Open the Flow of Missionaries by Fayth Boeker Te Keystone Pipeline runs from Canada all the way down


to the Gulf of Mexico. Its purpose is to carry valuable oil from a place of plenty to areas that need this necessary resource. But there is a problem — the section of pipeline that runs through Nebraska is not complete! As a result, no oil reaches its final destination.


Tis is a good word picture to help us understand the


Biblical pipeline that starts in the church and ends with valuable missionary assets spreading to all parts of the world. Tis pipeline is succinctly described in the book Pipeline by David and Lorene Wilson: “A divine resource of missionaries — [is] discipled by the local church; trained and equipped by Bible schools; recruited and deployed by missionary sending agencies; and used by the Lord for his glory among the nations” (Pipeline, page xii). But too oſten the local church itself is the missing link in the pipeline.


Te Commission on Global Partnerships has been grap- pling with the issue of how to encourage our FEBC churches to become more proactive in preparing local church believers, young or old, to join the pipeline of workers needed around the world. With this in mind, Marilynn Lester, a member of the commis- sion, has been working diligently to edit and simplify a booklet developed by the Lincoln Berean Church (Lincoln, Neb.).


To start this process, each FEBC church should request a copy of this booklet entitled, “Preparation Handbook.” All mis- sion teams should familiarize themselves with the “Handbook.” Youth leaders and teachers of preteens need to read the “Hand- book” and constantly be looking for youth who might benefit from starting the process of preparing themselves as Christian workers. Te pastoral staff can also look for people in church leadership who might benefit from the “Preparation Handbook.”


“Preparation Handbook” explains how to identify and


encourage potential workers on each of five levels of preparation and it suggests many action points to complete. Te handbook is quite thorough in helping a person get ready for mission involve- ment. Te local church is encouraged to walk alongside each


interested person, not just handing them the booklet, but be- coming a partner in prayer, mentoring and support. Acts 13:2b-3 explains: “… the Holy Spirit said [to the church of Antioch] ‘set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Ten aſter fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” Te Holy Spirit is the one who leads individuals, but it is the church that sends them on their way — the pipeline to ministry.


“Preparation Handbook” will be introduced at Connect19. David and Lorene Wilson will be at Connect19 to explain the principles which can get your church flowing people to the world. Copies will be available at Connect19 and from the FEBC Interna- tional office. Make an effort to let someone from your church’s mis- si


sion team attend Connect19 to explore this valuable resource.


Vision 20/20


We will be a fellowship of churches that equips and inspires one another so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed by eve


of eve hrc a


t eve


ry me bem r ry cu h


ry oppo nirtu ty Fellowship F ip Focus J s, July/August 2019 t 2019 21


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