MINISTRIES - Planting Churches
The primary objective of ECM International is to plant churches in Europe. We are committed to planting and developing churches and imparting to them the vision to multiply in the local community, nationally and internationally..
Every aspect of our ministry has as its focus the planting and development of the local church. We have identified the major principles of church planting in which we are involved. We see our nine major principles of church planting as: praying, contacting, relating, evanglising, challenging, discipling, leadership training, developing to maturity, planting churches.
PRAYING
Prayer has already been identified as one of the core values of ECM International. Prayer is essential to the success of our ministry and involves everyone associated with the work. This includes:-
· supporting churches
· individual donors
· the national sections and partner missions
· planted churches with their leadership and members
· and all those who have a burden for the peoples of Europe.
ECM International depends upon their commitment to prayer for the further planting and development of churches in Europe.
CONTACTING
We seek to use every available means in pre-evangelism to reach people who have no contact with the Gospel. These include:-
· use of the media
· production and distribution of literature
· involvement in relief among those who suffer the effects of war, strife and displacement
· making social contacts through clubs, sports events and activities in the community
· arranging special events to serve the needs of the community.
RELATING
A major aspect of our work is to build relationships with people, earning a right to be heard, identifying with people where they are and practising a visible Christian lifestyle within the local community. Building relationship is pursued through activities such as:-
· friendship evangelism
· 'tent-making' that is, self supporting employment
· language teaching
· social concern for the marginalised in society as part of a holistic evangelistic ministry.
EVANGELISING
Bridge-building activities are designed to lead to opportunities to present the message of the Gospel. This is done for example, through:-
· public evangelistic events
· outreach teams
· drama and films
· children's outreach activities
· youth ministries
· evangelistic Bible studies and other appropriate means.
CHALLENGING
The presentation of the Gospel must be followed by a challenge to respond. The message needs to be understood and people enlightened by the Holy Spirit, leading to their conversion and commitment to Jesus Christ. A variety of approaches are used such as:-
· personal counselling
· Christianity explained courses
· evangelistic church services
· follow up literature
DISCIPLING
Those who come to faith in Jesus Christ need to be discipled, nurtured, encouraged, built up in their faith and in the Word of God. The means used include:-
· encouraging prayer and the personal study of God's Word
· one to one Bible studies
· nurture groups for new Christians
· introduction to the local church
· witnessing, sharing personal testimony
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
The aim to establish indigenous churches demands an early commitment to identify and train local leadership who will teach others also and become second generation church planters. We seek to identify and develop potential leaders through:-
· church based training
· use of proven materials
· extension study courses such as Biblical Education by Extension (BEE)
· mentoring
· Bible school courses for suitable candidates
DEVELOPING TO MATURITY
Our purpose is to develop the local church to maturity, enabling them to evangelise and disciple others. This is done through:-
· teaching Biblical principles
· pastoring believers
· developing individual gifts
· establishing church structures in which responsibility and accountability are clearly defined
· appointing elders, deacons and church workers
· identifying leaders and encouraging them to pursue Biblical and theological education
PLANTED CHURCHES
The planted church will be committed to sound teaching, the fellowship of believers, the breaking of bread and prayer. These churches will be encouraged to be a part of the church planting process with the goal of multiplying themselves in Europe. UA-10891880-1