18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in saw him heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20   NIV

Maybe it was divine providence that I became aware of the Great Commission.

I wasn’t specifically seeking to serve God. Honestly, I was looking for a new experience.

The fact that I was accepting the challenge of the Great Commission was incidental.

The fact that I experienced unequaled joy changed my life.

Having decided to serve others rather than engage in self-serving activities, I was lost.  I didn’t know where to begin.   I looked for guidance in finding a place where I could be most effective.   I needed a receptive place, a place where people were hungry for the Good News,  a place where  there was an unserved population.

The Holy Spirit guided me to a church that was going to a foreign country to conduct a Vacation Bible School (VBS).  I asked the leader what criteria he used in selecting the specific site for the VBS.  He was more than willing to respond.

He told me the parable of the Sower. ( Matthew 13: 1-9, NIV)  In this parable,  Christ explained that although much seed was sown, only the seed  (message) falling on fertile ground (receptive ears) will yield a large crop (Those who understand).

Then the team leader told me his criteria for determining if a church was “fertile ground”.

 

1. DESIRE.   Does the church have a desire to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the unchurched? Or do they fear newcomers will “rock the boat”?

2. CONSISTENCY.   Will the church commit to conducting their own VBS the following year?  A fertile field needs care, or it will cease producing.

For example, well-meaning mission groups from other countries have come to conduct a Vacation Bible School (VBS), but when the team leaves,  the spirit of VBS dies.  We want the VBS team to train the church volunteers, not entertain them.

“We want the VBS team to TRAIN the church volunteers, not ENTERTAIN  them.”

3. COMMITMENT.  Is the church receptive to a two-year commitment?  Year one – the VBS team trains their volunteers, the second year, the VBS team supports their volunteers as they conduct their own VBS.

4. ATTENDANCE.  Are there enough children, age 6 – 13, both churched and unchurched in the area to warrant the time and expense of a VBS team from the U.S.?

5. SPACE.  Are the church buildings and site large enough to meet the physical needs of a VBS?  Is there enough space outside the building to conduct recreation activity – and inside too in case of rain?

6. PUBLICITY.  Will the church widely publicize the VBS to the whole community, not just within the church itself?

7. LOCAL SUPPORT.  How much of the necessary supplies, materials, and equipment is available locally?

8. LEADERSHIP.  Will the church designate a local leader, a contact person, to help coordinate logistical arrangements for the VBS team (lodging, meals, transportation, etc.)?

9. ASSISTANCE.  How many volunteers are available to help conduct a VBS?

10. COMMUNICATION.   Will translators be needed?  If so are they available?

11. GREAT COMMISSION.  Is there a possibility of spreading VBS to other churches in the area?

Nowadays, as we look to bring more people to Christ, churches are seeking ways to reach the unchurched.  Where is the fertile ground? Where is the place with the best chance of getting something to grow?   You don’t reap if you don’t sow.

With Christ’s Parable of the Sower in mind, are YOU (your CHURCH) searching for fertile ground?

 

Next week: 10 Important Planning Tools