In a way, we’ve been informally involved in developing Sending Bases for some time, having worked with a handful of fields to send a handful of workers to a handful of places over the years. But only recently have we begun formally realizing how important it is to multiply ourselves by equipping and empowering our new international partners. They are now stepping up to the plate to become fellow helpers in the Great Commission.
Our sending bases are all over the graph when it comes to development. Here’s a summary of the Sending Bases which we might identify as being at a higher level of readiness or engagement:
Brazil
We’ve been investing significantly, with the help of several key partners, in DMM training and encouragement of all sorts. A Sending Base Coordinator has stepped up to the plate. The first recruit is applying.
Ethiopia
By forming a close partnership with a like-minded indigenous organization, we were able to leap over several steps. The like-minded peer was already engaged in DMM trainings and implementation. They already utilize mobilization tools like Kairos. And they already have active (full-time) recruitment happening on 15 university campuses in-country. We invested a full two weeks with their CEO and, through God’s power, launched 4 teams of 3 team members each in a near neighbor land among a very unreached people group.
Ghana
This Sending Base is largely being overseen by our field team in northern Ghana. They’ve already begun training in multiple near neighbor lands.
Laos
Thanks to some 15 years of great work by our in-country team plus a grant that enables multi-year access, we were able to conduct a major research piece on some 80 unengaged unreached people groups on behalf of Finishing the Task. We’re sharing all the results with Finishing the Task as well as Joshua Project, the world’s most well-known database of Unreached People Group information. In January, God raised up the first church among the first unengaged group. For this particular grant, we’re fully funded to reach 13 of the 80 groups over the next 3 years.
Philippines
One of our in-country workers has led the way on this Sending Base. Two families have just applied and should deploy to an unreached people group in Asia in partnership with a Pioneer Bible Translators translation project within the next few months, pending support. (PBT is doing the translation; Team Expansion will focus on disciple-making movment (DMM) training and implementation.)
Ukraine
This Sending Base is centered in a church that God raised up in conjunction with a Team Expansion led coalition back in the early 90s. We’re partnering with Pioneer Bible Translators on this Sending Base. Lord willing, our training team will be there by May.
USA
This Sending Base started in 1978. 🙂
Venezuela
This Sending Base is well developed, having sent workers to North Africa as well as to an unreached people group within Venezuela itself. They’ve formed a training track and they have a very motivated full-time Coordinator who is cooperating with us to study the remaining unengaged groups in Colombia and Venezuela on behalf of Finishing the Task. A local church has provided funding to complete the research project itself.
We’re praying and planning for 5 additional Sending bases that are currently in formation in three lands too sensitive to name publicly, as well as Nigeria and New Zealand. Please join us in praying for God to use these sending bases for His glory.
