CALMS' strategy can most easily be described using our name: Connecting and Advancing Leaders in Mission and Service.
Connecting - To use a computer example, our strategy is to link parts of the body of Christ in order to help fulfill the Great Commission. CALMS seeks to be less "Microsoft" and more "open-source" as we connect the various parts of the Body of Christ. As we connect North American Christians to mission opportunities in Central America, we are able to help build the capacity of Central American leaders and their churches to grow and thrive. In the process, North American Christians and their churches grow in their mission vision and often are able to see new mission opportunities in their own communities. As we facilitate connections between North American and Central American Christians, we see a synergy occurring that builds the capacity of both groups of people.
Advancing - Many North American and Central American Christians and their congregations are ready to assume a growing role in local and global outreach. Through training and mentoring, CALMS helps congregations and their leaders develop competency and confidence to reach out cross-culturally to people in their own community and around the world. We are especially interested in helping both North American and Central American Christians serve together to share their faith and demonstrate God's love through practical deeds of service. We do this by forming cross-cultural short-term teams to accomplish strategic mission work. By combining the skills of both groups of Christians, they are able to learn from one another while advancing God's mission.
Leaders - God's people-including lay people of all ages-have His gifts (natural talents, time, spiritual gifs, and financial resources) to help change the world. Every Christian has the capacity to become an effective leader. CALMS wants to partner with congregations to help children, youth, men and women become more effective Christian leaders and cross-cultural ambassadors. We see leadership as more of an attitude instead of a title and believe that a growing number of pastors are ready to share the leadership role and to equip their people to be leaders. We truly believe there is a great need for more mature Christian leaders and that cross-cultural mission service is one of the most effective ways to help develop such leaders.
Mission - The mission is ultimately God's mission, yet He invites all of us who are baptized to join Him in "making disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18-20). What a privilege we all have to work together with God and each other to make a real difference in people lives for this world and eternity! CALMS seeks to help individual Christians and Christian congregations in both North and Central America discover their roles and to develop a passion for God's mission. Through consultation, training and mentoring, CALMS helps others avoid behavior and actions that create dependency and unhealthy churches and to do all they can to strengthen and promote healthy churches and ministry. A major focus is to help existing congregations become healthier and to help plant new churches.
Service - As God's people serve the truly needy, He grows our own servant hearts so that in time, our hearts look more like His! CALMS offers unique opportunities to serve God and "the least of these—Christ's brothers and sisters in need" (Matthew 25:40). CALMS works closely with North American and Central American pastors and congregations to design strategic mission projects that will truly benefit the needy. We are working hard to help Central American churches impact their communities through health care, housing, evangelism, counseling services and many other ways.
