Zambia Hunt

After laying the theological foundation and understanding the cultural context, we are ready to develop a strategy for implementing the mission. These strategies are rooted in the Word of God, not in pragmatism.

Strategy is indispensable for successfully carrying out any task. Even as a student, you must strategize to complete assignments and write a successful term paper.

Some churches and church leaders believe that having their theology right will guarantee success in carrying out God’s mission. Sadly, this is not the case.

Defining Strategy

As we define strategy in relation to missions, we recognize that missions begin in the mind of a sovereign God and are worked out within a particular cultural context.

Strategy is “the practical implementation of God’s will within a cultural context.”

Biblical Basis for Strategy

Missionaries seek God’s will for the cultures they serve. They work with national leaders to develop creative, God-centered, biblically-grounded strategies with clear goals.

Paul explains his mission strategy for Titus, who served in a wicked culture on the island of Crete (Titus 1:10-12; 3:3-9). The wickedness of Cretan culture and the demands of the gospel shape Paul’s approach. He instructs Titus to focus on mentoring, training, and ordaining Cretan leaders.

In the Old Testament, we see a ministry strategy in the advice Jethro gave Moses (Ex. 18:13-26). Moses was worn out trying to judge all the cases and address all the problems of the people. The job was too large. Jethro proposed a strategy to solve the problem and meet the need. Moses appointed faithful, godly leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to judge the people. Only the extremely difficult cases came to Moses.

Christian strategies leave room for the sovereignty of God. We are not omniscient. We pray, plan, prepare, and execute. Yet while executing our strategies, God remains in control (Pr. 16:9, 13:16, 15:22, 16:3, 20:18).

Importance of Strategic Planning

Most churches affirm the urgency of proclaiming the gospel to the lost. Most churches believe in missions. Yet most Christians do not evangelize.

The gospel has not motivated Christians sufficiently to develop specific strategies and goals for evangelism. Look at your own church. Can you identify specific strategies and goals that your church uses to reach the lost with the gospel?

Not having goals is comfortable. If there are no goals, there can be no failure.

“If the gospel is ever to be proclaimed in all the world, Christians must feel God’s compassion for the lost. They must understand the cultures of the people among whom they live. And they must make specific plans for reaching them with the gospel, nurturing them to maturity, and training them in Christian leadership.”

Missionaries need more than the ability to cross cultural boundaries, exegete Scripture, learn the local language, and communicate with people. They also need a mission strategy. Many movements stagnate and fail because leaders fail to develop a strategy for carrying out the mission.

Determine your God-given vision, your values, and your mission. The vision remains fixed. Your values remain constant because they come from Scripture. Your mission defines what people must do to accomplish the vision. Strategy may look different from one context to the next or from one generation to another. It may change, grow, and adapt. But without it, the mission will not be achieved.