Now that we’ve completed our study of the “One Anothers” we are ready to turn the corner into some hard core logistics! (Yes, I’m partly a geek.)
We will spend a few weeks mapping out these teams on paper, then in our pre-launch meetings in Jan and Feb we will be implementing and tweaking these teams on site. Tim Keller said that a good pre-launch goal for church planting is ‘progress, not perfection.’ I agree…for we will always be adjusting and readjusting!
That being said – what Ministry Teams do we need to establish now to be ready for launch? The Highlands Team came up with these:
- Welcome Team. This is the team that is in place to greet and welcome people as they come into the service. Let’s face it, trying a church…especially if you haven’t been actively involved in a church in a while, is uncomfortable at best, and terrifying at worst. People should feel like there are others that are glad they chose to come to worship God at HBC.
- Set/Up Tear Down Team. The inescapable reality is that holding church services in a school gym is going to be a ton of work. These folks will arrive early on Sunday morning and set up chairs, the stage, audio and video equipment.
- Tech Team. These folks run the audio and video gear during the service. High profile, top secret cool stuff. We need brave souls who are willing to learn! Training will be provided. (Lots of crossover with the Set Up/Tear Down team here!)
- Children’s Team. Another inescapable fact of church planting is that families (hopefully) will be coming. We want to provide a ministry where little ones can be safe, have fun, and learn something about God. Oh…and Moms could use a little break too for them to learn something about God. There will be a fair amount of set up here too as we need to transform classrooms into kid zones, and provide a secure check in area as well.
- Facilities Team. These peeps will help folks find easy parking, put up signs so that people can find us, and be all around utility players!
- Small Groups Team. The church is not a building, it is made up of people who worship God gathered together in one place and then live that out in community. We are planning on having several Small Groups spread out around the area (ex. Highland Lakes, Sussex, Wantage, etc) and more as we have need. We will need small group leaders and host homes to make this happen!
- Promotion Team. We’ve got to get the word out! We’ll need friendly, Type A folks to keep updating social media streams (Facebook, Twitter), keep the website current, talk to the paparazzi (or maybe the local AIM newspaper), and help with announcements.
- Coffee Team. Hands down the most important team. Ever. These folks are the top dogs. We will need friendly folks, who know how to brew a mean cup of java. Nothing worse that drinking bad church coffee.
So..with that being said – where will you serve? It’s not “if” you are called to serve, but on what team are you called to serve. Its been said that in your typical church 20% of the people do 80% of the work. In a church plant start up, 80% of the people do 100% of the work.
But work isn’t on our own power, it’s God who we must depend on for the strength and spirit to do the work, and for Him to use our efforts for his glory. So, we pray, LOTS. Here are somethings you can be praying for:
- For God to supply team leaders and volunteers for all of the above.
- For Godly wisdom as we determine what is needed and how to go about doing it!
- For more people to commit to the Highlands Team (Praise God we continue to see steady growth!)
- For a Worship Pastor to be called. [CLICK HERE FOR JOB DESCRIPTION and DETAILS]
- For funds to continue to come in.
- Most importantly – for God to establish His church in Vernon for His glory!
What a privilege it is to be part of the church – God has entrusted the gospel to us, He alone is the one who does the spiritual work of opening eyes, hearts and minds – I close with a reminder from Isaiah:
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16 ESV)
