04-26-2008, 08:48 PM
A church is like a human body and must be healthy in order to grow. A Single Adult Ministry also is like a human body and must be healthy in order to grow. Here are 7 vital signs of a healthy ministry:
1. Decisive Direction
Are you a leader with faith and vision who is willing and able tomobilize others and motivate them to action?
Are you wiling to accept responsibility for the ministry;
an individual of faith and vision;
able to mobilize the gifts, talents, and resources of others; and
able to motivate people to active and effective involvement in the singles ministry.
2. Serving Singes
Do you have singles who are discovering, developing, and employing their spiritual gifts for ministry?
Ephesians 4:16 makes it clear that every Christian has something of value to contribute to the ministry of the group and to the spiritual growth of its members. Your SAM will grow and prosper only if individuals use their spiritual gifts in active ministry.
3. A Growing Group
Is your SAM big enough to provide the range of ministry and relationships necessary to meet the needs and expectations of its memnbers and newcomers? Many such ministries are just too small to grow and proper.
Part of the problem is psychological. People in our culture are more attracted to large groups because it communicates a feeling of success, particularly in a social setting.
A second part of the problem is sociological. Large groups provide a different dynamic of interpersonal interactions.
The third part of the problem is programmatic. Large single adults ministries find it easy to attract new people because they have more to offer.
If your SAM cannot survive on its own - especially if you are in a smaller church or community - you may choose to combine with other churches in your fchurch district.
4. Clear of Cluques
Does your organizational structure make effective use of groups and group dynamics.
The key is to have a group large enough to be a "group of groups," where a newcomer can find different clusters of relationships to belong to. This diffuses the negative impact of cliques in your ministry. Cliques can be devastating to a new person. If your SAM is one large clique, it is tough for new people to "belong" and therefore difficult for your ministry to grow in numbers.
5. Local Links
Does your SAM have strong identification and integration with the sponsoring local church?
As a leader, you must develop and communicate a positive attitude toward your sponsoring congregation. If you cannot support your churvch in good conscience, or if you really don't feel your ministry is a true reflection of that church, then maybe you are in the wrong place of leadership?
Help your people feel a part of the church. Encourage them to become members of the church. Support them in finding roles of ministry in the church.
6. Effective Evangelism
Are you experiencing evangelism that culminates with the integration of new Christians into active participation and relationships in your fellowship?
The first consideration is eveangelism itself. Is it happening in your group? Is there a v8ision for helping people on the most fundamental level? Are the gifted evangelists being mobilized, trained, deployed, and encourage?
The second consideration is assimilation. Are new Christians being incorporated into the group socially and spiritually? Are they being ministered to with patience and understanding? Is there infectious experience of conversion allowed expression among the "old timers"?
7. Renewal That Reaches Out
Do you have spiritual growth and renewal that culminates in ministry and service.?
Priorities of Christian life: 1. Commitment to Christ
2. Commitment to the Body of Christ
3. Commitment to the work of Christ in the world.
Your Single Adult Ministry must first facilitate the individual spiritual growth of its members and then lead them into ministry experiences that will mobilize them for service. It is no good trying to construct an aggressive missions program unless there is a strong element of love and commitment within your group. Similarly, it is useless to try to build strong small groups unless your people are being nutured in their individual relationships with Christ.
1. Decisive Direction
Are you a leader with faith and vision who is willing and able tomobilize others and motivate them to action?
Are you wiling to accept responsibility for the ministry;
an individual of faith and vision;
able to mobilize the gifts, talents, and resources of others; and
able to motivate people to active and effective involvement in the singles ministry.
2. Serving Singes
Do you have singles who are discovering, developing, and employing their spiritual gifts for ministry?
Ephesians 4:16 makes it clear that every Christian has something of value to contribute to the ministry of the group and to the spiritual growth of its members. Your SAM will grow and prosper only if individuals use their spiritual gifts in active ministry.
3. A Growing Group
Is your SAM big enough to provide the range of ministry and relationships necessary to meet the needs and expectations of its memnbers and newcomers? Many such ministries are just too small to grow and proper.
Part of the problem is psychological. People in our culture are more attracted to large groups because it communicates a feeling of success, particularly in a social setting.
A second part of the problem is sociological. Large groups provide a different dynamic of interpersonal interactions.
The third part of the problem is programmatic. Large single adults ministries find it easy to attract new people because they have more to offer.
If your SAM cannot survive on its own - especially if you are in a smaller church or community - you may choose to combine with other churches in your fchurch district.
4. Clear of Cluques
Does your organizational structure make effective use of groups and group dynamics.
The key is to have a group large enough to be a "group of groups," where a newcomer can find different clusters of relationships to belong to. This diffuses the negative impact of cliques in your ministry. Cliques can be devastating to a new person. If your SAM is one large clique, it is tough for new people to "belong" and therefore difficult for your ministry to grow in numbers.
5. Local Links
Does your SAM have strong identification and integration with the sponsoring local church?
As a leader, you must develop and communicate a positive attitude toward your sponsoring congregation. If you cannot support your churvch in good conscience, or if you really don't feel your ministry is a true reflection of that church, then maybe you are in the wrong place of leadership?
Help your people feel a part of the church. Encourage them to become members of the church. Support them in finding roles of ministry in the church.
6. Effective Evangelism
Are you experiencing evangelism that culminates with the integration of new Christians into active participation and relationships in your fellowship?
The first consideration is eveangelism itself. Is it happening in your group? Is there a v8ision for helping people on the most fundamental level? Are the gifted evangelists being mobilized, trained, deployed, and encourage?
The second consideration is assimilation. Are new Christians being incorporated into the group socially and spiritually? Are they being ministered to with patience and understanding? Is there infectious experience of conversion allowed expression among the "old timers"?
7. Renewal That Reaches Out
Do you have spiritual growth and renewal that culminates in ministry and service.?
Priorities of Christian life: 1. Commitment to Christ
2. Commitment to the Body of Christ
3. Commitment to the work of Christ in the world.
Your Single Adult Ministry must first facilitate the individual spiritual growth of its members and then lead them into ministry experiences that will mobilize them for service. It is no good trying to construct an aggressive missions program unless there is a strong element of love and commitment within your group. Similarly, it is useless to try to build strong small groups unless your people are being nutured in their individual relationships with Christ.