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Ten Steps to Make Acts 13 – Breakthrough A Reality
Acts 13 – Breakthrough is a strategy for the church around the world to raise up and send 200,000 new mission workers to the harvest field in obedience to the command of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19 to ‘Go into all the world and make disciples…’
It is inspired by the example of the Antioch church who obeyed God’s leading to ‘Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ (see Acts 13:2-4)
1. Gather as leaders of your church and wait on God.
2. Have someone share what is already being done in terms of harvest workers and give thanks for all God has done.
3. Discuss a faith goal for future workers and perhaps make a list of all who come to mind.
4. Make the hard decision to do something specific.
5. Pastor or elder share vision with congregation as soon as possible. Prepare some information and literature for the whole congregation.
6. At the church meeting, try to have key material like ‘Serving as Senders’ available and, if agreed, then Acts 13 – Breakthrough information. 1
7. Urge those who are willing or open to pray and be interviewed by a church leader.
8. Start a programme to raise extra finance for this forward thrust. Workers must learn the way of faith and prayer. Individuals need to clearly understand the policy of the church.
9. Try to work out some kind of ongoing training, not only for those who go, but for the whole church. The Perspectives Course, or parts of it, might be possible. 2
10. Have your next Missions Conference or Global Focus Conference to feature the new vision as well as all that is being done. Try to get experienced missionaries and communicators involved.
The local church with a vision for the global harvest is God’s most potent means of bringing His good news.
The impact of Acts 13 is shown in Acts 17: “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here” (Acts 17:6). It is only when you and your local church are touched and ignited that the determination will begin to burn into an action plan, which will help to reap the great harvest.
No church is too small, too large, too rich or too poor to be involved.
Contact the Network Office for more information
George Verwer
NOTES
1 The book “Serving as Senders” by Neal Pirolo can be obtained:
a. From your local Christian book retailer
b. From STL Publications in the UK, at
PO Box 300, Kingstown Broadway, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 0QS,
email kevin.ball@stl.org
c. From OM Literature in the USA, at
PO Box 1047, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830-2047,
email info@omlit.om.org
d. A sample copy directly from this office, as part of the Moving On pack described in the Acts 13 Breakthrough brochure
e. For other language edition details, please contact the Network Office
2 The “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” Course, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, is published by William Carey Library in the USA and Paternoster Press in the UK. Copies can be obtained as for 1 above.
Numerous study groups exist worldwide. To find out where one is:
a. For the American continent, you can contact the US Center for World Mission at
1605 E Elizabeth St, Pasadena, CA 91104-2721, USA,
email greg.parsons@uscwm.org
or visit their website at www.missionfrontiers.org
b. For New Zealand, contact Dr Bob Hall, at the Centre for Mission Direction,
Box 31146, Christchurch, New Zealand,
email BobHall@cmd.org.nz
c. For the United Kingdom, contact Charlie Lusty at YWAM Holmsted Manor, Staplefield Road, Cuckfield, West Sussex,
Email charliel@holmsted.org.uk
You can also run one yourself; leader’s guides are available through the above outlets, and discussion questions are in the Handbook.
Alternative study material includes:
· "Catch the Vision”, by Bill and Amy Stearns, published by Bethany House in the USA. If you have difficulty obtaining it, contact Adopt a People Clearing House, Email ADOPTAPEOPLE@cs.com
2860 S Circle Drive, Suite 2112, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA
· “Vision for the Nations” from the US Center for World Mission (see above)
· “Send Me!” by Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor, published by WEF and William Carey Library. Can be ordered on the internet at www.wefbookstore.org