As an international organization, Christar has mobilization centers around the world that partner with local churches in their regions. As part of this global network, Christar U.S. provides structure and strategy that support churches in the United States in sending workers who establish churches among the least-reached.
Structure
Drawing from over 115 years of experience, Christar provides a proven framework that helps churches navigate the complexities of sending workers internationally. We equip workers to face challenges on the field and serve effectively, providing personalized training and coaching. Once workers reach the field, we continue to serve them and their churches through providing financial and IT services, as well as administering benefits and human resources services.
Our field structure is designed to help workers minister effectively and in community. The vast majority of Christar workers serve on teams: small groups of people with complementary gifts who are committed to the goal of planting churches among the least-reached through an agreed-upon ministry plan, mutual care and mutual accountability.
Strategy
Christar workers are trained in a model, known as Polaris, which helps teams create strategies for establishing churches that fit their ministry contexts. It’s not a one-size-fits-all structure but a framework that equips teams to evaluate methods, principles and tactics and to form an approach in light of the culture and worldview of the people they’re seeking to reach.
Within this model, we value creativity. We’ve seen how innovation in ministry has enabled Christar workers to reach people who would otherwise remain cut off from the gospel, and we encourage our people to initiate new ministries using their unique gifts and skills.
Support
From the hurdles of adjusting to an unfamiliar culture to the ongoing stress of ministry in difficult places, cross-cultural service is challenging. At every stage, we come alongside workers, offering support in language learning in their early years on the field as well as personalized fundraising materials, ongoing training and opportunities for leadership development. In addition, our Member Care team invests in workers’ physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual well-being, seeking to help them and their children thrive in ministry and relationships.
We also support local churches, helping them participate in the Great Commission. Our Church Engagement team offers training and resources that equip congregations to more intentionally engage least-reached people, launch new church-planting initiatives and send not only individuals but entire teams to serve cross-culturally. Our staff also works with churches to ensure that they are prepared in the event that their workers face a crisis.
