"Where do we start?" Questions to help you navigate the ministry journey

"Where do we start?" Questions to help you navigate the ministry journey

Your church wants to become more active in reaching your community with Good News and good works ... where do you start?

Churches do not all follow the same path to holistic ministry. Each church will start in a different place and have different resource needs. Here are a set of questions that can help you diagnose your congregation's needs and plan the next steps in your church's ministry journey. (For the bigger picture of the process of becoming a mission-focused congregation, see Getting There from Here.)

The questions are grouped under three stages of ministry development: preparing for the journey, mapping out the journey, and embarking on the vision. Click on a ministry development step to find out more about how it may be helpful to your church by following the link to "Why is this step important?" Explore the tool links to connect with worksheets that relate to each step. Then decide which recommended ministry development activities and tools best suit your current situation.

Preparing for the journey:
Follow these links if your congregation is inward-focused or one-sided, with little or no experience with holistic ministry.
How can we learn about holistic ministry? Help the congregation understand its calling to mission
How do we prepare our church for the ministry journey? Lay a healthy foundation for outreach
How do we strengthen our commitment to outreach? Become a mission-focused church and build bridges to the community
How do we develop ministry leadership? Cultivate a supportive team of visionary, transformational leaders

Mapping out the Journey:
Follow these links if your church is willing to consider outreach, but lacks a clear sense of its purpose, potential, and context for mission.
Where are we in our missional journey? Assess the ministry activities of your congregation
What is our unique potential for ministry? Examine your church's ministry identity and opportunities
What is our ministry context? Study your community context and build connections through networking
Where is God calling us? Discern a specific ministry vision for your church

Embarking on the Vision:
Follow these links if your congregation has a vision for outreach mission, but does not know how to make it happen.
Who can partner with us on the journey? Connect with ministry models, mentors and partners
How do we move from ideas to action? Equip, energize, and mobilize the congregation for outreach
What is our plan for church transformation? Develop a strategic plan and organize for ministry
How do we overcome obstacles to mission? Constructively confront inertia, fears and conflict

Alongside each of these steps, it is essential to pursue spiritual power for the journey to renew your love for God and neighbor, to sustain your motivation, and to ensure that your work and witness bear lasting fruit.