PCI Overseas

About the Board of Mission Overseas

Proclaiming Christ and His Universal Reign – partnering in mission around the world

The Board of Mission Overseas (BMO) administers the overseas mission work of PCI. With mission regarded as an integral part of the Church’s life, the BMO draws together representatives from Presbyteries, the Presbyterian Women’s Association (PWA) and Youth in order to inform and involve as many people as possible in this important work.

… as witnesses to Christ, through both evangelism and social witness, challenging the values of the world in which we live with the values of God’s kingdom, and winning men and women to faith and discipleship.

The BMO seeks to maintain and develop appropriate relationships with PCI’s partners in mission around the world. It also oversees the selection of all PCI’s missionaries; confirming their call; providing appropriate training and preparation; and allocating them to their places and spheres of work.

Financial estimates are prepared annually for submission to the United Appeal Board with all funds received by the BMO being administered in the interests of the work of mission outside Ireland. In addition, the funding of this work is supplemented by generous ‘extra mile’ giving by congregations, organisations and individuals. The BMO also receives significant grants from Irish Aid for approved overseas development projects.

The BMO provides information and organises events which help to keep members of PCI informed about the mission opportunities and needs overseas, and how they can both support, and be directly involved in, God’s mission to the world. Members of staff are on hand to handle questions about service overseas and to meet with individuals or groups to give help and guidance. Training and advice is also available for those planning to engage in short-term mission projects overseas.

Through bodies such as the Mission Agencies Partnership (MAP) – a local association of church-based and independent mission agencies – Global Connections (formerly the Evangelical Missionary Alliance) and Global Mission Network (formerly the Churches’ Commission on Mission), the BMO seeks to maintain a network of contacts with those involved in world mission and to keep up to date with developing trends in mission participation around the globe.

BMO’s Vision, Purpose and Values

The BMO’s vision for the future is to serve a mission-hearted church. It is one thing to be mission-minded, but we also need to be enlivened in our hearts with a passion for mission, that we might fulfil effectively our purpose which is to proclaim Christ and His universal reign. In the BMO we believe that mission is not just one of the Church’s activities, but is at the heart of all its activities; indeed mission is fundamental to its very existence.

We aim to pursue our purpose in the future by upholding values that have become important distinctives for our Church in mission overseas down through the years.

In this regard, we are eager to be:

	God-Centred Desiring to glorify the Father, to fix our gaze upon His Son, Jesus Christ, and to be led by the Holy Spirit in all we are and do
	People-Focused Because God more often than not, reaches people through people, and ultimately direct personal missional encounter is crucial
	Church-Based With a commitment to the building up, in the first instance, of church to church partnerships for mutual encouragement, challenge, witness and ministry
	Forward-Thinking Trusting for discernment to recognise and creatively respond to new God-given opportunities, and developing new spheres and methods of service

Partnering in Mission

… “I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ.”
Philippians 1:3-6