PROPOSED PROGRAMS FOR NEW GLORY FAITH MINISTRY

PORT HARCOURT BRANCH

Compiled by Joseph Asoh

PROPOSED PROGRAMS: NEW GLORY FAITH MINISTRY www.newgloryfaithministry.blogspot.com

CONTENT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. INTRODUCTION SPIRITUAL COMPASS SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTEGRATION YOUTH ALLIANCE MUSIC, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CHURCH WORKERS SUMMARY

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INTRODUCTION

Church programs and planning are very important aspect of Church Administration. The purpose of this manual is to provide a suggestive guide to activities that could be introduced and integrated into the existing activities of the church. In some instances existing ones modified to enhance effectiveness and to promote the overall success of the church. The premise of this manual is based on the fact that man is a tripartite being. Any form of education or development of man must address his needs at all three levels: Spirit, Soul and Body. Contrary to popular opinion, the church is not just meant to address the spiritual need of man. This unarguably has been the role of the church in the recent past. But as man faces a more complex society in which the role of morality has been attacked and continues to be attacked by government, media and the regular citadels of education. This calls for a redefinition of what total education for the man is. The church which is the ground and pillar of truth is the last hope for the world. The church should be the beacon of hope for a world plunged into gross darkness. (Isa. 60:1-3). For the church to take its stand firmly and fully, there has to be a more forceful and tactical approach in the dissemination of the Gospel. The message of the gospel remains the same but the method, pattern and style of presentation should change as the society changes so as not to lose its relevance and significance. You will agree with me that if all the churches were to stay rigid like the Orthodox churches (take a case example of the old Methodist and old Anglican churches) several persons in the faith today will be out in the world. We stand the risk of been stale in our style of worship if we do not upgrade to a more functional, more relevant and more compliant way of worship. The programs suggested here are a few of the kind of activities that will foster socio-spiritual progress in the church.

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SPIRITUAL COMPASS

The Spiritual Compass of any ministry that seeks to please God must be based on the Word of God which is The Bible. A correct interpretation and teaching of the Word of God will ensure a solid foundation of the church and of the members that make up the church. Every activity carried out in the church must have its origin from the Word of God. Culture and tradition should not be allowed to influence our Christian beliefs especially on issues the Scriptures clearly deal with. To set the Spiritual Compass of the church, programs and activities that are Wordcentred should be organized on a recurrent basis. Such meetings as the Bible Study, Faith Tonic, Prayer Vigils, Fasting & Prayer, etc are examples of activities that foster an accurate Spiritual Compass. Suggested Programs: 1. General Prayer Retreats - (Monthly) 2. Prayer Retreat for Workers - (Monthly) 2hrs of prayer before General Prayer Vigil 3. Workers Seminar/Retreat- (Quarterly)- Morning and afternoon session of trainings, discussions, plenary sessions, strategy sessions etc preferably to hold on Saturdays, once in three months. This will form the Strategy Session of the Church.

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

It is very important that members of the church live socially and economically successful lives. The prosperity of the church is directly tied to the prosperity of the various individuals that make up the church. Programs that will create a platform to empower the members will be a big step in the right direction towards improving the lives of the members socially and economically. Finance to a large extent determines our level socially and economically. Trainings and seminars that will help the members become financially independent will greatly improve the social, economic and financial status of the church and its members. Suggested Programs: 1. Mens Fellowship: Should be a holistic development and empowerment fellowship where married men are trained to be better members of the church, better fathers in their families, better workers in their places of work and better citizens of the country where they live. Special program should be organized on a quarterly basis for the men. Such programs may include a Business and Empowerment Seminar that will address very keys areas such as: a. Current Trends in Business b. New and Promising Areas of Business c. How To Succeed in your Current Business d. How To Get A Job e. How To Move To A Better Job f. How To Be Self-Employed g. How To Start Up A Business h. How To Plan and Prepare For Retirement i. How To Own Your Own House j. How To Raise A Godly Family k. How To Be A Better Husband l. How To Be A Better Father m. How To Useful In Gods House n. How To Be Financially independent Facilitators of these meetings may be drawn from within the church or professionals may be externally invited as the need is felt.

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YOUTH ALLIANCE

There is a growing trend of interdependency of young people on each other. This is further enhanced by the advent of communications technology like the GSM and the internet. Organizations that harness these possibilities are fast growing in sheer size, power, influence and impact. It will be a welcome development to brainstorm and introduce programs that will bring young people together more regularly. Such programs need not be overtly spiritual in presentation but should carry a covert message of the gospel. This is quite a sensitive aspect as the growth of the youth fellowship is the biggest potential growth factor of the church. Youths will eventually get married and start their own families. This is brings geometric increase to the church in numerical strength, financial muscle as well as in terms of manpower for the church. Suggested Programs: 1. Youth Choir 2. Quiz Competitions (in corporation with the Bible Drill Unit) 3. Dance Groups 4. Extra-moral Lessons for special subjects like Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry 5. Music Festivals 6. Youth Empowerment Forum: This may incorporate spiritual and social activities such as listed above and will also create a platform where issues facing youths will discussed a. How To Handle Peer Pressure b. How To Overcome Sexual Temptations c. How To Know The Will of God In Marriage d. What Is Christian Dating and Courtship? e. What To Wear And What Not To Wear? (Good Grooming) f. How To Discover Your God-given Talents, Gifts and Abilities g. How To Be A Good Student h. How To Be The Best Student In Your Class i. How To Sponsor Yourself In School j. How To Turn Your Youthfulness To Usefulness k. How To Choose A Suitable Handwork l. Why You Need A Vocational Skill m. How To Combine Working And Schooling At The Same Time
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n. How To Start Up A Small Business o. How To Prepare For A Successful Career p. How To Be Computer Literate q. Basic Computer Knowledge r. Intermediate Computer Skills s. Developing A Highly Sought-After IT Skill t. Developing Your Vocal Skill u. Put Your Songs Into A Music Album Facilitators for these topics could be drawn from within the church or as the Church leadership will deem fit.

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MUSIC, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS

Very closely related to the Youth Alliance are the Music Media and Entertainment Options. These play a very key role in the society of today. The society is and has always been driven on the wings of Arts, Culture and Music. Other spheres of society know the connection between people and arts, culture and music. The church appears to be left in the dark. People naturally gravitate towards comfort, ambience and quality. It is therefore necessary for us to upgrade in not just the quality of sounds people hear but in the choice of songs, singing and general music performed in church. Other aspects of this will include the use of modern audio-visual equipment such as the Digital Projector, Studio Quality Recorders, and Digital Video Camera etc. Suggested Programs: 1. Music Concert/Festival 2. Drama 3. Special Numbers (Usually soloists) 4. Choreography 5. Christian Film Show 6. Picnics 7. Love Feast 8. Provision of Messages on MP3s, CDs, DVDs etc 9. Social Media Network: The church could float a webpage on Facebook.com. This will create an online integration for all of the church members who are online. Through this forum, information of upcoming programs and activities can be broadcast and announced without any form of cost. 10. Web SMS: Web SMS can be used to achieve bulk messaging to as many members of the church as there are.

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OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

One key method that fosters growth in churches is by engaging in outreach programs. Programs such as Crusades, Picnics, Film Shows, Evangelism outings, Fliers and Tracts Distribution etc are known methods of publicity for the church and of the gospel. At least once in every quarter, the church should plan and prepare to stage Outreach meetings. Suggested Programs: 1. Crusades 2. Picnics 3. Film Show (use of projector) 4. Fliers and Tracts Distribution

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TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CHURCH WORKERS

As soldiers are to an army so are church workers to a church. Just as the success of any battle rest on the abilities, skills and expertise of the soldiers so also the success of any church is dependent of the abilities, skills and expertise of the church workers. No soldier is ever recruited and sent to war without training. However, it is a sad to observe that many church workers have ever received any form of church organized training especially as it pertains to the unit or department they work in church. Trainings that range from elementary, intermediate to professional activities should be organized for members of the church work force whether for full time or part time workers. This way, the church Administration will be able to create a uniform standard of operation. This does not attempt to stop individual creativity but to create a standardized pattern of carrying out roles and responsibilities in the church. Simple trainings should be organized for new workers. Older workers are trained to improve on their performance and functionality. Suggested Programs: 1. Workers in-training-program (Workers Entrance Program) To be conducted for every member joining the worker force of the church. (Every Sunday or as the need arises) 2. Workers Prayer Retreat (Quarterly) 3. Workers Empowerment Retreat (Bi-Annually) 4. Workers Love Feast (Bi-Annually)

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SUMMARY

Church administration, though closely related with other sectors of administration is very different in practice. This is because the church has both the physical dimension and the spiritual dimension. The spiritual component has more theological relevance than the physical component. However, it will take an accurate blend of the two components to effectively lead people. This Proposed Programs is an attempt to present a finely blended program outline for various church use. The views shared in this manual are drawn from the personal experience and observations gathered by the author over a period of fifteen years. Every view presented here and suggestions made are purely optional and should not be seen as mandatory or persuasive in any way.

PROPOSED PROGRAMS: NEW GLORY FAITH MINISTRY www.newgloryfaithministry.blogspot.com

This material is prepared by the Visionary of Transformation Heralds, Joseph C. Asoh. Transformation Heralds is an independent non-denominational inter-Christian literary group that is focused on Christian Issues such as Church Administration, Church Growth, Church Health, Contemporary Christianity, and Eschatology. Transformation Heralds has been the ministry arm of JCA WORLD since 1994. Transformation Heralds can be reached for bookings for seminars, trainings, workshops, conferences and Quizzes. #123 JCA Drive, Asokoro District, Abuja +234(80)54551750, +234(80)62369905, josefasoh@yahoo.com, josefasoh@hotmail.com www.jcaworld.blogspot.com

PROPOSED PROGRAMS: NEW GLORY FAITH MINISTRY www.newgloryfaithministry.blogspot.com