Strategic Priority 4 in the 2025-2028 plan is long-term sustainability
We aim to ensure long-term impact and growth, by a commitment to strong administrative support for teams, fundraising, and leadership development and pastoral care.
This includes improving logistical processes and systems, providing teams with fundraising support and raising scholarship and general funds. The plan also includes intentionality for leadership succession across teams.
Long-term sustainability, in our context, includes investments today that increase the chances of success for future generations.
Elements of this priority were instrumental in the strategies that gave our faith momentum in its infancy, putting it on a growth trajectory that has lasted 21 centuries.
The small team of leaders developed by Jesus were faced with complex issues in a multicultural community of new believers. There were demands for urgent and equitable distribution of daily provisions at a time when opportunities for expanding the primary mission abounded. So, the leaders appointed an administrative support team, on whose basis modern day Christendom’s role of deacon was founded. This “backstage” support team had the same qualifications as the team spearheading expansion on the frontlines.
Later, as our faith extended beyond Jerusalem and Judea, fundraising to sustain both expansion and to meet relief needs became necessary. Through direct appeals, instructions on planned donations, and teachings on generosity, money was raised to support both local communities and mobile teams. Messaging included information about fair remuneration of gospel workers. The leaders made the appeal, but much of the practical aspects of collecting and delivering funds were delegated.
Some letters to early churches and the missionary journal of Jesus’ earliest team show us how leaders were developed, and authority delegated and succession baked into everyday mission activities. Furthermore, we see the pattern of Jesus replicated by His followers to the third generation with clear instructions on how to sustain a quality leadership stream indefinitely.
We also learn from Jesus and Paul’s examples how to care for our leaders giving holistic attention to their needs in the seasons of life.
Peter Agwa is the Executive Director of EMAS Canada. A physician and surgeon in his native Kenya, Peter has a passion for Christ-centred healthcare and has a wealth of experience both hosting and sending short-term mission teams. Subscribe to Executive Director's Blog
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