Mapping Church Missions

The terrain of church missions is often bewildering.Should we prioritize evangelism or works of service? Local ministries or overseas missions? What's more important: giving our money or giving our time? Crisis relief or building sustainable, long-term ministries? And what about the often debated pros and cons of short-term missions trips?In Mapping Church Missions, Sharon Hoover brings her years of experience in local church missions to bear on these and other thorny questions. Instead of taking a hardline stance on one end of the spectrum or the other, she approaches each question with nuance, adding helpful data, presenting new perspectives, and always pressing gently past surface questions to the heart of the matter.Whether we're fully aware of it or not, our churches come up against these questions whenever we consider how best to use our resources for the mission of God. Written by an experienced guide, this book maps the terrain of church missions in careful detail, helping us plot our church's unique course as we seek to serve Christ's kingdom.



Sharon R. Hoover is the director of missions at Centreville Presbyterian Church in Centreville, Virginia, where she has served for more than twenty years. She is passionate about equipping the local church to serve and connect with ministry partners worldwide.

Foreword by Paul Borthwick


Introduction: Charting Our Course


1. Good News and Good Deeds


2. Neighbors Near and Far


3. Crisis Response and Sustainable Development


4. Time and Money


5. Benefits and Drawbacks of Short-Term Teams


6. Serving the Undiscipled and Discipling the Servant


7. Minimizing and Embracing Risk


Conclusion: Mobilizing Our Congregations


Acknowledgments


Appendix 1: Beyond Minute for Missions: Connecting Churches with Mission Partners


Appendix 2: Scenarios for Further Reflection


Notes

"With insightful illustrations and questions for group discussion, Mapping Church Missions provides a framework for discerning your congregation's direction in mission. By helping to identify your unique perspectives and priorities on key mission issues, your church can chart a course toward best practices and a clearer strategy to grow in faithfulness to the Great Commission."



"How are we to engage the world of mission without being overwhelmed? With so many needs—both locally and globally, in evangelism and service, in responding to crisis and sustaining development, and so many more—how are we to invest our time, energy, and finances? Mapping Church Missions helps readers navigate these critical questions by offering stories, biblical reflections, a wealth of experience, and inviting readers into a conversation that helps us find our place in the world of mission. I'm better equipped to lead my congregation after reading this book. Thank you, Sharon Hoover, for an excellent resource for both individuals and churches seeking to live out God's mission." weniger anzeigen expand_less