United Christian Missions, Inc.

uses a different strategy than many other international missions organizations. UCM was designed around the core belief that the local church, led by local pastors who know the language and culture, serves as the best instrument of evangelism and discipleship. Most of UCM’s ministry dollars are channeled through local churches in Nicaragua in an effort to bolster the church’s local influence.

This resulted in one of UCM’s goals being to educate individuals and churches in the states as to how they can assist needy and deserving Nicaraguan churches. Mission teams from supporting churches can go and see first hand how their mission dollars are being used.

The president and founder of this ministry, Rev. David Webb, shares how the Lord led him and his wife, Nancy, to begin this ministry and the guiding principles behind the ministry’s formation:

With every trip we made to Nicaragua we felt God was leading us to a deeper commitment. It was after our third trip that Nancy and I felt God was speaking to us individually and collectively in an unmistakable way. God planted within us the same realization that “if we choose to be responsible and allow Him to work through us then many people in Nicaragua could come to accept Jesus that might not otherwise. However, it was the second realization that perhaps challenged us even more than the first. We felt God was leading us to realize again “that if we chose to be responsible and allow Him to work through us that He would be able to answer many of the prayers of His people in Nicaragua.”

Those two realizations were overwhelming. Those same realizations are the same for many all over the world as it relates to a place of service for our Lord. However, we soon realized that this challenge for Nicaragua was meant for us. Thus, with an open heart and mind we prayerfully began to consider how God would have us to proceed.

After much prayer, it was as if God put together our past experiences in Nicaragua and shaped in our minds and hearts the direction that we should pursue. Listed below are some of the guiding principles upon which UCM is built.

1. Initiating and enhancing an individual’s personal saving relationship in and through Jesus Christ is at the core of everything we do. While many denominations are doing wonderful work, we felt led to avoid the politics that comes by associating with one or only a few denominations. We are convinced that the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ is the common factor that transcends our differences. Consequently, we are non-denominational and recognize all those “saved by God’s grace through Jesus Christ”.

2. The local Nicaraguan church led by local pastors who know the language and culture, serves as the best instrument of evangelism and discipleship. As a result, ministry dollars are to be channeled through local churches in an effort to bolster the local church’s ministry and influence. The goal is not to promote UCM or it’s founders but to lift up the cause of Christ through local Christian churches.

3. To identify the churches in greatest need we must start with the pastors of the churches and assess their needs. Thus, the UCM School of Pastoral Leadership was born. If church members are to grow in the Lord, then UCM should help pastors to be better equipped to minister as the Lord’s servant.

4. In June 2008, there were 38 pastors enrolled in the UCM School of Pastoral Leadership with 28 completing the requirements of the first two classes. Out of the 28 pastors, only one had a study Bible and the same pastor was the only one who owned a Bible dictionary and a Bible commentary. The need for pastoral resources was immediately discovered and the plan was initiated that remains in effect today. After a pastor completes two courses, a study Bible is presented to the pastor. After 4 classes are completed, a Bible dictionary is provided. After 6 classes, a Bible commentary is provided. When a pastor completes 8 classes, a Bible is provided for every family in the church.

5. By getting to know the pastors first hand through the UCM’s School of Pastoral Leadership and obtaining needed information, we could then identify needs and request help from Christians in America.

6. One of the greatest needs in the churches is for more Bibles. The distribution of Bibles through the churches quickly became a primary objective.

7. The “Educate A Child” program was initiated in response to the heart-breaking need expressed in the eyes of many children who look to you as their best hope for a brighter tomorrow. We didn’t want to just provide handouts. We wanted to change lives. By securing the children through the churches we felt we could strengthen the relationship between family and church. Also, by requiring weekly spiritual training through the church, the spiritual needs of the children would be better fulfilled.

8. Once we began identifying pastors and churches we realized that the need was much greater than we had anticipated. When 28 pastors gathered for training and only one owned a Study Bible and most of their wives didn’t have Bibles, we realized God was visibly demonstrating a great need. Thus, the need was born to secure funds for Bibles, basic church materials and supplies.

9. When we showed up unannounced in church members’ homes and found there was no food in the houses, we also knew we must demonstrate God’s love by attempting to provide for basic human needs. Thus, distribution of food for the hungry in homes, prisons and nursing homes was begun.

10. By beginning the Skills for Life initiative we are not just providing a handout, but equipping hands to provide and thus draw men and women to the Lord through the local church.

11. As we examined our methods for making an impact, we realized that for only $300 per month we could sponsor the programming on a local all Christian radio station in Jinotega, Nicaragua, that daily reaches 170,000 people. What an opportunity!

12. Lastly, we realized that for the Lord’s vision for the people of Nicaragua to be fulfilled, it would require individuals and churches learning how they can help that vision become reality. Thus, we must be diligent at all times in seeking to share the intense needs of a part of the world that God loves.

13. Early on God revealed to us that if His plan was to succeed, then we must have responsible Christian Field Coordinators identifying and verifying needs and verifying accountability on behalf of those receiving assistance. We also realized the importance of making sure that 100% of every designated dollar is used as it is designated. Therefore, operating funds are secured separately and provided by those whose hearts God touches.

14. We also were impressed with the fact that we wanted the ministry to continue past our lifetimes, so we incorporated and became a 501 (c) (3) charity effective September 14, 2009. Today, UCM is governed by a nine member board.

Will you join with us as we seek to be the hands and feet of God in one of the poorest countries in the world? Will you pray for us as we seek to join Him in the places and ways He is already at work? After all, this is His ministry. It is our joy and I must confess our burden at times but time and again I am reminded to challenge many to remember the words of Christ, “to whom much is given is much required” and “Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world”.