In the 21st Century, the emphasis of finishing the task has surfaced a concept for local churches cooperating to reach an unreached people groups with the gospel. This concept is a "coalition" or "alliance" of churches banding together to do whatever it takes to birth a church planting movement among a specific people group.
Here is some basic information and definitions of this concept:
A Coalition: To be given a Coalition is to be entrusted with the authority to accomplish a specific task. The church of Jesus Christ has been given the responsibility to make disciples of every nation. For this purpose a Coalition will serve as a network of churches that voluntarily join together in order to fulfill this work. As a result of informational and technological advancement, many local churches have the opportunity of working together closely.
One of the formats in which churches are developing relationships is networking through this means of a Coalition. So, a basic definition of a Coalition is needed:
A Coalition is a network that serves to link together the missionary effort of local churches to reach a UPG through a relationship of shared information, resources, support and encouragement with one another. EPIC is the facilitator or coordinator for a Coalition. The result is greater influence and fruitfulness while realizing less duplicity. A Coalition can be structured so as to provide an atmosphere where many relationships co-exist and interlink without hierarchal controls which often restrict growth.
Statement: The establishing of a Coalition committed to reaching an unreached people group requires basic key elements and principles to which all members of the Coalition are in agreement and committed to. This is the basis for implementing the cooperative operational efforts of the Coalition.
Key Assumptions:
- Understand the world from a people group definition.
- Understand that traditional methods have not been effective among the 1/3 of the world that is still unreached.
- Understand that engaging an UPG where the Gospel has not previouslypenetrated may require different approaches.
- Understand that if an UPG is going to be reached it will, in the end, be accomplished more effectively by nationals and not outsiders.
Key Elements:
- Focus on an individual unreached people group.
- Believe it is possible to reach them and Christians must be obedient to God's plan to finish the task.
- Recognize that it will take cooperation of obedient followers of Christ worldwide to accomplish the mandate.
- Recognize that involvement is more than just praying and giving.
Key Missiological Principles:
-The world must be defined from a people group understanding.
- Reaching means establishing self-supporting, self-governing and self-propagating churches - church planting movements - multiplication vs. addition.
- The Scriptures must be available in the heart language of the people.
- People groups will be reached from within by insiders and not by outsiders - the role of the outsider is to train, equip, and ass- a comprehensive strategy and plan is required - it will not just happen.
Commitments of churches in a Coalition:
- The definition of a Coalition for church planting purposes is: a group of churches and/or ministries focused on reaching a specific unreached people group and working cooperatively with the other members who share the same vision.
- EPIC is the facilitator of a Coalition
- The characteristics of the churches and ministries in the Coalition should include:
A commitment to make the focus of reaching the specific UPG as a major part of the outreach ministry of their organization. A long-range commitment to the specific UPG as opposed to viewing it as a project or short range program. A willingness to include and solicit other like-minded churches and ministries to join the efforts of the Coalition. A commitment to involve the people in their organization/congregation to accomplish the tasks necessary to reaching the UPG.
- By joining the Coalition, members are committing to do five things:
Education - a continual process of educating the membership of each organization about the specific UPG and the ongoing effort to reach them.
Strategy - contribute to the development and implementation of an ongoing strategy for the Coalition.
Prayer - establishing a comprehensive prayer program involving every member of the church or organization.
Participation - providing opportunities for the members to become personally involved in the effort to reach the UPG.
Resource - encourage your members to become financially committed to the strategy and plan and give these funds to the projects and programs designed by the Coalition.
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