Change is in the Air!
How have you been holding up?! We all have to admit…2020 promises to be a year of routine altering change! There’s change in the air! The way we “do things” will change.
Recently, I was challenged by the words of a blogger I follow. He asked what was one new behavior, activity, or way of doing things that you implemented during the COVID pandemic… ”that you want to carry forward in the way you do ministry?”
— How would you answer that question? Is there just one thing?!
The way we “do things” will change. Specifically speaking…Alliance missions connections will be different for us all this fall.
Virtually everything is virtual now! We really have been forced to embrace video meetings, services, house inspections, counseling, doctor’s visits…we do a lot by video interfacing.
Go virtual. We have a very limited number of Alliance IWs and speakers available for our churches this fall, and throughout the year. This isn’t a new challenge, but it is very limited this year. Many NCD churches will need to utilize streaming (or video) interactions and messages from out IWs during their annual missions events. Actually, start now! It’s proven that regularly keeping missions, and IWs, before the people enhance their engagement!
Empty shelves have us redefining what it means to be prepared! People I know are driving around with packages of TP in their cars — every day! Stock up!
Stock up. Be prepared. You can start building a missions video library now! The Alliance World Fellowship (AWF) has great videos from national churches. The US Alliance continues to update the “Snap Shots” and other missions resources. Raise the prayer engagement level of your church body. We have the monthly NCD Prayer Update. The C&MA has weekly prayer requests, and so does the AWF. I encourage you to have your leadership knowledgeably praying for our district IWs by name, daily. Watch what God will do in your midst!
Where I work, we’re noticing people spending more money than before. Some are exceedingly generous when they tip. Others just say, “I deserve to splurge and spend more on myself.” Many are appreciative of the government’s generous incentives (something that is non-existent in most developing countries BTW).
Live generously. Practice generosity now. We can’t be a missionary-minded church and not love our neighbors generously — it becomes self-canceling. Generously live out Matthew 22:38-40 as a church body in your very own surroundings — NOW! Watch for it. Since generosity begets generosity, you’ll most likely see some sweeping transformation taking place in peoples’ lives as the Spirit releases gifting, reconciliation, love, and passion for the lost!
You’ll be noticing some changes on The Alliance webpages, too. The online giving sections have a new look, as the “four structures” of Alliance Missions (AM) are being united (four structures being: aXcess, CAMA, Marketplace Ministries, and Envision). Some, like CAMA Services, will have a new look (and new logo) as well.
The way we “do things” will change. Specifically speaking…Alliance missions connections will be different for us all this fall. Feel free to reach out to me, or our NCD Missions Mobilization Team, and we’ll try our best to resource you.
Dave Manske
Missions Mobilizer
North Central District of The C&MA