Discipleship Filters
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
- Target – Consider how existing members, new members and prospects are motivated to participate.
- Goals & Purpose – Identify the spiritual development purpose.
- Measures & Success – Identify how quantitative and qualitative success is measured.
- Follow-Up – Design a follow-up or follow-on strategy to the ministry or event.
Discipleship Strategy Examples
III. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Provide for children’s spiritual growth utilizing Bible Fellowships, Children’s Worship, discipleship programs, Go Fish! outreach events, Vacation Bible School and summer camps.
- BIBLE FELLOWSHIPS – Provide for quantitative and qualitative growth in children’s Sunday School with new classes, teacher growth and development, and a consistent inreach and outreach plan.
- New Classes – Form 2 new classes for children at the 8:15 Bible Fellowship hour to facilitate growth across the full spectrum of ages at that hour (Fall 2010).
- New Teachers – Evaluate potential children’s Bible Fellowship teacher candidates once per month based upon ministry survey responses from The Discovery Class.
- Monthly E-Newsletter – Communicate with children’s teachers via a monthly e-newsletter to provide lesson updates, inreach tasks, outreach assignments, schedule information and other news.
- Inreach Plan – Develop an overall children’s inreach plan and lead each children’s Bible Fellowship teacher to make regular contacts with absentee members.
- Outreach Plan – Develop an overall children’s outreach plan and lead each children’s Bible Fellowship teacher to make home visits with prospects assigned to their class.
- CHILDREN’S WORSHIP – Enhance the Sunday morning children’s experience and build momentum among children with weekly Children’s Worship during the morning worship service.
- Worship Programming – Offer relevant worship for kids through puppets, media, music, Bible study, games and activities.
- Build Momentum – Maintain the high-energy program to retain kids and build excitement and a desire to keep coming back Sunday after Sunday.
- Worship Service Growth – Provide expansion room for adults in the morning worship service by offering Children’s Worship every Sunday for children.
- DISCIPLESHIP – Disciple children to increased spiritual maturity through Sunday evening AWANA (to encourage Scripture memory), Wednesday evening Mission Kids (to build missions awareness) and First Praise Children’s Choirs to solidify faith learning with music, movement and memory).
- Wednesday Mission Kids – Promote Wednesday Mission Kids as a key part of CFBC’s discipleship plan for kids. Highlight Royal Ambassadors as a Bible-based alternative to scouting.
- Royal Ambassadors – Highlight the outdoor aspects of Royal Ambassadors (RAs) with fall and spring campouts for fathers (and grandfathers) and sons (and grandsons).
- Leader Development – Recruit and train 5+ new male leaders for Royal Ambassadors.
- OUTREACH EVENTS – Lead each teacher and class to implement a regular inreach plan.
- Go Fish! – Plan three Friday Go Fish! outreach events that feature special recreational and entertainment crowd-gathering activities. Set the goal of 75 children per event (April, August and October).
- Sunday Outreach – Plan two Sunday morning events tied to Sunday School high attendance days. Set the goal of 150 children per event (February and September).
- Outreach Incentives – Offer rewards and incentives to each regular member kid who brings a friend with them to the outreach event.
- VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS) – Conduct Vacation Bible School as a major outreach (sowing and reaping) event for church and community children (June).
- Promotion – Promote VBS with newspaper ads, targeted mailers to church prospect lists and 50+ church member yard signs.
- YMCA Camp – Promote VBS for all children participating in YMCA summer camp at the church’s facilities.
- Family Night Invitations – Invite parents to attend VBS Family Night with their children.
- Family Night Programming – Plan a high-energy VBS Family Night program to capture and hold the interest of parents and their children. Involve VBS kids in various facets of the program to maintain their interest and ensure their attendance.
- Sharing & Follow Up – Present the gospel on VBS Family Night with a short verbal presentation and follow up all decisions made with a personal contact within one week.
- SUMMER CAMPS – Offer summer camps for children of all ages, including Camp Big Enough for 1st and 2nd graders, First Kids Camp for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, and a Preview Weekend for incoming 6th graders (Summer 2010).