Search: Ronald J. Sider, Organizational Development

PREPARING THE CHURCH TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS

Once word spread about Jesus’ miracles, he couldn’t go anywhere without being
approached by crowds of sick, lame, and demon-possessed people. Once word gets out that your church helps people in need, don’t be surprised when many people in need (including some from your own congregation) start calling on you for help. Unless your church has a system to handle requests for emergency assistance, you may quickly become overwhelmed and tempted to close your doors. Your church should have a plan in place for responding to people in crisis, before they throw you into a crisis. There are no hard and fast rules, but here are some guidelines, which are outlined in the attached document.

ORGANIZING FOR HOLISTIC MINISTRY

Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Organization

How healthy are your church’s organizational systems? There are three warning
signs that indicate a need to renovate your church’s structure.

CULTIVATE THE THEOLOGY OF HOLISTIC MINISTRY

Philippians 2:2 instructs us, “Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in
full accord.” Church leaders have to help the congregation become of one mind regarding
the theological foundations for holistic ministry.

BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

Overcoming the barriers to holistic ministry requires an intentional effort both to
welcome the community into the church, and to bring the church out into the community.
Here we give seven suggestions for cultivating an outreach-minded congregation.

1. Welcome whoever walks through your door.
A good place to start in cultivating the congregation’s commitment to reach out to
the community is by loving the people in the community who come to you. “We need a
theology of welcome to tear down the fences that have come to separate ‘church’ and
‘mission,’” asserts Kathryn Mowry.

OUTREACH AND IN-REACH