"For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!' But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." –Romans 10:13-17
The Purpose of Missions Committee
The divine mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ to go into all the world, make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the Triune name, and teach them to observe everything he has commanded, as taught in Matthew 28:18-20, provides the basis from and the impetus for which The Missions Committee goes about its ministry. In her effort to be true to the Word of God, the Reformed Faith, and obedient to the Great Commission, Valley Presbyterian Church (VPC) created The Missions Committee, under the oversight of VPC’s Session, to support the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Since the good news of Jesus Christ’s doing, dying, and rising for sinners is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, The Missions Committee aims to further the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in order that God may continue to save and sanctity a people for himself from every tribe and language, and people, and nation (Rev. 5:8-10) .
Missions and the Local Church
In an effort to remain faithful to the Great Commission, The Missions Committee sets forth the following vision for VPC missionary support. The Missions Committee desires to invest in those ministries that minister with what God has instituted and promised to bless for the salvation of his elect (i.e. faithful preaching of the Gospel, administration of the sacraments, flock oversight, and diaconal care). Because the primary vehicle through which God gathers, saves, strengthens, and sanctifies his elect is the local church and the gospel-ministry therein (WCF 25.3), one of the Missions Committee’s chief goal is to support the establishment of confessionally Reformed or Presbyterian, evangelistic, healthy God-glorifying churches. In this way The Missions Committee is following the example of the Apostles who, as recorded in Acts, established local churches under the oversight of ordained officers who, like the Apostles before them, are to call people to repentance and faith, administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, preserve the purity of the church, demonstrate mercy to the body, and equip members to do likewise.
Word and Deed Ministry
In demonstrating mercy and equipping members to do likewise, The Missions Committee will first seek to support word and deed ministry as coordinated by the deacons and elders of a local church of like faith and practice to that of VPC. Where no such local church exists The Missions Committee may choose to support a word and deed ministry that demonstrates a strong an affinity for the local church and/or a desire to see its ministry eventually coordinated by the deacons and elders of a faithful local church. Just as the apostles ministered to believers physical and spiritual needs, so too the body of Christ, both gathered as an assembly of believers and as a scattered people throughout their communities, ought to do likewise. In doing so, Christ’s church is truly the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).
Conclusion
In affirmation of the Biblical and confessional truths set forth above, The Missions Committee, in a prayerful and principled manner, will support missionary works that affirm the centrality of the local church in calling the elect to faith. Our ultimate desire is that of the Apostle Paul: to see the members of Christ’s church knit together, holding fast to their Head Jesus Christ, and growing with a growth that is from God (Col. 3:19). To that end, our prayer is that God would use the labors of VPC, her Session, and The Missions Committee to further his Kingdom, equip his elect, edify the body of Christ, and enable our neighbors throughout the world to know the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Duties of the Missions Committee
The Missions Committee shall meet on a monthly basis. As of the date of this document, this meeting ordinarily occurs on the second Sunday of the month.
The duties of the MC are as follows:
1) Responsible for staying in compliance with VPC’s Missions Vision Statement
2) Select and oversees missionaries
3) Allocate and monitor annual missions budget
4) Ongoing communication with and prayer for VPC missionaries
5) Foster ongoing communication with Session and VPC body as well as participation from VPC members
6) Facilitate short term mission opportunities for VPC members
Adopted by Valley Presbyterian Church Session on November 2012