Arizona Baptist Bible Fellowship Home Missions Policy

1. One that would desire to be a “Home Missionary” through the Arizona Baptist Bible Fellowship (AZBBF) should:
   
   A. Show clearly by his testimony to the missions committee and state body of pastors his experience of salvation.
   
   B. Give evidence that he meets the pastoral qualifications outlined by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 (personal recommendations accepted by men known by the AZBBF).
   
   C. Not be a pastor or seeking a church that is the result of a church split. The missions committee will not approve this situation. Note: The pastor may appear before the AZBBF on his own behalf after the chairman has given reason for non-approval.
   
   D. Be a graduate of a Baptist Bible Fellowship International (BBFI) approved school or affiliated with a BBFI pastor that will recommend him to the AZBBF.
   
   E. Show evidence of his Ordination to the Gospel Ministry; Acts 13:2-3, Titus 1:5.
   
   F. Complete and sign the AZBBF Application for Home Missions Support prior to meeting with the Missions Committee. It would be helpful to complete the application and send it to the state chairman prior to the scheduled AZBBF meeting.
   
   G. Have evidence of a commissioning/sending church and pastor that will assume responsibility of the man and the work (Acts 13:2-3). No pastor may recommend his own candidate to the brethren, this is the duty of the Missions Committee. We are to do this in order to reduce friction among the brethren and so that each man will be judged on his own merit and needs. Once the Missions Committee has presented the candidate, his pastor may recommend him, adding personal testimony of the candidate’s sincerity and faithfulness.
   
   H. Locate and enlist a sponsoring pastor in the state of Arizona to help him (introduce, encourage, counsel, support, etc.).
   
   I. Have two AZBBF pastors (not sponsoring pastor) visit the new work. Their recommendation of approval for support should be submitted to the chairman prior to Missions Committee approval.
   
   J. Endeavor to attend the regularly scheduled meetings of the AZBBF and be willing to support its activities.
   
   K. Report at each regularly scheduled meeting of the AZBBF of the progress of the work. This can be done personally or through the sponsoring pastor.
   
   L. If resigning the work, will informing the AZBBF with a personal letter, verbal testimony, or through the sponsoring pastor.
   
   
2. The AZBBF will support as many home mission projects as is financially feasible.
   
   A. Support will be given to the pastor, not to the church.
   
   B. Support will be given for a six-month period of time. After the first six months, a re-evaluation can be made.
   
   C. Financial statement and any personal comments (excluding application) will not be open to discussion in AZBBF meetings. (We are not to disclose personal lives before all).
   
   D. Support granted by the AZBBF is for starting churches in Arizona only.
   
   E. Support for starting churches outside Arizona should be granted by individual churches.
   
   
3. III. The best way to gain financial support is to offer the AZBBF pastors something concrete concerning the work in the city to which the Home Missionary is going.
   
   A. It is recommended that the missionary spend some time in the city to which God has called him, in order to become acquainted with the prospects of establishing a church there.
   
   B. It is recommended that the missionary seek property possibilities for a building site or suitable quarters in which to locate a church.
   
   C. The AZBBF will not recommend any candidate for support who is endeavoring to establish a new church within an unreasonable distance to another AZBBF pastor’s work. This is to avoid friction among the brethren.
   
   
4. IV. No candidate will be supported on the condition that he is going to a city to see if a church can be built there. This is to prevent the sudden “call of God” somewhere else when the going gets tough. A candidate is to be recommended on the following basis:
   
   A. That God has called him to a particular city to build a church.
   
   B. That the candidate, by God’s Grace and Help, is going to build a church.
   
   C. That whether the AZBBF supports him or not, the candidate will stay and build a church where God has called him to serve.

NOTE: These policies may be changed by a majority vote of the AZBBF only.