A. Definition
Members of Life BPC who responded to God’s call (Isaiah 6:8) and commissioned by the church (Acts 13:3) to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5), Christian discipleship (Acts 14:21, 22) and/or church-planting in a cross-cultural context either local or overseas (Acts 9:15; 26:16-18).
B. Requirements
1. The candidate must have a clear conviction of God’s call to local and/or foreign missions.
2. The candidate must be a member of Life BPC for a minimum of 3 years. An exception may be made by the MC for a member of a BP Church who holds to the same doctrinal position of Life BPC, or if the candidate is not living in Singapore, the candidate must be a member of a Bible-Believing Church who holds to the same doctrinal position of Life BPC.
3. The candidate must be at least 25 years of age and above.
4. The candidate must be able to give evidence of true spiritual life, a genuine calling to the field, have adequate educational preparation for the task in view and a basic theological training approved by the church.
5. The candidate must also provide evidence of mental and physical fitness for service abroad. He/she must go for a medical test recommended by the church.
6. The candidate must have the recommendation of the Pastor(s), BOE or Missions Committee.
7. The candidate must be in full agreement with the Constitution, distinctives and doctrinal position of Life BPC.
8. The candidate must abide by the Missions Policy Handbook.
9. The candidate must have a good testimony within and without the church.
10. Married Candidates, or engaged couples contemplating missionary service together as husband and wife, will be received only when both parties have been examined and are considered acceptable. This does not mean that married women are expected to do the same work as their husbands. It does mean that they, like their husbands, should be physically and spiritually qualified to fulfil their own particular role.
C. Procedure for Application and Selection
1. A candidate applying to be a Life BPC missionary should apply first to the Field Representative. The application form can be obtained at the church office.
2. The application must be submitted to the MC at least 3 months prior to the anticipated date of entry into the mission field.
3. The MC may meet with the candidate’s referees and/or missions agency concerned when deemed necessary.
4. If the candidate appears to possess all required qualifications he/she will normally appear before the MC itself for acceptance. A three-quarters majority vote of those in attendance is required.
5. The MC will present its recommendations to the BOE for approval.
6. Upon approval by the BOE, the candidate will be officially commissioned as a missionary of the church by the Pastor(s) and Elders of the church.
7. The appointee will be considered a full-fledged missionary upon arrival on his/her designated field. Membership involves the responsibility to maintain effective service in the country in which he/she may be serving; to demonstrate harmonious fellowship in work with other members and national workers; and to acquire effectively the language of the people to whom he will minister.
D. Financial Support
There are two types of missionaries supported by the Life BP Church:
1. Fully supported Missionaries of the Church; or
2. Partners in Mission (partial support or ad-hoc project)
1. Fully supported Missionaries
If you are a fully supported missionary, your support is likely as follows:
a. A monthly salary, 13-month and other bonuses (if approved by the MC);
b. Annual leave;
c. Sick and hospital leave;
d. Compassionate leave;
e. Maternity leave;
f. CPF contributions;
g. Other benefits to be approved by the Church.
In consideration of the above support, you will work closely with the MC to establish a post overseas and in particular:
a. Evangelising to the unsaved with the final objective of setting up a local church (Church Planting).
b. Building the spiritual growth of the believers through bible study, prayer, fellowship, visits and;
c. Training of local leaders – Elders and deacons;
d. Administering the church based on the principles of this manual;
e. Other duties and work to be approved by the Church.
Without the approval of the MC, you are not to:
a. Undertake any major expenditure or purchases eg purchase of land, rental of buildings or rooms.
b. Work in any other capacity for another organisation (with or without pay);
c. Accept any contribution in kind, service or payment from any other church, organisation or individual;
d. Build, manage or operate a school, medical clinic or other social services.
The above duties and requirements are not exhaustive and you will consult the MC as and when new circumstances appear in your mission station. The MC will direct, guide, and work with you in all of your missions undertakings.
As you are aware, any acceptance of service or contribution from another church or organisation of a different doctrinal position tends to compromise the doctrinal position of Life BPC and we should avoid such compromise as far as possible. However any assistance or service from members of another church may be considered if such assistance or services are not inconsistent with the missions policy and traditions of the Life BP Church.
Any non-compliance with the above requirements or the MC’s direction may result in church discipline, termination of financial support for the missionary and other sanctions.
2. Partners in Mission (partial support or ad hoc project)
The MC may approve support of missionaries who do not come under her direct supervision. These are the Life BPC’s partners in missions. The support is partial and may take the following form:
a. A monthly allowance or love gift for a missionary (with a view that the MC has the discretion to terminate it at the appropriate time);
b. Service in kind eg training for pastors, full-time workers, bible students, VBS, etc.
Although we encourage the Partners in Mission to provide regular reports of their mission, they are not obliged to do so as they are no longer fully supported by Life BPC. In like manner, the MC is also not responsible for the approval of their financial support as these missionaries have accepted other sources of financing (frequently from churches of different doctrinal position) and have also started other ministries and commitments contrary to the MC’s direction.
The long term objective with Partners in Mission is to establish non-financial support such as (b) above.
Details of Financial Support
1. The missionary shall be financially supported with a monthly salary while in the mission field. In addition, the following types of financial support may also be provided to the missionary during the term of his/her service:
a. One time settling in allowance.
b. Relocation allowance.
c. Home leave allowance.
d. Ad hoc aid.
2. The types and quantum of financial support provided to the missionary shall be determined by the MC and approved by the BOE, taking into account the specific circumstances of the missionary and the mission field concerned. Examples of circumstances to be considered include:
a. Guidelines provided by the mission agency to which the missionary is seconded.
b. Cost of living and currency exchange rate as well as conditions of employment in the mission country concerned.
c. Personal circumstances of the missionary, such as whether he/she is single or married; whether he/she has a working spouse; or whether the family is with him/her in the field.
d. Types of life and medical insurance policies needed.
3. When determining the quantum of the monthly salary to be provided to the missionary, the MC shall take into account the recurring outlays that the missionary has to bear in the field. Examples of recurring outlays include:
a. Expenditure on accommodation for the missionary (and family, if applicable).
b. Expenditure on food, clothing, transport and household consumables for the missionary (and family, if applicable).
c. Medical and dental expenses and/or health insurance premiums for the missionary (and family, if applicable).
d. Life insurance premiums for the missionary.
e. Expenditure on education for the missionary’s children, if applicable.
f. Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, if applicable.
g. Support for the mission agency to which the missionary is seconded, if applicable.
h. Outlays deemed necessary for the ministry, such as:
i) Financial support for fulltime helpers in the ministry.
ii) Travel directly related to the ministry.
iii) Purchase of supplies and materials needed for the ministry.
4. When determining the quantum of the one time settling in allowance that may be provided to the missionary, the MC shall take into account the expenses that the missionary has to bear when he/she (and the family, if applicable) leaves Singapore to settle in the mission field. Examples of moving and settling in expenses include:
a. One-way passage from Singapore to the mission field for the missionary (and family, if applicable) by the most direct route and economic means.
b. Freight charges for transporting personal items from Singapore to the mission field by the most economic means.
c. Equipment that will facilitate the ministry, such as a computer.
d. Allowance for purchase of basic household items, if applicable.
e. Allowance for purchase of warm clothing, if applicable.
5. The home leave allowance which may be provided to the missionary while he/she is on home leave, determined by MC for the approval of the BOE (refer to section on “Home Leave” below) consists of the return passage (for mission field/Singapore/mission field) for the missionary (and family, if applicable) by the most direct route and economic means.
6. The missionary may apply to the MC through the Field Representative for ad hoc aid to fund one-time expenditure on items or projects deemed beneficial to the ministry. The quantum of ad hoc aid that may be given shall be determined by the MC for the approval of the BOE is on a case-by-case basis. Examples of items or projects for ad hoc aid include:
a. Purchase or rental of land, building or structure for starting a church.
b. Purchase of transportation vehicle.
c. Organising Bible and church building related conferences, workshops and training sessions.
d. Hospital charges for operations.
e. Language studies to facilitate the ministry.
7. When such expenditure recurs on a monthly basis, the missionary may apply to the MC through the Field Representative for a review to add this recurring expenditure to his/her monthly salary. Ad hoc aid may also be sought on compassionate grounds to pay for passage to home country for the missionary (and family, if applicable) in the event of an emergency.
8. The missionary (and family, if applicable) may not undertake any paid employment or accept any other financial or non-financial support and/or gifts from individual, organisations and other churches except with the prior approval in writing from the MC. If approval is granted, the missionary shall declare the quantum of the support or gift or emoluments received in his/her monthly and annual reports to the MC.
9. The MC reserves the right to review the support of the missionary for the approval of the BOE on a yearly basis or sooner as deemed appropriate to incorporate changing circumstances in Life BPC and/or the mission field.
10. Every missionary is encouraged to work towards self-support in the shortest time possible, primarily where church planting occurs but in any case should not exceed ten years.
11. When the missionary has fulfilled his or her term of service, support ceases after three months from the date of completion or when employment is found, whichever is earlier.
12. The missionary must duly acknowledgment receipt of funds in writing either through email or a letter.
13. The missionary must duly submit to the MC through the Field Representative official receipts of payment made for items like rental, purchase of equipment or any other items that necessitate an official receipt for the record of Life BPC Treasurer.
14. A missionary submitting claim for reimbursement must do so through the Field Representative and an official receipt must accompany the claim. No reimbursement will be considered if there is no official receipt.
E. Home Leave
1. The term of service shall be four years. However, MC reserved the right to renew a missionary’s term of service. Other exceptions to this rule will be at the discretion of the MC.
2. Every missionary is entitled to return to Singapore or on home leave at the expense of MC or a travel approved by MC once every two years. Missionaries serving in ASEAN countries may be required to return annually.
3. The home leave shall be for a minimum of seven days, but not exceeding 30 days, although exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the MC.
4. When it is necessary for a missionary to return, whether for sickness, or whatever the cause, the missionary shall communicate with the Field Representative. No one shall leave the field without the permission of the MC.
5. The programme for home leave shall include reporting in person to the MC, BOE and the congregation of Life BPC.
6. Missionaries on furlough will be expected to cultivate continuing missionary interest in Life BPC and supporting churches, to develop new support where it may be needed, and also to cooperate in the overall work of the MC whenever possible.
F. Annual Leave
1. Missionaries are entitled to fourteen days (14) annual leave. Only 7 days of unused leave can be carried forward to the first six months of the following year. The remaining unused leave will be forfeited.
2. In addition, they are entitled to one extra day (1) of leave for every year spent on the field but up to a maximum of seven extra days (7) per year.
G. Compassionate Leave
1. Missionaries are entitled to ten days (10) of compassionate leave in the event of the death or impending death of an immediate family member. This entitlement is determined by the MC and is not based on the common practice of any labour laws.
2. Missionaries who are in doubt as to who may be considered as an immediate family member should seek clarification from the MC before applying for compassionate leave.
H. Maternity Leave
1. Married lady missionaries are entitled to four months of maternity leave.
I. Resignation and Dismissal
1. A missionary who desires to resign from service must, if on the field, give six months’ notice to the MC through the Field Representative; if at home, one month’s notice to the MC. Such resignations must be in writing, and preferably should state the reason(s) for resignation. Before any resignation is made, a personal interview with the Field Representative or MC is desired.
2. Should a missionary resign from being missionary of Life BPC for reasons other than health or reason(s) acceptable to the MC prior to having reached the mid-term, he/she is required to pay in full for the return passage to his/her home country.
3. If the missionary resigns from being missionary of Life BPC for reasons other than health or reason(s) acceptable to the MC after his mid-term, the cost of returning to his/her home country will be shared half by the MC and the missionary.
4. With the BOE’s approval, the MC can terminate the service of the missionary giving three months written notice on the following grounds:
a. A change of doctrinal position to one that is different from Life BPC as defined in the Constitution and this Policy.
b. When the missionary fails to meet his or her responsibilities to the church as stipulated in this Missions Policy Handbook.
c. Inactive service for a period of three months with no intention of returning to the ministry.
5. If any missionary, regardless of time spent on the field, marries a person not according to biblical principles acceptable to the MC, this automatically cancels his, or her, relationship to Life BPC.
J. Withdrawal and Suspension of Support
1. All salary, financial support and designated gifts will cease upon the resignation or dismissal of the missionary. The Life BP Treasurer and the congregation will be informed accordingly.
2. Financial support and designated gifts coming in after the resignation or dismissal of the missionary will be redirected for other missions use at the discretion of the MC or at the wish or direction of the supporter(s) if the source can be traced.
3. All salary, financial support and designated gifts for missionary who are under church discipline will be suspended and will only be dispensed at the discretion of the MC for the needs of missionary family members who may be affected.
4. A missionary who is no longer supported by Life BPC for whatever reason(s) must return all assets, properties, etc, (eg. Computers, Notebook, vehicle) owned by Life BPC that were assigned for the missionary use during his/her term of service.
K. Relations to the Government
1. All missionaries shall be subject to the laws and regulations of the government of the country in which they serve, except where this conflicts with the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. The missionary only under the authorisation of the Field Representative can make an appeal to or deal with the government in general.
L. Mission Property
1. The missionary is responsible for all Mission Property at his/her station, and shall keep an Asset Register. Everything on the station assigned to the missionary except personal effects is included in the term, “Missions Property.” and is understood to be the property of Life BPC.
2. Buildings on the mission stations, even though built by private monies, belong to Life BPC. Under no circumstances must any property, stores, vehicles, tools, medicines, etc. be disposed of without the consent of the Field Representative acting under the guidance of the MC. This clause does not apply to privately owned properties located outside the missions station.
M. Responsibilities of the Missionary
1. To carry out the work for which the missionary has been commissioned by the church including any subsequent work assigned to him or her by the MC through the Field Representative.
2. To pray for the ministries of Life BPC.
3. To submit monthly reports duly through the Field Representative as required by MC so that the church can pray intelligently and respond to the missionary’s needs promptly and appropriately.
4. To declare all monetary gifts received, except those designated for personal use, on a half-yearly basis and to submit the form on 30 Jun and 31 Dec of each year respectively to the MC through the Field Representative.
5. To avoid soliciting funds from members of the church unless with the consent of MC through the Field Representative.
6. To submit all other reports, requests, correspondences, updates and requests for funds and support duly to the MC through the Field Representative. Unless there is an emergency or unforeseen circumstances, any requests made which requires the immediate attention MC will not be considered.
7. To maintain close fellowship with the MC, elders, deacons and members of Life BPC and supporters of our missions.
8. To abide by this Missions Policy Handbook.
N. Budget for Mission Stations
1. When required, the missionary is to submit a proposed budget for the new financial year to the Field Representative by the end of September of each year.
2. The Field Representative is to give advice and suggestion to the missionary so that a more realistic and appropriate budget is attainable.
3. The Annual Budget will be submitted to the BOE for deliberation during the Session Meeting in November of each year.
O. Missions Policy
1. This Policy, the Constitution and By-Laws (if any), should be read carefully from time to time in order that each MC member and missionary may ever keep true to the objective of Life BPC, to its principles, and its methods. The exact meaning of any point contained, or any question not covered herein, shall be decided by the MC.
2. All other policies not covered in this Policy Handbook which may arise in the future will be deliberated and decided at the discretion of the MC with the approval of the BOE.