FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS1) “My church wants to get involved with missions. This is a new interest for us and we are not sure where to begin? Where should we start?”A good place to start this process is by looking at the map or list of countries on this website and see where the Vineyard USA currently has a presence. See if any of those seem to have a connection, relationship, previous contact or anything that would seem to have a pull where the Father may be leading you. Contact the partnership leader for that country, gather information, and maybe join them in a short term mission trip to explore that option. As a church body or missions team, begin to pray where you might be being called “to go to the nations"--evaluate your own church’s purpose/mission, networks, relationships, and connections. Also, there is a Mission Task Force Leader in your area who would be glad to connect with you and process through this with you.
2) "I want to look at possibly being a long-term, cross-cultural worker (LTCCW) with the Vineyard. Where do I begin?"The missions philosophy in the Vineyard is local church based (see FAQ # 3), which means missions activity, whether as a cross-cultural worker or as a partnership of churches working together, is based in and through the local church. The first thing we would recommend is that you share your interest with your local pastor. Upon the recommendation of your pastor, we have a pathway and tools developed to assist you and your pastor through the stages of assessment, training, and sending. You can contact Jerry Reddix, our Mobile Care Facilitator, who oversees this process for Vineyard Missions USA, who will glad to answer any questions you have about this process. 3) "What is Local Church Based Missions (LCBM)?"LCBM is the foundation of our missions strategy in the Vineyard. The church has been commissioned to evangelize and to make disciples in the nations. Being missional churches requires more than having a “missions department” in the local church or simply sending money or people to a missions agency. LCBM occurs when a local church hears God’s call to reach the nations and responds to that call. LCBM empowers the local church to have a proactive vision, made more viable when several churches partner together in pursuit of a common goal. 4) "What is a partnership?"A partnership is formed when a group of churches agree to join their resources together to pursue what God has called them to do. A common commitment is shared by each church, and their energy is directed toward seeing churches planted in their target area. Each church shares in the vision and in the development of a strategy to bring fruition to God’s call for their churches. A partnership allows small to medium size churches make a significant contribution toward the accomplishment of the Great Commission. Together, a partnership is able to do things that a single church, with limited resources, may not be able to do. 5) “How can we get involved in short-term missions?”This may require a paradigm shift from viewing missions as simply a ministry area within the church, to understanding missions as a key task of the church. The first step in planning to take a short-term mission trip is to determine the country or region you may want to visit. Perhaps God has already been speaking to you about a nation, or you are aware of another church working in a particular nation. It is often good to travel with someone else more experienced on the first trip. We often gain vision by serving along side someone with a vision. The second step is to determine what you will do on the trip, even if the purpose of the trip is simply to “check things out”. This normally requires dialogue with the people in the country you intend to visit. Remember, taking a short-term ministry trip involves sacrifice on both sides. People from the U.S. give up their limited vacation time and hard-earned money to visit a place very different from their home. The people we visit are also giving up time in their busy schedules to receive the team, to organize transportation and housing, and to work on making the time a good experience for all involved. In light of the cost, it is important that something valuable be done (for example building relationships is very valuable.) Identifying how best to serve can only be done in dialogue.
Seventy-five percent of long-term, cross-cultural workers (LTCCWs) have said that a major factor in recognizing and affirming their call to the mission field was a short-term mission experience they had as a young person. When young people are involved in mission outreaches, amazing things happen. There are many ways youth can have a missions experience. First, local churches can begin their missions efforts emphasis locally. In almost every city in the United States there is a population of people from other cultures. Missions or cross-cultural ministry opportunities are at the doorstep of most churches. Another way youth can have a mission experience is through short-term mission trips. We believe Vineyard churches should establish opportunities for youth to go on trips to help Vineyard churches where partnerships or missions efforts are already in place.
6) "How is John Wimber's understanding of the Kingdom reflected in Vineyard Missions?" We understand that God’s intention is that his people be a blessing to others and that Jesus has given us a mandate to bring the good news of the kingdom to every nation and people group. We believe that the heart of missions is the expanding of the kingdom of God through the words and work of Jesus. Wimber taught that the Vineyard model--with its emphasis on preaching Jesus, casting out demons, healing the sick, and caring for the poor--would work anywhere in the world because these things are “consistent with the Bible and ought not to change” in different cultures. He expected a Vineyard church to look similar anywhere in the world in the same way that children had a family resemblance to their parents. But he also affirmed that the Vineyard’s values needed to be expressed in a manner consistent with a specific culture, the leadership of that particular church, and the leading of God. 8) What is the role of the Missions Task Force?The Missions Task Force is comprised of one member from each of the eight regions, each of whom have four major responsibilities:
Please e-mail the Missions Office if you have any other questions you believe others may share.
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