Plans, Ideas and Suggestions for 2003 and Beyond Gideon's Army Battle Project (Church Planting)
(Developed for / Presented originally to the Spring Village Seventh-day Adventist Church, Central Jamaica Conference, West Indies Union)
Motto, Vision and Mission Statements
Ideas,
Plans, Suggestions and Challenges, by Departmental Focus:
Plans
for Church Leadership and
Administration:
(1)
Regular Business Meetings – at least one per quarter – written reports to be
prepared, read and then submitted by heads of Departments and others,
(2)
Set dates for Communion Services from early in the year (usually just 4 for the
year),
(3)
Departments to submit reports to the Conference Office – as required. **
(4)
Regular (monthly) meeting of Board
of Elders (before Board meeting):
Agenda
Items to include:
¨
Evangelism
¨
Visitation
reports,
¨
Matters
for the Board (Departmental agendas assigned, etc.),
¨
Problems;
church discipline of members
¨
Church
Maintenance,
¨
Planning
& Monitoring of Programs and church services
(Duty
roster for church services, overall church activities, etc.)
¨
Conference
Calendar Items / Programs,
¨
Communion
Service / Plans for Shut-ins, etc.
¨
Bible
Class & monthly assignments (Elder i/c for month – also responsible for
funerals, etc. [for ordained elders]. Others not i/c attend and or assist as
necessary)
(5)
Bible Class:
(a) Complete Panorama of Prophecy Series
(b) Fundamental Beliefs
(c) Church Heritage
Training and Inspiration for Departmental Heads, Assistants, et al (Pastor, Elder)
<
Retreat
to be held at Camp Verley (December 27 – 29, 2002). It is a good idea to have
a retreat for your Church or District from time to time where some motivation
and training can be done.
<
Ongoing
training
(for preaching, Bible studies, witnessing strategies (prayer walk, surveys,
Bible courses, Bible Study Club [membership – one Bible study per month]),
etc.
«
Departmental
Assignment of Elders (Assign According to Experience & Ability):
Children’s
Ministry / Children’s Department:
Story
Time / Feeding the Lambs
– Select a team of “storytellers” or “aunties” and “uncles” to be
named for approval of the Board. Aim:
Teach principles of love, obedience, honesty, how to pray, etc. – use of props
and illustrations, lively presentation to hold interest, etc. – more than one
person can present at a time (or assist) – not necessarily a story – can
teach a new song, a scripture passage or quotation, etc. – allow children to
participate other than just praying – appoint participants beforehand, let
them give a short story or share some experience they had – some witness of
Jesus that they did, etc.
Apply
similar principle of children participation at Sabbath School – utilize the
assignments, activities and exercises given in the quarterlies OR give
assignments for the week to be reported on during Sabbath School time
(witnessing activities, making someone happy, helping someone, etc.) – ask
children to act out or tell stories in the lessons (tell beforehand if
necessary).
Do
an evangelistic outreach program spearheaded by the Children’s Department
Deacons
and Deaconesses:
Regular
meeting of a Deacon/ess Board – to make plans for the church, for example:
(a)
organize regular
work days – church maintenance and cleaning, eg. areas for urgent attention: *bathrooms,
*kitchen, vestry, S.S. & A.Y. room, cupboards, rostrum, *church
building, church yard, (work in conjunction with the School Board on some of
these)
(b)
organize
fundraising event/s or ventures for the church or to assist you to finance your
own activities,
(c)
plan for
a retreat for Deacons/esses,
(d)
plan for
a Deacon/ess Day – preaching and all!
(e)
ask to do
a Saturday night social or plan some other social event,
(f)
participate
fully in the churches’ overall program of visitation and one to one
evangelism,
(g)
ask to do
a Bible Class(es), etc.
(h)
be
prepared / plan to do church services – Sunday and Wednesday night meetings,
Vespers, etc.
(i)
pray for
the church.
(a)
Assist
with ensuring that the reports from the Departments reach the Conference Office,
(b)
Liaise
with the Pastor (inform of births, deaths, requests for blessing of babies,
etc.),
(c)
Assist in
informing persons re Church Duty Roster,
(d)
Liaise
with the Church Clerk re Reports to Conference Office, etc.
(e)
Relate to
the Pastor re correspondence to be delivered to and from Conference Office
Stewardship
/ Treasury Team:
(a)
Keep
financial records up to date and ready for reporting at Board meetings or, as
necessary,
(b)
Foster
and encourage a strong investment program amongst members – give ideas on
investment,
(c)
Push the
Triple C program – encourage regular/monthly saving,
(d)
Auditor(s)
to audit church accounts and submit a written
report to the Board – at least once per quarter,
(e)
Distribute
tithe receipts on a timely basis / expeditiously (head deacon to check number of
tithe envelopes received as soon as possible after collection of offering),
(f)
Meet at
least once per quarter to make plans, review work already done and make
recommendation(s) to the Board,
(g)
Finance Committee: Finish outstanding assignments and honour all
pledges made – before moving on to any other activity/ies. Report to Church
Board, liaise with Board of Elders and Deacon Board.
(h)
Plan for
Stewardship Day (CC item)
Church
School Board:
Pursue
and settle all outstanding issues. Lay plans for improvements to the building,
etc. Plan fund-raisers, etc.
Sabbath
School Department:
q
Establish
a Visitors’ Class (conducted, preferably, by an elder)
q
Establish
a New Converts’ Class (conducted, preferably, by an elder)
q
Finish
Sabbath School latest 10:45 a.m. each Sabbath
q
Establish
at least four Branch Sabbath Schools
for the year
q
Ensure
that S.S. programs are oriented to soul-keeping and / or soul-winning
q
Work
closely with the Interest Coordinator to follow up interests of S.S. visitors
Education
Department:
ü
Continue
/ Expand / Improve Reading Club (more articles, replace dirty or torn ones,
etc.), prepare different media for storage / presentation – eg. Diskettes
ü
Obtain
Pocketbooks (from Amazingfacts)
ü
Counseling
and Coaching students
ü
Assist
with special assignments and projects
ü
Provide
resources eg. learning / interactive CD’s, encyclopaedias, books, etc.
ü
Assist
with schooling / help in cases of emergency or special need (including students
that attend church but are not members of the church - liaise with Church Board)
ü
Keep an
up-to-date list of students by school and grade level (presents/ congratulations
/ successes, etc.)
ü
Assist /
support all activities in church that seek to educate the members
ü
Plan a
Career / Education Day OR Week (CC item).
ü
Start an
adult literacy class
ü
Have an
active Education Committee going
Health
Department:
X
Vegan /
vegetarian cooking lessons / demonstrations – emphasis on utilizing local
products (or products that are readily available)
X
Demonstrate
use of seasonal fruits, etc. as a part of the diet,
X
Demonstrate
how to preserve foods for use out of season,
X
Give
tangible assistance with health needs (filling prescriptions, getting persons on
the government assistance program(s) available eg. the JADEP program, etc. –
work with the Community Services Dept., arrange for regular blood sugar, blood
pressure and other tests for both church & community),
X
Start an
exercise class / give tips on exercise (can use exercise videos, etc.)
X
Conduct a
Stop Smoking Seminar (main
target – non-members; have materials and resource persons on hand – arrange
follow up with individuals – maybe even baptisms might result!)
X
Conduct
Seminar on the NEW START
program – follow up with materials, films, etc.
X
Do
regular sale of food and drink prepared by the department (introduce with a
“taste & buy”)
X
Have at
least one health fair for the year (sell and/or give samples of vegan foods,
distribute literature, etc., etc.)
Family
Life Department:
·
Do at
least one “Agape Feast” for the year (for couples – work with
Health Dept.)
·
Work with
Health and Community Services Departments and assist with programs that will
directly impact the family – eg. the NEW
START program, cooking lessons, etc.
·
Plan for
Family Life Day (CC item)
·
Plan a
Family “Retreat” – give special assignments to each family (eg. in charge
of devotional, music, etc. for the trip and the camp/on site) – sharing time:
learning from each other / sharing experiences / stories of overcoming problems,
etc. – entire families to attend as far as possible,
·
Plan a
Family Social – families in charge of performance of items as well as items
for sale, etc. – “charge” for a concert segment (when families present
items – special dressing / costumes could enhance the evening),
·
Do
marriage seminars and/or engage a Marriage Counselor for a Q & A program
(repeat as necessary)
Community
Services Department:
©
Establish
a “soup kitchen” to feed shut-ins (also, if possible, street persons,
destitute in the church & community) on a regular
basis, i.e. not only on Sabbaths
©
Reintroduce
idea of constant giving and every member of the church being a member of the
Community Services (Welfare) Department – reintroduce the “welfare barrel”
and / or box (could have one for food / one for other items, including clothes /
also encourage cash donations directly to the Department),
©
Designate
special days for giving – Welfare
“gift days”
©
Organize
a BIG
Community Services Day (CC item)
©
Identify
and target areas / items of need and advise the church so the giving can be
appropriate and specific to existing needs … so needs can be met
©
Ask for
ten minutes slots in Sabbath School to give reports (praise reports / special
happenings / positive outcomes / on project[s] being pursued) and to encourage
the brethren to continue their support of the work
©
Utilize
the church Motto and Mission Statement to galvanize the members / gain support,
©
Start
skills training classes (floral arrangement, dressmaking, cookery, etc. – work
with other Depts.).
Women’s
Ministry Department:
«
Start a “Grief
Ministry” program (be present at funeral services: sing, etc., do
follow-up work, eg. give tangible assistance - in genuine / needy cases -
“every likkle mek a muckle”, give comfort, visit family, relatives and
friends of deceased, give appropriate literature addressing grief, death, the new
earth, etc., give Bible studies or Bible talks and words of encouragement - as
necessary / as opportunity arise OR, as requested.
«
Do baby
showers for needy mothers in and outside of the church
«
Visit
with sick women in the church and the community to bring comfort and cheer (at
home, in hospital)
«
Start a prayer
ministry – prayer walking, visit & pray with all sick, destitute and
those affected by disasters (fires, floods, etc.), have regular fasting and/or
prayer sessions / designate special day & time for prayer,
«
Minister
to young women in (& outside of) the church on matters of good manners,
etiquette, family planning and acceptable social behavior (include the boys
too!) – plan programs to address these areas (put on seminar(s),
demonstrations, films, etc. – work with the Health Dept.)
Adventist
Youth Department:
v
Start the
Discover
Bible Guides Bible lessons program as the main evangelistic activity
(get names of persons willing to do courses – different categories [junior,
teen, adult] – in order to receive lessons that are available; plan for a real
“big” graduation). Adventist Youths should also do
the courses themselves.
v
Run at
least one “Youth Crusade” for the year (could use Week of Prayer or other church programs or services – invite
persons with whom you are studying to attend, etc.- baptisms could result!)
v
Plan for
some “field trips” – there are four fifth Sabbaths in the year – OR
- plan to do something extra special on those days (that could even be the
Discover Bible Guides graduation coupled with a baptism! – nature walks /
nature study program, etc.)
v
Conduct
at least one Wayside Meeting per quarter (work with the Personal Ministries
Dept.) – plan for more than one location
each time (split by Family Units or other),
v
Friendship
Evangelism Program (each youth finding a friend to show love, care and concern
with the ultimate aim of winning their heart to Christ! That one in turn finds a
friend … it could result in a massive explosion of souls!),
v
Elders’
Forum – at least twice for the year; elders placed on the “firing line”
for questions from youths and for sharing information and inspiration
(could even invite members from other churches as part of the panel).
Devise a way to get questions coming in on a regular basis (question box,
through Units, etc.).
v
Do a “Scripture
Challenge” (by using selected Unit reps., by pairs from within age
groups, etc – have a “championship round” after one or more “preliminary
rounds”) as part of the program to encourage more Bible study among members.
This can be done as a segment of A.Y. (5-10 minutes for each pair, one
pair per evening – assign a coordinator/record keeper. Challengers must state
text then repeat same while “judges” check & record the scripture, etc.)
v
Like the
Scripture Challenge the Defend
your Faith (there are variations!) can be used to good effect / for the
same purpose (focus on 27 fundamental
beliefs). This means that persons are literally quizzed / “attacked”
and they have to defend what they believe by using the scriptures.
Pathfinder
Club:
©
Educational
Field Trips (Institute of Jamaica, Kingston / Montego Bay Marine Parks, Kingston
Harbour Tour, Blue & John Crow Mountains National Park tour, etc.)
©
Start a
Star Study Program
©
Start a
merit system – each unit vying to complete a number of honors for the year
(designate actual targets – give appropriate rewards or benefits & honour
badges by stages [eg. quarterly], etc. – make the incentives appropriate to
the honour, eg. baking tin, hiking shoes, etc.)
- there are many honours that are not now being pursued! (see Pathfinder
page). To climax – have a special
program at the end of the year / period (skills gained through honours completed
could be demonstrated; have a prize-giving, etc. OR offer products for sale to
get funds to help in running the Club, etc.)
©
Plan an
anti-drug march – make a real
big splash!
(or make it an anti-immorality march / march against evil – illicit sex
[STD’s. AIDS, etc.], hard drugs [ganja, crack, cocaine] and cigarette, other
drugs [caffiene, tanine, barbiturates, etc,], guns, corruption, etc.) – could
invite other clubs to join (each club could be responsible for one segment /
targeted area Or give each unit
OR a number of units within the club one segment), invite the media – Do more
than one for the year if possible (each with a different emphasis)
- Work with the Health, Family Life, Personal Ministries
and Education Departments to bring it off!)
- This could be the big highlight on the Pathfinder Calendar for each
year!
©
Obtain
tins and make it a project to collect as much Ingathering as possible as a club
so that the overflow will be very significant – funds could be requested to be
used in further improvement of the Youth Hall or other project to benefit mainly
young people.
©
Start a
tree / flowers / hedge – planting project to improve the look of the
churchyard. This may be used for receiving of a honour – different units could
do segments of the yard. Emphasis on a job well done – it must look really
good and be kept up (work with the Deacons, etc.)
Communications
Department:
:
Monitor /
be in charge of the notice boards – (notices must be current, clean,
appropriate, etc. – work along with the Church Clerk to achieve this),
:
Assist
with informing members on matters relating to church / duty roster assignments,
etc.
:
Put up at
least one church directional sign – on the main road; make it real
official, outstanding & noticeable! (could include: name of church, arrow,
direction [eg. “next right”] & distance to); Work with the Religious
Liberty Director, Education Department and Deacons.
:
Computer
with Internet connection – Work with Religious Liberty, Education / other
Depts. (OR put forward as a church project – all Departments would benefit if
such a project comes to fruition!)
:
Have
church activity/ies featured in the appropriate CJC publications on a timely
basis
:
Start an
official church photo album (pictorial record of special events, services,
trips, etc.) – pictures can also be scanned and stored electronically – or
even start a video library (additional)
:
Programs
from Satellite/Dish – for church services / programs / to enhance work of all
Depts. (OR refer to Board as a church
project - all Depts. would benefit)
:
Do printed
programs for the church – on a regular basis (week, fortnight, month
– start somewhere / outside of the special programs); The program itself is a
witnessing tool – with focus on special themes (eg. Sabbath, Second Coming of
Christ, State of the Dead – use of scripture texts and quotations from SoP
writings, etc. – including a segment (or insert) that asks for an indication
of interests of visitors (eg. list incl. – Bible study, visitation, etc.). A
“dear visitor” segment could also be included - work with Interest
Coordinator / Personal Ministries / Education dept.
*A different Dept. could also be featured on each program (eg. tell
something about the work of the Dept. – maybe in the form of a “Did you
know?” OR ask that Dept. to
contribute an appropriate thought, etc.); work with the Religious Liberty Dept.
&
Have the
Departmental rep. From the Conference come and give at least one presentation on
Religious Liberty / the work & importance of the Department in the church,
etc.; RL Day (CC)
&
Regular
news from ACN, AWR, 3ABN, AWN – through WWW, CJC, EJC, WJC, WIU, etc.
&
Making
the church aware of major issues and events - in the secular news – that
affects (or eventually will affect) religious liberty (specifically Christian
liberty and especially SDA liberty)
&
Work with
persons having difficulty with Sabbath off at the workplace – or students
pressured to do exams, projects, field trips, etc. on Sabbaths (SDA students
beaten by teacher every Monday morning for not attending Saturday classes –
they were afraid and didn’t want to go to school and even fell “sick”
every Monday morning – intervention was made by an aunt, etc. – right here
in Jamaica!); liaise with the pastor, CJC Office, WIU, etc.
&
Share
powerful stories of victory / triumph in Religious Liberty matters (from regular
news item sources, books, videos, etc.) - use announcement slots, ten minutes / Personal Ministries
slot, etc. to disseminate information (short tapes, films, etc. can be used).
D
Post written version of weekly
and other special announcements – eg. from Conference – on (or in) the
notice board (insist on receiving announcements before the designated time on
Sabbaths)
D
Be in
charge of the church
temperature chart – related to general church activities
D
Be the
Liaison between pastor, church, community
D
Prepare
a comprehensive list of “delinquent” members (crucial for visitation programs)
D
Prepare
a comprehensive list of new converts (baptized within a year / 18 months) (for S.S.)
D
Keep all
church records readily available and up-to-date (by Department)
D
Ensure
the safety of all church records (request a strong box - ?)
D
Give a
special thought or quotation to close announcements sometimes / in addition to
the usual
D
“Filter”/
monitor the announcements (save details for evening announcements, as necessary)
D
Assist
with the maintenance / monitoring of the notice board(s) [keep notices current,
neat, etc.]
D
Prepare
comprehensive minutes for each regular Church Board meeting – have a separate
copy ready to give to the pastor / chairperson (the first elder could also be
given a copy).
Music Department / Church Choir (all choirs): “Music is as much a part of worship as is prayer”- SoP
Þ
Start a
serious choir membership recruitment drive
Þ
Establish
a permanent / standing youth
choir
Þ
Work with
all choirs / singing groups / soloists closely so that all can contribute to
worship services on a timely basis – the church choir should prepare at least
one song for Sunday night evangelistic meeting (the choir that sings on Sabbath
also sings at Sunday night meeting)
Þ
Prepare
two appropriate songs for each Divine Service (work with persons scheduled to
speak on Duty Roster – ask for their theme and / or topic / opening &
closing songs)
Þ
Have one
or more persons lead songs for song services and, generally, as the need arises
/ establish a praise team
Þ
Obtain
musical instrument / hymnal on CD / other recorded music to assist in improving
the worship service (especially At Divine Service) / obtain service of church
pianist or keyboard player (OR present this as a church project … for
consideration by the Church Board)
Þ
Always be
in a state of preparedness (in deportment and dress, etc.) to minister in
singing
Þ
Write
/ arrange and perform at least one original song for the year!
:
Prepare
and conduct a survey in order to garner information on areas of spiritual /
religious interest of persons in the community – a list of names and addresses
should be generated (can be used for follow-up for visits / Bible studies, etc.)
:
Follow-up
all contacts of missionary outreach in the community (through various
departments of the church – A.Y., S.S., etc.)
:
Inform
pastor / elders when interest is sufficiently developed for Bible study,
baptism, etc.
:
Work
closely with Personal Ministries Director
:
Prepare
regular reports for the Church Board & Board of Elders
Personal
Ministries Department:
«
One to one (two-by-two) evangelism: continue
and strengthen this program through the provision of training and the
encouraging of various evangelistic programs through the various Departments
(entire church).
«
Work
through the departments assigned (especially Sabbath School) to promote
evangelism.
«
Utilize Sunday
Night Worship Service time as evangelistic outreach
campaign – eg, The Revelation Seminars or other such program.
«
Promote /
establish Small Group Evangelism
«
Promote /
utilize / establish a Reading Club – stock with articles, books
pocketbooks and encourage members to borrow, read and lend these books as a
witnessing strategy
«
Obtain
two (2) permanent Bible Workers to work in the community (this should
preclude the need for any large evangelistic campaigns as the work would be
ongoing / souls are reached each day); this does not mean that members would not
continue their Bible work in the area through the Sabbath School and A.Y Units,
etc.
«
Once all
the Departments are galvanized for evangelism it will be crucial for the
Personal Ministries Department to support and help to coordinate all activities,
«
The
Department must also plan and execute a very strong nurturing program eg. assign
new converts to Sabbath School Units for nurture / to special individuals; have
regular Bible classes, visits, etc.
Note:
Maranatha!
Let us work and love like we really
believe this. Praise the Lord!
Motto, Vision and Mission Statements:
Motto: “We are Kingdom bound! I am my brothers’ keeper and I am a missionary.”
(media - bookmarkers)
Mission Statement: “To ensure that every member is encouraged to become concerned for the other and that each member, in each family pursue a committed relationship with the Lord such that he/she will want to share the good news of salvation with all others.”
(media
– wooden frame … for Church & Youth Halls).
Vision Statement: “To see every individual, every family, every relative and friend saved in the Kingdom of God.”
(media
– wooden frame … for Church & Youth Halls).
Rationale
for Motto, Mission Statement & Vision Statement:
as a
constant point of reference (repetition deepens impression),
as a
constant reminder (of the statements themselves),
as a tool
of motivation /encouragement,
as an
instrument of anchor or a strengthening of faith,
as an
instrument of unity (we are all working together / at the same task),
to keep
us focused on the task at hand (& on what we intend to achieve),
as tools
that can be used to galvanize the membership to participate in specific tasks (eg.
to work in a particular Dept.)
If you have questions please email battlecryministry2004@yahoo.com
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