Purpose

To ENABLE the universal Body of Christ to MINISTER reciprocally through the sister church program in order to ASSIST Christ's Church towards maturity.

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  Vision

Enable Christian laypersons to minister...

...Through the vehicle of the Sister Church Program,
...In the context of their local church,
...To Christians in a church of a different culture, and
...Together with them,
...Minister to each other’s community.

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  Strategy

  Emphasize the importance of reciprocal, cross-cultural ministry to evangelical churches both in the US and overseas.
  Gain commitment of targeted churches from differing cultures to an ongoing Sister Church relationship.
  Provide cross-cultural training to enable effective, practical and wise ministry in every Sister Church relationship.
  Provide cross-cultural staff to coordinate every Sister Church relationship.
  Employ Biblical and culturally relevant principles in the Sister Church relationship to assure spiritual growth and mutual respect. 
  Provide equipment, vehicles, expertise and interpreters to facilitate the Sister Church  relationship.

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  Core Values  (RMI Stones)

  Interdependence honors the Lord and facilitates ministry and spiritual growth. Not Independence-  No church is meant to struggle independently of the rest of the Body.  Not Dependence- No church should be entirely dependant upon another church.  But Interdependence-  Together we can strengthen and support each other, minister to one another, and together minister to the world.
  To be effective, and to avoid common pitfalls as one engages in cross-cultural ministry, lay people need comprehensive training, professional guidance, constant support and a vehicle that provides opportunity for personal involvement.
  RMI adheres to a conservative, evangelical Statement of Faith.
  All missionaries, staff, board members and sister churches must adhere to this doctrinal statement.
  RMI demands conformity to biblical conduct for all missionaries, staff and board members.
  RMI is a faith-based mission. 
  Prayer is the first defense in every area.
  RMI stands firm on faith in God’s ability to provide all needs, including finances.  
  RMI practices integrity in all areas including the handling and disbursement of funds.
  RMI remains a member in good standing with ECFA.
  RMI practices integrity in fund raising.
  RMI submits to an annual audit.
  RMI personnel teach, model, and facilitate social concern, while the priority in ministry is to preach and teach that Jesus is Savior and Lord. 

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  Core Program (RMI Stones)  Since the above would be true of any evangelical mission, the Sister Church Program is RMI’s “raison d’etre” or justification for being.  Otherwise, it would behoove RMI to simply assimilate into one of the myriads of fine mission agencies available and add our resources to theirs.

  The Sister Church Program is the distinct focus of RMI.   
  RMI Mission Statement: To enable the Body of Christ to minister reciprocally through the Sister Church Program in order to assist Christ’s Church towards maturity.  All ministries must be in accordance with this mission statement.
  RMI, through the Sister Church Program, is committed to building “Forever Cross-Cultural Relationships” in the Body of Christ that are reciprocal, intimate, in-depth, ongoing, practical and spiritual.  The ultimate goal of all endeavors is spiritual enrichment of all involved to the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  Evangelism will be conducted in conjunction with North American and National Sister Churches.

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  Core Principles and Practices (RMI Stones)  The following principles and practices are necessary to fortify the Sister Church Program, as they remain the foundation upon    which the program stands.

  Every sister church team member will be required to have taken the RMI Sister Church Program Training before visiting the national sister church
  RMI works only with evangelical churches, both in the states and on the fields.
  RMI works in a country at the invitation of a national evangelical association of churches and in cooperation with said organization.
  A cross-cultural RMI team, comprised of both North American missionaries and national staff must be available on every RMI field, and will accompany every team to their sister church.
  An RMI missionary will accompany every national sister church team as they visit their North American sister church.
  Visiting sister church team members will spend several days living at the site of their national sister church.

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