...equipping the saints for the work of service (ministry) to build up the body of Christ. -Ephesians 4:12
Although we share a common vision, the routes to its destination are many and diverse: Being led by the Holy Spirit, becoming a beacon, capitalizing on being a downtown church, having a high commitment, nurturing all, journeying and training, and providing care are interpreted through many ministry avenues in our church. Each person's passion, journey, quest, and growth can lead to areas where some resource may be needed. Those resources may be in the form of information, ideas, people, finances, facility, or prayer.
Ministry support is about awareness and the sharing of resource information to equip those involved in service toward a continuation along their chosen route. Through questioning and listening, clarity is sought to allow the flow of service to proceed.
Ministry support is about courageously and confidently ministering to one another through diverse multi-faceted ministerial avenues. It is creating an environment where people know they are valued, cared for, and can find direction. Ministry support is providing a "greased hub" of information while "holding fast" to a sense of stability and resolution.
In the work done at First Presbyterian Church, the goal of ministry support is to share and manage resources, provide direction to answers for questions, and to equip people to grow in their discipleship in order to plant and nurture others for Christ to bring about the "kingdom" of God.
Sheila Cook
Director of Ministry Support
July 1998
The Executive Assistant coordinated with the pastor and the session for newcomer workshops and during the year He also conducted four workshops and three retreats for newcomers and/or potential new members. This resulted in many new members and many people becoming more involved in church activities.
He also formed a basket ministry team and coordinated the delivery of welcome baskets containing cookies, bread, etc. and welcoming information about our church. These were delivered to all local first-time visitors; out-of-town visitors with written thank-you letters for attending.
During the year, we had a total of 351 local and out-of-town visitors. The Executive Assistant coordinated and "I'll Be There" Sunday in October; resulting in 669 people in attendance at all three services. He also supervised facilities management staff (See Facilities Manager's Report.) He provided assistance and coordination for all three worship services each Sunday; and assisted pastor in certain designated functions and acted in his absence when called upon.
Max McDaniel
Executive Assistant
July 1998
Ministry Commission
1998-1999 Goals
March 1998
* Encourage development of ministry teams by clearly communicating to the congregation how teams are formed, what the expectations are, what needs are unmet, and how the work of current ministry teams furthers the vision statement of First Presbyterian Church.
| Strategies: | Prepare articles for "First Press" |
| Make announcements at services | |
| Rely on word-of-mouth | |
| Prepare a "Ministry Team" handbook with useful information about organizing, asking for funding, finding training, etc. |
* Working with staff, develop a protocol for identifying ministry teams, including the scope of work, the anticipated duration of service, support needed, and special training or other resources required.
| Strategies: | Using the current "Ministry Team Mission Statement" as a starting point, revise the forms to be used to make initial contact with current or contemplated teams in a way that gathers information about the needs of the team (i.e., "What kind of support can we offer to you?" |
| Schedule regular contact with staff to exchange information about Requests for teams, team activities, changes in scope, etc. |
* Maintain regular and supportive contact between the Ministry Commission and the ministry teams.
| Strategies: | Assign Ministry Commission members to known ministry teams for regular contact. |
| Allocate "Ministry Team Support" funds to teams as needed. |
* To the extent possible, maintain on-going records of ministry teams: activities, expenditures, and membership.
| Strategies: | Compile information from the above activities and find a "permanent home" for Ministry Commission records. |
| Include in the 1998-99 Annual Report of the First Presbyterian Church reports from as many individual Ministry 'Learns as possible. |
© 1998 First Presbyterian Church
Boise, Idaho