-Homeless shelter ministry When I was young, the predominant homeless person was a drunken man or a broken down elderly widow. Social security has lifted many of the elderly out of poverty but we are seeing an increasing number of families. While welfare sustains many poor families, there is a great need for low cost housing that they can afford. As a result, we are seeing an increasing number of families while shelters for families fall far below the need, particularly in rural areas where families often bunk up with friends moving from house to house until they run out of friends. Some are homeless up to two years before seeking a shelter. Many are fearful of taking their children to the city where poor neighborhoods often contain violence and drugs. Single men and women are gravitating towards the city where most shelters for singles are but shelters are short-staffed and crowded. Churches can help shelters financially and with donations of food, clothes, and other needed items. Church members can also volunteer helping with food prep, childcare, parenting and Bible classes, and sorting donations.
Posts Tagged ‘church ministry’
Ninth Sunday of Pentecost Aug 3
Many churches started in the inner-city when the areas were more prosperous. As the areas deteriorated, many members moved out. The churches did nothing to reach the people living around the church. Eventually, the churches were made up mostly of non-resident members who came back to worship. The small remaining congregation was no longer able to support the big building which was too expensive to maintain. Eventually the churches decided to move to the suburbs where most of their members lived. Since the remaining members were often poor and elderly, they were not able to travel to the new church. Now some churches are seeking to reach the people in the inner-city but are finding it difficult because they have to rent facilities and they are often viewed as outsiders. The people are often geared toward survival and preaching alone will not attract the people here. The church must demonstrate God’s love through tangible ministry by meeting needs and showing they care. It must go beyond merely providing food and clothes to providing job training and teaching life skills.
Eighth Sunday of Pentecost -A- July 27
Dealing with issues-teens. Host discussion nights for teens to deal with social issues and help educate about them. Too often the church has been silent and many church members hold liberal ideas because that is all they hear. The church cannot convince the world that God’s way is better simply by claiming God said it, because those who don’t believe in God feel it is just your opinion and no better than that of anyone else. God created us and knows what is best for us but we must back our defense of Christian values with facts and demonstrate through our lives and the witness of the church that God’s ways are best. I have done a series of courses on social issues dealing with the values laid down in the Bible and how they differ from those who do not know the teaching of the Bible. It is good to have such sessions with adults also.
Seventh Sunday of Pentecost-July 19
Jails-Sunday Services, Bible Studies, and counseling are greatly needed in jails and prisons. Many in jails are short term and more minor offences while prisons are more long term and more serious offences. While ministering in jails and prisons is a very difficult ministry, it is very rewarding to see inmates turn to Christ. Many who have broken the law feel guilty and want to find forgiveness. They need to know that there is forgiveness and redemption through the shed blood of Christ. Others realize that what they did was wrong and want to mend their ways. They feel that they can’t change so why try. They need to know that we can become a new creature in Christ and there are people willing to help them. Often those let out of jail face problems they don’t know how to solve. Getting back home, reestablishing a residence, getting a job, etc. Many are afraid to face the unknown ahead and are encouraged that someone who understands the process is willing to walk with them through the process. Families of inmates also struggle and need encouragement. Often they face the loss of the
Sixth Sunday of Pentecost July 12
Nursing Homes Nursing homes have changed over the years. They used to be short term where people went to die. Now they are often short term for therapy and then residents return to their homes, though some may live there for up to ten years or more. Far fewer die in nursing homes these days. There is a great need for workers to minister to those in nursing homes. Many are away from family, friends, and familiar surroundings. Many are no longer able to take care of themselves or do many things they used to do, either temporarily or permanently. In addition, many of those there are facing death and need to deal with it. Like young people, they are facing a transition and are making decisions that will impact, not only the rest of their life (short as that may be), but where they will spend eternity. Many are open to hearing the hope of the Gospels. Many have lost loved ones who may be Christians but they themselves aren’t. Also, many have no family or friends nearby and have no visitors. They welcome those who come to visit. Many enjoy visits from children (though some don’t so be sure and check first) It’s a good way to teach children to minister to others and children often enjoy it as well. The government has recognized the bonding that children and the elderly develop and has begun pairing nursing homes with Day Care Centers for inter-generational programs.
Fifth Sunday of Pentecost-July 6
College Students-Students, brought up in the church, are often away from home for the first time when they leave for college. The decisions they make will affect the rest of their life. They are bombarded with secular teaching causing them to question what they believe and often do not get any support for their Christian beliefs. Without support from their parents, many drift away from church and their Christian beliefs. It is important for them to connect with a church near campus and a Christian organization on campus to support them in finding adequate answers to support their faith. Parents can research what organizations have branches on campus and what churches are nearby. In addition, parents can notify a church near campus and Christian organizations on campus that their child is on campus so they can attempt to contact their child. You can support Christian organizations on campus and churches that are near a college campus can provide Christian activities for students. Liberals are trying to prevent Christian organizations on many college campuses from using campus facilities and such organizations may soon have to turn to churches near campus for facilities to meet.
Fourth Sunday of Pentecost -June 28
Trailer park/apartment complex ministry-When I was first starting out, I was asked to help a Presbyterian Church that was dying. After I got the church back on its feet and it felt it could call a full time pastor, my wife and I bought a small trailer and moved into a nearby trailer park while we sought the Lord for direction. Several in the park knew I was a pastor and asked me to start a Bible study. We started visiting those who lived in the park and within three months, we had three small house churches started. Many residents have no friends or family nearby and are seeking fellowship but there is nothing for them. Families living in the park or complex can start small groups in their home by getting to know their neighbors and inviting them to join them. Children in such parks and complexes often have little to do and eagerly attend outside Bible Stories. However, residents and managers are often very suspicious of groups outside the park who come in and try to get residents to come to their church so it helps to have someone living in the complex. Such parks and complexes now often have community rooms available for residents to meet in when the group outgrows an apartment or trailer or when residents want to hold activities for children or families.
Third Sunday of Pentecost-B-June 22
Para-church organizations–Ministry beyond the church In the beginning, para-church organizations to minister to the community were supported by the churches which provided oversight as well as supplying funds and volunteers. As a result, many church members were able to get training and experience through the programs. However, many churches no longer support the parachurch organizations and the organizations get very little support from individual churches, so they are often forced to draw their support from the community at large. As a result, churches often see them as competitors for money rather than as avenues for ministry and church members are finding few avenues to serve and no training in how to serve. Many para-church organizations can provide volunteer opportunities for members to serve God and often provide needed training. (see “The Important I”-LULU Press) If you are interested in serving Christ beyond the local church check with the local Salvation Army or other church related ministries to see what volunteer opportunities are available in your area.
Third Sunday of Pentecost-A-June 22
Parachurch Ministries– Ministry beyond the church In the past, many members learned to minister to others as they ministered to other members and to those who came to the church for help. Today, church members are so scattered they rarely know each other well and few people come to the church seeking help anymore. As a result members get little experience in ministering to others and few church members have the experience to help. Many problems in small churches do not warrant separate programs to deal with them, however many problems formerly associated with the inner-city are moving to the suburbs as the poor move to the suburbs where rent is cheaper, housing is better, and there is less violence. Many suburban and rural areas do not know how to deal with the problems and many problems are too big for individual churches to handle. As a result, many churches today have withdrawn from ministry to those around them so many community needs are not being met. Parachurch organizations have grown up to help, such as Habitat For Humanity, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, etc. to carry on ministries and to meet the unmet needs in the community.
First Sunday of Pentecost-B-June 8
Organizing For Ministry–We often think that the church cares for its members and decades ago that was true in small churches but today, even small churches have problems ministering to their members. Previously, small churches usually drew from a small area and everyone knew each other outside church as well as in the church. In addition, many members were active in a lot of church activities. As a result, they felt free to call on each other in times of need. Now churches draw from a wide area and few know each other outside church. In addition, because of the distance, few members are active in church outside of Sunday morning. As a result, many do not feel they know other members enough to call on them in times of need. The church needs to group its people by area and provide activities in the small groups where members can socialize outside Sunday morning.