340 likes | 571 Views
MODELS FOR SINGLE ADULT AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY. EXPLORING THE OPTIONS… DISCOVERING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR MINISTRY! Dennis Franck Director, Single Adult/Young Adult Ministries Assemblies of God. ASK THESE QUESTIONS!. What is your mission statement? Who are we trying to reach?
E N D
MODELS FOR SINGLE ADULT AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY EXPLORING THE OPTIONS… DISCOVERING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR MINISTRY! Dennis Franck Director, Single Adult/Young Adult Ministries Assemblies of God
ASK THESE QUESTIONS! • What is your mission statement? • Who are we trying to reach? • Why are we trying to reach them? • What are the demographics of our church? • Take a survey • Consult data base • What are the demographics of our community? • Obtain from the county courthouse • www.census.gov – your state and county
BY AGE… 18-25-College age 20’s & 30’s 30+Single/single- again (35+ if have 20’s & 30”s) 55+ “Mature” Single BY NEED…. Single Parents & children -Pre-school -Elementary -Jr/Sr High Divorce Care & children -Age groups Widowed DESIGN MINISTRY BYAGE AND/OR NEED GROUPS
MINISTRY GROUP MODELS DESIGN YOUR MINISTRY BY YOUR PURPOSE/MISSION… • OUTREACH • DISCIPLESHIP • DISCUSSION • EDUCATIONAL • SOCIAL/RECREATIONAL • SMALL GROUPS • CONTEMPORARY SERVICE • COMBINATION
OUTREACH • Topical teaching on personal issues • Discussion opportunities-small & large group • Informal seating-tables and chairs best • Extended fellowship time (15-30 minutes) • Light, short praise and worship • Refreshments provided-helpful to fellowship • Many people involved in the meeting • Prayer-short times of-few involved • Attracts mature, immature Christians and unbelievers • Attracts many visitors • Functions well in neutral, non-threatening settings • Frequency-weekly to monthly
DISCIPLESHIP • Bible-study oriented-Bible books & spiritual topics • Discussion-small and large group • Praise & worship-heavy, maybe extended • Prayer-various types & much time for • Group interaction with teacher during teaching • Short fellowship time • Attracts strong & maturing Christians • Does not attract many visitors or unbelievers • Refreshments-May be provided, but not necessary • Location-church, home or other • Frequency-weekly to monthly
DISCUSSION • Praise & worship-rare and brief • Teaching-rare, brief and topical • Discussion-regular, small group-possible large group wrap up • Visitors-attracted to and frequent • Prayer-short & brief • Attracts immature and mature Christians • Location-church rooms and neutral settings • Frequency-weekly to monthly • Refreshments-helpful for fellowship
EDUCATIONAL • Workshop/seminar format • Praise & worship-light & brief if any • Teaching-concentrated for a period of time • Half day to day-and-a-half -3-8 week series • Personal and spiritual topics • Discussion-large & small groups • Prayer-short and brief, one to several involved • Visitors-attracted to this • Attracts immature and mature Christians • Location-church rooms and neutral locations • Frequency-2-4 months • Refreshments-helpful for fellowship
SOCIAL/RECREATIONAL • Many types of social/recreational events • Attracts unbelievers, immature & mature Christians • Attracts visitors • Teaching-rare, devotional type if ever • Prayer-minimal if ever • Praise & worship-rare if ever • Discussion-rare, if ever • Location-various settings and types of • Frequency-weekly to monthly • Consider cost • Consider target age • Refreshments-usual and often
SMALL GROUPS • BIBLE STUDY/DISCIPLESHIP TYPE • Praise & worship may be extended/Pentecostal • Prayer time may be extended & Pentecostal • Discussion about teaching encouraged in large and small groups • Time allowed for praise reports and prayer requests • Teaching topics-Biblical/Spiritual issues from books or other/Personal issues-extended time for • Attracts immature and mature Christians • Retains Christians who want to grow • Does not attract unbelievers • Location-Homes/church/other • Frequency-Weekly to monthly • Refreshments-Helpful but not necessary • Spiritual growth, maturity atmosphere
SMALL GROUPS • PRAYER AND SHARE TYPE • Teaching brief, informal and on personal topics • Praise & worship short and light • Extended time for discussion on personal issues • Extended time for praise reports and prayer requests • Prayer time extended, light, many participants • Attracts unbelievers, immature & mature Christians • Retains unbelievers, immature and mature Christians • Location-Home/church/other neutral locations • Frequency-Weekly to monthly • Refreshments helpful • Supportive, seeker atmosphere
CONTEMPORARY SERVICE • Informal or formal seating • Praise & worship-partial to full band-may be extended • Prayer time usually short-one or several involved • Teaching/preaching-spiritual growth & personal topics • Use of video, drama, power point, visuals, high tech tools-Many people involved • Discussion/group interaction limited unless seating allows • Attracts immature and mature Christians • Attracts young adult unbelievers more easily than older, single adult unbelievers • Frequency-weekly to monthly • Refreshments & fellowship time helpful
CONTEMPORARY SERVICE • Authentic, fun, intentional environment • Relational, spiritual environment • Location-church or other • Use of new terms instead of “Christianese”… • Programs vs. Bulletins • Guests vs. Visitors • Podium vs. Pulpit • Message vs. Sermon • Auditorium vs. Sanctuary • Audience vs. Congregation
USE SEVERAL MODELS… • PLAN A TOTAL MINISTRY-Develop it! • BUILD IT IN STAGES… • WAIT TILL YOU HAVE LEADERSHIP • WAIT TILL YOU HAVE RESOURCES • Vision • Room (s) • Finances • Teaching materials • Other materials
ON CHURCH GROUNDS BENENFITS • 1) Possibly more people from your church exposed to your ministry • 2) Less storage problems • 3) Less set up, clean up and transporting of tables, chairs, props, materials etc. • 4) More access to tables, chairs, props etc. • 5) Less time finding a meeting room
ON CHURCH GROUNDS BENEFITS • 6) Usually less risk of losing the meeting room • 7) No cost • 8) Fewer requests to announce other churches' events • 9) More exposure of the ministry to your church
WHEN OFF CHURCH GROUNDS, CONSIDER… • AREA FOR FELLOWSHIP IN ROOM • COST OF ROOM • FLEXIBLE SEATING • POSSIBLE DAYS ROOM NOT AVAILABLE • IMAGE OF THE BUSINESS • LOCATION OF THE BUSINESS • STORAGE OF MATERIALS • CHILDCARE NEEDS • Age grouping of children • Children’s leaders and workers • Program to use for children • Transportation to church for classes • Snacks
OFF CHURCH GROUNDSROOM IDEAS • RESTAURANT ROOM • MOTEL MEETING ROOM • COMMUNITY ROOM • APARTMENT COMPLEX • BOWLING ALLEY MEETING ROOM • BANK ROOM • SERVICE CLUB ROOM • OTHER
OFF CHURCH GROUNDS BENEFITS • 1) More community exposure • 2) Attracts more unbelievers due to neutral setting • 3) Attracts more believers who do not have a ministry at their church • 4) Attracts more children of single parents to transport to your church for Sunday School classes • 5) Easier to build a city-wide influence and image
OFF CHURCH GROUNDS BENEFITS • 6) Easier to build relationships with other pastors • 7) Less denominational hang ups in peoples' minds due to the neutral setting • 8) More flexibility with schedule • 9) Any size church could sponsor the ministry • 10) Easier for several churches to sponsor together
FREQUENCY OF MEETING • WEEKLY… • Discipleship model • Outreach model • Discussion model • Educational model • Workshop/Seminar • 4-10 week series • Half day/full day/ weekend
FREQUENCY OF MEETING • BI-WEEKLY… • Discipleship model • Outreach model • Discussion model • Social activities model
FREQUENCY OF MEETING • MONTHLY… • Social activities model • Outreach model • Discipleship model • Depending on what else is offered • Depending on available leadership
FREQUENCY OF MEETING • OCCASIONALLY… • Social activities model • Educational model • Outreach model
SPONSORING CHURCH (ES) OR MINISTRY (IES) • IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SPIRITUAL COVERING • Protection from accusations • Financial backing • Advice when needed • Spiritual/Moral support when needed • Identity of the sponsoring church/ministry • Security of the sponsoring church/ministry
SPONSORING MODELS • One church-Leader from this church • Two or more churches of same denomination-Leaders from both • Two or more churches of different denominations-Both should be alike in basic beliefs (evangelical) • Independent organization-(not a church)-Seek a pastor(s) and/or church board(s) to support you • One or more individuals- Seek a pastor(s) and/or church board(s) to support you
FUNDING THE MINISTRYAny ministry worth having is worth funding! • INCLUDED IN CHURCH BUDGET • TWO OR MORE CHURCHES BUDGET FOR • REGULAR OFFERINGS IN THE GROUP • People will give to the cause • Keep towards expenses • Run through church budget • Tax deductible if written to church
FUNDING THE MINISTRY • LEADER(S) SEEK FUNDING FROM INDIVIDUALS • LEADER(S) SEEK FUNDING FROM ORGANIZATIONS (Christian and secular) • INDIVIDUALS IN THE MINISTRY PLEDGE • To a special project • Monthly support • COMBINATION OF THESE
ASK THESE QUESTIONS! • What resources do we have now?(People-Facilities-Money-Materials etc.) • What resources do we need to get? • Who else is doing what we want to do? • Same denomination • Other denominations/independent