CEE volunteer Project Guidelines

"Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power …"
Pslam 110:3a, NASB

As your International Mission Board missionaries, we rejoice at the shared task that we have and the deep cooperation that binds us in this endeavor. We are grateful to God that He has been sending thousands of Southern Baptists to the challenging and rewarding fields of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Prayers of many nationals and missionaries have preceded the process that you are now entering.

Volunteers are an integral part of the strategy of CEE. This strategy is vibrant and fluid but decades of experience and hundreds of case studies have prompted the establishing of a few bedrock principles. These are not presented callously nor arrogantly but with the prayerful conviction of deep missiological reasoning and pragmatic planning.

We understand that you have arrived at this point with a deep understanding of the Lord's leading. You may have been challenged by a stateside missionary or invited by a national brother and you treat seriously the missionary dynamics of these emerging plans. We, your IMB missionaries, formally invite hundreds of groups each year to labor with us but recognize the work of many other groups called forth through other channels. We genuinely rejoice at the Lord's leading. We also feel responsible to present a few clear, missiologically based principles that govern our work with volunteers. We try to limit such parameters to allow optimum freedom but we cannot stray from the below stated convictions:

1. The giving of subsidies has proven that short-term assistance is far outweighed by long-term repercussions.

The desired effect of a “shot in the arm” quickly breeds the negative results of dependence, non-reproducible methods and often, non-indigenous strategies in the field. We have prayerfully chosen not to coordinate or cooperate in such projects that include this practice.

2. Extracting nationals to be trained in a context distant and foreign to their place of service generally should not be considered.

Many groups see the opportunity to help the national by providing an educational opportunity in the states. This practice may be sometimes warranted but should be coordinated very carefully though cooperation of the national unions and IMB missionaries.

3. The funding of large projects without consultation has led to difficult situations in the past.

Large projects have their place (i.e. assistance in building training facilities) but sometimes prove to be counter-productive. The IMB does not desire to control the flow of resources but to advise and give direction regarding long-term gain.

4. The planning of projects that endanger the furthering of the work.

IMB missionaries face dangers gladly because of the call of God upon their lives yet wise missiology demands the prudent planning of events. In many countries of the region, public evangelistic events are legal and often helpful. Yet in some situations, a public, western-style campaign may prove ineffective and even lead to the expulsion of the missionary presence and may endanger national believers. Again, consultation and coordination will help to properly place and plan such groups.

5. Types of groups

Below is a sampling of readily approved projects in Central and Eastern Europe. If these groups adhere to the above summarized principles, they will be welcomed in the region. The strategy and goals of these groups are to advance the emergence of a church-planting movement developed by the missionaries for the specific people group or population segment.

a. Evangelistic groups - groups that come to evangelize in traditional ways (i.e. crusades) or non-traditional ways (i.e. sports evangelism) are welcomed and encouraged to coordinate with the IMB missionary in the immediate area. Evangelistic groups are often the first-time presenters of the Gospel to many people in CEE.

b. ESL groups - English as a Second Language groups are often helpful and effective in the strategies of CEE to build relationships with nationals and can lead to the beginning of informal Bible study groups.

c. Age group ministries - these projects would include work among children, youth, students and the elderly and could be in the form of camps, Vacation Bible School, retreats and the like. These ministries introduce nationals to Christian character, concern for others, love and values, as well as often present opportunities to share one's faith in Christ.

d. Human needs ministries - these projects would include medical teams or special ministries teams. These ministries introduce nationals to Christian character, concern for others, love and values, as well as often present opportunities to share one's faith in Christ.

e. Construction ministries - to include assistance in refurbishing existing structures for use as training centers, specialized evangelistic ministries (such as coffee houses, play grounds, etc.), disaster relief and refugee ministries. Construction or refurbishment of buildings for use as churches shall first be approved by SA.

f. Training and education - to be directed toward training leaders, discipling methods, the telling of one's story (witnessing) and theological education in the context of a church planting movement, that is contextualized to the various settings of CEE.

Administratively, volunteer groups shall complete the on-line IMB Volunteer Team Application, Part 1 (by the team leader) and Part 2 (by the team leader or individually by each team member). The teams shall adhere to the IMB Relationship Levels as follows:

Only members of SBC churches will be enlisted. Exceptions may be made for members of other evangelical churches as follows:

a. Entry into a target population may be open to members of other evangelical churches.

b. Ministry to human needs, prayer, and construction projects may be open to members of other evangelical churches.

c. Projects for literature distribution and evangelism may be open to members of other evangelical churches (guiding principle: commitment to biblical evangelism).

d. Projects for church planting, preaching and scriptural teaching will be open only to members of Southern Baptist churches.

e. Projects for theological education will be open only to members of Southern Baptist churches.

Team leaders must be members of Southern Baptist churches and non-SBC members must agree to work within the parameters of the Baptist Faith & Message.

Download project guidelines. (option-click on a Mac to download)