By Gail Marsh
Did you get what you wished for this Christmas? Retailers hope your wish list originated with their advertising campaigns. Online ads. TV and radio commercials. Mailed advertisements. They all fought for your attention, hoping to secure a top spot on your wish list. The biggest problem with a wish list is that it rarely reflects our true needs.
What’s on your wish list for ministry this New Year? Perhaps it’s better to ask what’s on your need list. What does your community of believers need most as they step into 2019?
Let’s start with that word community. Can you see the hidden word in community? It’s “unity.” Unity is important for any successful operation, but it’s critical for a church. How can you help inspire and develop greater unity? CTA has an answer. It comes in the new line of products and resources Created for Community.
The Created for Community planner’s pack has everything you need to get 2019 off to a great start! The materials have been specially designed to help you guide believers to see themselves as an integral part of the church, with a God-given purpose to love, encourage, and support one another and the community at large. Here are just a few ideas for using these community-focused materials:
- Introduce the idea of community to your group through the Ministry Message and keep the message going with the sermon outlines and matching PowerPoint slides. All of this is included in the planner’s pack!
- Use the devotion book as the basis for Sunday’s adult Bible study class.
- Give every worshiper a devotion book and host online discussions; the planner’s pack includes five weeks’ worth of questions to consider.
- Post the pre-written announcements in your weekly church bulletins, announcement slides, or Facebook page.
- Supplement new-member classes with selected Created for Community devotions and discussion questions.
- Give small-group leaders Created for Community magnets, bookmarks, or pens to reinforce this important theme.
- Give the devotion book to community friends and neighbors who use your church facility (A.A., M.O.P.S., food pantry, and the like).
You are welcome to copy this article for one-time use when you include this credit line and receive no monetary benefit from it: © 2019 CTA, Inc. Used with permission.
