The Ministry of Encouragement

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The Ministry of Encouragement
Revitalize your Sunday School or Bible study
groups with three basic components! By Gary
Bearce
Version PPT9 1/7/2005
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The Ministry of Encouragement OverviewPlease
contact me if I can help!Gary Bearce - 1 800
444-5424The State Convention of Baptists in
IndianaGBearce_at_scbi.org

• Bible Study in 2005 and beyond must be a
  Ministry of Encouragement with three basic
  components!
• A prayer plan which necessitates follow-up.
• A class teamwork plan that links with the prayer
  effort.
• A Bible teaching improvement plan!

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Three Steps ToRevitalizing the Sunday School

• Take Revitalization Very Seriously!
• Many, perhaps most, Sunday School classes are not
  growing because the small group is not beginning
  every contact effort with prayer, the class is
  not effectively organized for teamwork and the
  teaching is, at best, inadequate.
• Take three steps and call them Encouragement
• C.A.R.E., launching each weeks ministry with
  prayer.
• T.E.A.M., organizing for Every Member Ministry
• E-6, keys to effective teaching

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Encouragement Through Sunday SchoolComponent One
C.A.R.E.
Launching ministry with prayer!

• Class Always Begins with Prayer
• but it never just end there!
• Make prayer foundational
• Launch each weeks outreach with prayer

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Encouragement
is organizing an Adult or Youth (Student)
Sunday School Class / small group for the
C.A.R.E. tasks of Teaching, Evangelism,
Assimilation (both fellowship and missions
efforts) and Ministry. Launch the effort every
week during class!
Concerns Absentees Relationships Evangelism
C
A
R
E
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Prayer Strategy

• The Ministry of Encouragement is launched at
  the beginning of every class session. Effective
  Prayer Time keeps every class Empowered,
  Organized and Focused on Evangelism, Ministry,
  and Fellowship!

24 / 7 ministry
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Pray for
Concerns

• Class Member Needs Concerns
• Health
• Marriage and Family
• Employment
• Any other pray time issues.
• Ministry Launch - Concerns within the membership
  or group begin with prayer, but do not end there!
• Action-oriented Prayer Warriors
• How can I pray for you today?
• Can I Pray with you today?

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Pray for
Absentees

• A challenging group to reach! They need
• Tender Loving C.A.R.E.
• Fellowship or Loving Relationships
• An encouraging Prayer Warrior.
• Ministry to absentees begins with prayer, but
  does not end there!

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Pray for
Relationships

• Special Relationships Include
• New Members
• Associate or In-Service Members
• Leadership sent out to Preschool, Childrens
  and Youth (Student)
• Encouragement to new members and co-laborers
  begins with prayer, but does not end there!

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Praying for Laborers!

• Luke 962 102
• The greatest thing that can ever be said about a
  great teacher is that he or she is multiplying
  leaders.
• Leadership multiplication begins by encouraging
  those who are now serving, but does not end there!

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Pray for
Evangelism

• The Prospect File is still essential!
• We must have a name and address.
• Visitation still works, but
• Also include other contacts and servant
  evangelism efforts.
• Outreach to the lost begins with prayer, but does
  not end there!

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During Class Time
C
Concerns Absentees Relationships Evangelism
A
R
E
Make At Least One Prayer Assignment From Each
of the Four Categories
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Class Room Tag - Post it in the class room for
accountability next Sunday morning!
The Assignment Card The prayer warrior who
accepts this assignment will take this portion!
A three part C.A.R.E. Card
A Post Card Write a note to Break the Ice and
build a relationship!
We can furnish these cards to SCBI churches.
Just call the 1 800 Number or print your own
using the sample.
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Four Suggested Contacts

• Multiple Contacts are essential to show real
  caring! Give your greatest resource, your
  interest in the person!
• Very few people will be able to make all four
  contacts all the time!
• One Requirement - Pray for the individual
  everyday and make every effort to care for and
  contact the individual.
• Accountability requires a report to the class,
  A.S.A.P.!
• Return the card with a written report on the back.

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Encouragement Through Sunday SchoolComponent Two
T.E.A.M.
Organize so that everyone can get involved!

• Class Always Begins with Prayer
• but it never just ends there!
• Build Teamwork
• Pray for Every Member Ministry

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Encouragement Ministry
Is
"Every Member Ministry" In Every Class
For members to remain actively involved in a team
effort, they must have a task they consider
significant to the kingdoms work!
Encouragement builds teamwork!
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Teacher, carefully enlist the other three
class leaders to form the basic team then
encourage each of them to enlist their
co-laborers!
Organizing the Class

• The Teacher (Bible study leader)
• The Evangelism Coordinator (FAITH leader)
• The Assimilation Coordinator (Fellowship and
  Missions Leader)
• The Ministry Coordinator (Prayer Leader)

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Even the smallest class can organize to Work
Together

• Every Member is a Minister
• Every Member Is Encouraged to Develop His or Her
  Gifts
• TeamWORK will work if the class will WORK it
  during class time!

Accomplishes
Together
Everyone
More
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Team Ministry

• The Teaching Team
• Ministering to New Members/Associates
• The Evangelism Team
• Reaching out to Prospects
• The Assimilation Team
• Encouraging Absentees
• The Ministry Team
• Caring for Class Members

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Four Teams
Encouragement - Each team making at least one
ministry assignment every Sunday morning during
class time.
Concerns Absentees Relationships Evangelism

• Teaching Team
• Evangelism Team
• Assimilation Team
• Ministry Team

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Whos OnThe Teaching Team

• Lead Teacher
• Co-Teacher
• Apprentice
• Discipleship Leader(s)
• In-Service Encouragers
• Preschool Teachers Encourager
• Childrens Teachers Encourager
• Youth Teachers Encourager
• In Youth (Student) classes this adult team
  champions the work of the other three teams made
  up of students.

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The task of a teaching team includes mentoring
teachers.

• Praying for a Preschool, Childrens, or Youth
  teacher during class and then contacting that
  leader ASAP encourages everyone!
• Praying for and with Preschool, Childrens, or
  Youth teachers encouragers adult class members to
  consider their role as a teacher!
• Praying for Discipleship Groups and their leaders
  encourages discipleship.
• These Closed or Short-Term Discipleship Groups
  are hosted or sponsored by adult classes and need
  the promotion and prayer support of an adult
  class.

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Whos On The Evangelism Team

• FAITH Evangelism Leader
• In most cases this leader will also be the
  Evangelism Team Leader
• Greeter Leader (see the next slide)
• Prospect Secretary
• Outreach Bible Study Leader
• At some point a class may consider a extension of
  the class meeting in a home to attract lost
  people.

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Anticipate The First TimerMake Greeting a
Priority
.so place a Greeter Leader on the class
Evangelism Team

• You will never get a second chance to make a
  great first impression!
• Promote a Bring-a-Friend Mentality
• Discover prospects!!!
• The Evangelism Teams role in promoting and
  leading visitation is essential but remember
• it is as important to give attention to what you
  do when they come, as what you do after they have
  come!

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Whos On The Assimilation Team

• Fellowship / Missions Leader
• Event Coordinators (Party or Activity
  Planners/Promoters)
• Class Secretary / Absentees Coordinator
• Missions Project Coordinators (Planners/Promoters)

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Every Student and Adult class needs a mission
action project!
It is all about assimilation!

• Build fellowship within the class by having
  first class parties and focus on absentees!
  Yes, invite the prospects too!
• .Build fellowship within the class by doing
  missions together!
• Build fellowship by keeping great records and
  knowing who needs encouragement so they do not
  drop out.

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Whos On The Ministry Team

• Class Prayer Leader
• Hospital / Bereavement Ministry Visitation
• Sunshine Chairman
• Sends Cards and Flowers
• Meals Team
• Enlists class members to provide meals during
  ministry needs.

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During Every Class Session
Begin the Session with a 8 to 15 minute prayer
time.

• Watch your time very carefully!
• Ask for brief accountability reports from all
  prayer assignments that have been out for one
  week or more.
• Remove room tags as needed, agreeing that some
  assignments will remain active.
• Make at least four new assignments each of the
  four teams will have a few moments to place a
  name before the class.
• Enlist the needed prayer warriors for the week.
• Post new room tags.
• Pray together for those who will be contacted
  this week.

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Encouragement Through Sunday SchoolComponent
Three, E-6
Improve the quality of the your Bible teaching

• Encouragement
• Equipped
• Empowered
• Enthusiastic
• Enlightening
• Equipping

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E-6 A commitment to make every Bible study
session a Ministry of Encouragement!

• Encouragement
• Equipped
• Empowered
• Enthusiastic
• Enlightening
• Equipping

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Thanks for Coming!