Catalyst Personnel

brown-family
The Brown Family
Andrew@CatalystMissions.org
Amy@CatalystMissions.org
Brown Family Blog

jana with kids
Jana Ogg (with some Nicaraguan kids)
Jana@CatalystMissions.org

rickert-family
The Rickert Family
Rickert Family Blog
Updates@theRickerts.com

Statements of Faith and Partnership

Our Basic Confession

Our basic beliefs Christian Confession can be summarized by the traditional Apostle’s Creed:
The Apostles Creed (Traditional)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

*This is a reference to the universal body of believers worldwide…literally meaning “the universal church”. This statement should not be confused or associated with the Roman Catholic Church.

Expanded Statement of Faith and Practice
Many of our contacts are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). We feel the Baptist Faith and Message (BFM 2000) is an accurate summary of our understanding of the Bible and the life of the Believer.

Our Home Churches

The CATALYST Director, Rev. Andrew Brown, and his wife Amy are members of First Baptist Church, Martin, TN.
The Rickert family are members of Westbrook Church in Hartland, WI.

Evangelical Partnership


While our grounding is in SBC doctrine, we are willing to partner and cooperate with other like-minded evangelical churches, missions’ agencies, and individuals that would share a similar evangelical doctrine. Further, we believe it will take multiple quality mission agencies from many conservative denominational backgrounds to reach the multiple peoples still without the Gospel.

Working Relationships

Our current working relationships include missionaries serving with:
· The International Mission Board (SBC)
· The North American Mission Board (SBC)
· New Tribes Mission
· American Baptist World Evangelism
· Convencion National Bautista de Mexico
· Chosen Children Ministries (Nicaragua Orphanages)

Potential relationships currently being researched:

· Wycliffe Bible Translators
· Pioneers
· CAM International
· Partners in Compassionate Care

Our Background and History

CATALYST is an organization incorporated in the state of Tennessee, and recognized by the United States Government as a 501 (c3) non-profit entity. It is a ministry desiring to build disciples for God’s glory. Often the word “ministry” may connate sloppy business practice, or unawareness of the need for policy, procedure and accountability. CATALYST will exist for ministry but will be managed like a business. We intend to have the highest regard for integrity outcome based initiatives. Our membership in professional organization and accountability groups will speak to this imperative. We are (or soon will be) members of:

· The Center for Non-Profit Management
· Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
· Weakley County Chamber of Commerce (eventually Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce)

The seed for this ministry was planted more than 13 years ago when CATALYST founder/director took his first short-term mission trip to Mexico. The UT Martin team of 10-15 college students did various projects in partnership with the Centro Estudantil Bautista (CEB). It was during this trip that Andrew Brown began to notice the long-term impact a short-term trip could make.

Since that time, Andrew and his wife Amy have led or been on the leadership team of more than 20 short-term mission projects in the United States and abroad. Most of these teams have been led under the flag of a local church. The director has a seminary degree in Christian education, missions training from the International Missions board, and extensive “hands on” experience in multiple parts of the world.

The director and his mentors began to have an international vision to help others experience the joy and Christian growth of helping others by serving in a mission trip more than five years ago. It was envisioned that a U.S. based ministry could serve as “middle man” helping match Christians desiring to serve with US and international missionaries needing help. After several years of strategy and prayer, CATALYST was officially born in January of 2007.

Updated 8/26/08 16:17