Mission goal/vision

Vision

Our great desire is to see God glorified throughout Montenegro.

• We desire God's statement in Habakkuk to be fulfilled here in Montenegro: Hab. 2:14 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea."
• We desire to see God raise up many biblical churches for His glory here in Montenegro.
• We desire to see true reform in the Eastern Orthodox churches that have departed so far from true orthodoxy.
• We desire to see a great awakening throughout Montenegro.
• We desire to see Jesus Christ ruling in all areas of life: cultural economic, political, and every other area of life. We know that spiritual revival will bring showers of blessing to the entire land.
• As a step in this great work, we are presently working to the end that a biblical church be established in Niksic. We are encouraged that God has been converting sinners and that people in this city are hearing the Gospel.
• When God establishes us as a local church we have the desire to send others out that other local churches may be established throughout. In the meanwhile God has given us opportunities to minister and preach in other areas of Montenegro and we rejoice that His Word is going throughout the country.

Biblical missions commitments

1. The primary purpose of missions is the glory of God

2. The primary activities of missions should be preaching, evangelizing, disciplining, pastoring, and church planting.

   Consider the following verses from Paul's first missionary journey:

   Acts 13:32	"And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers."
   Acts 13:43	Now when {the meeting of} the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.
   Acts 13:46	And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles."
   Acts 14:3	Therefore they spent a long time {there} speaking boldly {with reliance} upon the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.
   Acts 14:1	And it came about that in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a great multitude believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.
   Acts 14:7	and there they continued to preach the gospel.
   Acts 14:9	This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze upon him, and had seen that he had faith to be made well,
   Acts 14:15	and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you in order that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM."
   Acts 14:21	And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
   Acts 14:22	strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and {saying,} "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."
   Acts 14:23	And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

3. The missionary should be sent out from the local church which recognizes the call of the Holy Spirit. We see this principle in the life of Paul - he was initially sent out by the local church in Antioch and he kept coming back to and being sent out again from that local church.

   Verses where this is seen include:

   Acts 13:1	Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was {there}, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
   Acts 13:2	And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
   Acts 13:3	Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
   Acts 13:4	So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went
   Acts 15:3	Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.

4. In the Bible we see missionaries supported by cooperating churches and individuals:

   Acts 18:5	But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul {began} devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
   1Cor. 16:17	And I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.
   Phil. 4:15	And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;

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Page last updated: July 23 2004