Every local church should be a “worldwide mission strategy center.”  That challenging phrase in Henry Blackaby’s book Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God is a contemporary call back to the Great Commission.  Many pastors and church members have been stirred by that challenge and are looking for ways get personally involved in world evangelization.  They are no longer satisfied with just sending a check to the mission board.  They want to find their strategic place in taking the gospel to the “uttermost parts of the earth.”

What would a local church “worldwide mission strategy center” look like? 

How can members of a local church find answers to questions about:

• missionaries
• mission fields
• unreached people groups
• prayer needs
• opportunities to get involved in world missions? 

What if there was a place at the local church where you could go to get information about missions?  A place where you could research the Internet for up-to-date prayer requests and reports on mission activities?   A place where people met to plan strategy, receive training, and answer questions for others who what to be involved?

The Concept

Information is power.  The local church that is going to have a powerful ministry around the world needs information.  The Internet provides immediate access to the world and a world of information. 

The Place

The Great Commission Resource Center (GCRC) is visual evidence of mission involvement.  A place where members can go for information.  An office and resource center with computers, maps, photos, books, videos, prayer letters, mission trip brochures, etc. 

The Team

A worldwide ministry requires manpower.  A church that is mobilized to world evangelization will have members that accept significant responsibilities: UPG Champions, Short-term team leaders, mission prayer coordinators, newsletter editors, and all their team members.  The Great Commission Resource Center is a place for these teams meet, study, plan, and promote the global ministry of the local church.  There may even be a Great Commission Resource Team to become “mission information experts” for the local church.

Four Levels of GCRC Development

1.  Helping church members find answers to mission questions

2.  Coordinating and promoting mission trips and events

3.  Servicing strategic partnerships and field specific projects

4.  Mobilizing other congregations through training and networking

(See http://www.greatc.org for a GCRC web site.)