NCD: Gift-Based Ministries
Ministry in growing and dynamic churches is not based on a cookie-cutter approach that attempts to offer the same ministries as all of the other churches. Rather, it is ministry that is oriented on people in the congregation understanding their gifts and using them to serve Christ. Some questions to ask about gift-oriented ministry are:
- How well do the people in your congregation understand their gifts for ministry?
- How are people hearing and following God's call for their ministries?
- What systems are in place to teach and coach people in using their gifts?
- What new ministries should begin and which existing ministries should be discontinued in order to match people with their gifts and calling?
- How do people understand their ministry to be a part of the life-changing, world-altering mission of God's love in Jesus Christ?
Some helpful resources on spiritual gifts and ministry include:
- Discover Your Spiritual Gifts by C. Peter Wagner
- Equipped for Every Good Work: Building a Gifts-Based Church by Dan Dick & Barbara Miller
- SpiritGifts by Patricia Brown
- Online spiritual gifts assessment at www.umc.org
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congregational development office 978-682-8055 ext 210 rickm@neumc.org
congregational development office 978-682-8055 ext 210 rickm@neumc.org