EVANGELISM AND HOME MISSIONS DEPARTMENT

The Evangelism and Home Missions Department of the International Pentecostal Church of Christ is managed by the General Executive Committee in cooperation with the districts. Church plants must have both the approval of the respective district and the Home Missions Department.

Church Planting

Matching funds for mother/daughter plants - In acknowledgment of the advisability of mother/daughter church planting relationships, the IPCC has committed itself to the following matching funds program.

1. Upon the commitment of a local church to provide funds and leadership to a new church plant, the IPCC will match local contributions up to $20,000. This plan is expected to prevent unwise endorsements of questionable church plants since Mother Churches will be reluctant to support a project they do not believe in. Due to the investment by the Mother Church, this plan is expected to provide both the immediate oversight and fellowship crucial to the critical early life of a church plant. The Mother Church must be a loyal IPCC church in the area of tithing and district cooperation.

2. The Church Planter must possess both the qualifications and willingness to commit to the IPCC and indicate his loyalty to the Mother Church. He must possess the apparent spiritual and leadership attributes conducive to church planting and commit to seeing the plant through to success.

3. Both the Daughter Church and the Church Planter shall be under the direct supervision of the sponsoring pastor and church who will submit a simple monthly report form to both the District Overseer and the General Overseer prior to funds being released.

4. The Church Planter will be required to have one meeting, minimally, per week with the sponsoring pastor to receive assignments and to discuss areas of both progress and need.

5. The Church Planter must be minimally licensed as an Evangelist or in the licensing process.

6. Tithes shall be paid to the IPCC on all income to the Daughter Church and Church Planter in accordance with the By-Laws of the IPCC.

7. To assure spiritual development alongside of ministerial development, the church planter must maintain a prayer journal such as provided by The Bible League which may be reviewed by the Sponsoring Pastor.

8. Church Plants succeed when worked along with prayer. Therefore, the Church Planter shall make an average of 5 contacts a day (x5 each week) resulting in at least a phone number and be involved in at least 3 social outings a week with the goal in mind of building a contact base.

9. The budgeting for the Daughter Church is to be approved by the Mother Church during the support period. The scheduling of funds disbursement shall be agreed to by the oversight committee.

10. If, it is the opinion of either the Sponsoring Pastor, District Overseer, or the General Overseer the church plant may be terminated at any time if it is not succeeding, for lack of respect for either the Mother Church, its pastor, or the IPCC or any other reason indicating the process is misdirected when there is reason to believe the relationship is beyond correction.

11. Any deeds must be made directly to the International Pentecostal Church of Christ. In the event of dissolution, all personal property is to be assumed by the Mother Church.

12. This program is subject to revision or termination by the General Executive Committee at any time.

Home Missions Projects - The Home Missions Department may give oversight and support to new church projects which comply with the following guidelines.

1. The prospective church planter must be credentialed with the International Pentecostal Church of Christ and secure a solid recommendation by his pastor and District Overseer for this project.

2. The prospective church planter must successfully complete the Standard Church Planter’s Bootcamp from the Church Multiplication Training Center (CMTC) (http://www.cmtcmultiply.org) or the Church Planter’s program hosted by The Bible League (http://www.gospelcom.net/bibleleague/index.html)

3. Upon the successful completion of one of the above programs, the Home Missions Department will accept proposals which must include:

A. A testimony of the prospective church planter’s general call and his or her specific call to this particular project.

B. A resume of the church planter which should include a summary of all previous projects regardless of success.

C. A comprehensive mission and vision statement.

D. A philosophy of ministry which describes the planter’s understanding of how churches get started and developed.

E. A proposed budget listing realistic needs such as facility costs, advertising and promotion, equipment and material costs, and personal expenses.

F. An analysis of the geographic location where the plant is to be placed, complete with a demographic study which should include a credible forecast of the expected growth, social, cost-of-living, and the educational and income levels of the community.

G. A set of goals and objectives

H. Implementation strategy about how the planter will accomplish the above goals.

Grass Roots Initiatives are encouraged with a reduced degree of oversight and funding. Local Church Initiatives are always welcomed. Consultation or seminars are offered at no charge.

Benefits provided to all new church plants:

1. Free Sunday School curriculum for six months to churches starting Sunday schools.

2. Free tuition at official IPCC training events such as Leadership 21 and the Church Leadership Conference.

3. Free property and building consultation

4. Free church growth/planting consultation or seminars

Church Loans - When funds are available, reduced interest loans may be provided to churches from the Home Missions Department, the Bachman Fund, or the Ministerial Benefits Department of the IPCC.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

MINISTERIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the IPCC Internship Program is to provide practical ministerial experience in an International Pentecostal Church of Christ church which will provide meaningful and guided supervision by a seasoned pastor with the goal of leading the intern into a higher level of responsible ministry. Although new pastors will be the primary goal, internships may include pastoral assistance, visitation ministry, youth ministry, Christian Education, or music ministry. The respective Pastor, District Overseer of the church’s district, and Assistant General Overseer shall form an oversight committee.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Applicants must demonstrate apparent ministry potential and must either be a full-time student in or an immediate graduate of an approved ministerial training program.

2. He or she must provide a letter of endorsement from the school administration as well as from his or her home church pastor.

3. He or she must provide a letter of endorsement from their home church pastor in addition to the oversight committee.

4. The applicant shall sign a promissory note which will become immediately payable if the person’s association in the IPCC terminates for any reason less than 5 years from the commencing period.

5. Upon request from the local pastor, the IPCC Home Missions and Evangelism Department will match up to one-half the funds provided by the church up to $100 per week, payable monthly, for the summer months between normal school terms. The matching amount shall be limited to $50 per week unless the intern is working in a church 100 miles or further from his home. This is to avoid the full payment to interns who may be living at home who require less assistance. The respective Pastor, District Overseer of the church’s district, and Assistant General Overseer shall form an oversight committee and must concur that the match merits the expenditure of funds.

6. The intern shall be under the direct supervision of the sponsoring pastor who will submit a simple monthly report form and send to the General Offices of the IPCC prior to funds being released.

7. The intern will be required to have one meeting per week with the sponsoring pastor to receive assignments and to discuss areas of both progress and needed improvement.

8. The Intern must be minimally licensed as an Evangelist or in the licensing process.

9. Tithes shall be paid to the IPCC General Conference on the support and all other income.

10. To assure spiritual development alongside of ministerial development, the Intern must maintain The Bible League prayer journal provided by the IPCC for a full year.

11. If, it is the opinion of either the Pastor, District Overseer of the church’s district, or the Assistant General Overseer the internship is not succeeding, it may be terminated at any time for lack of pastoral respect or any other reason indicating the process is misdirected and when there is reason to believe the relationship is beyond correction.

12. This program is subject to revision or termination by the General Executive Committee at any time. However, termination shall not affect internships in progress.

13. Any questions regarding this program should be directed to the Assistant General Overseer.

SCHOLARSHIPS - The IPCC offers a scholarship program for developing ministers. The amount of the IPCC Scholarship Loan program is currently fixed at $1500.00 per scholarship year. In the event of insufficient funds, Scholarship Loans will be made on the basis of need and the strength of Pastoral Endorsement.

1. The student must be accepted for admission in a ministry related program at a college accredited (Regionally, AABC or TRACS) and approved by the IPCC.

2. The student must complete an application for the IPCC Scholarship Loan Program.

3. The student must be willing to sign a Promissory Note, that states the scholarship loan will be repaid with interest at the prevailing Prime Rate, if for any reason the student leaves the IPCC within five (5) years from the date that the last loan commenced.  However, after five (5) years have been completed the scholarship loan will be forgiven.

4. Any questions regarding the implementing of this Scholarship Loan Program should be directed to the Assistant General Overseer.

5. Completed applications are to be sent to the General Offices of the IPCC.