MINISTRY DESIGN:
BUFFET OR FUNNEL?

We live in a day of options.  And let's be honest...options can be great!

But in a ministry setting, it can also be very confusing.

It can be hard to tell what's important.

No one has time for everything.

So...what matters most?

Our approach?

Declutter

and

simplify.

Welcome to simple church.

Our goal in ministry design and emphasis is to prioritize what matters most in order to focus our ministry and optimize for effectiveness. With that in mind, we have organized for three simple modes of engagement, in the following order...

Essentials.
The "Big 3"

First things first. This is ground zero. The core. The axis upon which all our other adult ministries turn.

Besides attending the Sunday worship service, there are three key things we want to see each person engaged in. You can think of them as the essentials. They are...
  • Sunday School
  • Personal discipleship
  • Serving regularly in the church

Sunday School 

Hebrews 5:13–14  |  "...everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Nearly every Sunday, we provide interactive age-appropriate classes for everyone on a wide range of topics related to biblical living and bearing spiritual fruit.

Personal Discipleship

Matthew 28:19–20a   |  "Go...and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Colossians 1:28 | "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

We seek to equip and position all who are willing to be discipled and to make a disciple. Most of our discipleship groups meet weekly.

Serving in the Church

Romans 12:6  |  "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."
Ephesians 4:16 |  "...the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

We endeavor to orient every committed believer toward avenues of ministry within where they can best serve and bless the church family. 
We believe that when someone is active and faithful in these, they will be growing well in their walk with God, their relationships with others, and contributing to the health of the church body in the ways Jesus expects.

Breakouts.

Then come the Breakouts.

For those who are already fully engaged in the Essentials and are looking for more, we have additional outlets and inputs for growth, connection, and ministry. They include...
  • Small Groups of various kinds
  • Men's & Women's Retreats
  • Social Meetups
  • Special Events throughout the year

Special Events

We enjoy many opportunities throughout the year to fellowship and get to know one another better, including potlucks, game nights, cookouts, and both outdoor and offsite services. Follow our church calendar for notifications and more details.

Small Groups

We have home groups you can join as well as a weekly ladies Bible study group which runs fall through spring. Please note...these are not the same as personal discipleship (one of the Big 3) nor are they a substitute.

Dinners for Six

Retreats

Dinners for Six is a concept which combines fellowship and connection with food. Through this unique ministry, we facilitate a chance for six people to gather together once a month over a three-month period over food, fun, and conversation. We set the group, you plan the rest!
Go along with a group to a men's or women's retreat at one our area Christian camps. In addition to that, every year we put on our own fall men's retreat just outside of Hamilton. Follow our church calendar for notifications and details.

Advance.

One of the chief objectives of a healthy church is to meet the current and future needs of the church by reproducing biblical leaders. With that in mind, we don't wait until needs arise. We want to evaluate, anticipate, and prepare.

We look for everyone pushing into the Advance level of engagement to be already active in the Big 3, as well as participating in some of our Breakout activities. The purpose for Big 3 involvement is obvious: obedience and faithfulness in the basics. That one is easy. But why Breakouts?
 
The expectation for some sort of Breakout involvement is that being a godly leader requires sincere, voluntary, and regular interest, availability, and investment in personal relationships. Simply put...we want to make sure we are training leaders who have time and concern for people. Life is ministry and ministry is people.

Through our Advance level framework, we offer three avenues for cultivation in role-based spiritual leadership. They are...
  • The Forum is a gathering of current and future leaders, held quarterly
  • Leader Dev Modules throughout the year
  • 222  is for future teachers, preachers, chaplains, and pastors

The Forum

We gather throughout the year to learn methods and principles of spiritual leadership and to invest in each other. The Forum is open to anyone engaged in (or interested in) discipling someone, leading a ministry, or teaching.
2024 Dates Coming Soon

Leader Development Modules

Periodically and as needed, we offer multi-session courses on various topics or skill sets related to spiritual leadership. If this interests you, register below to receive notifications.

222

In 2 Timothy 2:2, the Apostle Paul wrote, "What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." Based upon that directive,  222 is a group designed for the development of future teachers, preachers, chaplains, and pastors, and others pursuing vocational ministry.
Launch planned for 2024
Equipping the saints for the work of ministry and building up the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12

Have questions?

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