MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of World Witness is best described as:
World Witness, the Board of Foreign Missions of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, is the agency of the ARP General Synod to which has been entrusted the administration of the mission program of the ARP Church outside the geographical bounds of the United States. In doing this we proclaim Christ as the only Savior and Lord through the means of evangelism, church planting, theological education and works of compassion to defined, unreached peoples across geographical and cultural boundaries, resulting in committed Christians who are gathered into healthy, reproducing churches.
DEFINITIONS:
"World Witness (the Board of Foreign Missions of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church)" - World Witness, the Board of Foreign Missions of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, works on a worldwide scale toward the completion of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
"The Commission of Jesus Christ" - Jesus' Commission to "make disciples in all nations" stands as the basic task of World Witness, and for which the ARP Church, through World Witness, will one day give an account before God.
"Proclaims Christ as the only Savior and Lord" - The thrust of the ministry of World Witness is to exalt Jesus Christ; to present Him as Savior (God the Father's answer for the problem of sin) and Lord (His rightful and sovereign place in the lives of His people and the life of His Church).
"Through Evangelism" - Presenting the Good News of God's redemption of His people based on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ to the end that people respond with repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
"Church Planting" - Biblical evangelism leads to the gathering of believers in Christ into local churches which reflect Scriptural characteristics (Acts 2:42; Matthew 28:18-20) within people's specific linguistic and cultural context.
"Theological Education" - Theological and leadership training on various educational levels, to the end that a trained, national leadership can direct the church. An emphasis is given to utilizing those methods and programs which the national church can later maintain and finance.
"Works of Compassion" - Ministries of mercy done in the name of Jesus Christ to the end that people might know Him as Savior and Lord. Such ministries are not ends in themselves but serve as channels of Christ's love to that particular people.
"Defined, Unreached Peoples" - The main evangelistic focus of the missionary personnel centers on groups of people which the missionaries sense God has most prepared to receive the gospel. The basis for such conclusions consists of research, surveys, interviews and observable responsiveness within the target area.
"Across Geographical and Cultural Boundaries" - The scope of the work of World Witness centers on "making disciples of all the nations;" that is, a ministry outside the bounds of the U.S.A., and within the linguistic and cultural context of the people with whom we work.
"Resulting in Committed Christians" - The main outcome of our work and ministry results in people giving their lives to Jesus Christ as Savior and obediently following Him as Lord.
"Gathered into Healthy, Reproducing Churches" - We focus on gathering believers into local churches which are self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating, and which can thrive independently from the missionaries at as early a stage of development as possible.