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How to Help
Ecclesial Sponsorship
During the past decade interest in the Bible's message has increased significantly throughout the entire world. In every country where the truth is preached there are a growing number of people who are responding to the call. Within the brotherhood, ecclesial members and young people have exhibited a heightened awareness and interest in mission activities. There exists a great opportunity to capitalize on this positive situation and accelerate the work.
Currently over 80% of the donations received for the CBMA/CBMC are from individuals rather than through ecclesial sponsorship. The CBMA wishes to promote a greater degree of involvement by the North American ecclesias in mission activities. This would be achieved by developing a close working relationship between the CBMA and a number of "partner ecclesias" in North America. These "partner ecclesias" would become directly involved in some or all aspects of the development and implementation of activities (preaching, pastoral, welfare, and missionary) within a specific country in the Caribbean or in Latin America or a specific region in North America. There are scriptural precedents that support this type of ecclesial involvement in preaching (e.g. the ecclesia of Antioch - Acts 11:25-30; 13:1-4; 14:26-27; 18:22-23).
There are various ways an ecclesia may wish to become a partner. It may be simply be by specifying one collection a month be taken specifically for CBMA/CBMC or a specific amount be sent each month from the general fund. There may be other ways that an ecclesia wishes to participate including the following:
- form a team to work in conjunction with the CBMA/CBMC in order to take responsibility for the work in their specific country or region
- develop a mission program for their specific country according to the CBMA approved model which may include:
- advertise and administer correspondence work
- coordinate pastoral and preaching visits
- support Sunday School and youth group activities
- provide short-term field workers
- promote long-term commitment by ecclesial members and help to facilitate the relocation of CBMA approved missionaries
- develop programs to encourage communication between the partner ecclesia and brethren in their specific country or region
- provide annual reports and regular updates to the CBMA council through the link-brother
- provide regular updates for inclusion in the magazines of the brotherhood
Note: It is highly recommended that all welfare matters be referred to the CBMA before any action is taken.
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