Hyde Park Baptist Church strives to be obedient to God’s great commission by strengthening the  local body of believers (within the church), as well as, supporting Christ-centered organizations (local and abroad) so that we will all be more effective in accomplishing God’s command to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world.

Missionary Guidelines and Support Policy

I. All members of Hyde Park Baptist Church are missionaries and therefore...

1. Must “do the work of an evangelist”. It is commanded by God to all born-again believers to “go” and “teach/preach” the good news of Jesus Christ. (Matt 28:19-20; Mar. 16:15-16; Luke 14:23; 2 Cor. 5:20; 1 Thess. 2:4; 2 Tim. 4:2-5).

2. Must approach and undertake each evangelistic task with resolve and thus keep focused on the eternal value and destiny of souls. (2 Cor. 4:17,18; John 5:28,29; John 17:2,3; Rom. 13:2)

3. Must give their very best effort for His glory. (Col. 3:23,24)

4. Must persevere in completing His task with joy, even in the absence of ease or comfort. (Acts 20:24; 1 Thes. 2:19,20; James 1:2,3; 1 Peter 4:13)

II. All members of Hyde Park Baptist Church are only one part (of many parts) to the “body of Christ” and must help (and be helped by) other brothers and sisters in Christ.

1. It is God’s design for His people (of like precious faith) to be actively involved in fellowship and mutual support with one another, regardless of their geographical location.

– “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body... And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” (1 Cor. 12:12-21)

2. Hyde Park Baptist Church recognizes that what appears to be the weaker member of the body may actually be the stronger member of the body. Where the “richer”member supports financially, the “poorer” member supports spiritually (through prayer). Their steadfastness and difficulties also become a source of encouragement and conviction (increasing our faith)... elements that are of far greater value then money.

–  “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour... But God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:” (1 Cor. 12:22-24)

3. There is a mutual dependence of the body of Christ. Each must suffer and rejoice with the other.

–  “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Cor. 12:25-26).

4. While there is no formal organizational structure, Hyde Park Baptist Church agrees to fellowship with certain other ministries in an informal relationship for the purpose of advancing the cause of Christ globally.

– “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Cor. 12:27)   

5. Hyde Park Baptist Church will use wisdom and discernment on the number of ministries supported.  We never want to be too few that we “horde” God’s wealth or appear ministry “cliquish”. We never want to be too many that we ineffectively spread God’s wealth “too thin” or appear ministry “impersonal”. May we always seek the Lord’s guidance and be obedient to His plan for us.

– “There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” (Prov. 19:21)

III. All missionaries involved in full-time ministry and supported by Hyde Park Baptist Church...

1. Must demonstrate a call to service. (Eph. 4:11,12; 2 Tim. 2:1,2; James 3:1)

2. Must not be a novice Christian. (Heb. 5:13,14)

3. Must be aligned with Hyde Park Baptists Church beliefs, doctrines, constitution, and polices. (Heb. 13:17; Rom. 15:6; Phil. 2:2)

4. Must demonstrate accountability, good stewardship, and spiritual wisdom

– Financial support should not create a financial base (for the missionary) that far exceeds the financial base of the culture that it exists in.

– Financial support should not prevent the missionary’s local believers from learning to give sacrificially.

– Financial support should not create a dependency on Hyde Park Baptist alone. The supporting mission is encouraged to seek help from other local and national sources.

– Financial support should never stunt the development of autonomous local church support structures.

– Financial support should not completely assume the responsibility for the personal care of workers (i.e. wages, medical, retirement).

– Financial support should never give the missionary exaggerated power and authority because he has access to foreign funds.

– Financial support does not promise or imply life-time funding.

– Financial support for other churches (that are just beginning or establishing themselves) should be given a 1 to 3 year plan for decreasing/completing funding.

– Financial support should be re-evaluated annually to guarantee guidelines are being followed. 

Bible Reference Verses

Matt. 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Mar. 16:15-16 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Luke 14:23 “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

2 Cor. 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ”

1 Thess. 2:4 “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

2 Tim. 4:2-5 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. ”

2 Cor. 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹ And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

John 17:2-3 “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ³ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Rom. 13:2 “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

Col. 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”