FINISTERRE VISION

Our overall goal is for local churches to work interdependently in selecting, training, financing, holding accountable, and logistically supporting church planting teams that are equipped to establish God glorifying churches in all 70 of the language groups in the Finisterre Mountains in Papua New Guinea by the year 2050.

1. Heavy use of volunteers from sending churches that will function in the support roles typically fulfilled by sending agencies. This is a very cost effective approach as the paid home staff is limited to two positions. First, the Executive Director, whose primary duties involve training teams for field readiness and consulting with teams on the field. Second, the Business Manager. We use a concept called "Core Teams" (also known as "Missionary Support Teams"). The idea is that each couple that is sent out is surrounded by families that assist with some of the sending burdens such as: helping raise finances, keeping the vision alive during the missionary's absence, sending packages, helping with logistical needs, meeting together to pray for the missionary and the ministry).

2. Finisterre Vision functions as a sending mechanism of local churches, which puts Pastors of local churches in the position of taking a more active role in the sending process. Our board of directors is made up entirely of sending Pastors who are committed to reaching the people of Papua New Guinea with the Gospel.

3. Network with like-minded organizations in the USA and in PNG.

4. Multiplication: We reach 70 unreached people groups by fielding only 15 expat teams. These teams will evangelize and disciple, train national believers to carry the Gospel to surrounding languages.

5. Train Church Planting teams in the context of the local church. Keeping missionaries closely connected to their local church maintains high levels of accountability. This also gives them a working model for how the Gospel will spread in PNG.

6. Logistically support teams - Missionaries working in remote areas need logistical support from a team in town. We are dedicated to keeping this team small (3 couples), and creatively using the infrastructure in PNG to meet the needs of our church planters. This model could not be successful without the help of other like-minded organizations such as Missionary Aviation Fellowship, Summer Institute of Linguistics, and of course, our friends at NTM-PNG.

7. Melanesian Pidgin Bible Translation - While most of our work is done in the local languages, we recognize that many groups are shifting to using the trade language. Therefore, we have a goal to be part of producing a more up-to-date translation into Melanesian Pidgin.

Currently have two church planting teams in Papua New Guinea. Our third church planting team is in training with a goal to be in Papua New Guinea by Summer 2022. Logistics coordinator is on the field.

Executive Director has nearly a decade of experience in the Finisterre Mountains of PNG, working directly with 2 language groups, and 4 years experience in itinerant ministry, and 5 years experience as a consultant.

All board members are highly dedicated to spiritual formation through discipleship, and to the expansion of the reach of the Gospel through multiplication (i.e. training others who will train others....)

Note: An overview of our progress, along with pictures and stories can be seen here: http://www.finisterrevision.org/about/history/

In 2010 - 2013:
1. Finisterre Vision Incorporated in Arizona
2. First church planting team in training.
3. The IRS gave us 501(c)(3) status.
4. Six new couples began training.
5. Finished writing curriculum for training program.
6. Created a checklist so that missionaries can know what objectives need to be met before they head to field.
7. Recruited and trained a logistics coordinator dedicated to financial oversight, supply, and maintaining our relationship with the Papua New Guinea Government.
8. Developed a contingency plan for dealing with emergencies that come up on the field.


In 2014:
1. First team finished training
2. We registered Finisterre Vision with the PNG government so that church planting teams can begin to move to PNG
3. Team finished all medical requirements, updated passports, final will and testaments, obtained insurance
4. Team moved to Papua New Guinea

In 2015:
1. March - Team became fluent in trade language
2. March - July: Team began visiting villages in the mountains to determine the best location for ministry. Decided on Ndo language group.
3. August - Team Ndo began construction and move-in phase.

In 2016:
1. February - Team Ndo completely moved into village.
2. October - Team Ndo 25% fluent in Ndo language

In 2017-19:
1. Team Ndo 100% fluent in Ndo language
2. Alphabet finalized in Ndo language, literacy classes started

In 2020:
1. Second Team arrived in PNG
2. Business Manager hired.
3. Literacy classes in Ndo.
4. Bible Teaching began