Dear Missionary:

God has appointed you to a position of leadership.   As leaders, many will be looking to you as an example.  Your conduct will either elevate or bring down the name of the Lord. Therefore by accepting your role as a missionary, you have agreed to many things written and unwritten.  If your ministry prospers this year, you along with our Lord will get the praise.  If your ministry falters, many will bear the blame.  Unity, commitment, and spiritual success weigh heavily on your shoulders.

Doctrinal Statement

Scripture:

In the area of the Scriptures, we believe the Bible containing the Old and New Testaments is the verbal and plenary inspired Word of God; it is inerrant in the original writings; and is the only infallible rule of faith and practice of life.  We believe that the best way for interpreting the Bible is the literal, historical/grammatical method.  We reject the view that inspiration is limited or inaccurate in points of science and history. 

Our Local Practice:

In our local practice, we use only the KJV translation in our worship.  We hold that those translations based on the Textus Receptus (TR) Greek Text are the best.  Therefore, we ask that when missionaries attend Calvary that only the King James Bible is used when teaching or preaching in our local worship service or Sunday school.

God:

We believe in the Trinity of the Godhead:  one God eternally exiting in three equal Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We believe in the deity, virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and imminent, premillennial coming of Christ. We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit by Whom believers are called, regenerated, baptized into Christ, indwelt, sealed, and filled for service.

Creation & Fall:

We believe in the direct creation of the universe and man by God apart from any process of evolution.  We believe in the fall, total depravity, and guilt of the human race in Adam, which for man’s salvation necessitates the sovereign, divinely initiated deliverance for the sinner by the grace of God in Christ.

Salvation:

We believe in the eternal salvation of all individuals who put their faith in Christ, Whose blood was shed for the remission of sins.  We believe in the unity of all true believers in the Church, which is the Body of Christ of which He is the sole Head.

The Local Church:

We believe in the local church as the company of baptized believers, independent and self-governing, which should fellowship with other churches of like faith and order.  It is the responsibility of the local church to observe the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, edify itself, and evangelize the world.  We believe that the only biblical mode of believer’s baptism is that of immersion, and that it is to be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The ordinance of baptism is for believers only, and it is a prerequisite for church membership.  The offices of a New Testament church are pastors and deacons.

Believers:

              We believe in the priesthood of all believers and the right of every individual to have direct dealings with God.  We believe in the obedience to the biblical command to separate entirely from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy unto God.  We believe in the separation of church and state with each believer having responsibilities to both.

Angels:

              We believe in the existence of angels, demons, and Satan. 

Resurrection & End Times:

              We believe in the bodily resurrection, immortality, and pre-tribulation rapture of all believers at Christ’s imminent coming.  We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people, now dispersed because of her rejection of Christ and later to be re-gathered in the Holy Land and saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ.  We believe in the distinction between the nation Israel as God’s earthly, covenant people and the Church as the spiritual Body of Christ.  We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of unbelievers after the millennial reign of Christ.  We believe in the eternal life and blessedness of all believers in heaven and the eternal existence and punishment of all unbelievers in the lake of fire.

Standards of Practice

Separation:

We believe that saints everywhere must uphold a standard of separation in order to be effective in their witness. 

Personal Separation:

In the area of personal separation, we ask that our members and missionaries abstain from the use of tobacco, illegal use of drugs or the wrongful use of prescription drugs, alcoholic beverages, gambling, social dancing, carnal and pornographic literature.   We will not support any missionaries that will not uphold these personal areas of separation.

Furthermore, we ask that our members and missionaries use a high degree of spiritual discernment when it comes to the use of television, videos, computer games, the Internet, radio, card games, theater attendance, music and a whole assortment of other activities. In the area of dress, we ask that they follow the principle of modesty and resist trendy fashions that might be too short, too tight, or too revealing, etc.  We must remember that our spiritual walk speaks louder than our talk. It can reinforce what we say about our Lord, who is holy and righteous or our conduct can discredit us and hinder God’s work

Ecclesiastical Separation:

We believe that the body of believers is to reflect the holy character of the One who is their Head.  We are to separate from false doctrines, evil life styles, and trends that could harm the body whether within or without the church.  Therefore, we believe that the church and the agencies that are supported by Calvary must practice an ecclesiastical separation that is based on several principles:

• We are to separate from and not cooperate with those who are not sound in the faith and doctrines (II Timothy 3:5; II John 10, 11)
• We are not to be unequally yoked in marriage, business, ecclesiastical and intimate, personal relationships (II Corinthians 6:14)
• We are to “try the spirits” before we cooperate in spiritual efforts (I John 4:1)
• We are to denounce not commend those who deny the faith (Galatians 1:6-9)

On the basis of the above:

• All our missionaries must practice a separation from the apostasy of the churches professing Liberal or Neo-orthodox views because of their heretical position on the Scriptures, atonement, deity of Christ, and other major doctrines. 
• All our missionaries must practice an ecclesiastical separation from those groups who hold a partial or non-revelatory position on Scripture as well as those who have an ecumenical or charismatic practice. 
• Our missionaries must abstain from participating with those groups that use worldly or comprising secular means to reach the lost. 
• Any support from such organizations should be refused.

Communication: 

It is important that we guard our tongue from gossip, complaining, and false information.   As Christ’s disciples, these things should not be a part of our spiritual walk.   As leaders, we should be godly examples for others to follow and we should be actively cultivating unity among the brethren.  If others speak negatively of the church, mission work, or of individual(s) within the local church, it is every believer’s job to rebuke in a loving way the person or persons involved. 

Conduct:   

As believers, our conduct must be above reproach whether on the field, at home, or in public.  Proper conduct is discussed in Ephesians 4:22-32.  It is defined as speaking the truth, not lying, not being angry, not giving place to the devil, being a hard worker, not stealing, not using foul language, but rather being known for using the tongue to edify others, not bitter, not wrathful (angry outbursts), not clamoring or fighting, not speaking evil but being known for being kind and tenderhearted.  Without good conduct, our words for Christ are like a bell that clangs senselessly.  We will not support missionaries that do not consistently display biblical conduct.

A few verses on the subject of conduct:

 “Only let your conversation [conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27).  “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation [conduct], in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim. 4:12). “Let your conversation [conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have” (Hebrews 13:5). “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation [conduct] his works with meekness of wisdom”  (James 3:13).  “Be ye holy in all manner of conversation [conduct]” (1 Peter 1:15).  “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation [conduct] in Christ” 1 Peter 3:16).

Commitment: 

It is important that our missionaries support local church services by their attendance whether at home, on the road, or on the field.  We realize that the ministry can be rigorous and at times overwhelming, but it is important that each missionary arrange their schedule accordingly so that when a sound local church is available they should faithfully attend the services.  Our attendance as leaders will be an encouragement to others and pleasing to God (Hebrews 10:25).

Family and Morality:

As leaders, we are commanded to have our households in order (Timothy 3:4-5).  It is expected that married missionaries keep their marriage relationship pure (Hebrews 13:4).  We also ask that our missionaries regularly take time out of their busy schedules for their spouse and children. Furthermore, we ask that they be careful not to work alone with those of the opposite sex (1 Thess. 5:22) but rather make arrangements so their spouse or a third person is present when these occasions arise.  The same should be true for single missionaries.  They must keep themselves pure and above reproach on all moral issues.

Devotions:

As believers, we are not under the law but under grace.  As the Mosaic Law was the controlling influence in the life of the Old Testament believer, the Holy Spirit is now the controlling influence in the life of the New Testament believer. This, of course, does not give us license to do as we please.  We must be fully yielded to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.  In the event of being led by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of our flesh and so fulfill the Law of Christ.  Therefore, we must draw close to God through our daily devotions in the Word of God and prayer.  We ask that our missionary families endeavor to be faithful in their practice of daily devotions.

I have read and understood the above requirements for leadership and service and agree to uphold these doctrines and standards.

Signature:                                                                                              

Date: