Why Use a Missions Agency?
The answer to the “who sends me?” question starts with God. HE calls and HE sends us. But, people are involved as partners and team members. The apostle Paul always traveled with others, and was always sent and supported – with prayer and gifts – by others. This is the New Testament pattern.
A mission agency is simply a group of churches and leaders who organize around the vision of sending people to God’s call. There are many kinds of agencies and methods to send, but they all have this same foundation: God’s people responding to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment to GO to the entire world and make disciples of Jesus.
What Kind of Mission Agency is Globe?
Globe is an inter-denominational agency that serves the whole body of Christ. For nearly 40 years Globe has been helping God’s people do what they are called to do to reach the nations. Local churches across the United States send and support their missionaries through Globe and with our assistance. Globe’s purpose is to help missionaries fulfill their call from God. Globe personnel are involved in many kinds of specific ministries, targeting people groups and communities all over the world. They are engaged in evangelism, church planting, training, education, children and youth work, and social justice ministries and services to the poor. Currently, with our partners and through the Globe Network, Globe is serving in nearly 40 nations on every major continent.
Organizationally, Globe operates with as little structure as possible, trying to balance the need for support, integrity and accountability of our missionaries with freedom to do God’s work in an unencumbered manner. Some Globe missionaries work directly inside Globe programs, others are working independently in sensitive or restricted areas of the world, and still others work in corporation with U.S. based churches and other organizations.
What does Globe do for the missionary?
Relationally, Globe gives missionaries a sense of belonging to a “family” of international missionary colleagues. Affiliation with an agency like Globe also gives the missionary credibility with churches at home and abroad, and with ministries on the field. Globe’s reputation as an established inter-denominational agency helps open doors for missionaries. Finally, missionaries feel secure in the knowledge that Globe staff members are working daily to care for their personal affairs.
Administratively, Globe provides many services that can be difficult for an individual local church to consistently provide, such as contribution management and reporting, newsletter and mailing services, a standardized candidate approval process, financial, legal and tax consultant services, promotion of missionaries and projects to a wide audience, and up to date information about new trends and services related to missions.
Strategically, Globe helps missionaries through training and consultation to do the best and most fruitful work they can do at the place of God’s assignment.
What is Globe’s relationship with the local church?
Every new Globe missionary applicant must be a member-in-good-standing of a local church and have their pastor’s endorsement. Globe partners with local churches to send out missionaries and regularly consults with them in serving needs. Globe expects missionaries to maintain strong ties with their home church and supporters. Pastors are encouraged to stay involved with their missionaries by providing pastoral leadership and counsel to them and visiting them on the field. Several pastors serve on Globe’s Board of Directors.
How is the Globe office supported?
Globe receives a 10% administrative fee from all contributions, which helps underwrite Globe’s daily operations. Globe’s General Fund is also supported directly by the generosity of churches and contributors. Globe is committed to excellence and integrity in financial management, and has voluntarily maintained active membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) since 1986. Annual audits are available upon written request.
