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4 Creative and Strategic Ministry Ideas
By Christine Bove
With the start of a New Year, it's the perfect time to think about innovative and creative approaches to ministry. If 2020 proved anything to us, it's that we need to create fresh strategies for reaching people for Christ, delving deeper into innovative discipleship programs, and creating additional streams of income to bless your ministry.
I want to encourage both churches and ministries to consider implementing new goals. In today's blog, I'll share four ideas that will inspire something new for your church or ministry...
1. Start a Community Development Corporation (CDC)
Churches and ministries that want to greatly impact their communities should look into establishing a Community Development Corporation (CDC).
While slightly different from a religious non-profit, non-religious CDC's can work with local governments and other organizations that would otherwise not work with a religious organization.
- CDCs are a separate corporation altogether from your church that is run by church members to reach the needs of your local community. CDCs can use governmental grants and other partnerships that ministries are not always able to work with.
CDCs solve one of the many problems of not receiving enough funding to positively impact local communities.
So if your church has a burden for helping foster children but can't get the funding it needs solely through church benevolence, creating a CDC will help bridge the gap between the church and other local government officials and organizations.
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2. Start a for-profit arm
Maybe the next move for your church or ministry is to start a for-profit arm.
Starting a business with an evangelical mindset is a great way to advance the Kingdom. Not only does having a business allow your church to reach your local community in a new way, but it also helps fund your church!
For-profit arms are set up in such a way that the business operates as it's own entity, but the church purchases shares of the company, thus making money from the dividends it receives. This is an excellent option if a church wants to have a place in the community outside of its church walls and not solely rely on tithes to continue functioning.
Some business ideas are:
- Thrift store
- Bookstore
- Publishing books and curriculum
- Coffee shop
- Restaurant
- Bakery
- Hotels and hospitality
There are many business ideas that a church can incorporate. Pray and ask God for strategies and guidance on how your business can impact your community. You'll want to test your idea and make sure it is a viable business option within your area.
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3. Start an online ministry
This quarantine season has led to an even greater need for churches and ministries to have an effective online presence.
People are searching for answers, and we want the Church to be present and available online to point people to Jesus.
Online ministry can look different to every church community. Some online ministries are purely based on prayer. Others have weekly Bible teachings or sermons. Others do not meet physically at all but host all meetings and interactions online. Other ministries will create online resources and conferences for easy access to equip the Church at large.
Regardless of how you hold your online ministry, it must carry the same vision as what you would create in person. You want to make sure to treat it like any other ministry you would create, even if it is solely digital.
One of the first questions I would pose to you if you are considering this route is who you would want to reach? If you plan to reach the younger generation, being online with an active presence is essential. If you want to reach young families, how can you provide a space for them online to encounter the love of God?
The second question I would pose is how are you going to make it happen?
One of the simplest answers is to create a website to house your online ministry.
One of the beauties of creating an online ministry is the ability to customize it to who you are trying to reach for God's Kingdom. You can target specific groups of people and customize what you do to reach out to them. Being online also makes your ministry easily accessible. You can be just a Google search away from someone finding love and truth through the Gospel.
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Click Here4. Establish your social media ministry
As a continuation of the previous section, one important aspect of having an online ministry is to have an active social media presence.
People are very connected to each other through social media. How much better would it be if the Church were so easily accessible to people through the major social media platforms!
I would encourage you to treat your social media like another ministry or like another pulpit. Social media is a great place to engage people with humor, life questions, and speak truths over their lives. Many messages are spread through social media; let's add the heart and mission of God to those platforms as well.
With millions of active users online every day, the potential for impact is unlike any other time in history. If churches learn to utilize these platforms effectively, they will expand their reach to a whole new level.
Some of the most popular social media platforms are:
- Youtube
Once you have those established, there are so many ways you can impact people's lives for the better. Need a social media policy? Check out our Policies Suite.
For the Kingdom
2021 is a year for opportunities. While 2020 brought much heartache and many challenges, I believe God will use all things for His glory and our good. We can create and innovate with God to bring more lives into the Kingdom of Heaven. So while our circumstances may seem grim, trust that God is still in control and working for our good.
Don't be afraid to dream with God this year. Who knows, maybe He wants to start something new through you so that more lives can be changed.
If we can assist you in any way with a new idea God is placing on your heart, please call us at 877-494-4655 or click the link below to schedule a call with a specialist.
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