Key themes we utilize as we pray through our missions strategies:

 

• Is Christ’s redeeming love and message at the heart of any ministry partner we work with?

• Are we creating lasting relationships through our service efforts?

• Are we identifying the needs blindly or are those we serve identifying the needs that can move the needle in their own context?  Example:  If we serve a local school are we coming up with an effort on our own or are we creating relationships with school leaders to identify needs we may not be aware of? 

• Are we participating in unhealthy giving?  Our staff is reading through a book we recommend called “When Helping Hurts” that has made us aware of the unintended consequences of some missions giving both locally and globally.

• Are we going deep?  In learning from other churches we’ve learned that the biggest tendency of churches in their outreach efforts is to do many small things and risk becoming “a mile wide and an inch deep” and the many advantages of being “an inch wide but a mile deep” in our efforts.  This is a phrase you will hear Pastor Matt say often.  

• Are we inviting our next generation into the story?  Today’s teenagers and college students along with today’s 20 and 30 somethings are drawn to “purpose” beyond anything else.  Letting them know they are an important part of His story through serving others is vitally important to drawing next generation leaders into Adoration Church.  Next generation leaders are more drawn to and aware of global realities than any generation before them.  We desire to keep those callings alive and to never forget the eternal purposes in our physical humanitarian efforts.

• Are we unified and creating a shared story for our families?  At the dinner table are our children, teens and parents all able to discuss how they each are serving through their church together both locally and globally?

• Do we and those we work with have a long term strategy?

• Are we learning from others in the Body of Christ?  Are we trying to come up with ministry ideas and strategies on our own or are we constantly learning from others in the body of Christ?  

• Are we communicating where we’re headed?  Though some portions of our outreach efforts will be part of our regular announcements we also seek to bring service strategies, updates and prayers through our sermons, Sunday school, website, social media and other creative outlets.  

• With limited resources are we utilizing our ability to leverage personal service in other ways?  Though we always want to be an example of financial generosity we see our initial very limited resources as an opportunity to set a precedence in serving others.  We may not have a lot of money but we have people with huge hearts and the ability to give a few hours of strategic service opportunities throughout the year.  

• Are we spending more time 'meeting' than 'serving'?  Another lesson we've learned from other churches is that the actual time just spent in meetings by the average missions committee can end up being much longer than their actual time spent outside their walls serving others.  If we perform due dilligence properly, are focused in just a few areas, and have strong team leaders in each area of focus we can spend more time serving and less time in meetings with communication on action items performed by team leaders.  Once we have a plan and focus we hope to move to bimonthly or quarterly meetings allowing more time for serving.