Faith Promise Missions Conference
A Faith Promise Missions Conference is one way to develop a missions program or increase the vitality of an existing mission program in the local church. Congregations experience spiritual and financial growth through participating in the Faith Promise Missions Conference. A Faith Promise is a financial commitment toward the mission program of the church in response to the urging of the Holy Spirit. It is second mile giving meaning that it consists of an offering in addition to the tithe. The program is totally based on faith, obedience, and promise, which produces spiritual growth as an immediate result. Financial growth comes through obedience to those scriptures, which relate God pouring heaping loads of blessings upon those who invest God’s provisions towards meeting the needs of people either across the street in the local pantry or around the world in a global context. Obedience to God’s expectations concerning giving increases the faith of the believer. Whenever an individual increases giving, God takes note and provides the giver with more to give proportionately. Faith and promise go hand in glove. As the believer faithfully increases giving as directed by the Holy Spirit, God is faithful and increases blessings to the giver, which often provide greater assets for the giver to give. In response to the Holy Spirit some have made promises beyond their ability to give. In this case, God provides the additional funds. God has shown some how to rearrange spending practices, some have received extra income, some have received an unexpected gift in order to provide the faith promise.
The Faith Promise Missions Conference can happen at any time of the year. It consists of inviting one or more missionaries or mission oriented persons to share during a church gathering, perhaps in a worship service, Sunday School, or any other number of small or large groups. The Missions Committee should plan the conference upon recommendation of the Administrative Council or other leadership board. A missionary or other mission oriented person should be invited to speak during the main celebration of worship.
A mission interpreter should be present in every Church or Sunday School classroom. Persons with expertise in Children's Mission Ministries and Youth Mission Ministries should be invited to share with those groups. The mission interpreters should be bring a display of their mission projects. The mission displays may be displayed in the church fellowship hall, narthex, or display area. The displays should remain for the length of the conference in order for the entire congregation to view the work of the projects. Sometime during the conference the Holy Spirit will speak to individuals concerning an amount to give to missions. For most, it will be during the explanation of the Faith Promise commitment card or the prayer to the Holy Spirit given by the Mission Chairperson immediately following the mission reflection.
You can donate directly to Emerging Mission Ministries, by sending contributions to
First United Methodist Church Missions ~ PO BOX 116 ~ FT BRANCH, INDIANA 47648