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Sending Organization Info:
Organization Name:	Dayspring Mission
Email:
Website URL:	www.dayspringmission.com
Phone:	011-234-807-378-8297
Toll Free Phone:	n/a
Fax:	n/a
Mailing Address:	PO Box 17 Shannon, Alabama 35142
Country:	USA

Account Administrator Info:
Name:	Mr Patrick Evans
Job Title:	Pastor
Email:
Phone:	011-234-807-378-8297
Toll Free Phone:	n/a
Fax:	n/a
Mailing Address:	PO Box 17 Shannon, Alabama 35142
Country:	USA

Mission Statement:

Doctrinal Statement:

Introductory Note:

As a ministry, we are often asked what we believe. The simple answer that comes to mind is: “We believe the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is God’s perfect and complete Word to man.” However, this does not seem to be explanatory enough in today’s world where many make a similar statement, but hold vastly different and irreconcilable views on the Bible’s teachings. Doctrine is extremely important. What a person believes about God will determine how he lives, the decisions he makes, and his eternal destination. Therefore, we feel it necessary to clarify our core beliefs and give Scripture references in support of each.

If you have any questions concerning a particular point, please take time to look up its accompanying references. Read in context the surrounding passages and other related verses. No major Biblical doctrine is built around an isolated verse, but will flow harmoniously with the Bible’s message as a whole. We have tried to keep each point short so that you may quickly find out just what we do believe. However, if you are unclear about a point we’ve have made, please do e-mail or write us with your question. (It may take us a little time to get back with you if we are on the mission field, so please be patient with our response.)

A note to interns, short-term volunteers, and associate members:
Your agreement is necessary for doctrinal statements bulleted in red (♦) in order to join the mission in ministry. Statements bulleted in blue (♦) have been arrived at as personal convictions through prayer and Bible study. Your own agreement is not required for these statements. However, we do request that while serving with the mission you respect these statements through your words and deeds, and that you not teach contrary to them while in service with the mission.


We hold the following to be true:

♦That the Bible, Old and New Covenant (Testament), is verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit in the canonical Scripture as originally given, and is the inerrant and authoritative Word of God (II Timothy 315-17; II Peter 121; Luke 2427).

♦The unique unity of the “oneness” of the Godhead, in the persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 64; Matthew 316-17, 2819; II Corinthians 1314).
The Father: who is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in all His attributes (John 424; I Timothy 117; James 117; Exodus 346).
The Son, Jesus Christ (Messiah): His deity, humanity, virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, bodily resurrection, exaltation at God’s right hand, and personal return (John 11; Isaiah 96; Philippians 26-8; Colossians 113-20; Isaiah 714; Isaiah 53; Hebrews 726, 415, 1012; I Corinthians 153-4; Acts 111).
The Holy Spirit: who is a divine person, in unity with Father and the Son, and of the same nature (John 1526; Acts 829,158, 166-7).
That the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in substance and authority, but differ in position and function (John 1428; John 167; I Corinthians 1524, 28; John 146; Colossians 115-19; I Timothy 25; John 1426).

♦The reality and personality of Satan, the enemy of God and of the saints, who will be judged in the lake of fire along with unbelievers. (John 844; II Corinthians 113; Revelation 129, 137, 2010, 14-15).

♦The Fall of Man, through Adam’s personal choice to sin by disobeying his Maker, leaves all men with the corrupt (spiritually-dead) nature at birth (Genesis 216, 36; Romans 512; I Corinthians 1522; John 35). As a result, all men have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and must exercise their will to freely receive or reject salvation (Romans 323; I Kings 846; Romans 1012-13).

♦The Law was given so that through it man would come to a knowledge of sin in light of God’s righteousness (Exodus 201-17; Romans 319-20; Galatians 324).

♦That Jesus Christ is the only provision for man’s salvation from sin.
That God will accept man on no other basis than by faith in Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection, which includes repentance and surrender to His lordship, resulting in a new birth from spiritual death to life. (John 146; Acts 412; John 33; I John 512; Acts 2021; Romans 109-10; Acts 1631; Leviticus 1711; Romans 58-9; Ephesians 28-9; Titus 34-7).

♦Eternal life in the presence of God for the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost (Matthew 2546; Philippians 320-21; Revelation 213-4, 223-5).

♦That every Believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit; that the only sure evidence of this indwelling is love and holiness of life (Acts 158-9; Ephesians 113-14; 430; II Corinthians 122; I Corinthians 131-3, 13; I Peter 114-15; Hebrews 1214; Matthew 722-23).
However, the other gifts of the Spirit mentioned in the Bible are presently active and relevant for the Church today (I Corinthians 127-11; Romans 126-8)

♦That the Church is the Body and Bride of Christ: in its universal aspect comprising the whole of those who have been born of the Spirit; and in its local expression established for worship, mutual edification, and witness (Ephesians 122-23; 525-32; Acts 242, 1541, 165; I Timothy 315).

♦The Believer’s obligation to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel to every creature: making disciples, teaching, baptizing, and proclaiming the glory of God till Christ’s return (Matthew 2818-20; I Corinthians 916; II Timothy 42; Isaiah 12).

♦The rejection of infant baptism as a means of salvation (Acts 238, 836-37, 1147-48, 1631-33).


♦The Lord’s Supper as a memorial of the Lord’s death, not as an event in which the actual body and blood of Christ is partaken of (Luke 2219-20; I Corinthians 1123-26).

♦The spiritual separation of the Believer from the world (John 1836; II Corinthians 614-18; 1 John 215-17, 519).

♦That God ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman for life (Matthew 193-6; I Corinthians 72, 39). A Believer should not seek union in marriage with an unbeliever (II Corinthians 614).

♦That the Lord Jesus will return bodily and in glory to deal out retribution on the wicked and to gather both the living and dead Believers to Himself (II Thessalonians 17-10; I Thessalonians 416-17; Matthew 2430-31; Revelation 1911-16).

♦The eternal security of the salvation of the Believer (John 1027-28; Romans 64-7, 837-39; Ephesians 113-14; Colossians 33-4; Hebrews 725).

♦The practice of Believers baptism through immersion, administered upon repentance and confession of faith as an outward sign of an inward reality (Acts 238, 836-37, 39, 1047-48; Romans 64; Colossians 212).

♦The keeping of the Church pure through the use of church discipline, or if necessary, the ban. (Matthew 1815-20; Romans 1617; I Corinthians 5; II Thessalonians 36; Titus 310-11; Matthew 529-30 - see I Corinthians 1212-20).

♦The priesthood of the Believer; and laypersons called of God as congregational elders and pastors (Matthew 1818-20; 1 Peter 24-5, 9; 1 John 318; Revelation 16; 510; Ephesians 411; Acts 1423; Titus 15).

♦Nonresistance and the forbidding of the taking up of arms (Matthew 55, 9, 38-42, 44, 1022, 2652; Luke 632-33, 35; John 1836; Romans 1217-21).

♦That the Lord has designed the New Covenant Church to be a holy people, set apart from among all the nations of the world; that the Lord has established governments with authority in civil and judicial matters; and that the Church and State are separate and distinct entities in their respective purpose and function. (Matthew 624; John 1836; II Corinthians 520; Philippians 320; Hebrews 1113, 16; Romans 131-7; Matthew 2221).

♦The forbidding of the swearing of oaths (Mathew 533-37; James 512).

♦That divorce and remarriage is sin against God (Matthew 196; Mark 1011-12; I Corinthians 711).

♦That the earth and all life was created in six literal days; that there was no death until sin entered into the world, as described in the creation account of the book of Genesis (Genesis 1-3; Romans 512; I Corinthians 1521).

♦The yearly cycle of the Biblical feasts instituted in the Old Covenant as shadows of the coming Messiah, revealing Jesus and His work in their nature and through their observance, so that they still hold significance for the Church. That the feasts have not been done away with by the revelation of the New Covenant, but on the contrary, they have been endued with deeper meaning through their fulfillment in Christ. Though celebrating the feasts is by no means necessary for salvation, it can serve as an enriching experiencing in one’s personal walk with the Lord (Leviticus 23; Hebrews 85, 101; Matthew 517-19; Luke 2215; Acts 2016; I Corinthians 57-8).

♦That Christ’s return will occur after the “great tribulation,” through which the Church will endure. Though Believers will not receive of God’s wrath reserved specifically for the ungodly, they will not be exempt from suffering and persecution as lawlessness increases. Instead of world wide peace, the Lord will find an apostate church and mass spiritual deception propagated by the “man of sin,” or the Antichrist. (Revelation 714; Matthew 249-13, 21-27; Revelation 137-10 , 149-13, 184-5; Luke 188; II Thessalonians 23-12; I Thessalonians 53; I Timothy 41).


POLICIES


Authority

Submission to authority is basic to our Christian understanding of the posture of a servant. In theory, no one has difficulty with this. But in practice it is not always so, particularly for Westerners who are accustomed to great personal freedom. We would admonish you to take the attitude of Christ in submitting to the leadership of the mission and to the national pastors of whom we minister alongside.


I. Dating / Personal Relationships

We would like to encourage personal relationships with your students (nationals) and colleagues, both for your own personal enrichment and for the communication of your faith in Jesus.

However, the mission clearly draws the line on romantic involvement with a student or a colleague while on a mission assignment (short- or long-term). In addition, any dating relationship between team members must be suspended during your tour of service on the field.

We also request that you not enter into a closed-door setting with a member of the opposite sex without being accompanied by a third person. Neither should you enter into a time of counseling or witnessing with the opposite sex without another team member or spouse present.


II. Alcohol

While the moderate consumption of alcohol is acceptable to some Christians, the mission requests that you do not drink alcoholic beverages during your term of service. This practice can have an extremely negative impact on your witness. Though many nationals may drink alcohol, it is not a practice common to Christians in most third-world settings and can give offense to nationals and your teammates.



III. Tobacco

We request that you refrain from the use of any tobacco product while serving on the field.


IV. Dress / Appearance Policy

Although throughout North America we have become accustomed to seeing people of many cultures, many forms of dress, and many forms of ornamentation, the extremes of these are all very unusual, confusing, and sometimes even offensive to the people of other countries.

All short-term workers and long-term associates are to project a clean-cut, well-groomed, and modest image in their appearance and dress at all times.

If during the course of training or tenure with the mission there arises an area of concern about appearance, you may expect to be respectfully approached by a field supervisor or a team leader and asked to make the necessary adjustments. Specific concerns may include earrings on men, un-groomed facial hair, inappropriate piercings (like tongue, nose, or extreme ear piercings), tattoos (all of which need to be covered up), and the like.

Our basic dress policy is as follows:

1) Sleeveless shirts and tank tops should not be worn during your time of field assignment, except when worn as an undergarment. Low-cut, mid-drift, or backless shirts should not be worn at any time.

2) Shorts are prohibited with the exception of:

A) When in your own living quarters, not acting in an official ministry role. But please do use discernment for the unexpected visitor.
B) If done in a swimming/bathing setting. Women should wear a one-piece bathing suit with shorts over the suit. Men’s bathing suits should be mid-thigh or longer. (Also see mission policy on swimming).
C) When in a tourist/resort setting. However, we would ask that shorts be kept at knee length.

3) Clothing and hats with noticeable brand-name logos (i.e. - Nike, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc.) should be avoided. These are often seen as status symbols or carry negative connotations, such as gang affiliations.

4) Bandanas or do-rags should not be worn for the same reason as stated in #3. The only exception is when used as a scarf/kerchief by women to keep their hair in place in activities such as riding in an open car/truck, boat, etc.

5) Jewelry is permitted, however, we do ask that it be worn discreetly and kept to a minimum. If any jewelry is deemed inappropriate you will be asked by a field supervisor or a team leader to remove it for the duration of the field assignment.

6) Women – In the areas in which we minister, most of the women wear dresses or skirts. It has been our observation that women who wear shorts or pants often offend the national churches and villagers by their dress. For this reason we ask that you wear a dress, skirt, or wrapper during your field assignment. In certain cases, such as horseback riding or rigorous trekking, culottes (trousers cut like a skirt) may be worn, though this should be the exception rather than the norm. Skirts, dresses, or culottes should be worn at mid-calf length or longer.

7) Men – Long pants or jeans should be worn during your time of field assignment. However, we do ask that you refrain from wearing low-riding or excessively baggy pants. Also, low-cut or stretched-out shirts should be avoided.

V. Swimming / Bathing Policies

When choosing a location to swim or bathe, be sure you or your team leader has checked with your field supervisor first as to the appropriateness of the location and time of day.

In the village setting, the time of day in which one goes to the river is very important to note since the women and children usually go to bathe at one time, and the men at another. For this reason, mixed swimming/bathing is prohibited in the village setting.

The location is equally as important, for some waterways may be unsafe for swimming/bathing due to contamination or presence of wildlife.

VI. The Mission and Media

Because of the sensitive nature in which mission work takes place, we ask that you not communicate anything to the media regarding this ministry without first receiving clearance from your field supervisor. This applies to all forms of media, Christian or secular, whether it is printed matter, postings on the internet, or material used for broadcast. The only exception to this is when used within your own church publications or website.

VII. Video or Photos

Before taking video or pictures, be sure to check with your field supervisor as to whether it is appropriate in the particular setting.

Short-term teams should choose one, or two people at the most, for this job. Copies of photographs can then be made and distributed to other team members upon completion of the field assignment. It is a common occurrence for mission trips to turn into photo sessions, relegating the true goals to lower priority.


Note: These policies have not been put in place to restrict you or your team’s freedom, but out of respect to the culture in which you will be ministering. We have found these policies to be the most inoffensive and far-reaching in their effectiveness as regards ministry.



Additional Insights:
The following are points we as a mission feel need special attention as an addition to the policies, based on our own observations and experiences on the mission field.

I) We encourage cultivating relationships with nationals during your time of service with the mission, but doing so in a culturally-sensitive manner. Spend time, particularly your first few days, observing the people and their customs. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Seek to find out where individuals stand in their understanding, or lack of understanding, of the Gospel. Look for ways in which the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of those with whom you interact. Keep in mind that your purpose is to communicate the Gospel through word and deed, not to impose your particular culture or traditions. Be willing to learn new things even as you minister. You’ll be amazed at how much you will glean by assuming the role of observer that will assist you in communicating your faith throughout your time of service on the field.

II) As a mission, we try to maintain neutrality in our denominational affiliations. We do not endorse a particular denomination, but are willing to work with and serve alongside any group that adheres to basic conservative and evangelical beliefs, as expressed under the red-bulleted points in the mission’s doctrinal statement.

We would ask that you refrain from endorsing a particular denomination while serving with the mission. You are a representative of Christ, and an appropriate response to a question concerning which local church you attend would be simply to say a “Christian church.” Unfortunately, every denomination carries its own stigma and negative associations, deserved or not. In an effort to have as broad of an outreach potential as possible, we have found it best to avoid labels of association outside of “Christian,” or “Believer” (Acts 1126; I Corinthians 112-13).

However, this approach does not imply that the mission embraces any and all doctrinal interpretations that fall under the broad banner of “Christianity.” Rather, we wholeheartedly endorse what is reasonably evident from the plain teaching of Scripture, and soundly reject what is not.

III) The world is becoming smaller by the day as travel becomes easier and less expensive. This means that the country you are serving in has most likely had at least some exposure to western tourists and culture. Americans in particular are usually viewed as loud, obnoxious, and self-centered to those who live outside of the U.S. Hollywood and media sources portray the American lifestyle to the world as wealthy, image-oriented, and self-assured. For this reason, there is little doubt that many nationals of whom you will come into contact with will hold preconceived notions of you based only on your country of origin.

To overcome this, it is extremely important that you make every effort to portray the Christ-like qualities of humility, gentleness, and self-control. You want nationals to see that there is a clear differentiation between you, the missionary, and the average tourist. The tourist often looks for what the country and people he visits can do for him. You goal is the opposite—what you can do for the country and people as a servant of Christ. This is why it is important to be sensitive when it comes to taking pictures with a camera. Another area where caution is advised concerns your spending of money. Learn local prices so that you don’t spend more than necessary. This keeps you from looking like the “rich American,” and it keeps the missionaries who come after you from being expected to pay inflated prices as a result of a false standard that was established by you out of ignorance.

IV) There will be opportunities for you to purchase souvenir items, and we don’t discourage doing so. However, do make sure that the time and setting are appropriate. From past mission field experience we’ve discovered that buying items in a village context can create jealousy among those villagers who don’t get your business. For this reason, we will primarily limit such purchases to city market settings. Always remember this rule of thumb: “When in doubt, ask!”

V) We will be ministering in areas that to the average American appear impoverished. Comparatively-speaking, this may be a true assessment. However, poverty is a relative term. If an individual has food, clothing, and shelter, he has what is necessary for life. We mustn’t base our perceptions on what a person doesn’t have, but on what he does. With this as a starting point for perspective, it is easier to keep in focus the true goal of a Gospel ministry.

It is a misconception, though a popular one, that before we can share the Gospel in a particular area, we must alleviate poverty. This is neither Biblical nor realistic. If a person appears to respond to the message of God’s grace because they have been fed, they will reject it just as quickly when they are hungry again. The classic term “rice bowl Christian” comes from this mistake being made in China. A church was filled with “converts” when the missionaries filled the rice bowls of those who attended. When the rice ran out, so did the church members. It is the knowledge of one’s own sinfulness before God that brings about the desire for salvation, not a full belly, new house, or fresh clothes.

Humanitarian efforts, though commendable, are not the primary means by which we share the Gospel. The Bible states that, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 1017).” That is, preaching and teaching the Bible is God’s ordained way to bring about faith in Christ. The Bible does indeed have a lot to say about taking care of the poor. God does place before us opportunities to meet the physical needs of those who truly need it. And meeting a physical need could be a means through which we can share the Gospel. But this isn’t the primary reason you are serving as a missionary. Because poverty will always be a reality, the Gospel would never go forth if we only sought to share it after we met all the physical needs of our hearers.

For these reasons, we ask that you refrain from giving away money or other material objects, such as clothing, without consulting with the field supervisor. Though the deed might appear the right thing to do at the moment, in our experience it causes many problems in the long run. The missionary can quickly become the sought-out answer for every perceived need. Realistically, the missionary has neither the means nor time to be in this difficult position. When it becomes apparent to the nationals that the missionary can’t meet every need of every one who comes to him, but has selectively done so for some, the result is bitterness and resentment among those who received nothing. Remember, everything you do, positive or negative, ultimately reflects on the ministry you are representing, if only for a short visit.

In Belize, we lived and ministered in a setting that had been nearly destroyed spiritually by short-term “missionaries” with deep pockets. Church buildings were built with foreign money, and in many cases, by foreigners. The pastors were paid with foreign money. Musical instruments and generators were provided to congregations with foreign money. Hence, the church was a foreign establishment. Mission teams revolved in and out, bearing gifts and fostering greed among villagers. Many people attended a church because of what they could get out of it in way of material gain.

This missionary method we want to avoid. As much as possible we seek to minister in such a way that whatever is established (church, school, etc.) can progress in a self-supporting manner.

It is our desire that you have a productive and pleasurable experience during your time of service. These guidelines are in place so that the time and energy you invest in laboring alongside of the mission will not only meet short-term goals, but also contribute to the long-term vision and effectiveness of the mission’s ministries.