GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING A MISSION

BEFORE THE MISSION

Form a planning committee. Meet regularly to plan for the mission and assess progress.
Decide on the date and length of the mission, as well as a Theme (preferably short and catchy). Decide on the Preacher(s). Have a budget.
Decide on the type of mission you want i.e. whether a teaching or evangelistic mission.
Decide on the target group i.e. whether it’s for non-churched, lapsed members or general membership etc.
Establish prayer group(s). Meet regularly to pray for the mission – the Preacher(s), those who will attend, those who will lead, the counsellors etc.
Encourage members to identify those to be invited. Pray for them regularly and invite them to the mission services.
Determine the needs of the mission e.g. PA system? Indoor or open air? Venue? Electricity? Music/Musicians? Cost?
Do promotion of the mission – flyers, posters, letters (to other churches, schools, other institutions, business places etc.), house to house visits, announcements e.g. on ‘Think On These Things’ and via loudspeaker (near the date of the mission).
Assign tasks. Select and brief persons for various responsibilities e.g. Song leader(s), ‘Welcome Team’ (Ushers) etc.
Select and train counsellors who will help to counsel those who respond during the mission, and who will also do follow-up after the mission.
Procure tracts, booklets etc. for the mission.
If possible, have hymns and choruses to be used during the mission printed on sheets or projected on to screen.

DURING THE MISSION

Have counsellors and those involved in the service meet for prayer at least 45 minutes before the start each evening. Bolster the whole event with prayer.

Have welcome team/ushers, song leaders etc. in place and ready to do their work. (You may have persons take turns in leading each night.)

Counsellors to record names, addresses and contact numbers of those who make decisions.

If possible, have place where counsellors can meet with those who make decisions.

Do on-going assessment of how things are going each night to determine whether any adjustments/changes need to be made.

AFTER THE MISSION

Counsellors and/or other selected persons to do follow-up work with those who made decisions. If they express a preference for, or association with a particular church, refer them to the priest/pastor.

Where there is no preference, invite them, not just to Church, but to Bible Study, Prayer Meeting, and to become involved in an organisation.