MISSIONS
and the
COMMITMENT LEVEL MODEL



The commitment level funnel represents a progression of levels at which the activities of the local church/youth group, such as evangelism, discipleship, church planting, leadership training, worship and service take place. The existing model begins with ministry among people in the geographical sphere of the local church/youth group (HUMANITY). An additional level should be added, separate from the funnel, yet related. This level is the WORLD, representing the global concern of the church. HUMANITY becomes COMMUNITY denoting the community geographically near to the local church/youth group.


The mission of the church/youth group is be involved at all levels of the funnel, with reference to all ages and common interest groups, e.g. youth groups, young adults, single parents, etc.

Missions is when a local church/youth group becomes involved in activities that target the “WORLD”. These activities constitute involvement in the lives of people who will be funnelled into another church. This may mean establishing, supporting or working alongside the other church. This may be indirectly, by financial aid, sending of resources, etc. or directly, by releasing, sending and supporting one of its members to be involved in “funnel activity” within another church, away from the home church/youth group.


The WORLD can then be further sub divided by different sets of criteria dependant on context.
For instance:

* Using Acts 1:8 as a guide one could distinguish between activities that are performed within the missionary’s own culture(Jerusalem and Judea), a different culture but not vastly different(Samaria), a radically different culture(ends of the earth), with languages and values totally new to the missionary.

* Acts 1:8 could also be used to describe geographical distance. With “Jerusalem and Judea” being immediate surroundings, “Samaria” being neighbouring regions, and “the ends of the earth” being self explanatory.

* Another possible guide could be Dr. David Barrett’s division of the world’s population into World A, B and C. (Click here for explanation)

A church, youth group, or individual, does not do missions. It, through its missionaries, involves itself in the activities that constitute the mission of the church in the context of missions. A church or individual does evangelism, church planting, discipleship, etc. within the context of missions or the local church/youth group.

In other words, missions is when the church/youth group and its members are involved in the lives of people who will not become part of their own particular funnel. The line between the WORLD and the COMMUNITY is not clear cut and a particular evangelistic activity may result in some people entering the local church’s specific funnel whereas some, from the same evangelistic activity, may become involved in another church.


The role of denominational structures, missions organisations, and training institutions should be seen as the efforts of a group of churches, however loosely connected to network and to co-operate to accomplish what they cannot do by themselves.

A missionary is someone who moves out of their local church/youth group to initiate, or to participate in, activities which benefit another church, while still part of their own church’s/youth group’s ministry.


In terms of the model those at the GROW, DISCIPLE, DEVELOP, and MULTIPLY levels are to be encouraged to move outside of the local church/youth group funnel and to become involved in the world. Obviously the activities that they are able to participate in and to be involved in will depend on their level of commitment. Certain key areas need to be communicated to the “missionaries” whether the missions context is a funnel geographically nearby or further away. Issues such as the cultural and contextual differences, what level of the target funnel they’re going to be ministering into, and what the relationship with and role of the believers of the target funnel will be.


This page was developed by the missions lecturer at Baptist Theological College. The lecturer, Colin Phelps, and I were involved in the initial development of the model at Windsor Fellowship.




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