Churches are on mission all around the world. Many of them are ministering in the same regions and reaching similar people, but most aren’t aware of all the other churches who might be working nearby. Wouldn’t it be great if they all had an easy way to find each other and connect?
Through the Acts 1:8 Network, churches can learn about who else feels the Lord’s calling to reach their target people groups. They can meet each other, pray for each other, and pool their experience and resources for greater Kingdom impact.
The Acts 1:8 Network is organized into smaller networks that each focus on an individual people group, affinity, or geographic region. Churches can be a part of more than one of these smaller networks if they are ministering in more than one of these areas. More networks are being added regularly as new ministries appear.
The Acts 1:8 Network is not designed to be just another program or ministry model. The goal of this Network is for your church to become a worldwide mission center, engaging in the intentional kingdom growing efforts in “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.”
Joining the Acts 1:8 Network is easy, but it does require commitment.
Once you have determined where God is calling you to serve, register as an Acts 1:8 Network church. If you are serving in or are called to multiple areas of missions, you can register in several networks.
It’s crucial that you establish a gifted and effective leadership team to guide your efforts. Whether you’ve had a mission committee or team in place for years or are just starting out, this is a good time to carefully evaluate, organize, energize, and focus toward building a team that embraces the Acts 1:8 Network. These mission leadership teams have different titles from church to church, but they all share a heart for reaching the world.
Your catalytic mission leadership will set the pace and lead the entire church toward greater worldwide impact. Because of this, it’s vitally important that your senior pastor be on-board with the vision. In a very real sense, the pastor is the primary leader, cheerleader, initiator, and instigator in the missionary focus of the church. The most effective churches in establishing a comprehensive, worldwide mission impact are those in which the senior pastor champions the cause.
A fervent, focused season of prayer for God’s vision and leadership is essential for all those involved in embracing the Acts 1:8 Network. Mission leaders must be active seekers of the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they discern how to lead their church to be fully involved in God’s history-long, worldwide mission and as they determine where God is calling the church.
After building your team, take time to seek the Lord and His direction.
Once you discern the Lord’s leading, the next step is to learn (and help your church members learn) about the nation or people group that He has called you to serve. There are many online resources available to help with this part of the process. The following are just a few: