The terrain of church missions is often bewildering. Should we prioritize evangelism or works of service? Local ministries or overseas missions? What's more important: giving our money or giving our time? Crisis relief or building sustainable, long-term ministries? And what about the often debated pros and cons of short-term missions trips?In Mapping Church Missions , Sharon Hoover brings her years of experience in local church missions to bear on these and other thorny questions. Instead of taking a hardline stance on one end of the spectrum or the other, she approaches each question with nuance, adding helpful data, presenting new perspectives, and always pressing gently past surface questions to the heart of the matter.Whether we're fully aware of it or not, our churches come up against these questions whenever we consider how best to use our resources for the mission of God. Written by an experienced guide, this book maps the terrain of church missions in careful detail, helping us plot our church's unique course as we seek to serve Christ's kingdom. "Sharon Hoover’s Mapping Church Missions is a helpful look at not only the challenges facing churches today in mission, but it also offers practical approaches and useful insights to help churches better steward both their financial and human resources. I’ve had the privilege of seeing Sharon apply these principles in her church and see the impact of strategic conversations and intentional action in the life of a congregation committed to making a difference for the kingdom in today’s world." -- Alan B. MacDonald, global partnership facilitator at Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA "Congregations are engaging in mission more directly, mobilizing themselves as institutions and mobilizing their members as individuals for service at home and far away. As they do, they face new challenges and the need for new discernment. Hoover recognizes that a church’s best efforts can quickly be undone by a failure to navigate tensions and false divisions that are often set up in the church. . . . In Mapping Church Missions , Hoover tells stories in which her readers will recognize themselves and the challenges they face, and she shares knowledge and wisdom that will help mission leaders and their congregations to find their way. This is a book to read and share with others, and the discussion questions that accompany each chapter make it easy to study together." -- Rob Weingartner, executive director, the Outreach Foundation "Many churches have a significant investment in the global Great Commission yet there are few resources specifically designed for the staff who work in this important area. Sharon Hoover has written a great overview of the many unique issues that church missions leaders face." -- Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus "Global opportunities have never been greater, and God deserves praise from all nations. How does an ordinary church maximize this? How do we manage time and money? How do we reduce risks yet take up our cross? How do we balance short- and long-term missions, witness and service, the local and the global? Here are seven practical conversations every church should have including many specific tips. Each chapter ends with an exercise to help a church evaluate and perhaps rebalance its processes. Can we afford anything less than best practices if we are going to steward our God-given resources and love our neighbors?" -- Miriam Adeney, associate professor of world Christian studies at Seattle Pacific University, author of Kingdom Without Borders: The Untold Story of Global Christianity "With insightful illustrations and questions for group discussion, Mapping Church Missions provides a framework for discerning your congregation's direction in mission. By helping to identify your unique perspectives and priorities on key mission issues, your church can chart a course toward best practices and a clearer strategy to grow in faithfulness to the Great Commission." -- Jen Haddox, director of global engagement for ECO (a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians) "Sharon Hoover gives us a framework for the conversations that every church is already engaged in. The open and even-handed approach to these questions will be invaluable to pastors, missions directors, and church members alike. This is a must-read (and a must-keep-on-the-bookshelf) for any missions-minded Christian." -- Richard Lee, director of church mobilization at International Justice Mission "I love missions. Each one of God's children is called and sent to contribute to building God's kingdom. But past misdirected efforts and changing world realities have created confusion and conflicts that challenge the desire to serve for churches and ministries. Sharon Hoover, in Mapping Church Missions , has provided a powerful resource and strategy to guide a local church or mission-sending agency. Whether you are looking to go locally or globally, to focus primarily on