A cooperative missions effort supported by West Michigan Baptist Churches

The call has gone forth, and people are responding! But how do churches then respond to these individuals who have surrendered their lives for missions service? How can churches help them get to the field in the most efficient way possible?

After applying to a mission board and being appointed, the average missionary spends 24 months or more traveling from church to church raising support. By the time they depart for the field, missionaries average at least 15 supporting churches and 22 individual supporters. Because of these factors, many missionaries are discouraged from career service because of the daunting task of "deputation / pre-field ministry." At the same time, much ripe fruit goes unharvested as others spend months and even years raising financial support necessary before they can leave for the field.

A group of local churches has joined together to form the West Michigan Missions Consortium (WMMC) in order to address these challenges. The WMMC shares together in the prayer and financial support goals of missionaries being sent out by member churches. This results in greater commitment and accountability between the missionaries and their supporting churches. Additionally, there is greater cooperation between the consortium churches. The result is an effective, efficient, and energized missions effort.

Purpose

The West Michigan Missions Consortium is a cooperative effort for churches of like faith and missions vision. This effort enables member churches to cooperate in getting missionaries to their chosen field more effectively, efficiently, and with greater energy for ministry.

World Evangelism . . . Effective / Efficient / Energized

Consortium churches share the vision of quickly raising prayer and full financial support for member church missionaries, enabling them to reach the field as soon as possible. Combining their shared efforts with the assistance of mission agencies, consortium churches are able to greatly enhance their worldwide missions outreach.

• Effective -missions opportunities are realized at a faster rate than traditional missions deputation, on average, 12-16 months.

• Efficient -pre-field and furlough burnout is avoided because fewer churches are involved.

• Energized -greater involvement by churches in missions projects, and by missionaries in their supporting churches while on furlough. Cooperative conferences and projects by consortium churches cast the vision that every believer is to be an active participant in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Benefits of a Missions Consortium

• Missionary support is raised more quickly.
• Significantly cuts the expenses of extended deputation and furlough travels.
• Familiarity with missionaries results in greater prayer and financial support.
• Pre-field ministry is more productive since it is directed toward training and spiritual growth rather than fund-raising.
• Eliminates the frustrations that arise from the current "rat race" known as deputation.
• Encourages the implementation of a regional strategy for the missionary's support base.
• Consortium missionaries may be involved in meaningful ministries for longer periods of time in each of the consortium churches.
• Missionary children have a stable environment for schooling and establishing friendships.
• Missionary support services such as housing, automobiles, etc., can be used more efficiently when staying in the same region for the duration of the furlough.

A concept with Biblical roots and contemporary relevance

The consortium is a cooperative effort for churches of like faith and missionary vision. These churches share the vision of quickly and efficiently raising prayer and full financial support for member church missionaries.

Combining their cooperative effort with the assistance of mission agencies, consortium churches are able to greatly enhance their worldwide mission outreach.

Each member church selects two representatives - one pastoral staff member and one lay person. Each member church maintains its own missions program in addition to consortium involvement.

Learn more about the West Michigan Missions Consortium