Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

132 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

5. Distinctive and Unique Burden-Driven, Gift-Oriented Ministries of the Church

a. Clear mission and vision of the church’s purpose and goals to mature and grow in number as God leads

b. Reproducing new assemblies built into the DNA of our church (i.e., to fund and support other efforts of church planting around our city and beyond) c. Open doorways for members to explore ministry opportunities that coincide with the body’s vision to mobilize its members to minister in their community.

d. Ongoing equipping of the body members by the pastoral staff to enable members to do the work of the ministry

e. Regular programming for worship, teaching, fellowship, and mission funded and directed by the church’s personnel and members

6. Generating Non-Missionary Ministry Resources and Operating Income

a. Deep conviction within the congregation that they will look to God alone as the source of supply to implement their vision

b. Development of a plan to make the congregation financially free and independent of outside missionary support

c. Clear guidelines under which support and aid can be given to the body

d. Identifying independent sources for ongoing access to cash resources that would help support the effort

7. Acquisition and Stewardship of the Church’s Equipment, Resources, and Facilities

a. Functional, user-friendly structures created to administer the church’s business and stewardship

b. Careful, ongoing inventory of the church’s resources