Plans for the Year 
Variety of SettingsLet’s face it…Nazarene churches are like the people in them. There are a variety of sizes with an array of preferences of how they worship and how they operate. Mission education takes place in corporate worship and in small groups. We have learned that some churches meet monthly, while others conduct special mission events a few times a year, and still other churches will present a “Mission Moment” weekly or monthly. Following are some ways LM could be used:
  

• Traditional mission service
• Small group/Bible study-style settings
• Weekend retreats
• Sunday School alternative for a short term—give your teachers a break, or have someone prepared to step in as a substitute when a teacher cannot be in class
• Special all-church events or even outreach opportunities—the CAUSES would be especially good for this option

 
Churches that have met monthly in the past may continue to do so. They would not present a different topic each month, but would provide more in-depth information in a variety of formats. The ideal plan will be to have one or two months with information from the lessons, following those with a CAUSE that ties directly to those lessons.
 
Plans for the Year 
Following are a year’s worth of plans, using the topics information in the current Living Mission box, plus what is being written for the September mailing. These were labeled “Month ___” because churches start their years in different months.
 
By examining your church’s calendar with your pastor, the two of you might agree that a specific lesson topic would fit best at a certain time of the year (example—the education lessons in the box might fit best when the school year begins).
 
The lessons for the second portion of the year are being written, so Months 8-12 do not have details.

 

Sample Plan for a Year of Living MissionMonth 1—From Lesson “Priceless People”

• Use the video Price Tags (12 minutes) and discuss (10 minutes), using questions from the lesson
• Present either the audiocast Indian Restaurant (5 minutes) or tell that story from the planner (approximately 2 minutes) and discuss (10 minutes), using questions from the lesson
• Distribute “What Is Human Trafficking?” and “Facts about Human Trafficking” for people to review and take home (these could be touched on verbally if you have the time)
• TOTAL TIME (using audiocast and without verbally touching on third point)—37 minutes

 
Month 2— From Lesson “Priceless People”

• Review previous month’s info (5 minutes)
• Present the audiocast Theresa’s Story (5 minutes) or tell that story from the planner (approximately 2 minutes) and discuss (10 minutes), using questions from the lesson
• Distribute “Facts about Sex Trafficking,” “Why Is There Sexual Slavery?”, and discuss the “ASK” section after those (5 minutes)
• Present “How has the Church of the Nazarene Responded?”, “Do Something That Matters,” and “Conclusion” (approximately 6 minutes)
• Have in-depth prayer time for victims and perpetrators of human trafficking (12 minutes)
• TOTAL TIME (using story—instead of audiocast)—40 minutes

 
Month 3—From Lesson “Lighting the Way”

• Use the video Lamp (12 minutes) and discuss (10 minutes), using questions from the lesson
• Present either the audiocast Educating Children, Foundations for Future Leaders (16 minutes) or tell the story from the planner (approximately 7 minutes) and discuss (10 minutes), using questions from the lesson
• Distribute “Education Improves Life” (whole page) and discuss “ASK” (10 minutes)
• TOTAL TIME (using story—instead of audiocast)—49 minutes

 
Month 4—From Lesson “Lighting the Way”

• Review previous month’s info (5 minutes)
• Present sections “How Has the Church of the Nazarene Responded?” and “Conclusion” (4 minutes)
• Present “Do Something That Matters,” especially focusing on LEAP and explaining that the next month will be about LEAP, with plans to have an event to promote awareness about LEAP (maybe have a fundraiser); have brainstorming session in small groups about what the church could do, how to make it exciting, whether people outside the church should be involved, and who would be willing to help with the event (20 minutes)
• Have prayer time using prayer requests in the lesson and for upcoming event (10 minutes)
• TOTAL TIME (using story—instead of audiocast)—39 minutes

 
Month 5—From LEAP CAUSE

• LEAP CAUSE, using info from the planner and ideas from the congregation (45 minutes)

 
Month 6—From Lesson “In God’s Image”

• Use the video Image (10 minutes) and discuss (10 minutes), using questions from the lesson
• Present either the audiocast Forgotten People Around the World and Next Door (23 minutes) or tell the story from the planner (approximately 5 minutes) and discuss (10 minutes), using questions from the lesson
• Distribute “Who Are the Poqomchi’ People?”, “Facts About the Poqomchi’,” and “Why Are the Poqomchi’ Considered ‘Forgotten People’?” and discuss “ASK” (10 minutes)
• Have prayer time using prayer requests in the lesson (5 minutes)
• TOTAL TIME (using story—instead of audiocast)—50 minutes

 
Month 7—From Forgotten People (Poqomchi’) CAUSE

• Forgotten People (Poqomchi’) CAUSE, using info from the planner and ideas from the council/congregation (45 minutes)

 
Month 8—From Lesson About Hunger and Poverty
 
Month 9—From Lesson About Evangelism, Focusing on JESUS Film Harvest Partners
 
Month 10—From Harvest 120 CAUSE

• Forgotten People (Poqomchi’) CAUSE, using info from the planner and ideas from the council/congregation (45 minutes)

 
Month 11—From Lesson About Crisis and Our Response
 
Month 12—From Lessons About Hunger and Poverty and/or Crisis and Our Response

 
NOTE: These plans were created in a couple of hours with a theoretical group in mind (author was thinking of a Sunday School class ranging in ages from mid-20s to their 80s). Educators know their churches best, as well as the people who attend the meetings/services. We hope you can see opportunities for making LM your own and for involving people of all ages in the planning and presenting of LM.
 
We welcome questions and suggestions. Please contact us through Facebook or e-mail us at nmi@nazarene.org.

 
  
To read more about what Living Mission is and to see more resources, go to the Living Mission is... page.
 
  Print this page.
 
Order Living Mission HERE.