Session 3

The Basics of

Mission Planning

Training Objectives for Session 3

(1)The temporal/temporary and eternal/ infinite contexts and their roles in the eternal war between good and evil.

(2)The rules governing the temporal context.

(3)The six elements of the plan.

(4)The “Principles of the Offensive.”

(5)How each activist can work to continue to improve their efficiency, effectiveness and leadership skills.

General Outline of the Planning Process

(1) Define your planning context (the physical environment).

(2) Define the six elements of the plan.

(3) Execute your plan with the “Principles of the Offensive” found in the book of Proverbs and The Art of War.

STEP 1:

Define the Planning Context

The Temporal/Temporary and Eternal/Infinite Contexts

• The temporal context (“eyes of the body”) vs. the eternal context (“eyes of the soul”).

• Seeing things with the “eyes of the soul” is the only way to make any sense of what is happening in the world.

• Anti-lifers can only see things with the eyes of the body; this is why they are so incredibly short-sighted.

Rules Governing theTemporal Context

• The media is not your friend!• You will be hated — get used to the idea!• On the street, you are always the ‘bad guy.’• The term “Christian” doesn’t mean much.• Prayer alone is not sufficient.• The Constitution is worthless under anti-lifers.• You are in this for life!• Real Christians don’t count.

STEP 2:

Define the SixElements of the Plan

The Elements of Mission Planning

(1) Mission: What do you want to do?

(2) Focus: Who do you want to influence?

(3) Opposition: Who will try to stop you?

(4) Assets: What resources will help you?

(5) Environment: What physical factors will affect your work?

(6) Tactics: What methods will you use?

Planning Element 1: Examples ofMedium-Term Mission Statements

Mission: To raise funds to purchase a second-hand printing press that will be used to publish our newspaper. We will measure success by whether or not we raise enough money to buy a press that is capable of handling the maximum expected load of printing jobs.

Mission: To have six large churches each cover one weekday of picketing and sidewalk counseling at a local abortion clinic so that all of its business hours are covered. We will achieve success if at least two sidewalk counselors are outside the mill during a minimum of 80 percent of its killing hours.

Planning Element 1: Examples ofMedium-Term Mission Statements

Planning Element 2:Focus of the Mission

• Activity: Rescue missions — Focus: Abortion mills and the Church.

• Activity: Sidewalk counseling — Focus: Individual women.

• Activity: Picketing at an abortuary — Focus: The public and clinic workers and clients.

• Activity: Crisis pregnancy center work — Focus: Individual women

• Activity: Education — Focus: The public.

• Activity: Legal action — Focus: Varies.

• Activity: Leafleting — Focus: Varies.

• Activity: Boycotting — Focus: Pro-abortion corporations.

• Activity: Residential picketing — Focus: An individual abortionist.

Planning Element 2:Focus of the Mission

Planning Element 3: Who is the Opposition?

• Pro-abortionists• Homosexuals• Bogus ‘religious’ groups• The police• A hostile media• A biased judiciary• Anti-life legislatures• Indifferent pastors• Anti-life foundations• Radical college groups

Planning Element 4: Available Assets

(1) Inventory current resources.

- Human assets

- Physical assets

- Financial assets

- Information assets

- Intangible assets

(1) Remedy inventory shortages.

(2) Conserve resources during the mission.

Planning Element 5:Elements of the Physical Environment

• Local scheduled events (sports, concerts, etc.)

• Political races

• Church attitudes

• Morale of your allies

• Morale of the opposition

• The weather

• Media attitudes

Planning Element 6: Tactics

• Direct Action — Rescue missions, picketing, sidewalk counseling, leafleting, CPCs and sheltering homes.

• Support Activities — debates, presentations, research, education, publicity, church organizing, legislative and voter action and offensive legal action.

• Foundational Activities — training, recruiting, information and prayer.

STEP 3:

Carry Out Your Mission with the Principles of the Offensive

STEP 3:

Carry Out Your Mission with the Principles of the Offensive

The Primary Purpose of a Mission

• To destroy the effectiveness of the opposition.

• To deprive the opposition of resources essential to its mission.

• To seize ‘key terrain’ already occupied by the opposition.

Offensive Principle #1:Gather Intelligence

“A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than he who has strength; for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

— Proverbs 15:22, 24:5-6.

“What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.” — The Art of War.

“A brother helped is like a strong city, but quarreling is like the bars of a castle.”

— Proverbs 18:19.

“We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into factions. Hence there will be a whole pitted against separate parts of a whole, which means that we shall be many to the enemy’s few.”

— The Art of War.

Offensive Principle #2:Achieve Unification of Purpose

Tips for Fostering Unity

• Leave your egos at the door.

• Don’t fight over who gets credit for a victory.

• Have a clear sense of purpose.

• Share resources with allied groups.

• Avoid internal bickering and gossiping.

• Don’t fight or disagree in public.

• Avoid divisions cultured by opponents.

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

— Proverbs 22:29.

Offensive Principle #3: Specialize

Planned Parenthood’sIdea of a “Sincere” Pro-Lifer

“How many hours weekly do [right-to-lifers] volunteer at the nearest home for the retarded? How many disabled foster children do they have in their homes? Are they also against capital punishment; against nuclear war; for gun control; for controlling sale of cigarettes? How much weekly do they give personally to support poor mothers and children? How many homeless children have they adopted? The sincerely pro-life person is not shouting abuse outside a clinic. He or she is too busy trying to help someone.”

Offensive Principle #4: Communicate

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

— Proverbs 18:21.

Communication Can be Crippled By:

• Conflicts between personalities and organizations.

• Individuals nursing grudges against others.

• Inability to communicate in a clear and concise manner.

• Sudden changes in plan or environment.

• Lack of open communication channels.

Offensive Principle #5: Concentrate Superior Power at the Decisive Time and Place and

Exploit Opposition Weaknesses

“A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.” — Proverbs 21:22.

“You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the enemy’s weak points. ... You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack weak points.” — The Art of War.

The Grave Weaknesses of the Pro-Abortion Movement

• A shortage of abortionists.

• The filthy and disreputable nature of abortionists.

• Malpractice litigation.• Funding.• Lack of grassroots

support.• Technology.

• The brutality, injustice and violence of abortion.

• The inconsistencies of pro-abortion ‘thinking.’

• Prosecution of illegal abortionists.

• An inability to debate.

Offensive Principle #6: Retain the Initiative Using Vigor and Imagination

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. ... How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?”

— Proverbs 6:6,9.

“Let your rapidity be that of the wind ... when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

— The Art of War.

Great Examples of ImaginativePro-Life Projects

The Two Best Ways toAvoid Planning Mistakes

KISS AMOS

The Two Best Ways toAvoid Planning Mistakes

KISS AMOS

Offensive Principle #7: Be Flexible

“A slothful man will not catch his prey, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.”

— Proverbs 12:27.

“Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.”

— The Art of War.

Offensive Principle #8: Provide for the Security of Your People and Your Group

“A prudent man conceals his knowledge, but fools proclaim their folly ... He who guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

— Proverbs 12:23, 13:3. “O divine art of subtlety and secrecy!

Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible, and hence we can hold the enemy’s fate in our hands.”

— The Art of War.

Brian ClowesHuman Life International4 Family Life LaneFront Royal, Virginia USATelephone: (540) 636-1106E-mail address: bclowes@hli.orgWeb site: http://www.hli.org