What follows is a rough draft of a
preliminary plan. Any suggestions are welcome Phil Hamm
Motto / Purpose: Develop
maturity in faith and life. (Col 1:9 – 12)
Opportunities
Find communities where the population ratio to evangelical church is
greater than 1000 to 1.
Determine the needs of the community.
Initiate practical seminars or programs to meet the needs of these
people.
Set up locations where people can come together and have their
spiritual
and physical needs met.
Perceived community needs in Kingsville
A Caring Christian Environment in which to grow Spiritually
Day Care – Parental training / relief
Elder Care – 980+ Widows in Kingsville – In home Meals, Home Repair,
Senior’s care – Fix It! Volunteer hours for high school students
Single Parents - Training for Young Mothers in Cooking, Purchasing,
Financial Planning – wise stewardship of money
Develop Relationships – family harmony, spousal harmony
Overcoming problems with blended families, drug dependencies, marriage
problems
Anger Resolution
Family communication
Computer training
Youth “jobs” – co-op, volunteer hours for high schools
Bible training – pastoral training and mentoring
Encouraging Home schooling – tutoring
Community events or touchpoints
Seminars – Kid’s program during Seminars and infant care
Home Fellowships
Single moms and drop in center
Christian book store – materials on CD, video, books, cost+
Mom’s program
Men’s program
Book club
Exercise group
Prayer group – pray for people in area phone book. use web for prayer
requests and victories
Clothes Closet, Food Pantry, veggies etc., Excess goods distribution
Equipment Sharing - As good stewards we do not need one of everything
per household. We can share equipment
Community projects for youth during summer ministries
Compensation based on point system - % of
work, quality of work, agreed upon schedule
Town of Kingsville Religious Groups
Population – 19000
16 Identifiable churches - (1267 / church) See separate web link
United Church – Ruthven, Kingsville, Trinity, Cottam
Baptist – Kingsville 1st, Cottam, Brooker, Kingsville Ukrainian
Anglican – Kingsville, Cottam,
Roman Catholic – St. John de Brebeuf
Lutheran – Kingsville
Reformed – Albertville
Mennonite – Old Colony
Pentecostal – Calvary Tabernacle, meeting at Brooker
Perhaps one house church
Other groups
Lao Buddhist, Unitarian
Guidelines for a Spiritual Center
1. Biblical – The programs and materials should be above all based on
scripture. Teaching should be holistic in content and take the
whole counsel of God.
2. Spiritual – God is a God of miracles and will do wonders even our
day and age.
Isaiah 29:13,14a “ The Lord says: “These people come near to me
with their mouth and honour me with their lips but their hearts are far
from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by
me. 14. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder
upon wonder…” Salvation, liberation from addictions, building
proper relationships, physical healings etc.
3. Practical – The ministry should meet the everyday needs, physical,
emotional, spiritual and social needs of the community. Because
each community is unique, these needs will vary from place to
place. There is no cookie cutter but there are principles which
can be used to launch various programs to meet all the needs of people.
4. “Being” focused – not just doing. Who we are is more important
than what we do.
5. Community – We are establishing a community of believers who are
seeking to be connected to God through Jesus Christ. We are
filled with the Holy Spirit and we will allow Him to guide and empower
us. Small groups, cells, care groups or whatever the current buzz
word is for caring, interactive home groups are a focal point of
outreach. These groups may take on projects and should be
designed to reach out to new people.
Corporate Gathering Format
Testimonies, lively singing, sincere sharing, biblical counsel, short
expositions, practical info
Use of song leader – not “worship team” to encourage
participation, keep away from "entertainment mentality"
Use musical skills of as many people as possible. Allow for
learners
to become involved. Not looking for perfection but willingness
and
good effort.
Worship Times – 1 instrumentalist, 1 mc, 1 song leader, 1 preacher, 1
testimony
Organizational structure
Moderator, assistant moderator, secretary, treasurer, development
coordinator, trustee
Message topics
Salvation, spiritual gifts, stewardship, care of household,
Discipleship, leadership
Missions exposure – 1 time per month
Call for Salvation at least once per month
Corporate Worship and Gathering Time –
Saturday evening
Rationale –
Others can come who may still be involved in other churches Sunday
morning
Gives people chance who are working on Sundays
Gives positive spiritual activity on Saturday evenings
Can have meals together
Leadership development on Sundays
Leadership
Develop Qualities of Leadership
Develop Standards of Leadership
Leadership model to reflect the needs of the believer’s church.
Develop leadership position when need arises for such but not before.
Find God’s direction when a need arises.
Develop leaders through discipleship process.
Keep informal and not overly structured. Allow open input from
all believers.
Base leadership on gifts
Develop leadership and discipleship program for ongoing work expansion.
Apprenticeship of (young) people wanting to know God more intimately.
Kinds of meetings at various times
Age level groups – ( Sunday School, Training groups, after school
groups, Kids worship and prayer), men’s, couples, women’s, youth
groups, clubs
Care Groups – Home groups by geography? Sunday am or evening
Focus Groups – Ministry Groups
Focus on social issues, ethical issues, occupational
help groups (carpentry, mechanics, medical, interests, etc.).
Meetings include: Celebrative – multi group meetings, Corporate local
group meetings, Geographic – small group meetings, Age-level, and
Activity centered focus groups ( sports, ethics, occupational, clubs,
social action)
Aspects of the Ministries
Evangelism – Tools for proclaiming the gospel. Tapes, CD’s, written
material, Simulcast
Give away as much as possible for “free”. Online materials
Discipleship Training
Bible and ministry training for Adults
Ministry Skills training - sound, computer, web, counseling, creative
crafts, preaching, teaching, children’s ministry, music, recording
Gift discovery and use
Ministry Maturity – preaching, teaching, music, evangelism opportunities
Dealing with the past – Moving into the future
Clearing up past issues like Anger resolution,
abuse, dependencies,
Prayer Focus – Prayer online, Log of answers to prayer.
Stewardship and Finances – Sales resistance, bargain hunters
Organizing our lives for the greatest potential
Missions outside the community – world mission, cross-cultural missions
Annual Brainstorming Meetings (retreat for a day)
– setting goals and ministry opportunities (once per year but monthly
evaluations.)
Training seminars – 5 or 6 week blocks of commitment open to
other congregations and community.
Children’s Ministry
Singing – Bible truths
Bible Memory – reward system
Bible Lessons
Create stories that communicate what children did when they met certain
issues
Teach parents how to teach children.
Men’s ministry
- Monthly meetings
- twice annually special community service project
- Develop materials which can be shared on the following:
Men’s resources – tapes, CD’s, books, workbooks
Accountability partners
Overcoming strongholds,
Community service
Testimonies
Parenting, Fathering,
Loving your wife
Scheduling
Personal Quite times
Counseling – sessions on various issues
Praying for our families
Spiritual Gang warfare – prayer and fasting targets
Blessing our families – The Blessing
“Dates” with children – rites of passage
Values to inculcate
Guided and filled with Holy Spirit
Total dependence on God through prayer
Obedience to the Word of God
Community Accountability
Keep teachable spirit
Use spiritual gifts
Multi-cultural, open to all
Goals of the Fellowship
Debt free – rent or lease until able to purchase
Tent-making ministries for developing life skills in youth and building
community
Volunteer work – “Good works”
Look for opportunities to plant new churches within 3 years.(possibly
through care groups)
Encourage people to bring at least one person per year to the fellowship
Mentor and train leaders for outreach and new church plants
Prayer Ministry – Pray for world leaders, missionaries, new
opportunities and ministries in the community and around the world.
Growth Goals –
1. Attendance growth
Core – 30 people age 13+, 8 – 10 family units
End of first year – 60 – increase of 30
Average of 1 person per week ( some do not stay)
God added to the early church daily such as should be saved. ( not just
weekly)
End of second year – 110 – increase of 50
Third year – 180 – increase of 80
Fourth year – 240 – spawn new work – increase of 90
% of new believers < 2 yrs – 15%
% of not yet believers – 20%,
Conversion growth – 15%
Baptisms – 1st year 8, 2nd year. 18, 3rd year 30 (1/8TH of those that
join)
Regular Prayer and Fasting days
2. Financial Goals
1st year - $25000 5 families @ $5000 plus extra giving of
others.
2nd year - $120,000
3rd year - $250,000
Giving to ministries outside the fellowship – 25%+
Incorporation in the first year.
Charitable status in 6 months
Name of group –
Bible Fellowship - Mennonite Brethren
Library for local use:
Materials for Training in Mentoring, modeling,
Literature and Multimedia Materials for Spiritual Growth
Literature and Materials for Kids dealing with abuse, separation of
parents, purity, anger, self-esteem
General books – autobiography, children’s books, “entertainment books -
novels”
Video library, music
Encouragement with Cards
Website
Bible Study Materials
Market place – trade services and goods
Give aways – people wanting to get rid of stuff can advertise
Online sales on cost basis – Godly Music promotion, seminars etc
Counseling issues -
Messages – Sermons and Seminars
Links to godly sites
Audio teaching packets online
Local Groups- community based
Computer Programs -
Software Requirements
Contact lists
Member database, phone directories
Accounting
Office software forms
Card software for encouragement
Insurance inventory
Library
Calendar
PDA sync
Facility mapping, usage and booking