WORLD WITNESS PURPOSE STATEMENT:
In response to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, 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 international missions program of the ARP Church, primarily outside the geographical bounds of the United States.
We proclaim Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord through the means of evangelism, discipleship, church planting, theological education and works of compassion to defined communities across geographical and cultural boundaries, resulting in committed Christians who are gathered into healthy, reproducing churches which are winsomely Reformed in doctrine and Presbyterian in structure.
DEFINITIONS:
“In response to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ” – Jesus’ Great Commission summarizes the basic task of World Witness. It provides the theology, motivation, structure and method for missions.
“the agency of the ARP General Synod to which has been entrusted the administration of the international missions program of the ARP Church” – World Witness works under the supervision of the ARP General Synod on a worldwide scale to harvest those who have been purchased with Christ’s blood from every tribe, language, people and nation. (Rev 5:9)
“primarily outside the geographical bounds of the United States” – As well as its primary focus on overseas ministry, World Witness supports the church planting ministry of the ARP General Synod among those communities that have not yet been fully integrated into US culture and society.
“We proclaim Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord” –Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation with absolute claims upon the lives of His people. (John 3:16 – 18)
“through evangelism” – We present the person and work of Jesus Christ to the end that people respond with repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
“discipleship” – Through the power of the Holy Spirit believers are equipped to deny self, to daily take up their cross, to follow Jesus, and to serve and advance His Church. (Luke 9:23 – 25; John 15:7 – 17; Gal 5:22 – 25; 2 Tim 3:16, 17; Heb 5:14; 1 Pet 2:2)
“church planting” – Biblical evangelism leads to the gathering of believers into local churches which reflect Scriptural characteristics within people’s specific linguistic and cultural context. (Acts 2:42; 15:19, 28, 29; 1 Cor 12:27)
“theological education” – Theological and leadership training on various educational levels, to the end that a trained, national leadership can direct the church. 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 with the purpose 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 communities” – The scope of the work of World Witness centers on four main fields: the Muslim world; Secular Europe; the ARP Synods of Mexico and Pakistan; and the Mobile Theological Training Team ministry.
“across geographical and cultural boundaries” – World Witness focuses on “making disciples of all the nations,” a ministry that is sensitive to the linguistic and cultural context of the people with whom we work.
“resulting in committed Christians” – As God enables, 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 that take increasing responsibility for finances, government, growth, ministry and outreach under Christ, the Head of the Church, and which can thrive independently from the missionaries at as early a stage of development as possible.
“which are winsomely Reformed in doctrine” – We encourage the adoption of the Westminster Confession of Faith (or an equivalent Reformed confession) as the doctrinal standard of churches which we plant with the caveat that those who know and teach the doctrines of grace must be the most active in demonstrating this grace in their attitudes and actions towards others.
“Presbyterian in structure” – We are committed to the training of men for the church leadership offices of pastor and elder as well as men and women for the church service office of deacon. We are also committed to organizing new church plants into presbyteries and synods which are united in their commitment to Christ and other like-minded Reformed denominations and churches.