Every church wants to be known as a church that cares. And most congregations realize the key to effectiveness is having lay people respond to a wide variety of members' needs. But how? Which structures work best? 1. Friendship Strategy: When Nancy and her family moved to our town, her husband, John, wasn't a Christian. His first involvement with our church was playing on our softball team. He made several friends, and six months later, when he was injured in an auto accident, the first people to visit the hospital were his softball teammates. Any program that develops relationships increases the availability of care. 2. Shepherding Strategy: The congregation is divided into care groups (often on a geographical basis), with each group assigned to one official representative of the church, usually a deacon or deaconess. The representatives contact the people on their care lists to inquire about needs and to offer help. 3. Counseling Strategy: A counselor may be lay or professional, but the care provider has a well-defined role. The agenda for the relationship is therapeutic. Care is provided at scheduled times, and people needing care take the initiative to make an appointment. Counseling has a place in any comprehensive care plan. 4. Body Life Strategy: Unlike other strategies, which provide care in private, this one offers care in public, community settings. Some churches regularly set aside a worship service (or portion of the service) for sharing needs. People may come forward to receive personal ministry; others lay on hands and pray. 5. Support Group Strategy: Alcoholics, victims of sexual abuse, people with fragile sexual identities, people with cancer, people with physical disabilities—the list of people who could respond to support group ministry is long. Because care is offered by people who share their struggle, many see support groups as safe places to receive care. 6. Team Strategy: A team responds to a specific need. One team takes care of shut-ins. Another responds to families experiencing medical crises. Other teams focus on new members, people at risk of leaving the church, and other recognizable pools of people. To Discuss
   What We ValueDoes your congregation know what your church values?  Take Your Career from Drag to JoyMoving beyond mundane. Six Types of Small Groups to Help Churches An excerpt from Leadership Handbook of Outreach and Care. My Church's Inferiority Complex How one congregation traded the "poor little us" mindset for new confidence.
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