Our Strategy

How we plan to accomplish our mission and vision...

Membership

We will actively invite other individuals and congregations to join CALMS and form a stewardship arrangement with us, through the sharing of their time, talents or financial gifts. To this end we will work towards:

• Preparation of written and video materials which define the ministries we are involved in, or have a vision for future involvement.
• Distribute audio/visual materials through selected mailings.
• Make ourselves available to communicate our mission in person to any individual or organization who may be a potential member.

Partnership

We recognize that we, as a mission society, have only a small portion of the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out the Great Commission. In every region we consider to become involved, it is imperative that we investigate what individuals and organizations have already established a working relationship in the area. As we investigate potential partners, it is important that the following criteria be applied:

• Are the core beliefs espoused by each compatible? Are they willing to embrace our core beliefs? Are we willing to embrace theirs?
• Do they accept the nature of the values we operate under (recognizing they may have different or additional values identified for their organization)?
• Do they possess strengths in areas we need assistance?
• Will the Great Commission be more effectively served by our organizations working together, or separately?
• Can our organizations fit together smoothly and can we work together as equal partners?

Projects

We desire to provide the members of CALMS opportunities for hands-on support of mission work in the field. In conjunction with our partners and the people groups we serve, we will seek to identify and coordinate field projects that are consistent with our mission, vision, values, and the strategies we have identified.

Prayer

Mark 12:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

We know from scripture that our prayers are heard and answered. We will continually encourage all our members and partners to pray for the success our ministry:

• That we remain committed to our Mission.
• That we remain focused on our Vision.
• That we continue to evaluate our actions in light of our Core Beliefs and Values.
• That we keep our strategy current and relevant to the mission.
• That the activities we carry out in support of our strategies, strengthen and multiply the Body of Christ.

Planting Heathly Churches

We believe the most effective environment for the Holy Spirit to empower believers to carry out the Great Commission is through a "fellowship of believers", i.e., a church congregation. Therefore, while our efforts will likely be initiated by ministering to individuals or secular groups, our actions and strategies must be focused on moving these contacts into a church congregation which embraces our core beliefs, or work to plant churches in suitable areas. In order to successfully plant healthy churches we (with the help of our partners) must:

• Identify and train leaders.
• Assist in identifying suitable church sites, recognizing that the largest growth and concentration of people in Central America is in the urban areas.
• Provide assistance in a manner which does not create continued reliance and dependency, thereby allowing the Holy Spirit to empower them to carry out mission centered activities of their own.
• Encourage the leaders to find methods of study and worship that are relevant to their own culture, while keeping the core beliefs intact.
• As soon as they have the minimum training necessary, let leaders lead, without constant direction by the missionaries.
• Encourage the leaders to make their own decisions.
• Allow them to form their own structure, policies and procedures.
• Recognize that they are equal partners with CALMS and other participating partners.
• As we teach we must remember that we have as much to learn.
• As we speak we must remember that we need also to listen.
• As we push forward with our work we must also take time to observe the culture we work within.
• Assist them to identify resources to meet their needs, while allowing them to determine the means required to acquire those resources.
• Encourage them to utilize financial aid from CALMS or other partner organizations as just one resource, and not to depend primarily on this to finance their plans.
• Encourage them to look to their own community for equipment or support personnel and not depend primarily on CALMS or other partner organizations.
• Encourage them to form their own teams to evangelize non-Christians.
• Encourage them to plant new, healthy sister churches within their own cultures.
• Encourage them to develop a mission strategy that promotes cross cultural mission work.