The 7 T’s of missions is a process to guide your team through the planning stages of a mission experience. Please record your answers in your journal and be sure to take advantage of the resources provided by the BWM.
1. Talents
- What special gifts has God given the team or individual? How can they be used to serve and build up the Body of Christ?
- Special abilities and skills of team members; language skills, building maintenance skills, teachers, nurses, etc.
- Individual responsibilities of team members (team structure and organization)
- Any additional training or preparation that would be helpful
2. Target
- What need has God called you to meet? Is it local or somewhere farther away?
- How will your talents or assets help to meet that need?
- How many people will be needed to staff your team?
- Any special considerations related to the country or region to which you will be going?
- Travel arrangements
- Who is responsible for booking the flights? What is the timeline for booking?
- What are the expectations, if any, of BWM?
- Do all team members have passports valid for more than 6 months from date of departure? It is good to take along a photocopy (or 2) of the first pages of the passport and store it separately from your passport.
3. Task
- Is our primary task to share the love of God and the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ in word and deed by building relationships?
- Platform or context in which this will take place:
- Medical, construction, music, preaching, teaching, VBS, retreats, camps, sports, etc.
- “If a house is built but relationships are destroyed, then we’ve missed the point!”
- How are we called to “be Christ” in this particular context?
- Platform or context in which this will take place:
- What is our secondary task?
- What materials are needed to complete it?
- Where, how and by whom will these be purchased?
- Are the materials available in the target region?
- Participation and involvement of local people
- Is this meeting their need or ours?
- “Ownership” of the project
- Sustainability – How can you make sure what you have done will have long-term results?
- What materials are needed to complete it?
4. Team
- Who are the ones that God is calling to be part of this particular mission?
- Selection of team members
- By region, by congregation, by special gifts or abilities, by age, etc.
- Who is (are) the team leader(s) and what is their role?
- References and recommendations
- Local church leaders
- Team leader
- BWM or other church agency
- Who makes the final decision concerning participation on the team?
- Affirmation of leaders in target country or region
- Selection of team members
- Any health, dietary or other concerns related to a specific individual on the team?
5. Term
- How much time is needed for this mission?
- Travel time and on-site time
- Extra time for rest, relaxation, getting to know the area and fellowship
- How much time is needed to accomplish the task (especially the more important task of beginning to build relationships)?
6. Training
- Are you prepared in heart, mind and body for this experience?
-
-
- Spiritual preparation
- Mental preparation
- Body (physical readiness)
-
- Are you able to complete the online training through the BWM website?
7. Treasure
- How much will it cost?
- How will funds be raised?
- How can support of this mission be a part of the mission?
- Sources of funding:
- Local congregation and congregational groups, classes and committees
- Fundraising events
- (for Antioch Servants): Fundraising letter template from BWM
- Friends and family (let them be a part of the mission “in spirit” or, as someone has said, “Put your money where your motto is!”)
- Southern Province Mission Society
- Aldridge Fund
- NE Pennsylvania and other local mission societies
- BWM Antioch team grants
- Regional Conferences of Churches
- Other sources
- Sources of funding:
Click here to download the Complete Training Packet
Training Overview Module 2>