1 / 25

Planning For Deacon Ministry

EFFECTIVE Deacon Ministry REQUIRES Planning!. Every church desires to be effective in ministry. It doesn't

Leo
Download Presentation

Planning For Deacon Ministry

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

    1. Planning For Deacon Ministry An overview based on the Handbook for Planning Deacon Ministry by Robert Sheffield

    2. EFFECTIVE Deacon Ministry REQUIRES Planning! Every church desires to be effective in ministry. It doesn’t “just happen.”

    3. EFFECTIVE Deacon Ministry REQUIRES Planning! EFFECTIVE Deacon Ministry is dependent on the deacons’ personal walk with the LORD.

    4. EFFECTIVE Deacon Ministry REQUIRES Planning! In addition, EFFECTIVE Deacon Ministry requires planning! How long has it been?.

    5. The “Pitfalls” of Failing To Plan Deacons find themselves doing the same things year after year – relevant or not! Tradition takes precedent over ministry. The church becomes stagnant and lifeless.

    6. The Use of a Strategic Planning Process…… Will enable your deacon ministry to follow a Biblical perspective Meet current needs in the church where you serve Enables your deacons to arrive at relevant, practical ways to do deacon ministry in your church

    7. Your deacon ministry plans should contribute toward accomplishing the mission of your church…… THEREFORE….. before any effective deacon ministry occurs, the church needs to develop its own strategic plan.

    8. Deacons can serve as catalysts, assisting the church to develop its strategic plan….. Develop a strategic view for the church – purpose statement, vision statement, and discovery of members spiritual giftedness Develop the possibilities for the church and its ministry – analyzing the churches resources for ministry, and consider the EXPECTED changes and results

    9. Deacons can serve as catalysts, assisting the church to develop its strategic plan….. PLAN for the best use of the church’s program resources Develop a calendar and a budget based on the church’s priorities Regularly evaluate the actions of the church to determine if the church remains “on mission” or has deviated from the established path

    10. Effective Deacon Ministry Requires Planning This session is an OVERVIEW. I would be happy to lead this study for your church (or group of churches in your geographic area) in detail.

    11. Possible Schedules 1-Day Training: Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM 2-Day Retreat (Fri night/Sat morning) Consecutive weekly meetings (6) Consecutive evenings (Sun – Wed: 2 hour meetings)

    12. If your church decides to do this study, the only cost to the church would be for materials for each participant. The BEST way to contact Dougald is at domtarriver@earthlink.net. He can also be reached at 919-496-7172 (office) or 252-883-7896 (cell).

    13. The FIRST stage of the planning process involves taking a strategic view of the church, your ministry as deacons, your strengths/weaknesses/opportunities and threats. Deacon Ministry Planning Map

    14. Kingdom Principles For The Church The church must experience God and seek His kingdom. The Kingdom of God IS growing and NOTHING can stop it! God invites the church to join Him in His work of redemption. The Great Commission is the driving Force for the church.

    15. Kingdom Principles For The Church The Bible clearly identifies 5 functions for the church: evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, and worship. Church growth follows God’s process of Kingdom growth. Church growth is God’s supernatural work in the local church.

    16. Consider the deacons having a “purpose statement.” Your purpose statement should reflect the Biblical purpose for deacons. Sample: Our purpose is to function as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ serving in and through the church as partners with the pastor in enabling the church to fulfill it’s Kingdom agenda.

    17. Consider the deacons having a “vision statement.” This statement should reflect what you believe God wants your deacon body to be and do in the months and year ahead and the unique opportunities of your church’s ministry in the community where it is located. Sample: We the deacons of ABC Church feel led of the Lord to express our deacon ministry by serving as ministers who seek to meet specific needs in the congregation according to our individual gifts and abilities.

    18. A purpose statement answers the question; “Who is our deacon group and what are we going to do?” A vision statement addresses the question of what you will do to achieve your purpose.

    19. What are your gifts, strengths, opportunities, and threats related to deacon ministry

    20. In the “next step…” Discover the spiritual gifts of each deacon Discover the strengths and weaknesses of the church in each of the 5 function areas DREAM of all the possibilities before you List some opportunities under each of the 5 functions

    21. In the “next step…” Discuss what might keep your deacon group from accomplishing any of the listed actions (threats)

    22. The SECOND stage of the planning process involves “deacon ministries development.” Here you do some analysis of where the church is, the resources currently available, etc. in light of where the church would like to go in achieving God’s purpose. Deacon Ministry Planning Map

    23. Discovering how the church is currently functioning in the 5 major areas, the deacons determine areas where they can uniquely help the church accomplish its goals. CHURCH FUNCTION DEVELOPMENT

    24. MINISTRY RESOURCE ANALYSIS Determine man-hour needs Determine the number of people needed to accomplish the ministry Review the financial priorities of the church Consider the need for training to accomplish the ministry

    25. MINISTRY RESOURCE ANALYSIS The final thing you MUST consider PRIOR to proposed action is the impact of this change on both the deacons and the congregation as a whole. Understand there will be both “hard changes” and “soft changes” to consider.

    26. HARD CHANGES Such changes refer to what we might refer to as “major” changes – going from 6 to 9 deacons to accomplish perceived ministry needs; building a gymnasium; adding additional staff, etc. These changes would require planning, education, and often times TIME.

    27. SOFT CHANGES These changes refer to what we have to change within ourselves (both deacons and church members) before real change can take place within the function of the church – spiritual growth, healing from major hurts, prevalent attitudes and prejudice, personal conviction based on life experience, etc. Such change takes TIME!!!!!

    28. CHANGE When proposed action by the deacons involves “soft change” ALWAYS remember that no one can force another person to change. You should understand that proposed actions that require too many soft changes at one time have the real potential to cause conflict in the church. You may wish to consider alternative approaches..

    29. The THIRD stage of the planning process involves ACTION—you make your final decisions concerning your priority actions. You begin to take action to lead the church in achieving its goals in being the church God has called it to be in your community. Deacon Ministry Planning Map

    30. Actions----- List these actions under the 5 essential functions of the church Include some actions under the heading “training” Place dates on church calendar and encourage deacons to place dates on personal calendars Prepare a budget for this ministry action Take before the church appropriately

    31. The FOURTH stage of the planning process is EVALUATION. Through a process of regular evaluations, your deacon miistry stays relevant. Deacon Ministry Planning Map

    32. Each ministry action should be regularly evaluated Deacon Ministry Planning Map

    33. Each deacon should take part in the evaluation process Deacon Ministry Planning Map

    34. You may want to find ways to include the congregation in the evaluation process Deacon Ministry Planning Map

    35. EFFECTIVE Deacon Meetings You can not accomplish an effective deacon ministry without detailed planning of the deacons’ meeting.

    36. EFFECTIVE Deacon Meetings The PRIMARY work of deacons does NOT happen in a deacons’ meeting..

    37. Items To Consider When Planning Meetings Meeting times need careful attention Have a good place to meet Establish an agenda for the meeting Evaluate the EFFECTIVENESS of your deacons’ meetings at least twice a year

    38. Important Actions For Deacon Meetings Ministry reports/concerns Prayer for the above concerns Training Staff and committee chairs sharing information about priority issues ..

    39. Important Actions For Deacon Meetings Meetings should be a time of inspiration, training, and concern for the work of God’s Kingdom through the church.

    40. Evaluation of Meetings What are the strengths of the meetings? What needs improving? Was the agenda followed? Is the agenda too long? Short? Does time and place encourage maximum attendance and participation? Do most deacons attend regularly? What suggestions do you have for future meetings? ..

    41. Sample Deacon Meeting Agenda Devotion and prayer Reading/approval of minutes Ministry Reports Training period

    42. Benefits of Deacon Training Training helps develop the ministry potential of each deacon Church members have more confidence in trained deacons Training provides deacons with skills to carry out their tasks Pastors are more receptive to sharing tasks with those that receive ongoing training Deacon “drop out” due to frustration and inadequacy is lessened

    43. Sample Deacon Meeting Agenda Pastor’s share period. Information period – staff, church leaders Discussion period (priority order) Prayer (Closing or organized)

    44. What does your church look like?

    45. The Typical Church

    46. Emphases in the Typical Church Position Spirituality Authority Privilege Restricted Divine Revelation Uniform Ministry from Each Position

    47. The New Testament Church

    48. Matthew 20: 25 - 28 (NIV) Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

    49. Emphases in the New Testament Church Function Service Diversity of Gifts Usefulness Expanded Ministry Every Member Becoming a Minister

    50. Which one?

    51. How close is your church’s deacon ministry to the New Testament model?

    52. to the needs of others they MUST see that we minister to the whole person. To MAXIMIZE effectiveness, there is a need for deacons to organize themselves to do ministry.

    53. The Deacon Ministry Equation

    54. Discovered needs must be translated into Deacon Ministry

    56. Together, We Can!

More Related