Our Vision

A ministry presence in every nation of the world by the year 2045.

This means an effective ongoing ministry involvement in every nation aimed toward fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus.

Our Mission

is to exalt Jesus Christ in all that we think, say and do, and to extend His influence throughout the world by:

Proclaiming Christ’s Gospel with the expectation that supernatural signs will follow as the normal New Testament pattern (Mark 16:15-20);

Planting Christ-centred churches that are autonomous, interdependent and self propagating (Acts 14:21-28);

Promoting Christ-glorifying Christian communities which outwork the miraculous and character transforming ministry of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2:42-47);

Producing Christ-following disciples who seek to obey the Great Commandment and Great Commission (Matthew 22:36-40; 28:18-20).

It is so appropriate to be launching our fourth 5 Year International Strategic Directions at our Movement’s 75th Birthday Conference. The CRC’s heart is to always be reaching to our lost world with the good news about Jesus Christ. Jesus has led us since 2005 to set an audacious faith goal to have an ongoing CRC ministry presence in every nation of the world by 2045, our centenary as a movement. This is a big vision and to put wheels on this vision we formulate strategic plans every 5 years. This International Strategic Directions 2020-2025 document builds on our previous five year plan and will help each nation where the CRC is organised and has a presence, to focus on prayerfully developing a specific action plan for the nation are at the core of what we do and who we are as Great Commission Christians.

Evangelism and Discipleship are at the core of what we do and who we are as Great Commission Christians. Planting churches is an integral part of our spiritual DNA. Ministry training and leadership development is our growth engine. Messengers to the nation expresses how we value serving and working globally to help various people groups. Connecting Leaders builds our unity as a movement and enables us to learn from each other. Christian Education is needed for parents who want the best for their kids. Empowering the needy is Jesus providing a helping hand to lift people out of poverty. Shaping Generations revelas our deep concern for the spiritual welfare of children and teenagers.  

These eight Strategic Directions will guide the way forward for our international movement. As each nation outworks them, the results will be evident in transformed lives and communities. I urge you to pray about how you can be involved and contribute to realising this inspiring and practical vision.

As I travel the nations, I see many needy, poor and vulnerable people in desperate need of help. Yes they need material and physical help – but the greatest need of humanity is to  know the salvation of our lord Jesus Christ! Seeing these people leaves a lasting and emotional impression, and the normal response is to ask ‘What can I do?’ We as a movement are also asking this question.

These Strategic Directions outline a clear vision in easy steps which will make a difference to some of these people. We have a mandate to disciple the Nations, which includes enlarging the resource base in Australia through the planting of new churches. It is a vital part of our strategy to touch and affect the nations through the preaching of Christ’s salvation. A passionate and Spirit-empowered response is needed to make this strategy an effective tool in reaching our God-given goals. It only takes us to ask ‘What can I do to make a difference in the lives of these people?’

The National Leaders of each nation where CRC is established have been able to contribute to sharpening the focus of the 8 key aspects of our International Strategic Directions for 2020-2025. Each nation is now able to take these and outwork them in a way that is appropriate for their country. Each local church should do the same. Together we make significant purposeful steps forward toward fulfilling our International Vision of “A ministry presence in every nation by 2045”.

The dramatic changes in our world as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have opened new doors of opportunity for us making use of online technology where training, teaching, and encouragement can continue without personal visits. In the future when travel becomes feasible again we will have a different world for missions involvement – partly by personal visits and supplemented by online connection. This will give increased opportunities for enriching our CRC family.

As we now enter our fourth, 5 year International Strategic Directions we can look back and see the progress in many nations with training, evangelism and church planting. In less developed nations the needy are being empowered with clean water, medicines and food etc. We have made major steps forward in East Africa including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and now into Zambia, and Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as significant development in Ghana. There is a growing awareness of education and the importance of training children in godly ways. Our CRC family is being linked together a lot more by people from various nations joining online church services in other nations. Preachers from
Philippines, PNG and Africa etc are speaking in Australian churches and Australian ministers (speaking often with interpreters) into these nations as well as into the Middle East, India, Asia and South America. Everyone has an important part to play in the fulfillment of our International Vision. You are an important link in the chain.

WORD-BASED: We believe that God will work through His living, authoritative and relevant Bible.

MULTIPLYING CHURCHES: We believe in the God-inspired multiplication strategy of covering the earth with churches

INTERDEPENDENT MINISTRIES: We believe in connected, cooperative and accountable ministers and churches.

NEW CREATION MESSAGE: We believe in the liberating power of the New Creation Message that secures and strengthens our foundations in Christ.

GOSPEL OF GRACE: We believe in a Gospel-centred and grace-pervading Christian message that must never be added to or changed.

STABLE SPIRITUALITY: We believe in a balance between the ‘Word’ and the ‘Spirit’ as we express our dependence on Jesus Christ.

CONTEMPORARY MINISTRY: We believe that our churches should be creative and culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.

HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIPS: We believe in pursuing unity and walking in love in our churches and amongst our ministers.

DYNAMIC FAITH: We believe in a forward-moving and daring faith that undergirds everything we do for Jesus Christ.

SELFLESS SERVICE: We believe in the call and cost of Christ-appointed ministers who willingly embrace sacrificial servant-hood as a way of life

Strategy – we will achieve this by:

Local churches:
• Outworking a disciple-making plan to lead people to become followers of Christ.
• Commencing outreach activities into local communities.

Pastors/Leaders:
Modelling and teaching evangelism so that churches grow primarily through new converts to Christ. Training people to share their faith.

Strategy - we will achieve this by:

Each nation:
• Providing training for potential church planters.
• Outworking the New Testament pattern of planting churches as apostolic operational bases for further church planting.
• Establishing a CRC organizational presence in new nations with churches that are focussed on being apostolic operational bases.

Strategy – we will achieve this by:

Each nation:
• Adopting and establishing training programs that are Bible-based, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit empowered and taught by trained Christian leaders, with a clear focus on the foundation truth of the new creation message.
• Providing and promoting ongoing learning opportunities and resources.
• Implementing training and credentialing for pastors.

Strategy – we will achieve this by:
• Churches adopting and praying for other specific nations.
• Churches and nations establishing missionary training and sending commissioned personnel.
• Creating a financial and relational support base for these personnel.
• Promote mission articles and publications e.g. “Pathway to Missions” by Pastor Barry Silverback.
• Connecting with potential leaders from other nations who are currently in our nation, to prepare them for church planting in their own home country.
• Identifying cross-cultural opportunities to share the gospel in each local community.
• Conduct support programs for immigrants.
• Provide cross-cultural ministry training for short term missionaries.

Strategy - we will achieve this by:

• Developing the use of online media for communication, training, and support across all our nations.
• Conducting an annual International Leaders Gathering for leaders and pastors involved across the nations, for prayer, planning, updates, sharing, fellowship, and encouragement. This may be complemented with online conferencing.
• Conducting regional global meetings for localized initiatives.
• Recognising global Regional Coordinators to coordinate with Field Supporters and National Leaders to cooperatively implement our vision throughout the world.
• Regional Coordinators meet online or in person to enhance cooperation.

Strategy – we will achieve this by:

• Developing Preschools, Primary and Secondary Schools and Tertiary Training.
• Providing teacher training opportunities in early childhood, primary and secondary education.

Strategy – we will achieve this by:

Establishing Non-Government Organisations (NGO) and other development centres and relief programs that will:
• Implement projects that empower local communities to improve their living conditions.
• Provide emergency financial relief, medical and rehabilitation services.
• Educate local communities in health care, sanitation and water purification.
• Implement programs to restore people from the ravages of substance abuse.
• Partner with local churches and communities to create development programs that help children living in poverty.
• Form teams to work with local people to build, repair and maintain infrastructure.
• Provide vocational training centres.

Strategy – we will achieve this by:

Churches having effective children and youth ministries by:
• Equipping pastors and leaders to develop effective children’s and youth ministries.
• Providing opportunities for children’s and youth workers to be properly trained.