Values
GRACE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1. God’s glory is our primary objective. We don’t seek grandiose visions like reaching a certain percentage of the world for Christ. We seek to impact specific regions of countries with high impact churches that will reach their corner of the world for Christ. We don’t seek to be a big mission board because our primary leaders are going to be local nationals.
2. We will actively work with other mission boards that have expertise we do not have.
3. Our role is to support, train and encourage local nationals. Our passion is to serve, equip and elevate national leaders with a view toward their ultimate independence.
We will also assist the national pastors by creating goodwill between the church and the local authorities like the local health clinics and the presidents or mayors of towns.
We will assist the national pastors by providing them with creative ideas for evangelism, discipleship, and accountability.
4. Focus will be kept in countries where costs are low. We will look for unusual opportunities around the world where God seems to be moving in an especially powerful way. Our special interest will be restricted access countries where we can serve Christians under pressure, especially formerly communist countries. We do this because we believe communism creates a vacuum that makes the gospel highly attractive. These countries might include Pacific-rim countries like China and Vietnam; Cuba; India; Bangladesh; and, former countries of the USSR and its allies.
5. Maximize field impact of support by minimizing GMI costs.
6. GMI is founded as the result of local church effort and will maintain a strong partnering relationship with Grace Community Church of Bartlesville, OK.
7. We accept people as they are and help them grow into fully devoted followers of Christ. The atmosphere in which we will conduct our ministry will consist of winsome loving relationships that reinforce our servant attitude toward the nationals.
8. We are especially interested in a ministry of multiplication. In every operational decision we ask the question, “Will it lead to the multiplication of grace-oriented, self-sustaining churches led by nationals?”
9. We will be highly discerning with regard to the people we choose to support. They must firmly embrace our evangelical theological orientation. They must embrace our passion for God’s grace, and they must meet the biblical qualifications for elders.
10. If we feel that establishing a para-church ministry in a region will assist in the planting of churches we will do so with a clear strategy.
11. We will assist churches in the formation of an elder ruled form of governance or another form that provides clear accountability for the pastor.
12. We are convinced that local U.S. churches have a critical role in the advancement of the gospel and the formation of new churches. There are not enough ordained pastors outside the U.S. and local U.S. church members have skills and gifts necessary for this work.
13. We clearly see the need and benefit for establishing long term, close and supportive relationships with local national churches. The best relationship is one in which the pastors of the local national church can be mentored by a pastor from a U.S. sister church. GMI will provide the mentoring relationship until sister churches are established. Paul, through his relationships with churches visited on his missionary journeys, is our model as we help the planted churches grow in grace and truth.
1. God’s glory is our primary objective. We don’t seek grandiose visions like reaching a certain percentage of the world for Christ. We seek to impact specific regions of countries with high impact churches that will reach their corner of the world for Christ. We don’t seek to be a big mission board because our primary leaders are going to be local nationals.
2. We will actively work with other mission boards that have expertise we do not have.
3. Our role is to support, train and encourage local nationals. Our passion is to serve, equip and elevate national leaders with a view toward their ultimate independence.
We will also assist the national pastors by creating goodwill between the church and the local authorities like the local health clinics and the presidents or mayors of towns.
We will assist the national pastors by providing them with creative ideas for evangelism, discipleship, and accountability.
4. Focus will be kept in countries where costs are low. We will look for unusual opportunities around the world where God seems to be moving in an especially powerful way. Our special interest will be restricted access countries where we can serve Christians under pressure, especially formerly communist countries. We do this because we believe communism creates a vacuum that makes the gospel highly attractive. These countries might include Pacific-rim countries like China and Vietnam; Cuba; India; Bangladesh; and, former countries of the USSR and its allies.
5. Maximize field impact of support by minimizing GMI costs.
6. GMI is founded as the result of local church effort and will maintain a strong partnering relationship with Grace Community Church of Bartlesville, OK.
7. We accept people as they are and help them grow into fully devoted followers of Christ. The atmosphere in which we will conduct our ministry will consist of winsome loving relationships that reinforce our servant attitude toward the nationals.
8. We are especially interested in a ministry of multiplication. In every operational decision we ask the question, “Will it lead to the multiplication of grace-oriented, self-sustaining churches led by nationals?”
9. We will be highly discerning with regard to the people we choose to support. They must firmly embrace our evangelical theological orientation. They must embrace our passion for God’s grace, and they must meet the biblical qualifications for elders.
10. If we feel that establishing a para-church ministry in a region will assist in the planting of churches we will do so with a clear strategy.
11. We will assist churches in the formation of an elder ruled form of governance or another form that provides clear accountability for the pastor.
12. We are convinced that local U.S. churches have a critical role in the advancement of the gospel and the formation of new churches. There are not enough ordained pastors outside the U.S. and local U.S. church members have skills and gifts necessary for this work.
13. We clearly see the need and benefit for establishing long term, close and supportive relationships with local national churches. The best relationship is one in which the pastors of the local national church can be mentored by a pastor from a U.S. sister church. GMI will provide the mentoring relationship until sister churches are established. Paul, through his relationships with churches visited on his missionary journeys, is our model as we help the planted churches grow in grace and truth.