be grieving the poor choices of their children or
grandchildren.

5) The Members of the Church. The pastor should neglect no one. He will need to call on
people of various occupations, different states of health, varying cultural levels, in homes that
are spotless and in homes that are in disarray. He no doubt will find places that he prefers,
but he should practice impartiality. However, if some need more pastoral care than others,
these are the ones who should receive it--the aged, the sick, the dying.”20

6) Others. The unsaved may be fearful of the church and quite uncomfortable in the presence
of the missionary. They may make direct effort to avoid any contact with those associated
with or interested in the things of God. Nevertheless, there is a genuine need to befriend
these folks and build relationships for the purpose of sharing Christ. These people also have
hurts that only Christ can heal and spiritual needs only Christ can meet.

Some have established a significant ministry to those in jail. Many may be incarcerated and
forgotten. No matter the reason for being there, these people have the same human feelings
and spiritual needs as those on the outside. With lots of time to think, their minds are a
fertile garden for planting the seed of Truth. They will sense if you care. However, do not
take your captive audience as a liberty to pound them with the gospel.

SOME POINTERS WHEN VISITING IN A HOME:

1) Timing Is Important. You, as a missionary, probably have a more adjustable schedule than
most of the people of your congregation, therefore it is up to you to find out when your
people are home and adjust accordingly. Since many homes have both spouses working you
may find that the evenings or weekends are the only practical time to call in many homes.
Adjust to your local situation.

2) This will doubtless be determined by your relationship to the people of the home.
Particularly when new in the community, the first call is for making yourself known, of
establishing a rapport with people who live there and demonstrating your genuine interest in
20
Thiessen, 91-94.
 3.13

them. Be sensitive to their time and the situation you find when you arrive. Show an interest
in their lives and activities. Most people enjoy responding to questions about their children,
their hobbies, a picture on the wall, a piece of handiwork, or other prominent items in their
home. Aim to put people at ease.

As your relationship develops you will likely have opportunities to talk about spiritual
matters. Remember, you must earn the right to be heard. Be sure to pray before any visit
that the Holy Spirit will go before you preparing the way. Always guide the conversation
away from topics that would lead to controversy, misunderstanding, or hurt feelings. Your
first impression on the members of that home will be indelible, so do your best to leave a
very positive impression.

3) Length of the Visit. A pastoral visit may make people feel uncomfortable until they grow to
know and trust you. Be sensitive to any discomfort they may feel and keep your visit brief.
It is better to keep your visit short so people are wishing you had stayed longer than wishing
you had left sooner. If a situation occurs that alters the family’s plans, simply excuse
yourself and mention that you would like to visit again at a more convenient time.

Hospital calls should always be kept brief unless you have been invited by the patient or their
family to share with them in a time of great need. A missionary/pastor is usually allowed to
make calls at any time, if he makes known that he is a pastor. Check with the hospital
personnel to see if they have a preferred time for pastoral / chaplain visits.

The hospital call should usually be in the 15-30 minute range. You may read a passage of
Scripture offering comfort or hope. Ask if you may pray for the needs of the sick person.
People usually expect this from the pastor even if there are guests in the room. You may also
feel led to pray for other patients in the room. This gesture of kindness and concern may
begin a new relationship with someone you might not otherwise contact. Briefly pray for
recovery, the ease of pain, and wisdom for the medical staff. It is always appropriate to
thank God for His provision for sins forgiven through Jesus Christ.

Unless the patient shares with you that he has been made aware of the terminal nature of his
illness, do not pray as though the patient is soon to leave this earth. If the patient has shared
with you that his case is terminal, then you may have a wonderful opportunity to talk with
him about God’s wonderful provision, preferably not with visitors present.

Use caution in celebrating communion with a patient regardless of their condition, for some
this may seem like last rites, even when they understand its meaning. Only celebrate
communion with a patient or shut-in at their request.

4) Calling On Women. This should not be done alone. Make arrangements to take someone
with you, your wife for another man in the church, even if must reschedule time of visit.
Even if your visit were entirely proper, there may be some in the community so suspicious of
a pastor that they will immediately assume a scandal. Such a scandal, even without a factual
basis may destroy your work in that community.
 3.14

TESTED PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

1) Show genuine interest in people.

2) Smile. “None needs it so much as the one who has none to give.”

3) Remember that a person’s name is to them the sweetest and most important words you could
speak.

4) Be a good listener. Invite others to talk about themselves.

5) Talk in terms of the other person’s interest. To be interesting, be interested.

6) Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely. (Do not forget to do this in your
own home.)

7) To get the best of the argument, avoid it.

8) Begin in a friendly way.

9) Seek first to understand things from the other person’s point of view.

10) Personal contact is important--send a note of thanks any time it’s appropriate. Better to
express appreciation for what seems small than to fail to do so when it would have been
appreciated.
 3.15

CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY

MISSIONARY ETHICS
You as a missionary will have many responsibilities. You must be capable of relating to all ages
as counselor, disciplinarian, administrator, trusted friend, preacher, and teacher. YOU are the
spiritual leader in the community. Every facet of your life must reveal this fact to a skeptical
world.

Because you have been placed in a community as the representative of Jesus Christ and His
church, it is expected that you will conduct yourself in a manner consistent with New Testament
ethics. The use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco, is inconsistent with the high calling of a leader of
God’s people. Your conduct, the places you frequent, the jokes you tell, and even your behavior
behind the wheel of the automobile must reflect your relationship to the King of Kings. Your
integrity with the handling and reporting of finances must be always above reproach. If in doubt
in any area, choose the option that demonstrates the highest level of integrity.

It is assumed that you will cooperate with the Mission leadership in making the local ministry as
effective as possible. Village Missions should be able to expect loyalty, a spirit of cooperation
with its philosophy, financial and prayerful support of the Mission.

In the spirit of Christian love, any missionary who finds himself in disagreement with Mission
philosophy or policy is encouraged to seek ministry more in line with his position.

YOUR IMAGE IN THE COMMUNITY

“Both secular and Christian leaders realize that integrity must be paramount in the life of a
leader. Max Depress claims: ‘Integrity in all things precedes all else. The open demonstration of
integrity is essential; followers must be wholeheartedly convinced of their leader’s integrity. For
leaders who live a public life, perceptions become a fact of life.’ Integrity simply means that we
are the same all-the-way-through. What we appear to be is actually who we are. Integrity
means being consistent in one’s behavior under every circumstance, including those unguarded
moments. If leaders are generally peaceable and well mannered, but they throw violent temper
tantrums when things go wrong, their lives lack integrity. If leaders are honest or moral in
public, but discard those standards in private, their lives lack integrity. When leaders have
integrity, their followers always know what to expect. When people see your integrity over time,
they learn that you can be trusted. Similarly, the lack of integrity will prevent those same people
from trusting you.

An unmistakable sense of authority accompanies leaders with integrity. Leaders without

integrity may promote worthwhile causes, yet fail to gain people’s loyalty because their lives
discredit the validity of their proposals. When people live lives of integrity, their followers trust
them to lead. Leaders, who are careful in their personal lives, will be trusted to not be careless
with their organizations.
 3.16

BE A LEADER

Good humor is an asset, but frivolity that dilutes dignity is not. The building of confidence is
important to our ministry. The highest standards of Christian conduct and service should govern
your lives. A few areas merit special consideration:

1. Always speak with reverence about those things pertaining to the Word and work of God.

2. Prayerfully consider how you use your time. Be intentional in your work and be
intentional as you take time to rest, refresh and worship.

3. Be an example regarding the behavior of children at church. Find a balance between

allowing the child to know they belong in church, and avoiding distracting others who
have come to worship.

4. When casually conversing with others continue to remember that you represent Christ,
even in moments that do not seem “spiritual”.

DRESS LIKE A LEADER

People will judge you by your appearance. While there are local differences, aim to dress in a
way that others would consider “respectable.” When working on a project or helping a hands-on
project in the community or at a home, work clothes would be appropriate. At other times,
casual clothing will be appropriate, but be sure that when serving in a pastoral role at church that
you are dressed in a way the church family will feel is appropriate. Better to be dress a bit too
formally than a bit too casual until you know what is appropriate for that church and community.

KEEP CONFIDENCES

Never be guilty of gossip, rumor or innuendo. Your integrity with the words you speak and the
confidence you keep will build trust. Any lack of integrity in this area will weaken or end your
ministry in that community. You may not be able to share some entrusted information with your
wife. There are times when you may ask the party for permission to share with your spouse so
that you might pray together pertaining to the matter. If the person says, “No,” comply with their
request.

Doctors and lawyers are ethically bound to keep confidences of their clients. Certainly, the
servant of the Lord should be as ethical as these people are in their profession!

Some churches have a problem with gossip. Be careful that a church prayer time is not a gossip
session in spiritual disguise.
 3.17

DISCOURAGEMENT

There will always be ups and downs. This is life and Satan knows how to capitalize on our
weaknesses. God’s call being real and certain leaves us with no option. Remember that if you
are where He wants you to be, you must not quit. Did God save you, call you, prepare you with
a Bible education, and move you thousands of miles across our country, so that you might fail?
Take a positive attitude. God brought you here to serve Him as a missionary in the gospel
ministry. Remember again that His promises never fail.

Don’t become discouraged if you hear the former missionary’s name and methods spoken of
frequently! This is only normal, and as the people come to know, understand, and love you, this
will diminish. If they did not love the former pastor, you would not be there!

“There are seemingly insurmountable obstacles that equal and in some cases, surpass those faced
by the urban pastor. It is therefore essential that the pastor face the call to the small church as
clearly as any worker faces the call to any other ministry. Clark comments, ‘He must have a
heart so firmly set on his task that neither doubt nor trouble, disappointment nor temptation can
turn him aside. With this motive he can persist. Without it he will probably move.’” 21,22

Beware: “Discouragement often comes after an especially fruitful time” (Spurgeon).

FAMILY LIFE

Your marriage, your family, and your home will reveal the Gospel of Christ in the community.
One of the ways God’s presence is revealed is in your home life. Many non-Christian homes are
places of anger, frustration and broken relationships. You have an opportunity to show what
God intended the home to be. Your marriage and parenting should demonstrate the love for each
other that proves to the world that knowing Christ makes a real difference. (John 13:35) You are
responsible for the example you set: in the home, at the church, in the shopping place—and on
the road. Your children will do what they see you doing; make sure it’s what you want them to
do.

Ministry will put stress on a marriage. A marriage that has hidden weakness will find those
weaknesses exposed. A marriage that embraces the transforming power of God will find that
ministry becomes a joyful adventure as husband and wife work together in the cause of Christ. A
deliberate decision to allow the Holy Spirit to grow your marriage makes the difference. A
troubled marriage can be healed, a mundane marriage becomes joyful and a thriving marriage
becomes a beacon of hope to others.

Develop of habit of investing in your marriage. Read worthwhile books on marriage and
parenting. If a good conference becomes available, make time to attend together. Make
arrangements for childcare periodically to have an evening or a few days together. Have a lunch

21
Clark, 85.
22
Longenecker, 35.
 3.18

date while the children are in school. Do not become so busy serving the Lord by serving others
that you neglect your own family.

The following thoughts are offered to stimulate your thinking:

1) The family unit is God’s building block of society. Jesus often used family relationships to
illustrate eternal truth. The missionary home should reveal to the people of your community
God’s intent for the home.

a. Christ is the Lord of our lives and therefore must be Lord of our homes. Remember He
hears and sees all we say and do, even at home.

b. Christ holds the husband responsible for the spiritual and relational health of his home.
He is to love his wife as a clear reflection of Christ’s love for us. The wife is to respect
her husband because she honors Christ. (Ephesians 5:22-33) They are to raise children, if
they have them, in the nurture and instruction that comes from the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

2) Although Village Missions allows wives to work outside the home, the missionary couple
should carefully consider this decision, in discussion with your District Representative.. In
some cases, work in the community will create opportunities for ministry. In other cases,
employment will limit the wife’s available time for ministry. Consider the changing needs of
your family and the shifting demands of ministry. If the decision is primarily financial,
consider raising additional support, which Village Missions will help you do.

3) The missionary should carefully budget his time to keep his family as a priority commitment.
Ensure that you have scheduled one day each week as time with your family. Make room in
your calendar for family meals, reserve some evenings to be home investing in your family.

a. Build into your family life hobbies and recreational times that will unite the family. For
suggestions, see Heaven Help the Home by Howard G. Hendricks.

b. Ministry families must learn to support and encourage each other. Make your home a
place where people genuinely love each other and enjoy spending time together. Resist
the temptation to view family and ministry as competitors. Find ways for ministry to
enrich your family, discovering the joy of serving together. As you serve together,
shared ministry experiences will enrich your family. The husband/father must frequently
assess whether his wife and children are getting some of his best time, and feel that they
are a high priority in his life.

4) As you talk about ministry at home, share with your family the delights and satisfactions of
your work. Focus on what God is doing and the blessings of ministry rather than the minor
annoyances and irritations of life. Help children growing up in a Village Missionary home
learn the joys and blessings of ministry without denying the sacrifices they make.

5) The missionary should display a gracious and forbearing attitude, even during times of
discouragement and misunderstanding. The Lord has seen whatever you have endured, and
if necessary He will correct any wrongs, or reward you for enduring them faithfully.
 3.19

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

Because you live in the community, you will be judged not only by how you perform as a
missionary/pastor, but also by how you are perceived as an individual. One of your greatest
opportunities is to show the reality of the Christian life in your own family as you live among
neighbors.

1) Hospitality: No one expects you to run a continuous “open-house,” feeding and entertaining
the entire community, but your ministry will be greatly enhanced if people know they are
welcome to visit your home and that you can spare a few minutes to listen to them and to
encourage them. Teach your children to respect your conversation with others, and how to
appropriately get your attention when there is an urgent matter that needs your attention. Let
guests in your home know they are of value by giving them the focus of your attention as
much as possible.

Inviting couples or families from the church or community to your home for fellowship,
dessert, or a meal can be a means of opening up opportunities for ministry to those who are
hurting.

2) School/Home School: The local school is often the pivotal activity that draws people
together. Many church activities must be scheduled with the school events in mind. The
missionary who works with the school instead of opposing it will increase his effectiveness.

Some of our missionaries have made a special effort to introduce themselves to the
administration, assuring the leadership there of support and prayers for the school and
offering to help in any way possible.

Concerning the education of your children, the Mission respects your rights as a parent. You
have freedom to choose what is best for your children each year, but consider how this is
perceived in the community. Whether you choose public school, home school or a private
school (were available), make your choice intentionally and be ready with a gracious
explanation to those who ask your reasons. Your District Representative should also be
consulted in this decision.

3) Involvement/Exposure: Taking part in community projects is an excellent way

to let people know you care. ( ) Your presence at community events is a part of
getting to know your community. Attendance at school events (if it costs you at
all) will be money well spent as parents and teens see you care. Farm sales or
estate sales are ways of meeting many of the people in the community. How about
attending the local fair, visiting local businesses where the men congregate or
stopping for coffee occasionally with the men? Again, balance is the key: both in
time spent and in your behavior while there.
 4.1

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE RELATIONSHIP

The District Representative is a vital and important position. This couple brings a wealth of
experience and giftedness that will help both the church and missionary to function well and
further the kingdom.

This position is unique in that he has relationship to you the missionary, the local church, and the
local community. We expect your utmost cooperation at this level of authority in Village
Missions. The district representative is to be contacted concerning problems or questions you
may have relative to the total ministry.

Always keep in mind that the District Representative is your friend. As a couple, they are
concerned for you and the work God has called you to do. They understand what you are going
through, both in the good times and the bad. This couple’s ministry role is to help you minister
and function effectively. But, ultimately, they are your boss. Respect them and their position.

The District Representative will be on your field twice a year on a scheduled basis – but will
come as needed to help, assist, and encourage you in your work for Christ. They want to develop
a good friendship with you and your family. They will discuss life and ministry with you. They
will only be as effective as you are open with them. They are good listeners. Remember, they
have been down the road you are traveling. You will be wise if you take advantage of their
knowledge.

Upon receiving notice of the planned visit, you are to inform the Board of such and set up a time
for him to meet with the Board. Contact him to set up any special meetings. Clear your calendar
to make sure of no conflicts in scheduling. Make sure that time is set aside for this visit.
Reschedule other activities around this visit. This is of extreme importance.

For Sunday morning visits make sure you give him pulpit time to greet the people and update
them on Village Missions. Communicate with him on this. Remember, the District
Representative is the only Mission leadership with which the local church normally has contact.
During the semi-annual meeting, the District Representative may ask the missionary to leave the
meeting so the board will feel more freedom in discussing the local situation. Do not be
threatened by this but embrace this opportunity. We have often seen this time alone with the
board as a chance to avoid little issues from turning into much larger, ministry-threatening
issues. The District Representative ministry is designed to help you succeed in ministry!

He will function as a liaison between you and Village Missions, Village Missions and the local
people, and is some cases between you and the local church. The local church board should feel
free to communicate with the District Representative as well. He available to you and is in touch
with the Assistant Director.

The District Representative will ask the field requesting leadership to sign a form, Partnership
Agreement: Village Missions and the Local Church, which sets forth the policies of the Mission
as outlined to them by the District Representative. The original copy is to be retained by the
church and a copy is to be sent to the Village Missions office. This procedure will be followed
 4.2

also with churches now being served by Village Missions, at the time there is a change of
leadership. Any difficulties concerning the church following this agreement should be handled
by the District Representative, not the missionary.
 5.1

POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

MONTHLY REPORT

Village Missionaries submit an online monthly report to the Mission on time. This tool keeps
the mission leadership aware of the needs on the fields and allows them to support and pray
effectively. This report is also the basis for calculating salary supplements for all missionaries.
The Missionary Portal on the website is used to streamline this process.

The monthly report is a condition of employment for all Village Missionaries. Late reports
steal staff time from ministry support and delay direct deposits for all Missionaries; both
supplements and donor gifts.

The report must be completed by Wednesday after the last Sunday of the month.

Your monthly report is used to collect three types of data:

1) Field Data - Used to objectively evaluate your field’s progress. This is also compiled to
communicate the value and accomplishments of Village Missions with people. For example,
how many people were led to Christ through Village Missions in the last year—a number
always included in our Annual Report.
2) Payroll Data - Used to calculate your supplement, and;
3) Progress Report - Provided to inform leadership and other interested individuals of your
ministry. The progress report also serves as the foundation for “Stories from the Field” and
“Country Matters” articles. Your descriptions of God’s work on your field help supporters
join in with this vital ministry.

Policies regarding monthly reports will change from time to time. Report forms are designed to
be simple and self-explanatory. A video tutorial for this report is on the Missionary Portal.

PRAISES AND PRAYER REQUESTS

Be sure to include Praises and Prayer Requests, these can be submitted each week or monthly
using the Missionary Web Portal. Your praises and prayer requests are brought before the Lord
daily by the staff of the International Service Center, in Dallas, Oregon. Use an asterisk (*) to
specify which requests may not be used for publication.

MONTHLY REPORT FOR LOCAL CHURCH

This report is designed to inform the local church you serve of your field’s progress and ministry
efforts. The report should be posted where the congregation can see it. Ask your field’s board
chairman about their procedure. This report is for the local church. Do not send a copy to the
International Service Center or the Canadian office. After submitting your monthly report, this
form may be generated from the Missionary Portal with your recent report figures included.
 5.2

CHURCH BOARD INFORMATION

This report will be emailed to you when your annual meeting for the election of church officers
is due. This should be filled out with a complete mailing address and telephone number for each
Board member, including the date of the next scheduled annual meeting. These addresses are
added to the mailing database for “Country Matters”, and other occasional mailings.

MONTHLY REPORT INSTRUCTIONS

A video tutorial is included on the Missionary Portal for this report. Your report must be
completed by the Wednesday after the last Sunday each month. All reporting is done online.
You will be given a user ID and a password by our staff when you arrive on the field.

Round statistics to whole numbers. Round offerings to whole dollars. List only the General
Fund offering.

Include ALL payments made by your field to you or on your behalf on line 5, except for the
Employee Benefit Plan premium (U.S.) and other items, which are specifically excluded.

Excluded income items:

1. Honoraria for weddings, funerals, etc.
2. Christmas gifts
3. One-time special offerings (Pastor Appreciation Sunday, travel to conferences, birthday gifts)
4. Rent
5. Utilities

It is not necessary to itemize auto and professional reimbursements. These are to be included in
the total on line 5. It is part of the supplement calculation regardless of how you receive it. You
are accountable to your field for properly handling reimbursements according to tax law
requirements.

If you are unsure whether an item should be included, you should note it on the line “Other
expenses paid by field, please specify.” Include a note so we can determine whether the item
should be included.

When submitted both the VM Office and your District Representative will receive a copy.
 5.3

FINANCIAL POLICIES

Village Missions is unique in its financial support base. Village Missionaries themselves provide
financial donations. The churches receiving leadership send a monthly offering to the Mission.
The Mission receives donations from individuals and churches not associated with the Mission.
Lastly, each Village Missionary develops their own team of supporters who pray and donate
financially.

Ultimately it is the Lord who enables and prompts each of these people to pray and give, making
it possible for you to be engaged in ministry to rural North America. May we never take our
supporters for granted as we partner together to reach people for Christ.

GENERAL FINANCIAL POLICIES:

Village Missions Deputation

Personal deputation is a unique ministry. Developing a personal support team involves sharing
God’s calling on your life and inviting others to join in His work through prayer and financial
contribution. Instead of asking for money, you are offering a chance for others to join in with
what God is doing in North America. Village Missions will provide basic tools and training in
developing a personal support team. We believe that personal relationships, vision for ministry,
a call and passion for ministry are the key elements in developing a personal support team.

Village Missions requires incoming missionaries to raise a minimum monthly amount. Mission
policy defines the first $300 of personal support as the Operational Service Fee. Additional
support may be required beyond the minimum level, depending upon circumstances.

Village Missionaries may take up to two additional weeks away from the field per year to raise
personal support. This time must be requested from and approved by the District Representative
in advance. The missionary must give a report of the activities to the District Representative
within one month of the time away.

Self-supporting Churches

These churches have reached a place where they are able to provide the minimum base salary,
medical coverage, housing and utilities for their missionary out of church offerings. This is also
called Minimum Base Support as the church is providing the minimum monthly requirements to
support their missionary as defined by the Mission.

This is the goal for each field. Becoming self-supporting frees up resources to support fields
where the financial needs are even greater. Will you, in the light of the great and continuing need
of this unique type of service, pray with us that your field will speedily attain to the goal of
being self-supporting?
 5.4

Guest Honorariums

Since local funds spent on other ministries often reduce funds available for salary, this should be
kept in mind when considering guest speakers. Remuneration to any guest speaker, or group,
should not decrease the normal salary paid to the missionary. Again, the goal is to attain the
level of self-supporting.

CHURCH FINANCIAL POLICIES:

Field Offering

Churches that partner with Village Missions designate 10% of the general church offerings each
month for Village Missions. This contribution will be used to provide a missionary pastor for
that church and to assist in providing leadership to other rural communities. (See, Village
Missions and You the Local Church section 2.11) Some churches were served by Village
Missions before the initiation of this policy and are therefore not bound to the 10%. However,
many of these have voluntarily complied out of a desire to help other churches.

Until a field becomes self-supporting, offerings should not be taken for other missionary
projects. (See Foreign Missionary Support, next section.) In the event a question arises
regarding this, please contact your District Representative.

Rural Ministry Outreach

Village Missions fields take at least one Sunday a year to focus on this area where the need is
great and where we have gained decades of experience. This focus helps educate churches about
the spiritual needs in our own nation and how Village Missions continues to meet those needs.
Each year the Mission provides resources to assist with making this an effective ministry
weekend.

We encourage Village Missionaries to share their passion for sharing the Good News of Christ in
North America. A sermon, or a series focused on mission, a Village Missions video, a personal
testimony would all work to help the church family embrace their role as partners in this great
work.

Building Programs

With the spiritual aspect in mind, missionaries are asked not to become personally involved in
the work of a building program for the church to such an extent that the ministry is hindered.
Further, no building program is to be promoted until that field is self-supporting. Should local
circumstances become such as to make this necessary, the field is to make the situation known to
District Representative. He will work with the Assistant Director and Executive Director to
 5.5

determine whether an exception to this policy will be brought before the Board of Village
Missions.

Whenever a church that is still being supplemented by Village Missions for the support of its
missionary, requests permission to begin a building project or to purchase property, they will be
requested to sign a Financial Responsibility Agreement. This agreement states that should the
church terminate its relationship with Village Missions, it will first reimburse the Mission for all
funds the Mission has paid toward the Village Missionary’s salary, from the date the agreement
was signed until the project is completed. (See form below.)

Under no circumstances will the missionary be permitted to build, buy, or own a home for his
personal use in the area he serves, without written approval from the Executive Director. There
are certain procedural requirements that must be followed. Contact your District Representative
for the proper procedure. The reasons for this are:

1) Construction drains resources from fields for the benefit of an individual, which is contrary
to the reason for the existence of the church.

2) It inhibits the timely change of leadership when required.

3) It has the potential of interfering with future leadership on the fields.

4) It discourages the church from building a parsonage, which it may need in the future.
 5.6

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT

Non-self-supporting churches (those below Minimum Base Support) served by Village Missions,
which anticipate an enlargement program, either the purchase of property or construction of a
building for a church, or a parsonage, or an addition to present facilities are asked to consider
their responsibility in light of the financial commitment of Village Missions.

WE AGREE, because we are a church which is still being supplemented by Village Missions to
help pay the missionary/pastor’s salary, that we will not terminate our relationship with Village
Missions without first reimbursing the Mission for all funds which the Mission has paid toward
the missionary/pastor’s salary, from the date of this signed agreement until the project is
completed.

Church Name _______________________ ________________________

Church Address ___________________ ________________________________

Officer’s Name and Title ____________ ________________________________

Date Agreement Signed __________________________________

VILLAGE MISSIONS
P.O. BOX 197
DALLAS, OR 97338
TELEPHONE: (503) 623-4107
 5.7

PERSONAL FINANCIAL POLICIES: UNITED STATES

Your personal financial support is derived from three sources:

1) Housing, health benefits, salary and expense reimbursement paid by the field according to
their ability to pay;
2) Village Missions’ base supplement; and
3) Your ministry support team donors.

Field Support
Before your arrival, the District Representative has worked with your Church Board to establish
the financial arrangements. The church will be asked to provide medical benefit, housing and
utilities, and as much of the Minimum Base Support as they are able. Every church or field will
vary in their ability. We want to help the Church, but it is understood that they will not allow
Village Missions to furnish what is their responsibility and within their ability.

Base Supplement
The base supplement is exactly that, a supplement. It is intended to be only one part of your total
support. The supplement is provided by Village Missions to make up the difference between the
support that the field provides, and a pre-determined level, called the Minimum Base Support.

Because we operate by faith, the amount is not guaranteed, but is provided as God makes the
funds available. This amount may be increased or decreased from time to time as deemed
necessary by the Board.

Items that the field pays directly to you, or on your behalf reduce the supplement the Mission
sends. Certain items do not decrease the supplement. Review the Monthly Report instructions.
Please check with your District Representative for further details.

Donor Support
The amount of donor support you are required to raise is established at the time you join the
Mission. You are required to raise an additional amount for each child under the age of 18. The
first $300 of your donor support stays with the Mission (as the Operational Service Fee) to fund
basic support services that the Mission provides to you and your donors.

Your support goal may include additional funds for your personal support. The amount of
needed support may vary in response to amounts set by the Mission, your family size and state or
locality where you will be serving. Additional support may be raised, and all support funds
beyond the Operational Service Fee will be sent to you in addition to the Minimum Base
Support.
 5.8

Outside Employment
As a Mission, we are convinced that the great spiritual needs in rural North America require full-
time missionaries to meet those needs. We have a time-tested process for sending qualified and
supported missionaries to serve as missionary-pastors. The needs of ministry are too great to
allow them to divide their time and energy with outside employment.
Our missionaries are to be in full time service and are not to have outside employment unless in
extreme emergencies, and then only with the approval of the Assistant Director, District
Representative of the missionary in question, and the Executive Director.1

Pay Cycle
Supplement and donor support payments directly deposited to your bank account monthly. This
transmission is based on actual salary reported on your Monthly Report and funds credited to
your support account through the last business day of the report month. The cut-off for
payments of donor support is the last business day of the month. Make sure your donors mail
their support early.

When you arrive on the field, send a voided check to the International Service Center as soon
as possible. Direct Deposit needs to be set up no later than the first day of the month in which
you receive your first payment.

Gifts from Canadian donors to U.S. missionaries will likely be delayed an additional 30 days
because the Canadian office must forward the funds to the International Service Center.

The goal of the ISC is to transmit payments by the tenth business day following the last Sunday.
This is contingent upon you processing your monthly report on time. Missionaries in self-
supporting churches as well as those needing supplement are expected to file timely reports.
Monthly Reports must be submitted by the Wednesday after the last Sunday of the month.

Medical Benefit

Missionaries are required to participate in the Village Missions medical plan. The effective date
of enrollment is the 1st of the month after your arrival on the field. You will receive the
necessary information and an enrollment card after you are placed on your first field. If this
information is not received within one week of your placement, you should contact Village
Missions International Service Center in Dallas and request it.

1
Compare page 6.4
 5.9

Worker’s Compensation

Village Missions carries worker’s compensation insurance to cover you in the event of an injury
incurred in the normal course of your field ministry. Some larger churches may have chosen to
provide this coverage themselves. If so, we ask that Village Missions be notified so we can
cancel our coverage. Call the International Service Center for assistance in filing your claim.

Retirement Benefits

1) Social Security
Social Security participation is required for employment with Village Missions.
Social Security provides a death benefit and disability insurance for a spouse and children, as
well as retirement income and Medicare and Medicaid. Village Missionaries should view Social
Security as one component of their retirement planning that includes the Village Missions’
Pension Plan and a 403b Tax Sheltered Account. We do have some flexibility with this
requirement based on certain circumstances. Discuss this with the Assistant Director.

2) Pension Plan

A contributory defined benefit pension plan has been established with Principal Mutual Life
Insurance Company. Participation is mandatory. Enrollments are made monthly following the
first year of service. Information is provided by the International Service Center at your one-
year anniversary.

The missionary contribution established at this date is $50 per month. This amount must be paid
from your personal funds in after-tax dollars.

Various options are available to withdraw contributions upon termination or retirement.

3) 403(b) Annuity

An individual 403(b) Tax Sheltered Account may be established at your initiative. The amount
you designate may be withheld from your supplement and donor support payment through a
Salary Reduction Agreement. This amount is not subject to social security or income tax.

A retirement planning specialist selected by Village Missions is available to help you select
appropriate investments for your 403 (b), suited to your individual needs.

For additional information, see Tax Reporting, below.

 5.10

Life Insurance

As part of Village Missions Employee Benefit Plan, life insurance is provided for each
missionary in the amount of $20,000. An additional $5,000 coverage is provided for the spouse
and each child.

Additional life insurance coverage is may be obtained for both employee and spouse up to the
lesser of $300,000 or 5 times the annual earnings. The premium is based on the applicant’s age
and goes up periodically as he grows older. The coverage can be dropped at any time the added
protection is no longer needed.

Helping Fund
This fund is available to missionaries who have unexpected and excessive bills or other
emergency expenses that they are unable to pay. When making application for assistance, a
copy of the request form and copies of current unpaid bills should be sent to your District
Representative. He then will forward the request along with appropriate information to the
Helping Fund Committee. Funds will be paid directly to the provider as indicated on the
bill. This is a benevolent fund, not to be viewed as a second insurance. Since the funds are
limited, they will be dispensed according to the priority of need.

Tax Reporting
When you serve as a Village Missionary, you are classified as an employee. At year-end, you
will receive a Form W-2. Your W-2 will report income received directly from Village Missions
in the form of supplement and donor support payments.

The church you serve is responsible for providing a form W-2 for income they pay to you.
Contact your District Representative if the church is unwilling to do so. You are responsible to
report income you receive directly from other sources in the form of support or honoraria.

As a Village Missionary, you will be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as an employee
for income tax purposes and self-employed for Social Security tax purposes. This dual
classification carries with it the responsibility to pay your own Social Security tax, as well as
several other unique issues. Neither Village Missions, nor the churches, are required to withhold
taxes or Social Security from your wages. You are responsible for properly estimating your tax
and Social Security liability and making quarterly payments. You will be responsible for the
whole amount; there is no matching of income taxes or Social Security obligations.

You are strongly encouraged to obtain competent tax counsel. Your District Representative
can provide you with references and resources. A minister’s tax guide, a self-employment guide
from a local bookstore, or a computer tax program is helpful. Keep good financial records; they
will save you money!
 5.11

Please Do Not Let Personal Bills Go Unpaid.

Failure to handle finances in a responsible way will cost the respect of the community, may
jeopardize ministry and could potentially end a ministry vocation. Serving the Lord is not an
excuse to fail to live within what He provides or become so over-extended that bills cannot be
paid in a timely manner.

In your relationships with businesses, represent the Lord you serve. Pay what you owe promptly,
express appreciation for any courtesy, but do not request or even hint at special favors. If you
are unexpectedly unable to pay a bill, go to the business and apologize for the delay and letting
them know you will pay as soon as you are able. Businesspeople will be surprisingly helpful, if
they are persuaded that a customer is doing his best to meet his obligations. But they can
become understandably irritated otherwise.

Do not get in over your head. Stay away from time payments and credit cards unless you can
pay the account balance on time. Interest rates run very high on these accounts. Saving and
paying cash is far better than indebtedness. If your finances get out of hand, Village Missions
may have to put you on a leave-of-absence until you are in the black again. Get help from a
budget counselor, if need be.

Potential land mine: Never charge purchases to the church without the approval of the Church
Board.

Foreign Missionary Support*

*This section only applies to churches that are not under the Sliding Scale agreement and
who are not currently self-supporting.

Village Missions policy has long been to allow the Holy Spirit to lead the various fields
regarding their level of foreign mission support. However, no such program should be
encouraged until the field is self-supporting. The exception might be if a missionary is from the
home church.

Village Missions is supported by the sacrificial giving of churches, missionaries and individuals
with a passion to reach rural North America with the Gospel of Christ. To that end, the Mission
has assisted many fields to become self-supporting, in many cases requiring years to accomplish.
To assist the church to become self-supporting at the best pace, the Mission asks that foreign
mission support be limited to 10% of what it is able to provide in salary to its Village
Missionary. The exception would be if the foreign missionary originated from within the church.

In the case of a church that had previous commitments to foreign missionaries in place before
partnering with the Mission, we do not ask the church to drop the support of those missionaries.
We do ask that no additional financial support be added until the church becomes self-
 5.12

supporting. Should a foreign missions support commitment conclude we encourage the church
to direct that amount toward the salary of its missionary as a step toward becoming self-
supporting. The Village Missionary may need to guide the church toward seeing the value of
Village Missions in keeping this church spiritually vital.

When the field participates in or hosts a Missionary Conference, there should be a minimum of
three mission board represented, including Village Missions. Contact the office or your District
Representative for materials and videos.

Additionally: Do not give the names and addresses of other Village Missions fields to any
mission board or missions representative. Simply direct them to contact the International
Service Center. We ask your fullest cooperation in this matter.

Prayer Letters
Your prayer letter is essential to keeping your personal support team engaged with what God is
doing on your field and in your life. These are people who believe in God’s call on your life and
have committed to praying for you and supporting you financially. Respect their partnership by
communicating often with them. Plan on sending at least 6 prayer letters each year. These may
be printed, by email or in the form of a web page or social media site.
Communicate what you see God doing, share both the joys and the challenges. Keep in mind
that people from the community will likely hear or read what you write, so communicate
tactfully. Many Missionaries have found that expanding on information from their monthly
progress reports allows them to communicate in a timely and effective manner.
Take time in each letter to share specific ways your supporters can pray for you. As prayers are
answered, update them on what God is doing. Include some photos and family updates, these are
people who believe in you and love you.
 5.13

PERSONAL FINANCIAL POLICIES: CANADA

Your personal financial support is derived from three sources:

1) Housing, health benefits, salary and expense reimbursement paid by the field according to
their ability to pay;
2) Village Missions’ base supplement; and
3) Your ministry support team donors

Field Support

Before your arrival, the District Representative has worked with your Church Board to establish
the financial arrangements. The church will be asked to provide medical benefit, housing and
utilities, and as much of the Minimum Base Support as they are able. Every church or field will
vary in their ability. We want to help the church, but it is understood that they will not allow
Village Missions to furnish what is their responsibility and within their ability.

Base Supplement

The base supplement is exactly that, a supplement. It is intended to be only one part of your total
support. The supplement is provided by Village Missions to make up the difference between the
support that the field provides, and a pre-determined level, called the Minimum Base Support.

Because we operate by faith, the amount is not guaranteed, but is provided as God makes the
funds available. This amount may be increased or decreased from time to time as deemed
necessary by the Board.

Items that the field pays directly to you or on your behalf decreases the supplement paid. Certain
items are exempt. Review the Monthly Report instructions. Please check with your District
Representative for further details.

Donor Support

The amount of donor support you are required to raise is established based on when you apply to
the Mission. When accepted, you will be given a minimum goal of needed support. You are
required to raise an additional amount for each child under the age of 18. From your donor
support an Operational Service fee is taken to fund basic support services that the Mission
provides to you and your donors.

The amount of your needed support may vary in response to amounts set by the Mission, family
size and state or locality where you will be serving. You are free to raise more as your situation
demands.
 5.14

Operational Service Fee

An "Operational Service Fee" is charged each month to new missionaries. This service fee will
be deducted from your donor support each month. If a missionary's donor support falls below
the fee charged when they entered the Mission, they will be required to make up the difference.
These monies are used to fund basic support services that the Mission provides to the missionary.

Pay Cycle

Supplement and donor support payments are transmitted electronically to your bank account
monthly. This transmission is based on actual salary reported on your Monthly Report and funds
credited to your account through the last business day of the report month. The cut-off for
payments of donor support is the last business day of the month. Make sure your donors mail
their support early.

When you arrive on the field, send a voided cheque to the Mission, B.C. office as soon as
possible. Direct Deposit needs to be set up no later than the first day of the month in which you
receive your first payment.

Gifts from U.S. donors to Canadian missionaries will likely be delayed an additional 30 days
because the U.S. office must forward the funds to the Canadian office.

Payday in Canada is mid month. Your pay will be transmitted to your account within two
working days of the 15th of the month. This is contingent upon you mailing your monthly report
on time. Both missionaries in self-supporting churches as well as those needing supplement are
very much included. Monthly Reports must be postmarked by the Wednesday following the
last Sunday.

Medical Benefit

Be sure you are enrolled in the provincial medical plan of the province in which you serve.
There are also supplemental insurance programs, which you may want to consider purchasing for
further protection and extra coverage.

Canada Pension

A Group RRSP is established with Investor’s Group. All couples automatically go into this plan
after one year with Village Missions. Currently, both the Mission and the missionary couple
contribute monthly to this RRSP fund (Mission $75.00, missionary $25.00). The Village
Missions office of Canada will provide you with additional information.

The payroll personnel in Mission, B.C. will deduct Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premiums from
your net pay, on the amount of supplement you receive from Village Missions. The individual
churches are required to do the same, on the monies they pay toward your salary.
 5.15

Life Insurance

All Canadian missionaries are automatically enrolled in a Group Life Insurance and Long Term
Disability Program with Great West Life after being in the Mission for one year. The husband is
covered for $60,000. The missionary spouse is covered for $10,000. Children are covered for
$5,000. After age 65 the amount of coverage drops to 50%.

Helping Fund

This fund is available to our missionaries who have excessive medical bills that they are unable
to pay. Missionaries can submit invoices to the Executive Director’s Office requesting help from
the Helping Fund. Village Missions will pay 80% of that invoice up to $2,000 per year per
family.

The Helping Fund payments are reportable income, and will be paid through payroll so all taxes
and deductions are properly administrated.

Dental Reimbursement

See HELPING FUND, above.

Tax Reporting

The Village Missions of Canada’s payroll personnel will deduct income tax, Canadian Pension Plan, and
Employment Insurance premiums from your net pay on the amount of supplement you receive from
Village Missions and the donations you receive. The individual churches are required to do the same on
the monies they pay toward your salary directly. Each year you will receive a T4 slip from Village
Missions of Canada, reporting your earnings and deductions on supplement and donations you received
through the Canadian office. Your local church is required to provide a T4 on salary they paid directly to
you including the fair market rental value of the parsonage and utilities. Be sure to report all your
income from all sources when you file your annual income tax returns. Failure to do so can result in
severe penalties.

An estimated tax form, TD1, must be filled out annually.

 5.16

DAY OFF / FAMILY DAY

In rural ministry, it is almost impossible to take a day off from serving others unless you leave
town. But, taking a day of rest and refreshment with your family is essential to ministry success!
The rhythm of six days of labor and one day of rest was established by God as gift to people. 2
Even Jesus knew He needed time away from ministry, and so do you. Failure to take time to
refresh your body and soul, to spend time with just your family is a danger sign in ministry.

Protect your marriage by investing a day with your spouse each week. While your children are
home take time to be their father. Consider referring to this time as your “family day” rather
than a day off, people will likely respect your commitment. How you handle your life and
ministry will set the tone for the church family. Declare your trust in God who will enable you
to do His will in ministry for six days and then enjoy the day He has given you for rest and
refreshment.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Missionaries are encouraged to seek continuing education and advanced degrees. Consideration
of field needs and time issues should be discussed with your District Representative prior to
beginning any program or course of study.

IMPORTANCE OF A WILL

We would strongly suggest that you obtain a will, if you do not have one yet. Although your
estate may be minimal at the current time, it could be substantial because of an automobile
accident or a legacy. However, the primary reason for our recommending that you have a will is
the future welfare of your children. If both husband and wife should be called home because of
an accident, the state has been known to place the children as it saw fit, unless there is a will
designating guardianship for them. For further information, you should contact an attorney of
your choosing.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The Board has carefully developed several Leave of Absence polices. Leaves may be obtained
by request with the approval of VM leadership. In certain situations, a Leave of Absence may
carry some financial support. Contact your District Representative if you believe a leave is
necessary.

2
Mark 2:27 The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the
Sabbath. (NLT)
 5.17

VACATIONS

Missionaries receive 2 weeks of vacation after the first year* with the years 1-5 receiving 2
weeks paid vacation. In years 6-10, paid vacation is 3 weeks, and after the 10th year, vacation is
4 weeks.
(*Vacation time accrues at the rate of 1 vacation day for each 5.5 weeks served for a
total of 2 weeks vacation after 12 months of service, years 1-5.)

In Canada, missionaries who have served with us less than fifteen years can be off their field for
three full weeks during the year. Missionaries who have served with us fifteen years or more can
take four full weeks.

Report your vacation dates to the ISC, for payroll purposes (Canadians report dates to the B.C.
office). Vacation time is not cumulative and may not be saved up or carried over from year to
year. Please inform your District Representative as well so he is aware when you are away from
the field.

ANNUAL MISSIONARY STAFF CONFERENCE

Village Missions requires all missionary personnel to attend a Staff Conference each year. First
year missionaries are required to attend the Staff Conference in their district. Mini-Conferences
may also be held. Mini-Conferences, though not required, are encouraged due to the benefit
derived from fellowship with other missionaries. All first-year missionaries are required to
attend the Conference in their district.

The Mission assumes the conference expense for children through the summer following their
high school graduation. Due to limited accommodations at most conferences, it is requested that
foster children, friends and relatives not be invited to attend.

TIME OFF FOR CONFERENCES, PASTOR’S RETREATS, ETC.

Other than vacation and the Annual Staff Conference, time away from your field of service is not
to exceed two weeks for other conferences, retreats, etc. In consideration of the church, seek to
ensure that this time does not involve a Sunday’s absence.

PLACEMENT OF LEADERSHIP ON A FIELD

We go only where asked and leave on the same basis. The local church and sometimes just a
local group of people with no church structure have asked Village Missions to provide
leadership. You are there because Village Missions was invited. If for any reason the field
desires a change of leadership, the board should be encouraged to contact their Village Mission
District Representative. If the field where you are serving requests a change of leadership,
 5.18

we expect you to accept this fact, react in a way that would honor the Lord, and withdraw
in a gracious Christ-like manner. Please do not polarize the community! The Lord may still
have a witness for that community in the future.

REPLACEMENT OF LEADERSHIP ON THE FIELD

No field is intentionally left unmanned except as the community may request it. The
missionaries themselves may feel their work is completed on a field and request a change. They
are replaced if the field so desires. The District Representative will contact the church to
determine their desires.

FIELD DEPARTURE PROCEDURE

Upon leaving a field, missionaries are requested to sever all Pastoral ties with that field. This is
the accepted ethical procedure for pastoral ministry.

When he arrives, the new missionary will need all the loyalty and support available in order to
help the church accomplish their divine mission. It is the duty of a departing missionary to
encourage this attitude within the congregation.

We recognize that good friendships develop over years of ministry. While those friendships can
continue, be mindful of the effect your connections to those people will have on the next
missionary. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU TO CONTINUE TO ACT AS
PASTOR TOWARD YOUR FORMER CHURCH. In practice, this means requesting the local
missionary’s approval, well in advance, should you wish to visit a former field. Keep any visit
brief and casual, by your actions encouraging that former parishioner’s attachment to their local
missionary.

You will be sent a packet of information containing the appointment letter, a copy of the
appointment letter to the church, parsonage notebook, moving instructions, and direct deposit
authorization form. The parsonage notebook should be filled out as completely as possible and
left for the incoming missionary. Consider everything written in the notebook public knowledge.

On the Web Portal, complete the Field and Parsonage Information form, the Missionary
Evaluation, the Missionary DR Evaluation, and the Moving Information form. The direct
deposit authorization form should be used when you establish a new bank at the next field.

Arrange with the phone company to retain the same telephone number for the new missionary.
Since this phone number is listed nationally, it will be to the advantage of the incoming
missionary and our office to keep the same number. Local and long distance phone services are
constantly changing, so make sure that billing information is accurate.
 5.19

The following should not be left, when you move:

1) Pets for the incoming missionary to inherit!

2) A messy parsonage, yard, your garbage, old cars, bicycles, etc.
3) Information about your problem people, if you have such. Do not leave or record anything
that would or could be used in an embarrassing way. Do not leave a report of comments
about families in the area. Allow the incoming missionary to begin with an unbiased view.
Assume that any information you do leave will be public knowledge on the field.

MOVING DETAILS

It is your responsibility to get to your first field. Village Missions will assist financially with
subsequent moves. This financial assistance covers only truck rental and a tow dolly rental. If
you choose an automobile transport, you pay the difference. Gasoline for rental truck and one
car will also be reimbursed. We will provide up to $60 per day of travel for food for your
family. Receipts for these expenses must be supplied to the Dallas office for U.S. missionaries,
or to the Canadian Regional Administrator for Canadian missionaries, for reimbursement. Please
keep receipts for your personal car gasoline and the truck gasoline separate.

U.S. Policy: All arrangements for moving will be handled from the Dallas office for US
missionaries. When you receive your appointment letter, log into the Web Portal and
complete the Moving Information form. The Office will make arrangements for truck
rental at the corporate discount rate, typically saving 15% or more.

Canadian Policy – It is your responsibility to get to your first field. Village Missions will assist
financially with subsequent moves. Your move will need to be coordinated through your
District Representative who will guide you through the moving process.

Be sure to complete your final month’s report for your current field, even if it is a partial month.
Begin a new report with your next field, do not combine them. Upon arrival on your new field,
immediately advise the office Administrative Assistant of your arrival date, your complete
new address with zip code, and your telephone number with area code. (Do not assume that
the offices will know it is the same as before; this is not always the case.)

Establish a bank account in your new area and mail the name of the bank, bank address, your
new account number and a blank ‘voided’ check to the Dallas or Richmond office.
 5.20

ORDINATION

Village Missions does not require ordination, but if a missionary desires to be ordained, in
Canada Village Missions Canada will ordain them after three years of service. It is not the
practice of the Mission to ordain workers in the US. The license issued by Village Missions
constitutes adequate credentials for services requested of a Missionary/Pastor, such as funerals
and marriage ceremonies. Be sure to check on this in your state or province.

The Board of Village Missions requests that before any of our fields take on the responsibility of
ordaining men to the Gospel ministry, they report such intention to the District Representative.

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

The National Board of Village Missions has ruled that each Missionary family obtain liability
insurance on all their vehicles to the first level of insurance above the basic level set in their area.
The missionary is required to return a Verification of Insurance Form sent from the office
annually, indicating all vehicles owned and the insurance carrier for those vehicles.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD

The introductory period of one year, which can be changed at the discretion of the Board, gives
the missionary and the Mission an opportunity to determine our capabilities and compatibilities.

Village Missions is not interested in those considering it as a steppingstone. Village

Missions is interested in those called by the Spirit of God to minister in rural North
America.
 5.21

POLICY ON SUSPECTED MISCONDUCT, DISHONESTY, FRAUD

AND WHISTLE-BLOWER PROTECTION

Village Missions is committed to the highest possible standards of ethical, moral and legal conduct.
Additionally, Village Missions has a duty before the Lord to protect Village Missionaries against false
accusations and to protect the local body of Christ, members of the community and/or Village Missions
against harm done by a Village Missionary.

Consistent with this commitment, this policy aims to provide an avenue for any employee, volunteer,
board member or church attendee to raise concerns about suspected misconduct, dishonesty and/or fraud
on a confidential and anonymous basis.

No one who reports a concern in good faith will be subject to retaliation, or in the case of an employee,
adverse employment consequences. Moreover, any employee or volunteer who retaliates against someone
who has reported a concern in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination.

The following procedure is established to address these commitments.

Definitions
For purposes of this policy, the definition of misconduct, dishonesty and fraud includes, but is not limited
to:
1. Actions in violation of the adopted “Statement of Lifestyle and Morality Standards”
2. Illegal activities
3. Misuse of ministry resources
4. Theft or other misappropriation of ministry assets
5. Misstatements or other irregularities in ministry records
6. Incorrect financial reporting
7. Forgery or alteration of documents
8. Any other form of fraud

REPORTING AN ACCUSATION

It is the responsibility of every employee, volunteer, board member and church attendee to report
concerns relating to suspected misconduct, dishonesty or fraud. Such concerns should be set forth in
writing and sent in a sealed envelope to the Executive Director, whose name and address will be updated
as needed and displayed following this paragraph. The envelope should be labeled as follows:

“To be opened by the executive director of village missions only. Privileged and confidential
pursuant to the “policy on suspected misconduct, dishonesty, fraud and whistle-blower
protection”

_________________, Executive Director

Village Missions
P. O. Box 197
Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 800-617-9905

If the reported concern involves the Executive Director, then the Chairman of the Board of Directors
should be notified instead.
 5.22

Timeliness
All reporting must be done in a timely manner. If the severity or urgency of a situation requires that the
Executive Director be contacted by phone or email, the Executive Director may act on that information
without delay. The complainant will be asked to follow-up the accusation by documenting it in a signed
letter.

Acting in Good Faith

Anyone filing a complaint must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the
information disclosed indicates misconduct, dishonesty, or fraud. Any allegations that prove not to be
substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as
a serious disciplinary offense.

Confidentiality
Violations or suspected violations must be submitted on a confidential basis by the complainant and may
be submitted anonymously. Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the
extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation. Every effort will be made
to protect the complainant’s identity.

Anonymous Allegations
Complainants are encouraged to put their names to allegations because appropriate follow-up questions
and investigation may not be possible unless the source of the information is identified. Concerns
expressed anonymously will be investigated, but consideration will be given to:
1. The seriousness of the issue raised;
2. The credibility of the concern; and
3. The likelihood of confirming the allegation from attributable sources.

APPOINTING AN INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE

Following the receipt of an accusation the Executive Director will seek input from the following people
on who should best serve on the Investigation Committee:

1. Assistant Director
2. CFO – (if the concern involves financial misconduct)
3. District Representative in region where accused serves
4. Chairman of the Board

A second District Representative should be assigned to assist investigations involving field missionaries.

INVESTIGATING THE ACCUSATION

The Investigation Committee, as appointed by the Executive Director, will investigate each matter so
reported and recommend corrective and disciplinary actions where appropriate. The Investigation
Committee may enlist committee members, employees of the ministry and/or outside legal, accounting or
other advisors, as appropriate, to conduct any investigation of complaints regarding financial reporting,
accounting, internal accounting controls, or any other form of misconduct, dishonesty, or fraud. In
conducting any investigation, the Investigation Committee shall use reasonable efforts to protect the
confidentiality and anonymity of the complainant.
 5.23

Investigation Guidelines
1. All communication with the public will be handled by the Executive Director or by someone
appointed by him.

2. Written documentation of all communications involving the investigation (interviews, meetings,

phone calls, letters, e-mail, etc.) must be maintained. Written minutes of meetings of the
Investigation Committee must be maintained.

3. The Investigation Committee will act immediately to make an objective investigation.

4. The investigation should take place on the field, if applicable.

5. If any legal reporting issues are involved, it is the duty of the Investigation Committee to discover
the legal requirements and comply with them.

6. If the accusation has not been submitted, a concerted effort should be made to document the
accusation in writing and signed by the accuser, if possible.

Investigation Procedure
In general, the steps outlined should be followed carefully and in order unless circumstances dictate
otherwise.

1. The investigation team will go the accused as an objective fact-finder. State the accusation and
let him (or her) tell you what happened from his (or her) perspective.

2. The investigation team will interview third persons who have first-hand knowledge of the
incident, without putting their words in his/her mouth. There should be no leading questions but
an honest effort to determine the truth. It is highly preferable that all interviews be recorded.

3. The investigation team then makes an evaluation in consultation with the Executive Director and
Assistant Director of the evidence thus far collected. If serious enough it may warrant a decision
to immediately relieve the accused from service and/or relocate the accused from the field.

4. Unless it involves criminal conduct, the investigation team, in an effort to clarify the facts, will
then meet with the people involved. They shall hear from both sides and the witnesses. All
criminal conduct must be reported to the proper authorities.

Report to Complainant
The complainant will be given the opportunity to receive follow-up on their concern:
a. Acknowledging that the concern was received;
b. Giving an estimate of the time that it will take for a final response;
c. Telling them whether initial inquiries have been made.
d. Telling them about the outcome of any investigations, subject to legal constraints.

If the Accused is found guilty, the “Restorative Process” will be followed. If the “Restorative
Process” is not successful, the “Termination of Employment Process” will be followed.

Restorative Process
The restorative process is dependent not only on the repentance of the accused, if found guilty, but also on
the nature and severity of the violation. The Mission may recommend that the violator undergo
professional counseling and further assessment. The Mission may apply a probation period of
 5.24

employment or volunteer service to allow for correction of conduct and assessment. When restoration is
deemed complete, Village Missions, at its sole discretion, may reinstate or reassign the employee or
volunteer to appropriate positions of ministry.

Termination of Employment
In the event the restorative process outlined above fails, it shall be recognized by both parties as a
fundamental breach of employer/employee/volunteer relationship and the employee/volunteer accepts that
Village Missions may in its sole discretion, terminate the relationship without notice or compensation

Document Retention
The Investigation Committee shall retain as a part of the records of the Committee any such complaints or
concerns for a period of at least seven years.
 5.25

AUXILIARY PROGRAMS

ASSOCIATE MISSIONARY PROGRAM

There are many retired pastors or missionaries who would love to continue to have a ministry in
their later years. They might be willing to serve a church temporarily until Village Missions can
supply full-time leadership. They might be willing to serve a smaller work with fewer demands.
Missionaries returning from foreign service for health or political reasons may want to remain in
ministry. The Associate Missionary program offers a flexible plan for continuing to serve the
Lord in church ministry.

The program is set forth in the Associate Missionary Ministry manual. A full application process
is required. Retired Village Missionaries can use a simplified application.

ECOLA BIBLE SCHOOL

Ecola Bible School is held at Cannon Beach Conference Center on the beautiful Oregon coast.
Ecola is a one-year, three term Bible school utilizing well-known guest Bible teachers who
generally come to instruct for a week at a time on a specific book of the Bible or subject. This
low-cost schooling is a way to get your feet on the ground spiritually. Contact information can
be obtained from the ISC.3

INTERNSHIPS

BIBLE SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Various Bible colleges have developed internship programs for those students as part of
their academic program. This practical Christian service allows the intern to experience
ministry first hand and complete his degree under the watchful eye of an experienced,
seasoned missionary/pastor. The internship may be for a summer or longer.

Village Missions and the Bible school benefit by a partnership in this internship program.
Village Missions, by giving students an opportunity to work and live at a VM field may be
blessed by couples who wish to join Village Missions at the completion of their schooling.
The Bible school benefits by having available experienced conservative, Bible preaching
and teaching missionary/pastors to serve as mentors for their interns.

Contact your District Representative for details.

3
www.ecola.org
 5.26

MINISTRY PREPARATION INTERNSHIP

This program provides additional training to couples who have been accepted as Village
Missionaries. The intern couple serves within the context of the local church setting, under the
supervision of a Village Missionary. This program will prepare them to assume full
responsibility for ministry in their future field appointments.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Our Summer Internship Assistance Program for college students is designed to help you determine
you call to rural ministry and to Village Missions specifically. Emphasis is placed on the
shepherding responsibilities of evangelism, discipleship, preaching, teaching, visitation and
counseling as you work alongside a Village Missions couple.

CONTENDERS DISCIPLESHIP INITIATIVE

Contenders Discipleship Initiative (CDI)4 is a resource developed through generous donations to
Village Missions. The intent of the program is to strengthen churches by enhancing the biblical
knowledge and spiritual skills of participants and to develop church leaders. This video based
program provides solid Bible training while allowing the leader to customize the training.
Students to learn how to study the Bible to know what they believe, why they believe it and to
have the confidence and ability to communicate that to others.

The CDI materials help lay a solid foundation for spiritual ministry. With the help of a mentor-
pastor a student could be prepared to enter rural ministry with Village Missions, using these
materials and practical coaching by their mentor. Within the church, disciples grow to maturity
and leaders are developed to guide the church in the future.

4
www.vmcontenders.org
 5.27

APPENDIX A:

THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT CONCERNING THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT

(Submitted by Rev. Walter Duff)

I. THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORY

Throughout church history great men such as Luther, Calvin, Knox, Wesley, Whitfield, Finney,
Moody and presently Billy Graham have carried on great ministries, which at times have literally
moved continents, but their writings reveal no emphasis on the above-mentioned doctrines of the
Charismatic movement. If these teachings are the key to spiritual effectiveness, then it is
impossible to explain the success of these men. In fact, it is impossible to explain the success of
any significant spiritual movement at any place or any time which has not emphasized these
teachings. Yet church, history is not only filled with such movements, but such movements have
made far greater impact than the Charismatic movement.

Actually, the Charismatic movement itself has never even approached the New Testament
church in the very areas some claim to imitate. Acts 5:14-16 and Acts 28:9 indicate that on
specific occasions the apostles healed everyone with whom they came in contact. A Christian
with this healing power today could simply walk into a large hospital and empty it. Healers in
the Charismatic movement have not done this. Acts 9:36-43 records that Peter raised Dorcas
from the dead. Charismatic miracle workers do not offer documented evidence of raising the
dead. It seems more logical to assume in the light of history that certain special manifestations
of power were granted to the New Testament church to attest its message rather than to become a
part of its permanent history. Hebrews 2:3-4 indicates this: “How shall we escape if we neglect
so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by
those who heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, by various
miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” (All New Testament quotes
and references are from the New American Standard Version.) After the completion of the New
Testament the need for apostles, prophets and certain other specially gifted individuals
apparently ceased and these gifts died out. Even in Paul’s later letters, a distinct absence of the
miraculous is noteworthy. He could not immediately heal Epaphroditus (Php. 2:25-28), as he
healed people in Acts. He could not heal Trophimus at all, so left him sick at Miletus (2Ti.
4:20).

Since these miraculous manifestations have not reappeared even in the Charismatic movement to
the extent they were present in New Testament times, we conclude on a historical basis that these
teachings associated with the Charismatic movement are not valid.

II. THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT IN THE LIGHT OF NEW TESTAMENT

TEACHING

Though the evidence of church history clearly opposes claims by some in the Charismatic
movement, the clear teaching of the New Testament is even more at variance. To support their
claims concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, the teachers in this
movement usually state that there are two different baptisms of the Holy Spirit - one in the
 5.28

Gospels and Acts and another in the Epistles. They generally also claim that there are two kinds
of speaking in tongues - one kind in the Gospels and Acts and again another kind in the Epistles.
Though some may hesitate to admit it, their whole case must ultimately rest on these technical
distinctions, as will be shown. This in itself displays a grave weakness in Biblical approach. A
cardinal rule of Biblical interpretation is that great or essential doctrines are taught clearly and
repeated frequently. For example, the doctrine of salvation from the penalty and power of sin by
faith alone is the theme of eight entire chapters of Romans, the whole book of Galatians, much of
Hebrews, and numerous other chapters, passages and verses throughout the Bible. The claim
that water baptism is necessary for salvation, on the other hand, not only contradicts this clear
doctrine, but rests on comparatively few passages, some of them obscure and all of them capable
of a different interpretation. Many Charismatic teachers stress that their special interpretation of
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is essential for proper understanding of
the entire Christian life. But that such monumental truth should hang on technicalities so
difficult to substantiate as two Baptisms of the Spirit and two kinds of speaking in tongues is
incredible.

A. DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACH TWO DIFFERENT BAPTISMS OF THE

SPIRIT?

Definition of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 clearly describes the Baptism
of the Spirit: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks,
whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” This verse teaches: (1) that
the Baptism of the Spirit is true of all Christians. He says “we all” and
addresses the carnal Corinthian Christians (cf. 1Co. 3:1-3). (2) that it is not a ritual, like water
baptism, but a work of the Holy Spirit which puts us in union with Christ and makes us members
of His body. The Greek word for baptize is “baptizo” which means “dip, “ “immerse,” or
perhaps “identify with.” A better translation would be “we were all immersed, or placed, into
one body.” (3) that this baptism is a once-for-all work of the Spirit which occurs at salvation.
The Greek aorist tense here indicates that this took place at a point of time and is not a
continuing action. Since it is true of all Christians it could only have happened at salvation, or
some Christians would conceivably be without it. Romans 6:1-11 and other New Testament
passages show that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which puts us in union with Christ, is the
basis of the victorious Christian life. The Baptism of the Spirit should be carefully distinguished
from the filling of the Spirit, however. The baptism is at the point of salvation and makes victory
available. The filling is the daily appropriation of this victory.

The Charismatic Claim. Charismatic teachers usually emphasize that the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit mentioned in the Gospels and Acts is distinct from the one described in 1 Corinthians
12:13. They say the baptism in the Gospels and Acts is a distinct experience, frequently
subsequent to salvation, which: (1) initiates the real power for Christian life and service; (2) has
“speaking in tongues” as evidence that it has been received; (3) has Christ as its agent and not the
Holy Spirit. They emphasize that many Christians do not have this Baptism and are therefore
carnal and ineffective.

The Reason for their Claim: Since 1 Corinthians 12:13 teaches that the baptizing work of the
Holy Spirit is the universal possession of all believers, these Charismatic teachers must show that
 5.29

this baptism differs from that in the Gospels and Acts, or relinquish the concept that only some
Christians have the baptism and that those who do not should seek it. Clearly, if 1 Corinthians
12:13 refers to the identical spiritual baptism as Acts and the Gospels, all Christians already have
the Baptism of the Spirit, whether they claim the power it provides or not, and no one should
ever seek it, since it was given at salvation.

The Weaknesses of their Position. The fundamental error of their view is that it fails to
recognize that the Epistles are the Divine interpretation of the history in the Gospels and Acts.
Jesus said that He had many more things to say, but that the disciples were not able to understand
at that time (Jn. 16:12). Jesus promised that when the Spirit came He would give them an
understanding of His teachings (Jn. 14:26). As a result of this failure, these Charismatic teachers
are unable to answer satisfactorily the following weaknesses in their position: (1) If there is a
different Baptism of the Spirit than the one defined in 1 Corinthians 12:13, why is it not ever
mentioned in the Epistles? The Epistles give detailed instructions on Christian living, and if the
Baptism of the Spirit taught by the Charismatic teachers is the basis for spiritual power, then it is
incredible that Paul would not have even mentioned it or stated anywhere that there were two
baptisms. (2) Why is this Baptism of the Spirit never commanded in the New Testament?
Christians are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18), but never once are they
commanded to be baptized by the Holy Spirit or even to seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. If
this is the basis of empowering for both life and service, it is inconceivable that Paul did not
command the carnal Corinthians or legalistic Galatians to seek it. Why did Jesus state it would
happen to the disciples, but never commanded them to seek it (Ac. 1:5)? The Baptism of the
Spirit is always described as something received automatically for which we are never told to
seek.

The Explanation of the Different Terminology. These Charismatic teachers differentiate the two
baptisms because the Gospels and Acts state Christ does the baptizing, while 1 Corinthians states
the Holy Spirit performs it. But calling Christ the agent of the baptism accords with Paul’s
definition in 1 Corinthians 12:13, for Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit, and that
the Holy Spirit would do Christ’s will, not His own (Jn. 16:13). In this light, it could be said that
Christ baptizes the believer into union with Himself with the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, it is
also true to say that the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ. It is strictly a matter of which person
of the Trinity is being emphasized by the context.

Conclusion: Since the position of two baptisms of the Spirit encounters many unanswerable
difficulties and is based almost entirely on a slightly different terminology in the Gospels, Acts
and Epistles, to hang the most major doctrine of the Christian life on such a slender thread is
obviously indefensible. The Gospels and Acts do not define the Baptism of the Spirit while the
Epistles do define it and consistently use it in the same sense (see Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:12; Rom.
6:3-4; 1Pe. 3:21). Since there is every reason to expect the Epistles to differentiate two baptisms,
if they exist, and since they do not do so (cf. Eph. 4:5), a consistent interpretation of the New
Testament demands that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, Acts and Epistles be
identical.
 5.30

B. DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACH TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF SPEAKING IN

TONGUES?

The Charismatic Claim. One of the most central teachings of many in the Charismatic
movement is that speaking in tongues is a certain evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
But they frequently distinguish this speaking in tongues, which they say is in Acts, from the “gift
of tongues” in 1 Corinthians 12-14. They say that every, or almost every believer should enjoy
speaking in tongues, while only some have the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians.

The Reason for their Claim. They must make this distinction because 1 Corinthians 12-14
clearly teaches that (1) a carnal Christian can speak in tongues since the carnal Corinthian Chris-
tians did; (2) only some Christians speak in tongues, not all (1 Cor. 12:3 0); (3) speaking in
tongues is a minor, comparatively unimportant gift (1Co. 12:28); (4) speaking in tongues is a gift
sovereignly distributed at the discretion of the Holy Spirit and, therefore, should not be sought
(1Co. 12:11, cf. Heb. 2:4). Obviously, if the gift of tongues in Corinthians is the same as that in
Acts, it cannot conceivably be an evidence of spirituality which should be sought by all
dedicated Christians, and it cannot have any bearing at all on the appropriation of the power of
the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament Teaching: The New Testament, on the other hand, does not indicate two
kinds of speaking in tongues. It specifically refers to speaking in tongues in three passages of
Acts and in 1 Corinthians 12-14 (Mk. 16:17 is not in the best manuscripts). It uses the same
Greek word, “glossa” throughout, which is translated “tongues” or “languages.” In Acts 2, the
first occurrence of speaking in tongues, the disciples miraculously spoke in intelligible, known
languages. Acts 10 and Acts 19, the next two occurrences, do not indicate any different
phenomenon.

Nothing in 1 Corinthians 12-14 indicates that this passage differs either. Some Charismatic
teachers insist that the Corinthian passage does differ because: (1) he describes an unintelligible
“heavenly” language when he says in 14:2 that “in his spirit he speaks mysteries;” (2) he
distinguishes a “heavenly” language and an “earthly” language in 13:1 where he mentions
“tongues of men and of angels;” (3) he says only some speak in tongues in Corinthians while all
do in Acts. But speaking “mysteries” may just as easily refer to the speaker’s inability to
comprehend the language he was using. Undoubtedly at Pentecost the moderately educated
disciples did not understand all the languages they miraculously spoke either, though members of
the audience from localities where the language was used did. The “heavenly” and “earthly”
language may just as easily be a figure of speech (hyperbole), and finally, Acts does not give
conclusive evidence that speaking in tongues universally accompanied the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Though the apostles present the Gospel to non-Christians in almost every chapter, on
only three certain occasions and one probable occasion does speaking in tongues accompany the
response. Significantly, though the disciples spoke in tongues at Pentecost, there is no evidence
of any or all of their converts doing so. Acts only teaches that on isolated occasions the majority,
perhaps, of a group spoke in tongues. The specific reasons for speaking in tongues on each of
these occasions will be examined later.
 5.31

Conclusion. Since the burden of proof is on those who maintain two kinds of speaking in
tongues, and no conclusive proof is forthcoming, such a distinction is obviously untenable.
Again, it is inconceivable that a major Biblical truth should rest on such unclear, technical
distinctions. Major Biblical truths are clearly revealed in many different passages, not buried
here and there in obscurity and uncertainty.

C. DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACH THAT SPEAKING IN TONGUES HAS ANY
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING?

Many in the Charismatic movement stress that every Christian should seek a speaking in tongues
experience as an evidence, or even as a means of being baptized by the Holy Spirit. This raises a
fundamental issue: does speaking in tongues have any special relationship to victorious Christian
living and effective ministry? To answer this, it is necessary to examine the significance of the
experience in both Acts and Corinthians.

The Significance of Speaking in Tongues in Acts. The Charismatic movement generally teaches
that occurrences of “tongues” in Acts, which on some occasions came subsequent to salvation
through the laying on of hands, are normative for the whole church era. But this interpretation is
open to fatal objection. The most definitive statements of New Testament doctrine are in (1) the
teachings of Jesus, (2) the sermons in Acts, or (3) the writings in the Epistles and Revelation.
The least definitive explanations of doctrine, on the other hand, are in the historical narratives of
the Gospels and Acts. For instance, though the Gospel crucifixion narratives reveal the
dedication and love of Jesus, they fail to explain that his death atoned for sin. Fortunately the
teachings of Jesus and the Epistles make this clear elsewhere.

Obviously then, to build major doctrines on the incomplete information of the historical
narratives alone is folly. Yet, the Charismatic teachers do just this. They must claim that the
sole key to spiritual power is hidden away in only four isolated and highly unique historical
portions of Acts, where it is never fully explained, while Jesus, Peter, Paul and John are virtually
silent about this same vital doctrine in all their extensive teachings. Indeed, Jesus and John never
speak of it at all; Peter, who participated in three of its four occurrences in Acts, writes two
epistles without reference to it, and when Paul mentions it somewhat derogatorily they say he is
talking about a wholly different phenomenon. Once again, the issue is whether major New
Testament truth is taught clearly and frequently or hidden in obscurity for only the chosen few to
find.

Yet, the weakness of the usual Charismatic interpretation of Acts runs even deeper. For not only
do the Charismatic teachers build too much on Acts’ incomplete historical narratives, but they
construct on passages capable of a quite different interpretation than their own. The one
probable and three certain references to speaking in tongues in Acts represent each time a unique
situation in the life of the early church incapable of repetition today. It is just as likely that
speaking in tongues occurred to meet an unusual need in each of these situations as it is that this
experience should be the norm for Christians through the centuries. The following interpretation
of these passages is the most universally accepted of the scholars and agrees best with the
Epistles:
 5.32

a. ACTS 2:1-13
In Acts 1:3-8 Jesus stated that the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit as the Father promised
(v. 3), that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (v. 5) and that they would be empowered
to witness (v. 8). Since this was the beginning of the Spirit’s New Testament ministries, and
since the majority of these ministries could not be immediately seen or consciously understood,
the outer phenomena of speaking in tongues was apparently given as evidence that all which was
promised had been given.

In addition, Paul shows that speaking in tongues was a sign to unbelieving Jews (1Co. 14:21-22).
This sign fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and proved that God was accrediting the message
about Jesus as the Savior-Messiah. Obviously, such a special occasion with these unique
purposes cannot establish a norm for the meaning of the tongues experience.

b. ACTS 8:14-24
This passage does not mention speaking in tongues, but since the reception of the Holy Spirit by
laying on of the apostles’ hands was observable, the phenomenon probably occurred. Once
again this was a unique occasion since it marked the first presentation of the new message to the
Samaritans. The Jews had fierce hatred for the Samaritans (Jn. 4:9), so there was immediate
need for visible proof that the Samaritans would enjoy the same ministries of the Spirit as the
Jews. Thus they would not be considered “second rate” Christians, but would be welcomed into
the full fellowship of the Jewish church.

c. ACTS 10:44-48
This is a third unique occasion, since the Jewish leaders of the church bring the Gospel to the
Gentiles for the first time. Peter and the other Jewish believers are startled when the Gentiles
receive exactly the same outward evidence of the Holy Spirit’s New Testament ministries as the
disciples had at Pentecost. Peter interprets this as proof that they are full-fledged members of the
body of Christ on an equal level with Jews. So each of these three passages represents God
using the gift of tongues to give visible evidence that the Holy Spirit would begin His New
Testament ministries in each of these three groups--Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles. These
unique occasions provide no norm for the function of speaking in tongues today.

d. ACTS 19:1-6
This is a fourth unique occasion, though of a different type from the other three. When the
disciples initially received the new ministries of the Spirit in Acts 2, thousands of Old Testament
believers were scattered about the Roman world. This meant that thousands of Old Testament
economy believers were without the Holy Spirit’s New Testament ministries. This passage
discloses how these Old Testament believers were integrated into the New Testament ministries
of the Holy Spirit. Again, speaking in tongues is a visible evidence that the Spirit has initiated
His new ministries in a peculiar realm. Paul asks, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you
believed?” and “on what basis were you baptized?” This was perhaps a common practice of
Christians when they entered a new region where Old Testament believers might be. Their
answers clearly revealed that they were Old Testament believers converted under John the
Baptist’s message who did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul shared the New
Testament message of a resurrected Messiah, laid hands on them, and imparted the Holy Spirit
with all His new ministries. This was again very unique. It is the only situation of this kind
 5.33

mentioned in Acts and though it probably occurred in various places many times, it ceased with
the death of that generation.

Harmonizing Acts and the Epistles. After the unique phenomena of these four passages, there is
no other mention of the Holy Spirit indwelling a person subsequent to salvation. The Epistles
consistently teach that the normative experience is to receive the Holy Spirit with all His
ministries at the moment and as part of salvation. Of course, the filling ministry of the Spirit
depends upon understanding and continuous faith appropriation, but its availability is present
from the instant of salvation. Romans 8:9 says, “...if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God,
these are sons of God.” Paul exhorts the carnal Corinthians to stop sexual immorality because
their bodies are the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1Co. 6:15-20). Not to have the Holy Spirit is
not to be saved, and to have the Holy Spirit is absolute proof that one is saved (1Co. 12:3). They
are absolutely co-extensive in the Epistles. In the light of this, the Acts and Epistles seem to
harmonize in the following manner:

(1) From the time that the 120 Jews in Acts 2 received the Holy Spirit, whenever a Jew would
believe in Christ, he would receive the Holy Spirit simultaneously.
(2) From the time the Samaritans, who were part Jew, initially received the Holy Spirit in Acts 8,
any subsequent Samaritan convert would receive the Holy Spirit simultaneously with salvation.
(3) In Acts 10, the transition became complete. The Gentiles, who were not under the Law of
Moses, were brought into possession of the Holy Spirit’s full ministries. From that time onward
the norm for Jew, part Jew or Gentile is as stated in the Epistles (Eph. 1:13-14), --they received
the Holy Spirit simultaneously with salvation.
(4) In each of the above cases and Acts 19, speaking in tongues was an immediate visible
evidence to the Jews that God had received this group fully into His new economy and plan.

Conclusion. Though some Bible students might disagree over details of the above interpretation,
it shows that the crucial passages of Acts do not support the usual Charismatic claim. Either
many adherents to this movement must produce other, clearer passages, or concede that their
house is built upon the sand. But the New Testament refers only one other time to speaking in
tongues - 1 Corinthians 12-14 - and they themselves usually teach that this is a different kind of
speaking in tongues which not all spiritual Christians possess. Once again their fatal flaw shows
forth their attempt to build major Biblical truth on passages which are too few, too unclear, and
to inconclusive.

The Significance of Speaking in Tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14. In 1 Corinthians 12-14 Paul

discusses speaking in tongues in some detail. He shows:
(1) That speaking in tongues should not be over-emphasized (12:12-27). Here he emphasizes
that speaking in tongues does not give a spiritual superiority which others should seek. Paul uses
the illustration of the organs in the human body to prove that every gift has its own function, that
not all will possess the same gift and that no gift should be over-emphasized.
(2) That speaking in tongues, along with other spiritual gifts, is sovereignly given (12:18-19).
Here he shows that God alone has sufficient wisdom to decide who gets what gift, so no one
should try to persuade all to have any certain gift. 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1, where it says
 5.34

“desire earnestly spiritual gifts” means, in the light of this, that the local assembly as a whole
should seek men with spiritual gifts which are more edifying to the whole congregation.
(3) That speaking in tongues is given only to some, not to all, and that it is a lesser gift (12:28-
30). In the original Greek the questions asked here demand a negative answer and are properly
translated “all do not speak with tongues, do they?” Note carefully it does not say, “all do not
have the gift of tongues,” but that “all do not speak with tongues.” This shows again that
speaking in tongues in Corinthians is identical with that in Acts and that all speaking in tongues
is a gift. If speaking in tongues is a sign of entrance into the empowering ministry of the Spirit,
then God is not fair, because all can not enter. Paul then lists the gifts in order of importance --
“first,” “second,” etc. -- speaking in tongues is noticeably last.
(4) That love should motivate the use of speaking in tongues (1Co. 13). Using a hyperbolic
style, Paul takes the spiritual gifts of tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and giving and
presents examples of each being exercised to the maximum. Then he shows that they are
meaningless and unacceptable to God unless they are accompanied by love. This love, a
translation of the Greek word “agape,” is the chief evidence that a Christian is Spirit-filled
according to Galatians 5:22 and Romans 8, compared with Romans 4. Paul explicitly declares
here, then that one can exercise a spiritual gift even though carnal and not filled with the Spirit.
So speaking in tongues at Corinth, far from being a sign of superior spirituality, had become a
source of gross carnality. Satan had caused the Corinthians to pervert a gift from God. This fact
should serve as a warning today.
(5) That speaking in tongues has a primarily evangelistic purpose (1Co. 14). Paul gives the
primary purpose of speaking in tongues in 14:20-22, where he states that according to Isaiah
28:11 it was a sign to unbelieving Jews scattered abroad that the Messiah had come and that the
message about Him was from God. But Paul applies it as a sign to unbelieving Gentiles also. If
a man from the Roman province Parthia, for instance, came to a meeting and suddenly one of the
Christians stood and spoke about Christ in Parthian, he would be astounded and probably
become a Christian. This secondary purpose arose because rarely might someone from Parthia
be in the assembly. As a result the Christian who had the gift of speaking in Parthian would have
no occasion to speak. However, Romans 11:29 says, “The gifts and the calling of God are
irrevocable.” In other words, a spiritual gift is given for life. So to afford opportunity for using
the gift in edifying the church anyway, the gift of interpretation was given. Paul speaks of this
secondary purpose in 14:1-19, showing how imperative is the need for an interpreter. In 14:27-
28, Paul forbids further public use of tongues unless there is an interpreter and he limits the
number who may speak to three at most. This brought up a third permissible purpose for
tongues. Since many in the Corinthian church, perhaps twenty or more spoke in tongues, and
since only two or three could speak at a meeting, Paul set down instructions for using the gift in
devotions. But even here, he directed them to pray that God would reveal to them what they had
said, so they might learn something. So, Paul sets forth here a major evangelistic purpose for
speaking in tongues and then secondary purposes because of special problems in this
congregation.

Conclusion. Speaking in tongues had primary and secondary purposes in Acts and Corinthians,
particularly in meeting the special needs of the early church. But in no case do Acts or
Corinthians teach that speaking in tongues had any necessary relationship to the victorious
Christian life. In fact, 1 Corinthians in particular, teaches the very opposite. It warns against an
over-emphasis on speaking in tongues, shows it is a less important gift which only some have
 5.35

and rebukes the carnal Corinthians for their wrong use of it. By no stretch of the imagination
could Paul make such statements if this gift were a key to victorious Christian living. Therefore,
any representative of the Charismatic movement who emphasizes that speaking in tongues is a
key to spiritual effectiveness, or that Christians should seek it or that it is especially important at
all is out of harmony with New Testament teaching. The New Testament clearly teaches that the
basis of the victorious life is the appropriation of the filling of the Holy Spirit by faith, not the
possession of one of the least and most insignificant of the spiritual gifts.

CONCLUSION

A. THE REAL ISSUE

The real issue is this: Has God given us everything necessary for a victorious life at salvation so
we need do nothing but discover and appropriate it by faith, or must we seek a special experience
which according to the New Testament was never given for this purpose? This issue is not
minor - it describes two wholly different approaches to the Christian life. Ephesians 1:3 and
Colossians 2:9-10 succinctly state that God has given us every spiritual blessing already through
our union with the all sufficient Christ. Living a supernatural victorious life is not a matter of
obtaining a special experience subsequent to salvation, but of appropriating the filling of the
Holy Spirit by faith and apprehending from the Scripture all that we are right now in Jesus
Christ.

B. THE REAL DANGER

God has led us to emphasize relentlessly the necessity and privilege of every believer’s
appropriating the filling of the Holy Spirit on the sole basis of grace through faith. Obviously,
Satan will attack this emphasis with all the deception and subterfuge he can muster. If Satan can
shift our emphasis from a “by faith basis” to a “by experience basis,” he will have sown the
seeds of its destruction. Usually two kinds of Christians are especially susceptible to the
emphasis of seeking sanctification via a special experience. The first is one who studies the
Bible religiously and understands the Scriptures generally but has never appropriated the filling
of the Spirit. The second is one who has appropriated the filling of the Spirit but neglected to
study the Scriptures on a regular basis. Both alike are in real danger when well-meaning sincere
people say, “What you need for revival and real victory is this experience.”

C. THE BEST DEFENSE

Obviously, the best defense is to make certain that we are continuously filled with the Holy
Spirit by faith and continually students of the Scriptures so that we can apprehend all that we are
in Jesus Christ.

INDEX
A Dental reimbursement
Administration and the local church ...................... 2.14
Annuity 403(b).........................................................5.9
Associate missionary program .............................. 5.25
Automobile insurance............................................ 5.20
Auxiliary programs ................................................ 5.25
B Divisive issues ...................................................... 2.29
Baptism ................................................................. 2.11
Base supplement
Canada............................................................. 5.13
USA ....................................................................5.7
Basis for worship .....................................................2.7
Bible school internship .......................................... 5.25
Bible studies............................................................3.8
Biblical metaphors of salvation................................3.6
Building program .....................................................5.4
Building your own home ..........................................5.5
C Follow up ............................................................3.7
Charismatic emphesis ........................................... 2.29
Charismatic movement statement ......................... 5.27
Child abuse prevention policy ............................... 2.23
Children’s church .................................................. 2.12
Church board information........................................5.2
Church involvement for new christians ...................3.9
Church practices and procedures ......................... 2.10
Commitments for worship .......................................2.9
Communion........................................................... 2.10
Community involvement ........................................ 3.20
Community relationships ....................................... 3.19
Confidentiality ....................................................... 3.16
Contenders discipleship initiative .......................... 5.26
Continuing education ............................................ 5.16
Controversial doctrinal issues .................................2.4
Convey ideas successfully .................................... 2.16
Corporate structure
Canada...............................................................1.5
USA ....................................................................1.4
Counseling ..............................................................2.1
Credibility and integrity .......................................... 3.15
Cultural differences .................................................3.1
D
Declaration of faith ..................................................1.7
6.1
Definition of a call .................................................. 3.10
Canada............................................................. 5.15
Deputation...............................................................5.3
Develop a gospel presentation................................3.6
Develop an evangelism presentation ......................3.6
Discouragement .................................................... 3.17
District representative relationship ..........................4.1
Donor support
Canada............................................................. 5.13
USA ....................................................................5.7
Dress as leader ..................................................... 3.17
E
Ecola bible school ................................................. 5.25
Effective cooperation............................................. 2.16
Effectively sharing the good news ...........................3.4
Elements in message salvation...............................3.6
Evangelism .............................................................3.3
Our approach .....................................................3.4
Our authority ......................................................3.4
Our responsibility................................................3.4
Evangelism a challenging task ................................3.5
Evangelism helps ....................................................3.7
F
Family day off........................................................ 5.16
Family life .............................................................. 3.17
Field departure procedure ..................................... 5.18
Field offering ...........................................................5.4
Field support
Canada............................................................. 5.13
USA ....................................................................5.7
Financial policies .....................................................5.3
Financial policies: United States .............................5.7
Financial responsibility agreement ..........................5.6
Foreign missionary support ................................... 5.11
Foundational ministry commitments........................1.6
G
General financial policies ........................................5.3
Guest honorariums..................................................5.4
 6.2

H O
Helping fund ................................................. 5.10, 5.15 Operational service fee
History and organization .........................................1.1 Canada............................................................. 5.14
Holy spirit and sign gifts statement ....................... 2.29 USA ....................................................................5.7
Hospitality ............................................................. 3.20 Ordination ............................................................. 5.20
Other divisive issues ............................................. 2.31
I Our program............................................................1.9
Image in the community ........................................ 3.16 Outreach ............................................................... 2.13
Imporance of a will ................................................ 5.16 Outside employment ...............................................5.8
Introductory period ................................................ 5.20
P
Invluence and position .......................................... 2.15
Pal plan ...................................................................3.9
K Parsonage............................................................. 2.38
Keep at your work ...................................................3.2 Partnership agreement VM and local church ........ 2.34
Keep scripture preeminent ......................................2.5 Sliding scale ..................................................... 2.36
Pastoral spiritual care..............................................2.1
L Pay cycle
Canada............................................................. 5.14
Leadership ..................................................... 2.6, 3.16 USA ....................................................................5.8
Leave of absence.................................................. 5.16 Pension
Life insurance Canada............................................................. 5.14
Canada............................................................. 5.15 Pension plan ...........................................................5.9
USA .................................................................. 5.10 Personal appearance ............................................ 2.17
Local politics ......................................................... 2.32 Personal attitude ................................................... 2.17
Personal behavior ................................................. 2.18
M Personal bills - pay ................................................ 5.11
Managing your time............................................... 2.18 Personal development .......................................... 2.18
Medical benefits Personal devotions................................................ 2.17
Canada............................................................. 5.14 Personal financial policies: Canada ...................... 5.13
Usa .....................................................................5.8 Personal study ...................................................... 2.17
Ministry elements .................................................. 2.11 Philosophy of ministry .............................................1.7
Ministry preparation internship .............................. 5.26 Placement of leadership on a field ........................ 5.17
Ministry relationships............................................. 2.17 Pointers when visiting ........................................... 3.12
Missionary ethics .................................................. 3.16 Policy statement concerning the holy spirit and the
Missionary heart......................................................3.1 sign gifts ........................................................... 2.29
Monthly report for local church ................................5.1 Position description - village missionary ............... 1.11
Monthly report instructions ......................................5.2 Position on the holy spirit ...................................... 2.30
Monthly reports .......................................................5.1 Praises and prayer requests ...................................5.1
Moving details ....................................................... 5.19 Prayer letters......................................................... 5.12
Multiply your effectiveness .................................... 2.15 Preaching ................................................................2.3
Music and worship ..................................................2.9 Preparation for worship ...........................................2.8
Prospects for visitation .......................................... 3.10
N Protecting children ................................................ 2.21
Purpose...................................................................1.6
No changes first year ............................................ 2.14 Purpose of our organization ....................................1.6
No little places....................................................... 2.14
R
Replacement of leadership on the field ................. 5.18
Retirement benefits .................................................5.9
Romans road ..........................................................3.6

Rural ministry outreach ...........................................5.4
S Time management resources ............................... 2.20
School/home school .............................................. 3.20
Secret society ....................................................... 2.32
Self-supporting churches ........................................5.3
Sermon tips .............................................................2.3
Social media guidelines ........................................ 2.28
Social security .........................................................5.9
Staff conference .................................................... 5.17
Statement of lifestyle and morality standard ......... 1.13
Study time ...............................................................2.5
Summer internship ................................................ 5.26
Sunday school ...................................................... 2.12
T
Tax reporting
Canada............................................................. 5.15
USA .................................................................. 5.10
Tested principles of human relationships .............. 3.14
The church is a mission field ...................................1.8
6.3
Theological statement concerning the charismatic
movement - Rev. Walter Duff ......................... 5.27
Time off ................................................................. 5.17
V
Vacation bible school ............................................ 2.12
Vacations .............................................................. 5.17
Values .....................................................................1.6
Visitation .................................................................3.8
Visitation expectations .......................................... 3.10
W
Whistle-blower policy ............................................ 5.21
Worker’s compensation
USA ....................................................................5.9
Worship ...................................................................2.7
Y
Youth program ...................................................... 2.12