What We Do
What we do stems from who we are, which stems from what we believe. We passionately follow God’s leading, and out of that, we are faithfully formed. Because of our formation in Christ, we are able—even more so, we are called—to minister to a wide network of people—of all ages, in the places closest to home and the furthest. What do we do as The Christian and Missionary Alliance?
From going to the hardest, least-reached corners of the world to serving communities in our own backyards, it all starts with the Great Commission.
Go And Make Disciples
We are part of The Christian and Missionary Alliance family of churches who take this final command of our Lord seriously. We’ve aligned ourselves with one another to fulfil the mission of taking all of Jesus to all the world.
How do we do that? What vehicles have been effective in taking Jesus to “all the nations”?
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and…that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
– 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14–15
Because of who Jesus is and what He’s done for us, we seek to live our lives in unreserved devotion to Him, and this devotion compels us to tell others about His great love and mercy for all mankind. The heartbeat of The Alliance is to know and exalt Jesus as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King and complete His Great Commission.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
– JESUS, IN MATTHEW 28:19–20
As a Christ-Centered, Acts 1:8 family, we believe that the Lord has called us to extend His love beyond ourselves—to be “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Alliance is long known for our rich history of proclaiming the good news to all who would hear—immigrants and refugees, neighbors, friends, family, and brothers and sisters across the oceans.
Our Privilege to Serve
In The Alliance, our passion, determination, and calling to follow Jesus defines us. We long to obey Christ’s Great Commission to take His love to the world. This requires creativity and holistic mission, providing a wide variety of ministry vehicles to reach those who still haven’t heard of Christ’s love. Three strategies frame our efforts: serving communities, multiplying church networks, and developing people.
It’s a glorious and humbling thought that the God of the universe has invited us to join Him in His work. We—His Church—are His chosen means to reconcile all people to Himself. Realizing that He is more than capable of completing the task Himself, we jubilantly acknowledge that He wants us to share in the great joy He feels when one more person runs into His loving arms.
While great progress has been made, the Great Commission remains an unfinished task. Until it is complete, our undying passion is to preach Jesus. We want people to know Him intimately and experience His great love personally. As living examples of this transforming love, we will display it in word and deed until all have the opportunity to encounter it firsthand. It’s not that we have to do these things. We get to do them. What an unbelievable privilege!
Joining Him…
IN THE UNITED STATES
The U.S. Alliance family is half a million people worshiping in more than 2,000 churches in 38 languages and dialects. These churches were established to live out the inspired word of God and to preach Jesus in their cities and towns. They baptize and disciple new believers. They plant new churches in spiritually thirsty communities. They counsel troubled youth. They mend broken marriages. They teach English to immigrants and refugees. They lead Bible studies in prisons. They walk with their neighbors through the trials of life. They pray earnestly and give sacrificially to extend the reach of the gospel in their neighborhoods and to the nations.
Joining Him…
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
The global Alliance family is six million people worshiping in more than 25,000 churches in 180 languages and dialects. About 700 global Alliance staff are having a meaningful impact throughout the world by proclaiming the gospel in deed and word. They plant churches and train future church leaders. They provide life-saving medical care. They create microenterprise opportunities to help the poor become self-sufficient. They visit inmates in some of the world’s worst prisons. They translate Scripture for those with no Bible in their language. They help dig wells in areas without access to clean water. They provide vocational training to help people escape the bondage of human trafficking. They invest in local communities by serving in the marketplace. They care for displaced refugees. In short, they represent the love, compassion, and mercy of Jesus to the world’s most physically and spiritually needy.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
– ISAIAH 61:1–3
How we’ll accomplish the vision—
STRATEGIC THEMES
A healthy, holistic missions understanding is growing in The Alliance, reflecting Jesus’ commands and example. It is well-suited to a world less open to preaching yet receptive to the value that servant-hearted, Jesus-loving guests can bring to individual lives and communities. This shapes Alliance missions efforts, and it’s why we organize all our ministries around three strategic themes.
Serving Communities
We are serving communities through vocational expertise that impacts the whole person and their surrounding neighborhoods.
Multiplying Church Networks
We are multiplying church networks that create even more churches to serve the unreached in their communities—and beyond.
Developing People
We are developing people who will disciple others to be effective leaders in their communities and church networks with a passion for Jesus.
DIVERSITY OF IMPACT
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Alleviating Poverty -
Bible Translation -
Broadcasting -
Business as Mission -
Camps -
Church Development -
Church planting -
Conflict resolution -
Counseling -
Crisis & Trauma Therapy -
Disaster Relief -
Discipleship -
Evangelism -
Food/Water security -
Helping At-Risk women -
Immigrant Services -
Job creation -
Leadership Development -
Medical care -
Member Care -
Nutrition & Fitness Training -
Orality -
Orphan Care -
Pastoral Coaching & Counseling -
Prison Outreach -
Refugee Assistance -
Schools -
Social Justice -
Sports Ministry -
Theological Education -
Vocational training -
Youth & Children’s ministries
Serving Communities
In the United States
In September 2020, a fire devastated a mobile home park in Medford, Oregon. Medford Neighborhood Church (C&MA) became a hub for those in the community to assist with relief efforts. They began the “I Care” campaign and gave away over $16,000 worth of gift cards, $14,000 worth of haircuts, and distributed tons and tons of food. They prepared to be a staple in the community for the long-term and showed Jesus’ love to all those affected.
Serving Communities
Throughout the World
Africa has the fastest rate of urbanization in the entire world. Poverty among the urban poor is one of the greatest issues people are facing. CAMA workers are being the tangible presence of Jesus in places and communities that have no running water, no shelters, and little hope. Alongside community leaders, C&MA IWs began a conversation that resulted in addressing community needs such as health care and education, being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Multiplying Church Networks
In the United States
During the COVID pandemic, Anchor Church (C&MA) in Tacoma, Washington, was planted with the community in mind. With such intentionality, inviting people in, engaging with the people of the city, Anchor Church was cultivated out of an outpouring of relationship and continues to lean into the community the Lord has placed them in.
Serving Communities
Multiplying Church Networks
In 2017, Alliance international workers followed God’s call to go to Cambodia and minister to the people that had experienced a long, horrific war. The Holy Spirit began to move in this place that had been long-closed off to the gospel. After a terrible accident, a Cambodian man, who called himself evil, was miraculously healed by Jesus. He then became a believer and incredible evangelist throughout his country.
Developing People
In the United States
Growing up in a community with many gangs and much violence, one young man turned to music as an escape. In middle school, he was welcomed by followers of Jesus and taught to use his gifts for the Kingdom. Now, he uses music to connect with kids in the community, serve, and encourage those around him to follow Jesus. He found the Alliance Center for Leadership Development and received training that encouraged him to continue leaning into the gifts that the Lord has given him.
Developing People
Throughout the World
One young man in Africa grew up with a deformity of his foot and because of this, his mother sent him to live with extended family—casting him out of the home. By “chance,” he met an Alliance international worker family who treated him with love and grace, and he became part of their family. He was introduced to Jesus, and after The Alliance came together in prayer and support, money was raised so that he could have foot surgery. Afterwards, he was baptized and continues to showcase the love of God that was shown to him to everyone he meets.
U.S. Church Ministries
Rooted in Jesus Christ, Alliance Church Ministries is called to equip leaders and local churches for maximum Acts 1:8 impact. Some areas of U.S. ministry include:
CHURCH ADVANCE
Advancing community-transforming churches by: equipping ministry leaders, assessing the level of church vibrancy and vitality, providing consulting services for churches desiring a new ministry direction, and assisting churches in transitioning well between pastoral changes
CHURCH MULTIPLICATION
Working together to discover, develop, and deploy emerging leaders for greater Kingdom impact through church planting
ALLIANCE CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMNET (ACLD)
Providing well-designed, low-cost, digital training in biblical studies, theological studies, and practical leadership to prepare men and women for leadership in local Alliance churches and mission fields
ALLIANCE CHAPLAINS
Sharing the good news in challenging, diverse, and ever-changing environments to which traditional ministries often have little or no access
EQUIPPINGU
A collection of leadership tools designed specifically to equip Alliance pastors and leaders as they live spiritually healthy lives and successfully lead healthy C&MA churches
ALLIANCE KIDS
Equipping leaders, parents, and pastors to facilitate life-changing faith development ministries that impact the Church of right now and the Church of the future
ALLIANCE YOUTH
Developing and encouraging 2,000+ plus Alliance churches and youth workers across the United States, indirectly serving some 35,000+ youth in those churches
ALLIANCE PEACEMAKING
Using a biblical framework and common language to approach conflict
ALLIANCE WOMEN
Connecting women to Jesus, the work of The Alliance, and each other
CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Seeking to guide the next generation, giving leadership to accreditation and licensing for Alliance ministry
Alliance Kids
What is Church?
“They’re not just coming to church so they could be in heaven. Christians should go to church so they can actually know what God is like.”
How We’re Funded
The Alliance is primarily funded though generous tax-deductible donations given by individuals, churches, foundations, ministries, and other like-minded organizations.
The Great Commission Fund
There are two main streams of giving to The Alliance that flow into what we call The Great Commission Fund (GCF).
Undesignated Gifts
FOR ALL THE ALLIANCE
Undesignated gifts are a vital source of funding the majority of Alliance gospel-advancing work in the U.S. and throughout the world.
These funds are put to immediate use and provide support for staff, workers, and their ministries here in The U.S. and across the globe. This fund provides flexibility for the The Alliance to adapt and meet critical needs when they arise.
Every international worker across all four of our specialized structures (aXcess, CAMA, Envision, marketplace ministries) receives support from this kind of gift.
Designated Gifts
FOR THE WORK OR WORKER YOU LOVE
If you have a specific worker or project you are passionate about, you can give towards the cost of that worker or project to further their specific ministry reach.
Simply notate on your contribution the name of the worker or project and it can be used for their immediate ministry needs, including a portion of compensation.
Funding Quick Guide
Download the Funding Quick Guide for more details.
funding quick guide
together
This is a really good time to be in a family. This is a bad time to be an independent church, college, retirement center, or anything that represents isolated Christian expression. As pressure mounts against the Christian faith, we are better teamed. As opportunities to be a light in a dark world increase, we do so better together.
Teamed together, we better reflect the New Testament Church and more powerfully achieve our calling. When our hearts and efforts are synergized, we are simply more effective than when we operate autonomously.
Why do we do all of this? Why keep giving and sending and praying and going and giving some more? The fact is, not everyone has equal access to the gospel. More than 4,000 people groups have little or no opportunity to know Jesus—3.4 billion remain unreached.
We’re simply better and more effective together.
Together We Will
love, proclaim, reach, and launch.
The Alliance was born out of a passion for Jesus and a heart for people. We are a Christ-centered, Acts 1:8 family who believe all people should have the opportunity to hear the good news of salvation.
We Will Reach
Do we have eyes to see people on the move, overlooked people, and people lacking access?
GOSPEL ACCESS
Our C&MA missions sending has been very intentional and remains that way.
80 percent of Alliance international workers live in this area, home to more than 80 percent of the world’s remaining unreached peoples.
We continue to press deeper into the unreached places remaining on our planet to take all of Jesus to all the world. Just in the last year, we’ve commissioned more than 50 new international workers to go to some of the hardest places. As we pray, financially support, encourage, and raise others up—what will be the outcome of our efforts?
JOIN US
Today, The Alliance has workers in some of the last unevangelized corners of our planet—where risks are high and access to the good news is low.
In many of these countries, less than 1 percent of the population has heard a clear presentation of the gospel message. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and the coming together of God’s people, countries shrouded in spiritual darkness are being illuminated by the light of Jesus. This is what we are doing—bringing Jesus to the hardest corners of the world and fulfilling the Great Commission.
Dig Deeper
Featured resources, facts, quotes, videos, stories, and more.
Module 4: Alliance 101 Guide and Reflection Questions
This resource is designed for you—either as an individual or a group—to dig deeper, to lean into what God is saying, and to challenge you in your walk with Christ.
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