Notes

Outline

"Seminar by Randy Nabors" Seminar by Randy Nabors Pastor, New City Fellowship Coordinator, Urban and Mercy Network for Mission to North America 2424 E. Third St, Chattanooga, TN 37409  (423) 629-1421

Mobilizing Your Church Into Effective Mercy Ministry This will require wisdom

Wisdom in Mercy Requires… The Development of… PRINCIPLES METHODS AND SKILLS

PRINCIPLES A. What mercy is 1. An attribute of God.  2. Heart of the Gospel 3. Action with attitude   4. Proof of love   5. How the church           responds Mercy is... Not simply a feeling Not simply an action Not earned, in essence… It is a Gift!

What Mercy Does And what it Needs to be Effective 1. Glorifies God                2. Seeks faith            3. Responds to circumstances 4. Needs direction           5. Leads to self-help         6. Needs analysis of scope, intensity,             and depth.

R A W  MERCY       R = Readiness.   Prepared to take action A= Attitude.  Willing and eager to act. W= Wisdom.  Knowing how to act. Suggest: The filling of  the Holy Spirit.

Principles, continued B.  Priority of Old and New Testaments 1. Household of Faith 2. Widows, Orphans, and strangers C. Love the one in your path But there are problems:    1. Inconvenience       2. Race and culture     3. Fear      4. Overwhelming circumstances.

Some thoughts on poverty WHY  WE  NEED  MERCY God’s sovereignty Acts of Providence Acts of injustice Acts of wickedness Hunger can help The poor are not happy. Some is temporary Some is generational We don’t all start at the same place Values need to change Law, government, society, the Church, and individuals all have a part to play.

PRINCIPLES CONTINUED D. Do good to all men E. Prioritize F. Help the wicked G. Program H. The Church as an   institution…* Preaches motivates, identifies, and trains uses widows uses the family connects solutions believes

THE CHURCH AS AN INSTUTION PROVIDES A UNIQUE STRUCTURE FOR MERCY: THE OFFICE OF DEACON! It is the duty of the deacons to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress.  It is their duty to develop the grace of liberality in the members…, To devise effective methods of collecting the gifts of the people, and to distribute these gifts… Book of Church Order, 9-2

*What does the Pastor do? Doesn’t neglect the “weightier” matters of the law.  Justice and Mercy: Learns how to love mercy and act justly. Preaches mercy and justice as life-styles. Learns how to train Deacons Leads the congregation by articulating a vision of mercy ministry. Teaches mercy with grace, as grace.

Principles, H. response 2.  The Church’s members (Individuals)… a. see the need b. act and represent c. pursue creative strategies d. refers to church organization.

II. Methods of Mercy A. Every Christian is an agent of Mercy B. Use immediate charity for incidents or events of need,

C. Systemic Problems... REQUIRE SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS. 1. System to analyze 2. Program 3. Create Structure: a. Deacons b. Sub-committees c. Groups/categories d. Staffing e. CCDO f. Deacon Banks,     Presbytery Mercy   Committee.

*Analysis of Need Survey of congregational needs. Survey of community. Demographics of community Data bank of … 1.Church widows 2.community widows Data bank of… 3.Single parents 4.Fatherless children Access survey for disabled. Questionnaire Info line

Types of Programs AIDS Ministry Sick and Shut in Visitation Tutoring Elderly and Shut in Bible Studies Girls of Excellence Mentoring/rites of passage Single Parents Organization Auto clinic for Single Parent Moms Mothers Day Out Widows Prayer Group and fellowship. Parish Nurse/Health Education&Prevention

Infrastructure

Building a Web of Mercy

D. Systems Need Policy 1. Protect the family 2. Protect the church 3. Steward 4. Don’t help sin 5. Set Standard Operating Procedure* 6. Capitalize-seek development not dependency. 7. Don’t stigmatize. Guard the dignity of folk.

Ultimate Objectives We want to move people beyond the need for mercy We seek development of individuals and families. Capitalize people so they can be self-sufficient.

*Questions for setting policy Who has priority in receiving help? What kind of help will you give? What kind of help will you not give? What is the limit of your help? What structure will you use for members? What structure will you use for strangers? Who makes decisions on exceptions? When do you call in the Elders?

III. SKILLS A. Use the Gifts 1. Mercy 2. Administration 3. Leadership 4. Encouragement 5. Helps 6. Discernment

B. People Skills 1. Be Cheerful 2. TQM 3. Empathetic listening 4. Pray for them 5. Teach and witness 6. Show humility 7. Long suffering

Skills, continued D. Use problems to create opportunities                           E. Praise and reward workers F. Do a few things well, stress success. G. Professionalize to mobilize, not replace.

C. Administration 1. Interview 2. Know resources 3. Add data 4. Delegate 5. Protect members 6. Prepare 7. Refer 8. Think systems

PREPARE TO SHARE Prepare Polices Prepare People Prepare Resources

Resources to Help You Keller, Tim,  Ministries of Mercy, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1989 (Now in Second Edition). Sherman, Amy L., Restorers of Hope, Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books, 1997 Christian Community Development Association,                     (773) 762-0994 3827 W. Ogden Ave.        www.ccda.org   Chicago, Illinois   60623

More Resources Joni and Friends P.O. Box 3333 Agoura Hills, California 91376 (818) 707-5664 www.joniandfriends.org

More Resources Perkins, John    With Justice for All. Ventura, California. : Regal 1982 Deacon Manuals and Polices Redeemer Presbyterian Church 271 Madison Ave. Suite 1600 New York, NY 10016      212-808-4460

APPENDIX A:  DEACON POLICIES FOR NEW CITY FELLOWSHIP Priority of Assistance Principles in giving assistance. (See notes for details) Standard Operating Procedure Adoption Grant policy

Appendix A: continued, Principles in Giving Assistance. 1.  It is legitimate to ask questions to determine the reality and depth of the need. 2.  It is OK to help some cases before they ask. 3.  It is right to give counseling when needed. 4.  It is proper to refer to the Elders in case of sinful conduct by members. 5.  Sometimes you have to say, “no.”

Appendix A, continued Principles in giving assistance, 6. Determine assistance limits for all cases. 7. Stay in your budget, ask for more if needed. 8. Assign cases to specific Deacons and teams (Teams add resources of skills, knowledge, and prayer support). 9.  It is better to say “no” quickly than to leave people waiting to no purpose.

Appendix A, continued Standard Operating Policies Food Distribution Shelter Meals for members No loans Anonymous gifts Tuition assistance? No phone bills Work required? Voucher policies No cash

Appendix A, continued Standard Operating Procedure, continued Deacons empowered to a certain limit. Con artists Confidentiality Record Keeping Security

Appendix A, continued Adoption Grant Policies Presbytery has a matching grant program. Local churches help their own members. Presbytery matches what a church gives. Grants of $500 per child.  $500 from a church gets $500 from the Presbytery. Special needs adoptions are stressed, but exceptions are allowed.

Appendix B:  Description of Hope For Chattanooga. A 501© 3 organization Christian Community Development organization. Community focused Economic development Church approves Board members. Programs: 1. Tutoring/children 2. Jobs Partnership 3. Lawn Care company. 4. Housing program. 5. Summer teams. 6. Interns. 7. Medical program.

Share Your Resources 1.  Consider equality with other churches. 2.  Consider starting from where you are. 3.  Consider your own community. 4.  Consider learning from others. 5.  Consider sharing with others. 6.  Consider networking.

Credits and Thanks I would like to thank my mom, and all the little people (oh, this isn’t the Oscars)… Thanks really to Westminster Seminary for some structure to my studying, to Calvary Gospel Church and New City Fellowship, to Mission to North America-Urban & Mercy Network, and those who practice mercy who keep teaching me.  Thanks for your interest.  Glory to God!