When we made the decision to dive into this new ministry, our first step was to come up with a list of services we could provide. We are incredibly thankful for our church leadership that helped us develop a short list to start with. The ministry does not have much to use as a reference on how it should be developed. This is not to say we are going in flying blind, but we are keeping in mind that flexibility and readjustments are key.
Our primary service to church plants is divided into external and internal communication.
External focuses on how the surrounding community views and interacts with the church. This includes help with church website, logos, staff and property photos. All important aspects of communicating with the surrounding community that the church plant is ministering to.
Internal focuses relate to how the church relates to visitors and the congregation. Examples of this could include painting murals (church logos, scripture, etc.) or helping to make childcare areas more inviting and easier to navigate.
As I said before, flexibility is key for us. Other areas will certainly arise that we can help with that we are not aware of yet. We understand that simple acts can be equally as encouraging as overhauling websites or decorating a church. Helping with childcare during services, sharing a home cooked meal, or babysitting so a pastor and his wife can enjoy some needed time are all equally important to us. A primary goal is to provide some encouragement and possibly a small break to our church planters. As I said before, flexibility is key for us. Other areas will certainly arise that we can help with that we are not aware of yet.
Outside of communication, we will be helping with work projects and helping ensure their smooth operation. When needs arise that will require construction work with a team of volunteers, we will step in and assist in any way we can. Our first trip out will consist of a work project, and we will be providing meals to keep the cost down for those that are volunteering to work. This allows not only for cost savings but allows for the team to focus on the work being done and not travel offsite for meals. Besides providing meals we are looking to also be able to help with the coordination of tools and materials in future jobs. This may include arriving on site early to assess the job parameters and taking note of missing tools or materials that will be needed before the team arrives. Ultimately, we want to make sure that the volunteers can maximize the time they are volunteering to work.
We are incredibly excited to see where all of this takes us and are humbled that God has provided us the means to be able to take on this journey.
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