Advancing sustainable solutions to material poverty through church missions.
The North American Church is losing ground in attendance, influence, credibility and virtually every other category that really matters. In this day and age, many see the church as the hope of the world only as it “proves” itself in practical ways that touch the everyday needs of everyday people. But that’s not a cry for more traditional forms of charity or the missionary model of the past 200 years. Instead, thoughtful people, from Millennials to Boomers, are looking for churches that have moved from simply doing good things to solving real problems in lasting ways. Churches that invest in this kind of mission work become more helpful in lifting people out of poverty and better partners to ministries on the frontlines. They also become more relevant and credible to their community, more fulfilling to both pastor and people, and more appealing to those on the margins looking for a reason to attend a church.
Our mission is to help churches reframe their missions and charitable work around sustainable solutions and create room for business-minded people who can help that happen. Our annual SATtalks and other resources highlight some of the most innovative churches and faith-based ministries around the world working to move missions in this direction. We do this because the Church needs the stories of early pioneers and innovators to inspire and help us see what could be!
Tom Bassford, Founder/President | Significant Matters & SATtalks
Future of What We Call Missions by Tom Bassford | Significant Matters
The church has been the leading influence throughout history in caring for the poor through emergency relief and individual betterment. But we live in world that can no longer afford to do more of the same. The good we seek to do in helping others must rise above relief and intentionally lead to sustainability and transformation or else it fosters ongoing charitable dependence. In fact, all evidence points to the fact that unless the church (as well as other philanthropic efforts) makes this transition their missional efforts will become unwelcomed especially among the poor because we can no longer afford [...]
