Compassion Ministries
What are Compassion Ministries? - Goals and Projects
We have three goals in Webster-Claiborne-Bienville Compassion
Ministries:
* Identify every church with an
existing compassion ministry.
* Mobilize every church to begin some type of compassion
ministry.
* Strengthen every existing compassion ministry.
All for the purpose of building bridges to the lost community,
sharing Christ and connect people to the local church. The
Scriptures remind us that Jesus gave us this example:
“Jesus went through all the towns and
villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of
the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the
crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his
disciples, 'the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask
the LORD of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his
harvest field.'” Matt. 9:35-38
Everywhere Jesus went He met needs that were physical and spiritual.
Sometimes the greatest opportunity to meet the spiritual need comes
after trust is developed meeting the physical need. Dr.
Jeffery Cook, Director of LBC Compassion Ministries defines it this
way, “Compassion Ministry seeks to meet the real and felt needs of
people so that the gospel can be delivered, spiritual change is
offered, and connection to the local church is realized.”
Creativity is the key! Have you heard the phrase, “think
outside the box?” Well compassion ministries are often
discovered that way. Look over the following list of compassion
ministries and you will discover just how creative some of our
churches have become:
- Celebrate Recover for Addiction Issues
- ESL/Literacy Ministries
- Foster Care/Adoption Ministries
- Prison Ministries
- Senior/Homebound Ministries
- Food/Feeding Programs
- Nursing Home Ministries
- Thrift Stores
- Homeless Ministries
- Transportation Ministries
- Adopt-a School/Tutoring Ministries
- Disaster Relief Ministries
- Medical Ministries Multi-housing
There are ministries within each of these listed above that have
different focuses, different emphases, and different
applications-too many to innumerate. For example, Nursing home
ministries may involve washing hair and trimming resident’s nails,
resident birthday parties, games and activities, visitation,
conducting Bible studies, providing a worship service, caring for
caregivers or ministry to the staff. Creativity is the key!
Our Associational churches have participated along with 6500
Louisiana Baptist in a Compassion Mobilization Project called
“Here For You.” Our churches got creative and
found ways to mobilize members in “outside the walls” ministry. Here
are just some of the projects we conducted:
- Free meal for Senior Adults
- Changed out Light Bulbs
- Changed Smoke Detector Batteries
- Fed First Responders/Police
- Cleaned yards
- Passed out water/Bibles/tracts
- Passed out water/cookies
- Minor houses/porch repairs
- Free Car wash
- Provided Food for Needy
- Cleaned up community
Will you make plans to mobilize your membership to connect to your community through compassion? Our goal would be to involve all our churches in some way.
Remember, creativity and simplicity allow for every age to be a part.
Compassion Harvest Ministry Training Strategies and Resources
Compassion Harvest Page - | - Track One - | - Track Two - | - What are Compassion Ministries? - Goals and Projects - |
Our Compassion Ministries were previously guided and developed
by: Scott Teutsch
Contact him at 318-393-6503 or joell143@att.net
or at - Live Life On Mission - www.livelifeonmission.com