Growing Our Mission Outreach Ministry

Have you or your church been thinking about starting a new or revamping an existing mission outreach ministry lately but do not know where or how to get started?

Try jotting down the answer to the following “Things to Ponder” list of questions and you will be on your way to putting together a

preliminary plan.

Additionally, check out the Mission Outreach Handbook (by clicking on the link below) and go to Appendix 1A on pages 17-23 for some handy planning sheets; consult also pages 5-7 for an outline to a planning retreat. This is the link to the PDF file containing the entire 40 page handbook …

Mission Outreach Handbook

Things to Ponder (as a mission outreach group)

• Who are we?
• What are we about?
• Why do we do missions?
• How long we been around?
• What have we done in the last three (3) years?
• What have we learned in those same three (3) years?
• What does Jesus want us to do in the next three (3) years?
• Has He given us a dream/ a project to start or grow the outreach ministry?
• What have we done to respond to that calling? What will we do now?
• How many materially or spiritually needy people have we helped last year?
• What is the need in our community?
• How many more folk can we help?
• What kind of resources does it take to carry on our Mission Outreach ministry today?
  

In terms of funds, Staff, Volunteers, Time, Talents, Effort, Prayer Support?

• How have we financed our ministry in the past? How has God responded to our needs?
• How much more resources will be needed? How much more time, effort, new talents and prayer support will be required next year? In the next three (3) years?
• Do we know our church people and their gifts and graces? The needs of the population-and individuals- we can serve? Do they match?
• How will we recruit the team of volunteers, find the talents and finance the vision next year? In the next three (3) years?
• What does our church, our volunteer team, prayer supporters and the folk we serve want (expect) from us?
• Most importantly, what does God want us to do?
  

Who … What … Is needed to achieve the goals of our mission outreach ministry?

When and … How will these worthy goals be achieved?

Got Plan?

If you would like for me to come to your cluster meeting or to a district training and do a planning retreat for your group or if you want a hard copy of the Mission Outreach Handbook e-mail me your mailing address to jorge@mississippi-umc.org or just call me 1-866-647-7486 Ext. 20