| QUESTIONS ABOUT PASTOR SPONSORSHIP (child sponsor questions)
Question 1: Do you think national workers might get the idea that they cannot do the work unless they are subsidized by Westerners? This could happen, but our approach in Father’s Heart in Africa is to only come alongside those who are already doing the work with success, leaders who are already proving themselves in the field before we ever come into the picture. The truth is that many third world leaders have been planting churches without being subsidized from the outside, and will continue with or without help. But with assistance they could do their work more rapidly and extensively. Question 2: Will assisting church-planting movements cause them to have no need to give sacrificially of their own resources?
Father’s Heart in Africa only helps those who are already succeeding in their mission. That means the leaders already have a vision, faith, and are using whatever resources they have to accomplish their mission. One group recently sponsored a clothing and food drive to raise money to send out a church-planting team. The leaders of these groups know the dangers of becoming dependent on outside sources and continually teach their workers and the churches under their charge to give sacrificially, trusting God as their source.
Question 3: How does Father’s Heart in Africa choose the national pastorsit will sponsor? We do not choose the national pastors directly. We choose the national church-planting movements and they choose their own church planters. Our goal is to identify church-planting movements that are already having success reaching the unreached in their own culture, or the culture next door. We look for organizations led by men who have character and integrity, men who are biblical and not for hire. We are coming alongside these kinds of men we to help accomplish their visions by providing financial help and ministry tools. We know that these kinds of leaders will require the same standards they live by from their missionary church planters.
Question 4: To whom are national missionaries accountable? Our relationship with the leaders of a church-planting movement is one of mutual accountability. We spend time together quarterly to pray and review all the decisions that are being made. Supervisory elders then hold the missionary pastors in the field accountable. These field elders report back to the senior leaders giving updates as to the progress of the missionary pastors under their charge. These updates are then given to Father’s Heart in Africa staff for review.
Question 5: Are financial records verified in the field? Father’s Heart staff reviews all financial records. This is to ensure that all the funds are being used for what they were designated. Each person receiving and releasing funds signs a receipt that is kept for review and verification.
Question 6: How are national missionaries trained? Each church-planting movement has its own method of training. In Zambia the candidates are sent to a locally accredited Bible school for instruction. They are then required to participate in a local church for a period of time where they are tested in their manner of life and gifting. When approved by the senior leaders, the candidate is ordained and sent out into the field under the supervision of an experienced church planter.
Question 7: Is Father’s Heart a church-planting organization or a humanitarian organization? We are both. Father’s Heart is committed to church-planting, evangelism and humanitarian endeavors (such as providing clean water, education, and hunger relief for children).
Question 8: How can I help sponsor a national church plant and pastor? sponsor |
