407 Auburn Avenue, NE Reverend Raphael G. Warnock, Ph.D

 407 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30312 (404) 688‐7300 Reverend Raphael G. Warnock, Ph.D. Senior Pastor 1 Part 1‐‐ Introduction Cover Letter.…………………………………………………………………………………3 ‐ 4 Introduction…………………..…….…..……………………………….….……..…..….5 ‐ 6 Executive Summary……………………………………………………....…6 ‐ 13 Part 2 – Ministry Commission Reports…….……………………………….....14 Commission on Media & Technology………..…………….15 ‐ 45 Commission on Women………………..…………................45 ‐121 Commission on Children & Youth.…………..……………...122‐143 Commission on Health & Wellness..…………..….………..144 ‐172 Commission on Men…………………………………................173‐199 Part 3 – Appendix……………………………..………………………................................... Commission Structure….……………………………………………………………………………. Ministry Commission Process……………………………………………………………………. Commission Feedback…………………………………………………………………….............. Commission Commitment Pledge……………………………………………..... Ministry Commission Task & Activities…………………………………………. Consultant Tool Kit Selection……..………………………………………………… Commission Manual…………………………………………………………………….. Notes………….………………………………….……………………………………………… 2 The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor November 27, 2009 Dear Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, On behalf of the entire Ebenezer Baptist Church commissions, I am very pleased to submit the “Report of the Ebenezer Baptist Church’s Commissions, 2009." In your charge to the Commissions you asked that we support ongoing efforts to align the ministries of our church with our shared vision and purpose statement. In upholding their responsibilities, the Commission members engaged in numerous activities that included commission meetings, sub‐committee meetings, interviews, and site visits, totaling a minimum of 100 hours invested per commission member over the course of their work. Information gathered from focus groups, internal assessments, external assessments, and best practice research was used to identify the strengths, gaps, over‐arching issues, and opportunities within each area of ministry. We believe that the comprehensive assessment tools that were used as a basis for the reports are sufficiently systematic and rigorous that information gathered can assist as we build upon ministry strengths and align the ministries of our church with our shared vision and purpose statements. As you read these very strong reports , you will notice that several core themes and common trends emerge. Let me briefly highlight a few of them. Most members are generally pleased with the presence of various community outreach initiatives and financial support for members in need of emergency assistance. Overall, members expressed positive feelings about ministry activities at the church, mentioning the church bulletin, Horizon newsletter, e‐mail blasts, pastoral letters, Calling Post messages, as critical lines of communication. A common theme across all commissions is that the members of Ebenezer possess a strong commitment to the church and the surrounding community as well as a fervent belief that we are “pressing toward” achieving our purpose statement. There was a consensus among participants that there is a need for a forum that can help facilitate a deeper connection among men and boys, women and girls and children and youth. There was also general agreement that the 3 church needs to maximize its current technology methods like the website to encourage spiritual formation and social transformation as current communication channels and recruitment methods can be even more effective in reaching new and existing congregants as well as the external community. Respondents emphasized the importance of maximizing opportunities to consistently and systematically train lay leadership to respond to crisis, to be familiar with various models of leadership and to possess the resources to engage in effective succession planning. Another core finding from the assessments is the need to utilize contemporary and traditional forms of worship to create a safe space that encourages members to grow in God’s Word while serving God’s people. Data from almost all of the commissions emphasize the importance of developing a comprehensive life‐course approach to ministry that addresses the concerns of members from the cradle‐to‐the‐grave. Finally, in the spirit of Ebenezer’s historic commitment to serving the least of these and promoting social justice, respondents emphasized the critical need to develop a policy agenda and social action strategies around issues confronting men, women, children & youth and healthcare by convening “village conversations” and forming coalitions to address modern inequalities. As you read these reports, what will be apparent is the burning desire of congregants to be more effective in the work of ministry, to grow spiritually, be a magnet for intergenerational ministry and to work even more closely with the pastoral and ministerial staff in Kingdom Building. On behalf of the consultants, commission chairs, commission members and volunteers, I want to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve Ebenezer in this capacity. We are indeed grateful for the trust and confidence that you have placed in us in our efforts to accomplish the important work of building upon the rich legacy of Ebenezer as we move from horizon to high ground. It must be emphasized that this work would not have been a success without the compassionate hearts, gifted minds and busy feet of volunteers such as the consultants, church office staff, commission members and the entire Ebenezer Baptist Church family. We look forward to ongoing conversations and dialogue that the commission reports will spawn. Please feel free to contact me, Dr. Henderson or Dr. Hindsman if you have any questions about the report. We look forward to assisting in the ongoing work of the commission in any way that we can. Sincerely, Rev. Darryl Roberts, Chair, 2009 Ebenezer Baptist Church Commission Advisory Committee Assistant‐to‐the‐Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church 4 In an effort to build upon our evangelistic efforts and strengthen the ministries of our church as we move from “Heritage to Higher Ground”, Meet Me @ Ebenezer Phase II was launched in Spring 2009. Meet Me @ Ebenezer Phase II is a mission driven and membership focused campaign to support ongoing efforts to align the ministries of our church with our shared vision and purpose statement. Shared Vision: To become a larger, stronger and more purpose‐driven ministry, intentional in mission and focused on growth, both spiritual and numerical growth. Purpose Statement: to be an urban‐based, global ministry dedicated to individual growth and social transformation through living in the message and carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ. This Phase II campaign consists of a plan that is biblically based, culturally competent (internally & externally) and data driven. A major aspect of this campaign was the creation of Church Commissions that comprised a cross‐section of active, concerned and interested members from each identified ministry, selected church lay leaders and congregant volunteer, ministerial staff and members of the Church Life and Program Committee. Each Commission was organized to focus on one of five key areas of ministry:  Children & Youth  Health & Wellness  Media & technology  Men’s Ministry  Women’s Ministry The Commissions were installed at a kick‐off meeting on June 6, 2009. Commission tasks and activities were outlined along with a timetable and expectations for their deliverables. Throughout the course of this process, the Commissions held scheduled meetings through the end of August. In between meetings, information was shared and 5 communicated via email, text messaging, phone conference calls, and in person, as needed. The role of the Commissions was to investigate, evaluate and seek out answers to a series of questions regarding “how we can best deploy the unique gifts of Ebenezer for doing ministry to a given area”. The Commissions sought to learn about best practices, discover opportunities for growth, and discern current ministry strengths. In upholding their responsibilities, the Commission members engaged in numerous activities that included meetings, interviews, and site visits. Information gathered from focus groups, internal assessments, external assessments, and best practice research was used to identify the strengths, gaps, over‐arching issues, and opportunities within each area of ministry. In answering their specific questions, each Commission drafted a report that provides two (2) AIM Statements to promote individual growth and spiritual formation within their ministry focus. Best practices and the church mission statement informed these AIM Statements. In examining current programs and ministries, each Commission also provided recommendations on courses of actions to shape and align the key ministries at Ebenezer with the church vision and purpose statements. The AIMS Statements and Commission final report were submitted to the Chair of the Commissions (Rev. Darryl Roberts) and Commission Consultants (Dr. Rayna Henderson and Dr. Robin Hindsman) who provided constructive edits. MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION The Commission process revealed numerous strengths of the Media and Technology ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Commission report reveals that church members are pleased with the presence of various community outreach initiatives (Meet Me at Ebenezer campaign, Crisis Closet) and outreach to members in need (e.g., visiting the sick and shut‐in). In reflecting upon their engagement with the church, focus group participants and survey respondents felt well‐informed about church activities, citing important print resources like the church bulletin, Horizon newsletter, e‐mail blasts, and Calling Post messages, as well as the church office, as significant communication lines. Church members also praise the improvements thus far in the lighting and sound in the Horizon sanctuary. Though the ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church has experienced gains in the application of media and technology to better meet church goals, findings from the commission processes uncovered a general consensus that the church’s potential to use current 6 technology methods to encourage spiritual formation and social transformation is underutilized. There was concurrence that with greater use of media and technology more could be done to encourage participation among parishioners in the sanctuary and to pull people into the worship experience. Findings in the commission report point to the importance of providing more alternative resources for the hearing‐ and visual‐
impaired, increasing the quality and precision of the sound and microphone system (especially in the choir loft), and adding equipment that would facilitate worshippers viewing the pulpit from the last rows in the sanctuary. Additionally, revamping the church website represents a significant opportunity to capitalize on technology to connect and inform church members and others about Ebenezer. Ensuring that online resources are adapted and implemented well is critical to the vitality and longevity of the church. Other noteworthy findings reported by the Commission include giving more attention to increasing sales of church tapes, compact discs, and DVDs among members and interested non‐members; reformatting the “Horizon” telecast citing concerns regarding its length and content; and the need for equipment, technology, and resources to help promote efficient office management. To augment their findings from the commission process, the Media and Technology report also includes a Ministry Survey, a program recommendation proposal from Jackson M. Smith, Jr., and best practice samples from their external assessments (i.e. church visits). WOMEN’S COMMISSION A common theme reported by the Women’s Commission across all key assessment processes is that the Women’s Ministries possess a strong commitment to church and community as well as the general belief that their respective missions and objectives are being attained. The commission found that more than 75% of the current women’s ministries fall under the WMU and the eleven mission circles perform basically the same functions: feed the poor, clothe the naked, care for the sick, comfort those in need and visit those in prisons. The remaining ministries provide women‐centered space for Bible study and expressions of praise through dance as well as function as “gatekeepers” for Ebenezer ‐ dedicated women who take care of the needs of the pastor and the church. The primary benefit derived from the results of the commission process is the insight gained into how Ebenezer might position itself to better support spiritual formation among its growing, diverse female congregants, and more effectively drive social transformation in the communities it serves. The research and findings indicate that first and foremost, current communications channels and recruitment methods are ineffective in reaching new and existing female congregants as well as the external community served. And, more specifically the ministries are not attractive to a broad enough base of younger women (specifically the 30s before 40 age range). A ‘common thread’ interwoven between the internal and external assessments was the need for a 7 women’s ministry that promotes and provides a “place for all women to worship, reflect on God’s word and rest in his presence”. The Women’s Commission report indicates that there is a recurring expressed need to create a more unified and effective operational structure (under one umbrella). With a more unified focus, the Women’s Ministries could address the root causes of some of the more pervasive social, political and economic challenges faced as a society today that impact financial, physical, mental and spiritual health and well‐being. It is strongly believed that becoming one body internally will make the Women’s Ministries more effective externally. Additionally, the elimination of overlapping functions by the WMU mission circles would allow the redirecting of resources to community outreach programming, e.g. a shift from the current service orientation to a focus on topics and solutions that address life issues such as spousal abuse, financial management, professionalism, business etiquette, career planning, etc. Additionally, there is the challenge of timely communication between ministries and church leadership; and coordination of church resources in terms of meeting space, communications, and scheduling of events and activities. It was reported that the response time from leadership is not adequate in order to accomplish new or creative initiatives. CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY COMMISSION The Children and Youth Commission found that there are many well‐structured ministries available to children and youth of the church that allow participants to attend regularly scheduled services, activities, or meetings. The ministries range from those that teach the importance of biblical knowledge and its application to life skills and character development, to the instruction of instrumental music and group singing skills, and outreach projects that serve the local and global community. The many children and youth ministries at Ebenezer are active, energetic, engaging, and proud of what they offer. However, the Commission research and findings indicate that they are not purposeful in preparation, planning, and program development. There is not an internal structure or stabilizing force to keep the ministries connected, keep the ministry leadership and programs continuous, and allow the leader to facilitate much needed collaboration efforts among the children, youth, college‐age and young adult ministries. The lack of consistent leadership and collaboration contributes to conflicts in scheduling, communications, sharing space, program planning and program inconsistency. It was also found that a purposeful life stages process is needed. In assessing best practices from the external assessment the Commission found that the lead minister for the children and youth ministries possessed training, knowledge, and is seasoned in his or her experience. One ministerial leader, accountable to the Senior Pastor, would allow the formation of a strong structure and consistent leadership for 8 the children, youth, and college student ministries. Also, training for volunteers is of utmost importance and needs to be a purposeful, ongoing effort. Volunteers’ exposure to learning opportunities related to working with children and youth would enhance and increase the effectiveness of the children and youth ministries. The Commission report points to other opportunities for enhancement of the Children and Youth Ministries which include incorporating the use of technology into teaching and communication methods since this is ever‐increasing in our lives, and our children and youth today are often more technologically advanced than many adults; and providing ministry to families, family ministry or families‐in‐ministry to equip, encourage, and support individual Christian families by reinforcing the teachings of our beliefs in their homes and everyday lives. An additional finding reported by the Commission is a need to have adequate transportation and an after school program that provides meals. This would encourage greater family participation in weekday church activities. HEALTH and WELLNESS MINISTRY COMMISSION The health and wellness ministry commission explored a myriad of health and wellness related issues. The report reveals that participants asserted that we must place more emphasis on the prevention of chronic diseases and addressing the mental health concerns of the congregation and community. Most participants supported some aspect of a life course perspective that would integrate spirituality and health, and focus on health education and advocacy. The commission members and participants were passionate about the need for EBC to develop a health and wellness model that would advance efforts for improving the health literacy, practices and motivation of our congregation. This report describes a broad scope of research that informs both priorities and structure for church centered health and wellness ministries. Contained within this report is a discussion regarding structural models of successful church‐based and collaborative health programs and activities at black churches. The report also discussed essential elements of models for sustainable health education, prevention programs, and services within black churches. A review of the literature on the effectiveness of faith‐based health programs documented that faith based programs can produce positive health effects. The identification of challenges was not centered only on structure; there is also a thorough summary of the need for this ministry to address barriers to utilization of services as a result of stigma, the need to ensure a safe place for sharing and receiving services, concerns regarding continuity, and past inconsistencies of ministry services. This report affirms that pursuing a health and wellness ministry requires the full 9 commitment of church leadership that these programs and services are valued and endorsed as core components of EBC’s ministries. The ministry commission also identified the need to expand health and wellness priorities through advancing collaboration and information on health and wellbeing between and among the ministries and auxiliaries of the church ministries. This report suggest that we should have an organized ministry comprised of healthcare professionals, while also recognizing that a preventive, educational and life course approach has to be embedded within the framework of all church ministries and activities. Finally, this report acknowledges the legacy of advocacy that has been a part of the EBC relationship with the community and the world. As such the report recommends that we could use that platform to speak on political issues as they relate to health care by actively engaging in the policy agenda around heath and healthcare reform. MEN’S MINISTRY COMMISSION The Men’s Ministry Commission embraced their task to identify a new framework for a successful and active ministry. Early on in the process their discussions revealed that engaging men and gaining their full commitment would require identifying a meaningful ministry platform and a format that promotes building personal relationships. The Men’s Ministry Commission report provides data which concludes that the successful platform should include a sound organizational structure that is well communicated and understood, with sufficient roles and components which will allow and encourage involvement. Their research and findings confirm that men’s ministry should be purpose‐driven rather than event‐driven. Making the conceptual and programmatic shift to purposeful planning versus event and activity driven planning would provide the structure for consistency and accountability. The commission results revealed that one of the challenges of EBC Men’s Ministry is sustaining involvement of a large number of men after the event or activity has been completed. The Commission report notes that men tend to respond to specific requests related to activities and events, however after the completion of the event they found that most men are either inconsistent or absent from ongoing discipleship and ministry efforts. The report also confirms that the men’s ministry should be God‐centered rather than program‐centered. While the men through focus group discussions and the internal assessments were clear about the positive value and impact of current programs and activities, they acknowledged that there is a gap related to God‐centered practices. The report describes observations from participants that there is a need to develop deeper spiritual and emotional ties within the ministry. The expressed desire to grow spiritually and emotionally is consistent with best practice findings outlined within the report which highlights the need for EBC to enhance opportunities for male specific bible study, discipleship classes and mentoring. Participants also expressed concern about the limited participation of young men in the men’s ministry, and believe that ministry restructuring with a specific focus on young 10 men and building intergenerational relationships will enhance the men’s ministry so that it is more effectively fulfilling the mission of the church. Interestingly, the elders of the ministry report feeling overwhelmed and “burned out”, and the younger generation reported struggles to engage and connect. Within this report, there are creative proposals and solutions for the gaps and opportunities identified such as the proposal to develop small groups, “ affinity groups”, that have been proven to drive improved relationships and prolonged engagement in men’s ministries. Overall, this report reveals that the men of Ebenezer are determined and motivated to step up and assume strong lay leadership responsibility and strengthen the impact of men within the overall church ministry structure. ORGANIZATONAL CHANGE: FROM HERITAGE TO HIGHER GROUND The Ministry Commission process has served as a successful catalyst towards achieving one of the primary commission objectives, which was to create a sense of urgency and interest among those who participated in the process. John P. Kotter states that creating a high enough sense of urgency among a large enough group of people and overcoming complacency is where change really starts. To create a sense of urgency the Ministry Commissions were encouraged to challenge complacency through facilitating frank discussions which explored contentment with the status quo and identification of critical issues and practices for ministry change and growth. This process has revealed that, for Ebenezer, the cliché is true: the more things change the more they stay the same. As was the case more than forty years ago, Ebenezer members continue to feel a strong affinity towards the legacy of civil activism and advocacy for those in need. The concept of Ebenezer engaging actively in Transformative Ministries is familiar and consistent with its values and foundation. While familiarity is a strength, it also serves as a conduit for complacency as the process for activism and advocacy have changed and evolved greatly. Supporting transformative ministries in the 21st Century requires an effective organizational system that provides structure and direction for its ministries. Centralized Ministry Structure: Comments shared through this process support the need for change within the church administrative process to establish a ministerial operational structure. Best practice external reviews highlighted that successful ministries operated within a context of well‐organized centralized ministry systems that is consist with and would share the Senior Pastor’s goals, vision, concerns, and message. The benefits of a centralized ministry organization is the ability to ensure that the ministry work is mission focused, relevant, and supports the priorities of the church. Results from focus groups and internal assessment discussions reveal that, currently, EBC ministries operate independently and without direct accountability for the outcomes of programs and services. This independence has resulted in fragmentation, multiple silos which are often in competition for space, volunteers and resources while 11 performing similar ministry activities. Comments throughout the process have ranged from a structure to ensure administrative support and ministerial accountability to ensuring that there is consideration for eliminating duplicate ministries and efforts. A centralized structure affords church leadership the opportunity to support and nurture stronger functioning ministry teams, improve the connectedness of ministries, therefore improving communication and collaboration. A best practice example is a church that holds monthly ministry leaders meetings, which require that ministries submit program request and reports of accomplishments based on the alignment with church mission and priorities. This organizational process can be enhanced through using methods such as communications technology, social media, and other engagement strategies. Catalytic Leadership: It is necessary to develop leaders who are catalysts for change and who use entrepreneurial thinking to chart a new course. EBC must urgently develop a leadership and discipleship process to ensure that current and future ministry leaders are leadership ready and can support the advancement of the church’s mission. Leadership development and succession planning begins with a process for leadership assessment, ongoing involvement in bible study and discipleship courses and engagement with other church leadership to ensure that there are transparency and accountability. Creating an environment that supports catalytic leaders requires that each leader have a spiritual growth and development plan. Ministry Sustainability: Bridging the generational gap between baby boomers and the millennium generation is critical to the continued growth and sustainability of church ministries. Another effective best practice is to match senior ministry leaders with younger leaders in development as partners and mentors. Institute a leadership development timeline which begins with the identification of new leaders, their assessment and development, mentoring and support and finally transitioning into a leadership position. Each leadership position should have a term limit applied and the succession planning of new leaders helps support the viability of the term limits. Focus on Kingdom Building: Ministries are held accountable for their impact and outcomes through focusing on the impact of the ministry in a multifaceted process. Each ministry should be capable of sustaining members, attracting members and supporting new Christians, implementing programs and services, and engaging in prayer and discipleship. Ministries are important for both recruitment and retention of members. Each ministry should actively support the concept that recruitment of new members to actively participate in their ministry is the ideal goal. Each ministry should be involved in the overall church evangelism efforts to win souls to Christ and engage new Christians in ministry to support their transition into the church family. Each ministry should be aware of their important role in Kingdom Building. 12 Imagine if you will a church based ministry organization that successfully combines the love of Christ Jesus in all that we do, and the accountability of good governance and operations in all of our practices. Imagine the impact of effective discipleship on sustaining new and long‐term members, and ministry services positively impacting the congregation and community. As John P. Kotter challenges us in his book, A Sense of Urgency, “imagine if you will an organization where people up and down the hierarchy and systems through the organization help”. This is Ebenezer’s time. We’ve created a sense of urgency through this Commission process, therefore we must respond fast and move now. Imagine.
13 14 MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTRY COMMISSION FINAL REPORT Submitted November 10, 2009 In this final report, we first outline the purpose of the Media and Technology Team, discuss how the team approached its mission, and catalog all data for the subgroups. Second, we summarize the key processes by subgroup and describe the key themes for each group. Third, we review the most significant findings and patterns. Fourth, we present the aims recommendations related to spiritual formation and social transformation. Lastly, we present our appendices and references. Introduction and Process The purpose of the Media and Technology Commission team was to participate in shaping the vision for multimedia uses at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The team’s focus was to find those instruments of modernity that can be best used for the age‐old work of salvation. The team sought to learn about best practices, discover opportunities for growth, and discern current ministry strengths. In completing the work for the commission, the team engaged in numerous activities that included meetings, interviews, and site visits. Resources available to document each activity are outlined in the table below. Table 1. Catalog of All Data Team Activity
Resources Full Media and Tech Team Meetings
Agenda, minutes, pictures, attendance sheets, task assignments/tracking tools Focus Group Team Focus Groups
Videos, notes Church Team Interviews with internal ministries Notes, pictures, transcripts
Street Team Interviews with Buckhead Church, Destiny Metropolitan Worship Center, Free Chapel ‐ Gainesville Notes, pictures Literature review, Member Notes, completed surveys
Research Team 15 Survey
Commission Members and Workgroups Tera R. Hurt led the Media and Technology team and organized team members into four work groups—focus group team, church team, street team, and research team. The following table outlines the team leaders and team members assigned to work within each group. Table 2. List of Commission Team Members by Work Groups Ministerial Liaison/Prayer Intercessor
Keith Williams Media and Technology Commission Chair
Tera R. Hurt Focus Group Team De Morris Walker (Team Leader)
Kevin Sykes Street Team Rita Wright (Team Leader) Church Team Kenneth Hamilton, Sr. (Team Leader)
Angela Allen Phillip Finch Carolyn Lake 16 Research Team Duane Jackson (Team Leader) Vincent Bursey Jackson Smith, Jr. Benjamin Ridgeway Wendell Thomas Other Team Members Glenda Boone Lisa Campbell After the Commission kick‐off meeting on June 6, 2009, the Media and Technology team met bi‐monthly through the end of July. Team meetings took place on June 15, June 29, July 13, July 27, and August 29. In between team meetings, members communicated through email, conference call, and in person, as needed. Summary of Key Processes Each team mobilized to learn more about how media and technology could be used to advance the worship experience particularly as it relates to spiritual formation and social transformation. Below, the key themes discerned from each group’s work are presented. We focus our discussion on identified strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. Focus Group Team Two focus groups were conducted to learn about members’ experiences with and views about the use of media and technology to meet the overall mission at Ebenezer related to individual formation and social transformation. These two groups met in July and August 2009 on site at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The first group included a group of persons who responded to a call for persons to share their thoughts about media and technology at Ebenezer; nine people, ranging from new members to old members, attended this discussion. The second group discussion involved an existing women’s ministry at Ebenezer. Many of women in this group had been members of Ebenezer for numerous years; these ten women ranged from middle‐aged to seniors. Multiple strengths of the ministry were highlighted as a result of these discussions. First, on average, members were very pleased with the look and content of 17 the weekly church bulletin and monthly Horizon newsletter and regard these materials are excellent sources of information. Second, members also appreciate the church’s use of the Calling Post phone service and email blasts to inform members about mid‐week announcements, provide important reminders about church activities, and keep members connected to their birth month clubs. Third, Ebenezer received high marks for their efforts to reach out to others in the community (e.g., Cutting Thru Crisis, Crisis Closet, food distribution) and engage members and non‐members in Ebenezer’s ministry (e.g., Meet Me at Ebenezer campaign). Ebenezer’s efforts to provide alternative media and a deaf ministry were cited as additional ways in which the church reaches out to the hearing impaired and those with poor vision and hearing. Members praised the church’s commitment to visit with the sick and shut‐in on a consistent basis, and to provide these members with print media and resources like CDs and DVDs of the worship service. Focus group members addressed the concerns with the following weaknesses in the media and technology ministry. First, focus group members observed a lack of coordination between and among different groups within the media and technology ministry (e.g., audio, video, music). As a result, important information was not shared or discussed, which impacted Sunday worship services and special events. Second, focus group members also perceived a lack of coordination of information presented across various communication channels (e.g., church bulletin, Facebook, church website). For example, while the church’s mission statement is printed in the church bulletin, it does not appear on the church website or on Facebook pages linked to the church. Third, focus group members cited persistent problems with sound quality in the choir loft and baby cry room. Fourth, focus group participants spoke at length about their dissatisfaction with the Horizon telecast. The shared sentiment was that Ebenezer was floundering in its efforts to share the richness of the worship experience at Ebenezer and the Word of God with others. Participants believed the telecast was too short and that it included outdated information in the credits. Members are frustrated by the inability to view the telecast if they do not have a specific cable package. They also do not like that only one song and no information about church initiatives is featured in the telecast. Lastly, focus group participants felt that the CD/DVD ministry’s potential was not being fully maximized. Members do not want visitors to pay for copies of the worship service on CD or DVD. Likewise, the availability of CDs and DVDs should be presented as a resource for members, not just visitors, during the welcome in the worship service. Moreover, more members would purchase the CD or DVD resources if the sermon was not cut off, if they did not have to wait in line in the bell tower, and if more songs were included. Focus group participants also identified several main areas for opportunities to grow and develop the media and technology ministry. First, participants proposed advertising this ministry’s activities, goals, and objectives to the church to build the 18 ministry and stimulate interest among members (especially youth and young professionals) to work in this area. Involvement from the younger generation is viewed as being critical to the health of this ministry. Second, the ministry could also benefit from receiving outside consulting support from professional audiovisual agencies to help coordinate efforts across ministry groups maximize their potential. Third, focus group participants advocated for improvements in existing equipment and or addition of new equipment. For example, members proposed increasing the quality of the sound and microphone system to facilitate quality recording of the choirs for inclusion on CDs and DVDs. Members would also like to see better use of the existing marquee, add other signage on church grounds, or digitize the existing marquee to provide more messages to others about church’s activities. Citing difficulties to see from the rear of the sanctuary, some focus group participants would support the installation of a large screen(s) to help with seeing the pulpit and adding visual imagery to the worship service. The greatest opportunity for growth in the media and technology based on the focus group discussions relates to the church website. Focus participants advocated for more attention to the church website, which is not updated regularly. The church website could allow members to download the church bulletin and Horizon newsletter and receive information about who will be delivering the sermon on Sundays. Members would also like to access sermons and musical concerts online through mp3 or podcast downloads, establishing an online subscription service, or using Streaming Faith technology. Members also proposed revising the website to include an online comment box where they can send their ideas and know that the church administration will receive their suggestions. Enhancing the church website would open up new avenues for outreach, such as by creating a section just for sick and shut‐in members where scriptures and video messages or sermons can be accessed. Focus group participants would advocate for additional efforts to spread the Word and inform others about church activities outside of the church ought to be explored. A step has been taken in this direction with the adoption of the After the Sermon service on Facebook. Yet, various mediums like live web casts, billboard advertisements, and radio announcements could also be considered. In addition, efforts to evangelize within the neighborhood ought to be explored to reach past, present, and future neighbors of the church; CDs or DVDs could be delivered to neighbors front doors. Another suggestion pointed to amplifying the worship service outside of the Horizon sanctuary on the church grounds to allow passer‐bys and visitors at the National Historic Site to hear the worship service activities. Church Team Members of the church team interviewed leaders from eleven ministries at Ebenezer. The leaders identified several strengths of the media and technology ministry 19 at Ebenezer. Ebenezer does a fine job of amplifying the Word through various avenues (e.g., CDs, DVDs, television, Internet), keeping members informed about past and present church activities (e.g., church office, Horizon newsletter, archives, proposed online community of faith), and providing unique opportunities for others to remain connected to Ebenezer Church (e.g., Horizon newsletter used as outreach to sick and shut‐in, gift/shop, bookstore). Ebenezer has also benefitted from having new lighting and a sound system installed. Receiving assistance from a professional audio company helped the audio team to discern areas for improvement and solidify the professionalism of the team at Ebenezer. No notable weaknesses were identified. Rather, most of the discussion from the ministry leaders focused on opportunities for growth and development. The main way in which Ebenezer’s media and technology ministry can grow is by re‐tooling. Ministry leaders would like to see Ebenezer capitalizing on ways to acquire new equipment (e.g., large screen, second mixing board, sound panels and floor monitors in first ten rows, new video cameras) to increase the level of production for the betterment of the worship experience, television production, and recording for DVDs and CDs. Through the purchase of such equipment, the ministry could also embrace new technologies that would allow Ebenezer to take advantage of new mediums to spread the Gospel and promote the ministry (e.g., new television channel to attract wider audience, publicize choir concert or special event through Skype technology, opt for using online Streaming Faith). Outside of the Horizon sanctuary, new equipment (e.g., personal computer, webcam, large flat screen, video camera) would also be useful for the Children’s Chapel for weekly worship, field trips, and to open up opportunities for fellowship with other youth ministries around the world. In addition, the Archive could benefit from the following: (a) acquiring resources that would allow the preservation of DVDs from worship services to serve as a historical record and for future research projects, (b) obtaining equipment like a scanner to electronically preserve old church documents, and (c) setting up an archives database to simplify retrieval of records and ensure that data are recorded accurately. Lastly, many leaders cited the website as an opportunity to grow the ministry; leaders advocated for the website to include the following‐‐
enhanced links for video footage, a place for the Horizon newsletter to be featured, a link to the bookstore’s products, and a way for members to submit events to an online church calendar. 20 Picture of Benjamin Ridgeway sharing historical church records, submitted by Angela Allen. In adopting such new equipment and technology, leaders recommended more communication and coordination across ministries (e.g., music and sound). Leaders also proposed offering training for volunteer staff on new equipment and adding new staff to ministerial teams (e.g., sound technician, archivist) to meet the need for accessibility as the church grows. Street Team The Media and Technology leaders at Free Chapel – Gainesville, Destiny Metropolitan Worship Center, and The Buckhead Church were interviewed. These three ministries have memberships larger than Ebenezer’s. Yet, the ministries are much younger than Ebenezer’s. The interviews primarily yielded information about the individual’s ministry’s strengths relative to media and technology. A central theme from the interviews was that all elements of the worship experience—program and music production—tie together to meet the objective of leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Each of the ministries plan for their services in advance (from 2 weeks to several months for regular worship) using databases like Planning Center (i.e., www.planningcenteronline.com). Lighting is also an important part of producing a worship service; Compulite “Red” Intelligent Lighting is used to provide an atmosphere reflective of theatrical and concert professional lighting. High‐quality cameras are used to record the worship experience (e.g., i‐mag, Sony D‐50) and display it at satellite campuses or overflow rooms. The churches also use high definition equipment to project images on large screens (e.g., Renewed Vision). The churches frequently project video announcements and commercials and play music while the announcements appear. Outside of the worship experience, the churches use phone calls, radio, television, mail, and other various electronic means to maintain contact with 21 parishioners including website, online publications, online product sales, blogs, emails, Twitter, and Streaming Faith. Picture from Destiny Metropolitan Worship Church, submitted by Rita Wright. Research Team Literature Review Relative to worship style, services that are dynamic, inspirational, thought‐
provoking, and feature a change in format from time‐to‐time are more likely to pull in persons who seek to encounter God and grow spiritually (Hadaway, 2006; Wyche, Hayes, Harvel, & Grinter, 2006). There is, however, a fine line to be balanced in producing worship services; in megachurches, it can be difficult to differentiate between worship and entertainment at times (Wyche, 2006; Childs, 1998). To be sure, more churches are looking to have a “wow” factor. Worship presentations frequently include music, video, imagery, and text (Wyche, Hayes, Harvel, & Grinter, 2006). Large screens are used in churches with large memberships to pull people into the worship experience (Wyche, Medynsky, & Grinter, 2009). The latter point corroborates the sentiment expressed during one of the focus groups for installing a large screen in the Horizon sanctuary. The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship conducted a study in 2003 on the use of projector technology in worship and found that over 60% of the churches used some form of projector technology. The primary use for worship projection was to encourage participation in worship through displaying text with graphics; few churches used projection for animation or live video. Findings also suggested that churches that did not use worship projection did so because they were opposed to this technology or were unable to afford this technology. Results also indicated that the pastor was the key person in making decisions about media program and that usually there was a small 22 group of individuals in the church who collaborated with the pastor on media issues. The study also found that most churches did some evaluation on a yearly basis of the media technology ministry. Use of technology in worship service has not been embraced by everyone, and there are barriers to adopting this technology. However, it remains a best practice to focus on drawing attention to the spirit of worship and praise, not the technology behind the worship service. Technology should be used to complement, not take the place of, worship practices (Wyche, Medynsky, & Grinter, 2009). It is also critical to maintain church traditions and practices such as using hymnals to sing songs rather than solely relying on lyrics that may be projected onto a large screen (Givens, 2008; Wyche, Medynsky, & Grinter, 2009). As expressed by those interviewed for the commission, focus group participants, leaders of internal ministries, and heads of media and technology at other churches support these points and their feedback echoed these themes. Advances and increased use of audiovisual technology frequently requires corresponding changes in lighting for the sanctuary (Wyche, Hayes, Harvel, & Grinter, 2006). Miller (2003) states the major influence on the development of lighting systems has been the trend to use video to capture church services. This requires that a lighting system be at a certain level to capture quality images. In another trend, more drama is featured as part of the general worship service. Historically, dramatic performances were limited to key holidays like Easter and Christmas and special occasions such as Children’s Day. Because of the rise dramatic productions, production teams must ensure that lighting systems are adequate and well‐functioning. Churches make less use of static light systems and rely more on automated lighting systems which allow users to select differing light patterns as opposed to being limited to one static light pattern. Other churches are moving toward using colored lights that are effective in setting an emotional tone. Miller (2003) reports that some churches also experiment with how colors or paints respond to ultraviolet (UV) light to give different effects to a set than when viewed under normal light. As noted in the work of the focus group, street, and church teams, interviewees highlighted the importance of improving the lighting along with any upgrades in video projection. There have been rapid developments in creating church outside of Sunday hours and the standard four walls in the sanctuary (Wyche, Hayes, Harvel, & Grinter, 2006). Religious leaders commonly use and adapt new technologies to support their activities and practices in reaching the masses. New communication avenues like podcasts, blogging, videocasts, streaming media, networking sites, text messages, instant messaging, online bible software, online faith communities, and televangelism offer ways for ministerial leaders to reach the lost, invite others to feel personally connected to their ministries, and encourage and inspire spiritual growth (Delp, 2008; Wyche, Hayes, Harvel, & Grinter, 2006). Using these media tools allows individuals to take worship wherever they go and obtain ministry on‐demand. Wyche and colleagues 23 (2009) point to three tools for on‐demand worship, including SermonAudio, which allows one to listen to new and old sermons on Internet radio. In this commission, results from all teams clearly point to strong interest among the members in taking Ebenezer ministry online and in new directions. Though these technologies are advantageous in many ways, they are not adapted without risks. Leaders cite concerns about losing control of information that reflect upon their ministries. Individuals are free to express their raw feelings, emotions, and gripes on online sites and in virtual faith communities. Likewise, individuals control their interaction with the virtual faith community, leaving little opportunity for religious leaders to guide and intervene before an issue is posted to the site (Delp, 2008). This sentiment was corroborated in the interview about the proposed online community of faith at Ebenezer. Television is another common route that churches use to reach out to the masses. Televangelism has been a staple part of the religious experience for decades. Marla Frederick’s work draws attention to factors that promote and sustain televangelism. Telecasts use examples of personal transformations, testimonies, and other demonstrations of faith to draw members to the faith and their ministries and encourage positive development (Frederick, 2003). Most importantly, people support televangelism because they want to receive the Word, learn more about scripture, and apply the Bible to their everyday lives. In this respect, televangelism is most supported and followed by believers and those who want to deepen their understanding and strengthen their faith, as opposed to unsaved persons and other non‐believers (Frederick‐McGlathery, 2006). This supports the current format of the Horizon telecast, which focuses mainly on the sermon. Yet, based on focus group discussions, members would like to see more information about Ebenezer’s ministry featured to show the diverse opportunities that provide individuals to grow spiritually and fellowship at the church. Survey The Media and Technology Commission conducted a survey (see Appendix A). Volunteers from the media and technology team interviewed 174 members from the church. Results show that the majority of respondents use emails (87.9%), have a cell phones (94.3%), and know how to get text messages form their cell phones (78.2%). Findings suggest that 94.9% agree that the church bulletin is a useful source of information. Yet several respondents took the opportunity to express their displeasure with the revised bulletin format noting concerns with the absence of space for sermon notes, lack of contact information for sick and shut‐in members, and deletion of key phone numbers. The sound and lighting system received good ratings; 76.5% rated the sound good or 24 excellent and 85.1% scored the lighting good or excellent. Choir members, however, noted their inability to hear information presented from the pulpit on occasion. Members were also asked if they watched Ebenezer’s television broadcast. Results showed that 33.9% never watch the broadcast. This finding is attributable in part to members’ cable network system which did not include the channel on which the ministry is broadcast (e.g., Dish network, Direct TV, no longer included in basic package, out of range). Though one‐third did not report watching the telecast, results indicated that over 65% of the membership watch the telecast, in varying frequency (i.e., often (21.8%) and seldom (43.7%)). For the Ebenezer television broadcast, a chi square test revealed no significant differences for age, gender, and for years of membership. That is, while 20% watched the membership on a consistent basis, there were no differences in who watched the telecast based on age, gender, or years of membership. Relative to use of online resources, over 80% of members said they never or seldom used the official church web site. Among respondents, 73.6% said that they never or seldom used YouTube. Below age 46, most persons were likely to report some use or often using YouTube whereas over age 46, most reported never or seldom using this online resource (Figure 2). Regarding social media, 47.7% use some form of this and 52.3% do not. Age plays a major role in which participants use social media on the Internet. As shown in Figure 1, more persons 45 and younger used social media than those over age 45. For the Horizon newsletter, findings suggest that a relationship with member’s age but not with years of membership. Older members were more like to read the Horizon newsletter than younger people (see Figure 3). No significant relationship existed between years of membership at Ebenezer and reading the Horizon newsletter. In summary, based on the results of this survey, emails, cell phones, text messages and information in the church bulletin will reach most members. Social media outlets and YouTube could be used to inform or contact younger members (under age 45) but would not be as effective with members over 46 years of age. Members under age 46 are less likely to read the Horizon newsletter as compared to members over age 46. Results also point to a need to invest in revamping and improving the church web site, which is sorely under‐utilized. 25 26 Discussion The Media and Technology team embarked upon a journey to learn more about how to effectively use modern‐day instruments for the age‐old work of salvation. As previously noted, ministerial leaders frequently turn to new technologies to advance their missions, activities, and rituals in reaching large numbers of people. Within the Media and Technology team, there were four work groups. The Focus Group and Church Teams interviewed members and leaders from ministries within the church about the role of media and technology at Ebenezer. The Street Team invested time and energy to collect information about how ministries at other churches use tools of technology to meet their goals and enhance worship experiences. The Research Team worked to survey the current literature to gain information on what members value about ministry, discern the best practices in the field, and identify the role of changing demographics. The Research Team also conducted a survey of Ebenezer members. Our report reveals numerous strengths about the ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church. First, members are pleased with the presence of various community outreach initiatives (Meet Me at Ebenezer campaign, Crisis Closet) and outreach to members in need (e.g., providing special services for hearing impaired, visiting sick and shut‐in). Second, in reflecting upon their engagement with the church, focus group participants and survey respondents felt well‐informed about church activities, citing important print resources like the visually‐appealing church bulletin, Horizon newsletter, e‐mail blasts, and Calling Post messages, as well as the church office, as significant communication lines. In the future, based on information obtained through interviews with other churches and results from the member survey, leadership at the church may want to explore using cell phones and text messages more as a route to communicate with members. Lastly, members praise the improvements in the lighting and sound in the Horizon sanctuary. Though the ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church has experienced gains in the application of media and technology to better meet church goals, findings from this report uncover a general consensus that the church’s potential to use current technology methods to encourage spiritual formation and social transformation is underutilized. We now shed light on identifiable opportunities for growth in the area of media and technology at Ebenezer. First, efforts should be made to increase communication among ministries that fall under Media and Technology and allow a chance for the ministries to share information about their complementary goals and objectives. This will help to set the stage for more coordination and collaboration between and among media and technology ministries for Sunday services and special events. Once these steps are taken, it would be helpful to present these ministries to the church membership to create more awareness about ministries that fall under Media and Technology to attract 27 new volunteers to work within these ministries. It would be particularly advantageous to draw adolescents and young adults into these ministries, along with other members with professional experiences with audiovisual techniques and equipment. Collectively, these concerted efforts will help Ebenezer to strengthen bonds among those who work within the media and technology ministries, and raise the level of experience and knowledge base among the volunteers. Second, much attention and discussion focused on retooling adding support staff to achieve a greater level of production and coordination to foster spiritual formation among members, especially as it relates to Sunday worship. The overall consensus is that more could be done to encourage participation among parishioners in the sanctuary and pull people into the worship experience. According to the research literature, technology ought to be used to support and encourage a spirit of worship and praise, and be complementary to existing worship practices and rituals at Ebenezer. Findings also point to the importance of providing more alternative resources for the hearing‐ and visual‐impaired, increasing the quality and precision of the sound and microphone system (especially in the choir loft), and adding equipment that would facilitate worshippers viewing the pulpit from the last rows in the sanctuary. To achieve these goals, more equipment (e.g., second sound board, large screen) and staff support (e.g., full‐time sound technician) would be required. As observed at other churches, Ebenezer might want to consider engaging parishioners in worship from “the street to seat” by amplifying the worship service on the outside of the church and finding other ways to engage passersby in worship such as by adding signage to the property. These highlighted point to enhancing the worship experience for adults. Among those that serve the children’s ministry, leaders support acquiring new equipment to enhance weekly worship, documenting field trips, and communicating with other youth ministries around the world. Third, there was a strong sense of agreement that additional effort could be placed in providing information about Ebenezer’s ministries in a variety of ways. For example, members would like to see more outreach in the way of advertising by the church using avenues like billboards, radio, and other online resources. Likewise, considering the growth in membership and propensity for visitors on a weekly basis, brochures with information about the ministry could be placed in all pews for visitors to review. Members could also share this print material with people in their network. For visitors that provide their contact information, inexpensive ways to follow‐up with them by electronically could be adopted into practice. Fourth, more attention could also be paid to increasing sales of tapes, compact discs, and DVDs among members and outside of the church. Members note that they would be more likely to purchases these resources for themselves and others if the recordings included the full sermon and more musical selections or if full audio 28 recordings and video of the service were available online (even if it required a subscription). Adding more material to the tape, CD, or DVD would likely be a move supported by those unable to attend worship like sick and shut‐in members. Members would also support providing free copies of these resources to visitors, new members, and new residents in neighboring housing developments. Two additional proposals are outlined in Appendices C and D to increase sales of these products. Fifth, another significant way to capitalize on opportunities to create awareness about Ebenezer is to revamp the church website. Findings from the survey of members indicate that less than one‐fifth of the membership uses the church website on a regular basis. Simply put, members would use the church website more if it were beneficial for finding current information about church activities and ministry contact information. Members would like to rely upon the church website for official information about church business. One added component to the website might include a space for the Pastor to blog about his vision for the church and his activism in social issues. To be sure, any information presented on the church website or other online resources connected to the church (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) should be consistent. Most importantly, revising the church website will be critical to promoting and sustaining growth in membership among those 45 years of age or younger, as shown in the survey of members. As such, ensuring that online resources are adapted and implemented well is critical to the vitality and longevity of the church. Sixth, regarding the television broadcast, individuals feel that the “Horizon” telecast is not as strong as it could be, citing concerns with the short length of the show, same format as other telecasts, misinformation in the credits, and lack of music and information about ongoing church activities. One‐fifth of the membership tunes into the telecast on a regular basis; another third does not have the channel option in their cable network packages. Though the telecast is designed for the general public, members are invested in watching and supporting “Horizon.” Many hope that more can be added to the show to differentiate Ebenezer from other churches by providing more information about church activities, offering a better sampling of music selections sung at the church, and expanding the viewing audience. Consistent with a current trend in avenues to receive worship on demand through videocasts, it is proposed that consideration be given to using Streaming Faith technology to move the telecast online. Another option for offering an online option to access sermons delivered at Ebenezer might include podcasts. Seventh, outside of the worship experience, new equipment, technology, and resources that help promote efficient office management could be adopted as well. In the church office, new systems could be utilized to help this hub of communication for Ebenezer to complete tasks more effectively for a growing organization. Within the church archives, equipment like an archives database and scanner, as well as office 29 space, would help ensure that all records are preserved, protected, and documented over time. In sum, the Media and Technology team hopes that these recommendations and suggestions are helpful to the growth and development of the ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church. It’s clear that there is great potential for Ebenezer to move forward in carrying out the age old work of salvation using media and technology. 30 Aims Recommendations Spiritual Formation The Media and Technology ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church will foster spiritual formation by: 
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Expanding and invigorating the individual worship experience through utilizing cutting‐edge multimedia audiovisual technology and resources that will broaden the delivery format of the Word of God therefore ensuring that members, visitors and the community have various options for being engaged in praise, worship, education, and service. Connecting the church family by providing on‐demand communication and information using convenient, innovative channels to inform all about activities, resources, or announcements that might serve to support their fellowship with the church, educate them about the Word of God, and inspire their individual growth and spiritual journeys. Social Transformation The goal of the Media and Technology ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church is to promote social transformation through fulfilling its promise as A Church for All Nations by: 
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Using current technologies to establish communities of faith (both internal and external to Ebenezer) to evangelize, network, and reach individuals throughout the world, all walks of life, and within every human condition. Using media and technology resources to establish a communication model that is wired, relevant, current, and proactive allowing Ebenezer to provide continuous notifications and announcements of community service activities, social activism initiatives, and to build support for Ebenezer’s ministries and involvement in social issues. 31 References Andrescik, R., (2009). An audience of one. Available: http://www.ministriestoday.com/index.php/ministry‐life/worship/8645‐an‐
audience‐of‐one Armstrong, J. (1993). How should we then worship. Available: http://theresurgence.com/john_armstrong‐1993‐
01_how_should_we_the_worship Boyd, W. (2009). Social Monday: Social media and churches… What’s the worst that could happen? Disciples world. Available: http://disciplesworld.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/social‐media‐and‐churches. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. (2003). Projectors in worship survey summary. Available: http://www.calvin.edu/worship/lit_arts/media/tech_survey_ summary.php Cavendish, J. (2000). Church‐based activism: A comparison of Black and White Catholic congregations. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 39 (1), 64‐77. Childers, J. (1998). Performing the Word: Preaching as theatre. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN. D’Antonio, W. (1980). The family and religion: Exploring a changing relationship. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 19 (2), 89‐104. Delp, J. (2008). The new mission of the field. Worship Arts and Technology Magazine, 7, 14‐16. Finke, R. (1989). Demographics of religious participation: An ecological approach, 1850‐1980. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 28 (1), 45‐58. Frederick, M. (2003). Between Sundays: Black women and everyday struggles of faith. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Frederick‐McGlathery, M. (2006). But, it’s Bible: African American women and television preachers. In R. M. Griffith & B. D. Savage, Women and religion in the African diaspora: Knowledge, power, and performance. (pp. 266‐292). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press. 32 Givens, J. (2008). Church, worship, and modern technology. Associated Content. Available: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/798209/church_worship_modern_te
chnology.html. Habiger, R. D. (2008). Worship and technology: Active participation is key—part 1 and part 2. Envision church. Available: http://www1.georgetown.edu/centers/liturgy/envisionchurch/57559.html. Hadaway, C. K. (2006). Facts on growth: A publication of faith communities today and CCSP. Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary. Available at: http://FACT.hartsem.edu. Hadaway, C. K., Marler, P., & Chaves, M. (1993). What polls don’t show: A closer look at U.S. church attendance. American sociological review, 58, 741‐752. Hout, M. (2001). The demographic imperative in religious change in the United States. American journal of sociology, 107 (2), 468‐500. Jenkins, P. (2002). The next Christianity. The Atlantic Monthly. October. Available: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200210/jenkins. Knox, N. (2005). Religion takes a back seat in Western Europe. USA Today. Available: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005‐08‐10‐europe‐religion‐
cover_x.htm Marcum, J. (2000) Worship preferences and age. Available: http://pcusa.org/research/monday/age.htm McCarthy, A. (2008). Media in worship: Some practical suggestions. Envision church. Available: http://www1.georgetown.edu/centers/liturgy/envisionchurch/57325.html. Mian, N. A. (2008). Prophets‐for‐profits: Redevelopment and the altering urban religious landscape. Urban studies, 45 (10), 2143‐2161. Miller, J. (2003). Current trends in worship lighting. Available: http://www.tfwm.com/ CurrentTrendsinWorshipLighting. Moore, J., & Wilson, L. (2007). 19 ways to use media in worship. Church production 33 magazine. Available: http://www.churchproduction.com/go.php/article/1045. Murphy, D. (2006). PowerPointless: Video screens in worship. The Christian century magazine. Available: http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=2215. Park, J., & Reimer, S. (2002). Revisiting the social sources of American Christianity 1972‐1998. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 41 (4), 733‐746. Pyle, R. (2006). Trends in religious stratification: Have religious group socioeconomic distinctions declined in recent decades? Sociology of religion, 67, 61‐79. Roof, W., & McKinney, W. (1985). Denominational America and the new religious pluralism. The annals of the American academy of political and social science, 480 (1), 24‐38. Schultze, Q. J. (2004). High‐tech worship? Using presentational technologies wisely. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books Publishing. Streich, M. (2009). Religion and secularization in Europe: Statistics demonstrate declining church attendance for many reasons. Available at: http://www.suite101.com. Swanson, J. (2008). 8 ways to use social media in church. Levite chronicles. Available: http://levite.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/8‐ways‐to‐use‐social‐media‐in‐church. Taipale, C. (2006). The heart of technical excellence. Available: http://www.churchsoundcheck.com/hte.html. Taylor, R., Chatters, L., Jayakody, R., & Levin, J. (1996). Black and White differences in religious participation: A multisample comparison. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 35 (4), 403‐419. Thumma, S. (1996). Exploring the megachurch phenomena, their characteristics, and cultural context. In G. Laderman (Ed.), Religions in Atlanta. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press. Vogt, W. P. (1999). Dictionary of statistics and methodology: A nontechnical guide for the social sciences. (Second Edition.) Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. Wyche, S., Harvel, L. & Grinter, R. (2009). Entertaining spirituality. Available: 34 http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~spwyche/wyche.pdf. Wyche, S. P., Hayes, G. R., Harvel, L. D., & Grinter, R. E. (2006). Technology in spiritual formation: An exploratory study of computer mediated religious communications. Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 199‐208. Wyche, S. P., & Medynskiy, Y. (2007). Exploring the use of large displays in American megachurches. CHI‐Work‐in‐Progress, 2771‐2776. 35 Appendix A: Media and Technology Ministry Survey Media & Technology Ministry Survey Ebenezer Baptist Church N =174, NR = No Response Gender: Male 50 (28.7%) Female 107 (61.5%) NR 17 (9.8%) Member of Ebenezer: Less than 4 years 39 (22.4%) 4‐10 years 29 (16.7%) 11‐20 years 36 (20.7%) More than 20 years 39 (22.4%) NR 31 (17.8%) Age: Under 16 5(2.9) 16‐21 13 (7.5%) 22‐45 52 (29.9%) 46‐70 82 (47.1%) Over 71 9 (5.2%) NR 13 (7.5%) 1. Do you use email? Yes 153 (87.9%) No 20 (11.5%) NR 1 (.6%) 2. Do you have a cell phone? Yes 164 (94.3%) No 10 (5.7%) NR 0 {If the above answer is No skip to question 4} 3. Do you know how to get text messages from your cell phone? Yes 136 (78.2%) No 28(16.1%) NR 10 (5.7%) 36 4. Do you use Facebook, Twitter or other forms of social media on the Internet? Yes 83 (47.7%) No 91 (52.3%) NR 0 5. Do you watch Ebenezer’s Television Broadcast: A. never 59 (33.9%) B. seldom76 (43.7%) C. often 38 (21.8%) NR 1 (.6%) 6. Do you get information about Ebenezer from the official church web site? A. never 68 (39.1%) B. seldom 72 (41.4%) C. often 33 (19.0%) NR 1 (.6%) 7. Do you use YouTube? A. never 77 (44.3%) B. seldom 51 (29.3) C. often 46 (26.4%) NR 0 8. How would you rank the sound system for Sunday Services? A. poor 4 (2.3%) B. fair 37 (21.3%) C. good 104 (59.8%) D. excellent 29 (16.7%) NR 0 9. How would you rank the lighting system for Sunday Services? A. poor 1(.6%) B. fair 24 (13.8%) C. good 108 (62.1%) D. excellent 40 (23.0%) NR 1(.6%) 10. I read the Horizon (church newsletter): A. never 18 (10.3%) B. seldom 47 (27.0%) C. often 109 (62.6%) NR 0 11. I find the Church Bulletin given on Sunday morning to be a useful source of information. A. strongly agree 92 (52.9%) B. agree 73 (42.0%) C. have no opinion 3 (1.7%) D. disagree 4 (2.3%) E. strongly disagree 2 (1.1%) NR 0 37 Appendix B: Program Recommendations Audiovisual Recommendations 
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Provide new video equipment that will allow for a first‐rate broadcast online or on television Continue to fine tune the audio system in the sanctuary and Baby Cry Room, and provide a speaker on the outside of the church for passer‐bys to listen to and engage parishioners “from street to seat.” Expand the Tape/CD/DVD ministry Hire a full‐time staff member to attend choir rehearsals and other pertinent meetings with the goal of fine tuning the sound system prior to Sunday morning worship Continue to utilize the support of professionals from audiovisual consulting companies. Include different musical instruments in the worship service. Outreach Recommendations 
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Use e‐card technology to send visitors a thank you message, a word from the pastor, and follow‐up information about Ebenezer. The e‐card could feature images from Ebenezer (e.g., logo, pictures). Make better use of signage Overhaul church website to include: o Options for purchasing items from gift shop o An online blog from the pastor o Sermons online (through subscription or free) o Newsletter online o Streaming Faith o Correct ministry contact information Revise the telecast: o Select a different channel or have an online telecast o Revise credit information o Lengthen the telecast o Cite ongoing church activities o Include more music Set‐up online community of faith Equip Children’s Ministry with personal computer, webcam, and videorecording equipment to facilitate outreach with other ministries around the world. Other Recommendations 
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More emphasis on the importance of attending Sunday School from the pulpit. Submit events for church calendar electronically 38 Appendix C: A Program Recommendation A PROPOSAL FROM JACKSON M. SMITH, JR. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL? This proposal is being made in an effort to support the VISION STATEMENT of our Church which quote, “Is dedicated to becoming a larger, stronger and more purpose‐
driven ministry; intentional in mission and focused on growth ‐ spiritual growth and numerical growth.” This proposal is also designed to increase the revenues generated by funds from the Media Ministry, and to serve as an evangelical tool which will support our PURPOSE STATEMENT and our Christian mission. WHY IS THIS PROPOSAL BEING MADE? This proposal is being made to Members of The Commission on Media & Technology from a fellow Commission Member to assist this Commission in meeting its mandate to develop two (2) objectives to promote individual growth and spiritual formation within this area of ministry. Our Pastor as made it clear and our vision statement establishes that our congregation must grow as any viable institution must grow. However, Ebenezer’s growth can be stymied by several factors including, but not limited to, its location in the inner city, competition from other Churches mainly in the suburbs of the City who actively recruit new members, and the lack of our own congregation being focused on growing this Church’s membership. The Metropolitan Area of Atlanta is rapidly growing with new residents arriving daily. There are always thousands of residents in this area who have not found a regular Church home, are not totally fulfilled at the Churches they attend, or have never been affiliated with any Church. Our historic and internationally known Church is now “dedicated to becoming a larger, stronger and more purpose‐driven ministry; intentional in mission and focused on growth ‐ spiritual growth and numerical 39 growth.” This Commission on Media & Technology must focus on the use and expansion of the instruments of modernity for the age‐old work of salvation. The Pastor has indicated a strong desire to grow this membership and has asked for “out‐of‐
the‐box” thinking to grow and enhance our Church life. HOW CAN THIS COMMISSION ON MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY IMPACT THE GROWTH OF OUR MEMBERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTE TO INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION? The technology currently available in our Church to record and video our Church Services can be an effective tool in promoting attendance and visitation at our Church, if prospective visitors/members can have an opportunity to hear our services and the Pastor’s recorded message. Pastor Warnock is very articulate and his messages are contemporary, informative, inspiring, and can lead to an individual’s spiritual formation. This proposal recommends that Church Leadership launch and continue the overt effort to have members assist in the growth of our membership by sharing (loaning) the CDs and/or DVDs of our services to friends, relatives, co‐workers, even new people they meet. This launches a new and enhanced focus for “Meet Me At Ebenezer Phase II”. The goal is to have a significant number of those who listen and/or view our services attend Ebenezer. Many may decide to join our membership. Media presentations, such as “loaned” CDs/DVDs, are a proven method of marketing and recruiting in various business models and is an effective and economical means for the church to communicate to the masses. HOW ARE THE CDs/DVDs TO BE DISSEMINATED TO THE MASSES? Current Members of Ebenezer are the best source and method. This proposal involves having Members actively participate in “Meet Me At Ebenezer Phase II” by purchasing a CD(s) or DVD(s)s of the Church Service on a regular basis with a commitment to share (loan and hopefully retrieve) that media(s) with another person during the week. When retrieving the media, they can extend a personal invitation for that person and their family to attend our services at Ebenezer. This will assist our members in fulfilling an evangelical activity towards spreading the good word and growing the attendance at our services, as envisioned in our Mission Statement. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THIS RECOMMENDATION? At the present time, the purchase of our media is promoted during the time visitors are welcomed to our Church Service. This gives the impression that the media are primarily for visitors to purchase after the service. Under this proposal, Ebenezer Members are to also be encouraged to purchase the current or a previous CD/DVD of the service to use during that week. Members should also be encouraged to listen to the media 40 themselves as well because that will further enhance their own Christian experience and growth. No one is capable of hearing everything in the Pastor’s message every Sunday. Slight distractions are always around us and salient points can be missed. Plus, often times a listener forgets what is said within hours of a spoken message, and as days go by up to 80% of what was heard can be totally forgotten. Members can enhance their own absorption and retention of the message thereby fulfilling our stated objective of spiritual formation by using this media for their own benefit as well. Immediately following the introduction of people who just joined the church (doors of the church are opened) and just prior to the benediction, the pulpit can promote the CD/DVD Ministry to the Membership as one of the means to help grow our membership and fulfill our Mission Statement and Vision. Members leave our inspirational service with that still fresh on their minds and the CDs/DVDs are available as they depart. An even more efficient and effect means for Members to receive their CDs/DVDs can be through a Standing Order Program. Members register for automatic delivery of the media(s) to their home or work address at weekly intervals or intervals of their choosing. The fee for this service is paid monthly to the Media Ministry. WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE CHURCH? Assume that the cost to produce a CD/DVD is $1.00. (Actual cost of a blank media is less than $1.00) and that it is sold for $10.00. That’s a net profit of $9.00 per media. Let’s assume that under current conditions, The CD/DVD Ministry sells on average 25 CDs each Sunday. The total profit is approximately $225.00 per week, or $900.00 per month, or $10,800 per year. (They currently sell on average less than 25 media each week.) Let’s project that this CD/DVD Ministry Tool is accepted as a part of the “Meet Me At Ebenezer Phase II” and used as an evangelical tool by the Church Membership, and that weekly sales go up to 200 media per week. New gross revenues would be approximately $1800.00 per week, $7,200.00 per month, and $86,400.00 per year. A part‐time work‐from‐home employee should be retained to manage and administer the Standing Order Program to ensure accountability and efficiency. All overhead expenses of this program would be separate from the Church Gift Shop covered by the revenue generated in this program. The Gift Shop would purchase its CDs and DVDs 41 from the Media Ministry at special rates discounted to ensure accountability of expenses and revenues. ARE THERE INCENTIVES THAT CAN BE USED TO GENERATE AND MAINTAIN SALES? Possible incentives that could be put in place might be special Ebenezer Member Only prices of $8.00 per CD and $10.00 for DVDs, rather than the current $10.00 and $15.00 respectively, which would include shipping cost to any Member’s residence who are on the Standing Order Program. (Any decrease in revenue would be made up by an increase in volume of CDs/DVDs being sold.) Another proposal that might inspire Members to purchase could be that a certain percentage of this CD/DVD Ministry’s revenues could be devoted to “The In As Much Funds”, enabling the Church to better respond to critical emergencies facing Church Members, or others in our community, or our efforts in our global ministry activities, i.e. Haiti and Africa. Appendix D: Best Practice Material/Sample To encourage greater member support of the Tape/CD/DVD ministry, it is suggested that special envelopes be printed. These envelopes can be kept in the pews. Using a specially printed and colored envelope, similar to this model obtained from Mount Vernon Baptist Church, members and visitors would be provided with a visual reminder about the Tape/CD/DVD ministry. Members and visitors could complete the envelope, enclose a check or cash, and then have the media mailed to their home or another person that they wish to bless. Lastly, it provides members and visitors with an alternative means of order media, one that does not require them to wait in a line after service in the bell tower or remember to go online and order. The envelope could be placed in a collection plate or dropped off at the gift shop in the bell tower. 42 43 44 Appendix E: Focus Group Questions We want to discuss your thoughts about the Media and Technology church ministry. a. What in your opinion are the strengths of this ministry? b. Share one positive result of a ministry activity that you have experienced or aware of. c. What do you appreciate most about the Media and Technology ministry (or the programs and services you have been a part of related to this ministry)? d. Which Media and Technology ministries (programs or services) have you participated in or experienced? e. What are your impressions of this ministry? f. What has been the benefit/value of being in or participating in the Media and Technology ministry? g. What are some of the challenges or gaps experienced by the Media and Technology ministry programs or services? h. What do you think is most important about the Media and Technology ministry currently? What should be its future focus? i. How did you learn about the purpose of the Media and Technology ministry? How did you get information about this ministry? i. How do you know what the ministry(s) does? ii. How do you know when the ministries meet (i.e., date, times, etc.)? j. How does the Media and Technology ministry contribute to: i. Spiritual formation/individual growth ii. Social transformation/community impact k. What could this ministry do to better meet the purposes outlined? l. Please share any ideas, suggestions, or comments you would like to express about the Media and Technology ministry. In addition, two questions specific to the Media and Technology ministry were added to the list of the discussion questions— a. Please describe what you have taken away from what the Media and Technology ministry is trying to accomplish. b. What use of media and technology have you seen employed at another church that you felt was effective? 45 WOMEN’S MINISTRY COMMISSION FINAL REPORT Submitted November 13, 2009 I. II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Ministry Commission Introduction and Process Summary of Key Processes a. Focus Groups b. Internal Assessments c. External Assessments/Strong Practices d. Surveys/Others e. Research Discussion a. Summary of your analysis‐ general themes, what were the important and consistent findings AIMS Recommendations Discuss in depth your analysis and why you selected these two AIMS. Link the AIMS to the other areas of your report a. AIM#1 Spiritual Formation‐ Individual Growth b. AIM#2 Social Transformation‐ Impact on the Community Appendix a. Include other recommendations that are relevant and should be considered b. Program recommendations c. Ministry operations comments or recommendations d. Strong practice materials/samples References/Resources/Bibliography 46 I. WOMEN’S MINISTRY COMMISSION INTRODUCTION AND PROCESS The Women’s Ministry Commission (WMC) was charged with assisting the Ebenezer Baptist Church in aligning a women‐centered ministry with the Church’s vision and purpose. The WMC was composed of 21 members who represented a cross‐section of female members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in terms of length of service at the church and, to some extent, in terms of age. The WMC held six meetings of the full commission on the following dates: June 8th, June 18th, June 29th, July 9th, July 23rd, July 27th and August 7, 2009. Additional discussions were held via conference calls and through email communications. Each commission member chose one of three teams (Church Visitation, Research/Focus Group and Writing/Editorial) on which to serve in order to carry out the various tasks intended to inform the development of two recommendations for the overarching principles (aims) designed to govern the future women’s ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Church Visitation Team’s task was to interview ministry leaders from other churches to identify key practices for effective women’s ministries. This team consisted of the following members: Linda Dees, Rose Howell, Hattie Shipp, Ophelia Underwood and Rosie Thomas. The Church Visitation Team contacted four diverse congregations in the Atlanta area (Zion Hill Baptist Church, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Victory World Church and Elizabeth Baptist Church) in an effort to interview women’s ministry leaders to discuss the infrastructure, activities, successes and challenges of their church’s women’s ministries. Responses were obtained from two of the four churches contacted. The team met with a ministry leader from Zion Hill Baptist Church on August 5, 2009. A team member conducted a conference call with the women’s ministry leader at Ray of Hope Christian Church on July 17, 2009.1 The Research/Focus Group Team’s task was to assess the current women‐centered ministries at Ebenezer and to obtain the perspectives of the female members of the congregation on issues related to their experiences and involvement with Ebenezer’s women’s ministries through focus groups. The team members were: Sarah Finch, Bobbie James, Alyson Morrissette, Deborah Shields and Ada Slocum. The Research Team provided surveys to allow leaders of all women‐centered ministries at Ebenezer to provide information on current activities and input on ways their ministries can be 1
A discussion of the church visitation team’s findings are contained in Section II of the report.
47 enhanced. Seventeen of twenty ministries (which were identified through the Church’s ministry roster) returned surveys. 2 This team also conducted three focus groups (July 16th, July 22nd, and July 23rd) among Ebenezer’s adult female members. Approximately 40 women attended the July 16th and 23rd focus groups. To ensure that voices from the congregation’s younger women were heard, a third focus group, specifically for young adults (women and men) was co‐
sponsored with the Men’s Ministry Commission on July 22nd ; and was attended by five young adult women. Finally, the writing group was charged with compiling and analyzing the data gathered by the other teams and to prepare a final report. The following commission members served on the writing team: Clarice Conley, Christine King Farris, Patricia Jones, Sedalia Long and Kathryn Stanley. The ministerial liaisons for the Commissions were: Rev. Cyderia Gates, and Rev. Natosha Reid. Rosie Thomas & Kathryn V. Stanley served as co‐chairpersons. II. SUMMARY OF KEY PROCESSES A. FOCUS GROUPS3 OBJECTIVE: The objective of the focus groups was to hold conversations with a cross section of Ebenezer Baptist Church’s women to achieve broader participation, increase awareness of member preferences and to gather opinions, data and ideas that promote better alignment with the vision and mission of the church. The participants were asked to respond to seven questions (refer to Appendix E) to capture perceived value, impact and outcomes, and communication effectiveness of Ebenezer’s current women’s ministries (refer to Appendix E). Key themes and trends were also identified from the focus groups: KEY THEMES AND TRENDS: STRENGTHS: The major theme common across the three Focus Group sessions is a strong commitment to church and community as well as the general belief that the respective missions and objectives are being attained. Most of the participants are members of the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) and they provide open forums in which information and wisdom are shared, and where relationships are built with each 2
A complete listing of the ministries which participated in the survey is contained in Section II of this
report.
3
Source: Internal Assessments - Focus Groups, Sedalia Long, Women’s Ministry Commission, Ebenezer Baptist
Church, July, 2009.
48 other and with God. Furthermore, their perceived value and impact as viable components of Ebenezer are reflected in: 1) the older Christian women who model discipleship for younger women while maintaining a commitment to God – one generation passing on a legacy of biblical faith and life experiences; and, 2) the development of leadership skills by its members via the planning and execution of internal events and community outreach programs. The later outcome not only facilitates succession planning within WMU but also helps fill the candidate pipeline for leadership roles throughout the church. CHALLENGES: Participants engaged in the ministries represented in the group sessions ‐ WMU, Ladies Usher Board, Deaconess Board and Singing Sisters – strongly believe that they are open to the interests and passions of younger women and are willing to embrace change while the younger women who are not involved with any of the ministries have an opposing prospective. Several consistent opposing views are: 1) the ministries are not attractive to a broad enough base of younger women (specifically the 30s before 40 age range); 2) current communications channels and recruitment methods are ineffective in reaching new and existing female congregants as well as the external community served; and, 3) there is a universal need to implement more aggressive and targeted public relations initiatives to increase knowledge about their purpose, work and accomplishments. OPPORTUNITIES: The elimination of overlapping functions by the eleven WMU mission circles would allow resources to be redirected to community outreach programming that address the root causes of some of the most pervasive social, political and economic challenges we face as a society today e.g. a shift from the current service orientation to a financial and health (physical and mental) focus. Ebenezer is not perceived as being on the cusp of what is happening in our communities – both local and global. There is a recurring expressed need to create a more unified and effective women‐centered operational structure (under one umbrella) with a focus on life issues – topics and solutions that address spousal abuse, financial management, professionalism, business etiquette, career planning, etc.; it is strongly believed that becoming one body internally will make us more effective externally. B. INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS4 OBJECTIVE: Utilizing surveys (a set of nine questions) to capture input from the internal women ministries, internal assessments were conducted to determine “how we can best deploy the unique gifts of Ebenezer in performing ministry work focused on women” (refer to Appendix E). The target audience for the process is: the Women’s 4
Source: Internal Assessments - Current Women’s Ministries, Clarice Conley, Women’s Ministry Commission,
Ebenezer Baptist Church, July, 2009.
49 Missionary Union (WMU), Women’s Dance, Women at the Well, AcTeens, the Ladies Usher Board, and Women’s Day Ministry.. There were two ministries from whom surveys were not received – Teen Age Mother’s Ministry (TAMM) and the Mission Study Class. Surveys were utilized to obtain information because of time constraints and for convenience; it was not feasible to schedule interviews with each of the ministries. KEY THEMES AND TRENDS: STRENGTHS: All of the ministries who completed the survey have a strong sense of mission and commitment. More than 75% of the current ministries fall under the WMU and believe their strength resides in their outreach and service programs, fellowship, and the encouragement of relationships internal and external to the church body. The eleven mission circles perform basically the same functions: feed the poor, clothe the naked, care for the sick, comfort those in need and visit those in prisons. The remaining ministries provide women‐centered space for Bible study and expressions of praise through dance as well as function as “gatekeepers” for Ebenezer ‐ dedicated women who take care of the needs of the pastor and the church. CHALLENGES: There is a need for coordination of church resources in terms of meeting space and scheduling of events and activities. This represents not only a need for women’s ministries, but also the church as a whole. Many of the faithful members of various ministries are challenged by age and physical ability. There is also the challenge of timely communication between ministries and church leadership. Some feel the response time from leadership is not adequate in order to accomplish new or creative initiatives. OPPORTUNITIES: A repeating theme is the need for ongoing recruitment of new and/or younger women to get involved in mission work and other ministries. Within the missionary units, the desire for a yearly activity calendar would promote clarity and unity among the various groups. Coordination of the scheduling of church meeting spaces would reduce confusion and establish regular times and locations for meetings. C. EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS/ STRONG PRACTICES5 OBJECTIVE: External assessments were conducted to identify strong practices for an effective women’s ministry – what works, what does not and why by visiting local churches and conducting interviews. Interviews were conducted utilizing ten questions to promote the desired dialogue and outcomes (refer to Appendix E). 5
Sources: External Assessments - Best Practices/Church Visitations Summary, Patricia Jones, Women’s Ministry
Commission, Ebenezer Baptist Church, July 2009.
50 KEY THEMES AND TRENDS: STRENGTHS: The women’s ministry at Ray of Hope operates under a centralized operational structure – a Women’s Council comprised of eight members selected by their pastor, and who develop an annual calendar of activities and events. Another effective women’s ministry at Zion Hill assigns an outreach person for each ministry managed by a committee outreach coordinator. The focus of each women’s ministry ranges from providing a safe haven for women to having a more comprehensive mission – to inspire, equip, and encourage women to know God personally, to discover and use their gifts to love and serve others, and to fully reflect the beauty of Christ in the church and the world. Among the programs utilized to attain their objectives are: fellowship through dinner and movie nights, spiritual retreats, poetry nights, business information forums, and ladies night out. In an effort to engage and retain female congregants at Ray of Hope, its Women’s Council contacts new members and extends an invitation to become involved; in addition, scheduled monthly events to facilitate continuous contact and increase interest and participation. The execution of quarterly ‘meet and greet’ gatherings for new members of the church function as a get‐to‐know‐you venue as well as create opportunities to share information about the ministry and encourage attendees to become involved in at least one ministry at the church. The effective communication tools utilized by both women’s ministries are monthly newsletters, annual calendars of events and websites. CHALLENGES: Like Ebenezer, both of the external women’s ministries interviewed have not found the solution to attracting younger women in the 18‐30 age range. D. SURVEYS/OTHER The need to implement a quantitative survey was discussed by Commission members, but was not initiated due to time constraints and limited resources. However, it became a topic for discussion in two of the focus group sessions during which participants expressed the need to conduct surveys in order to identify the needs of those whom we serve – internally and externally; it was felt that the survey would also promote more strategic planning. E. RESEARCH/LITERATURE REVIEW Ebenezer’s women‐centered ministries currently reflect a tradition within African‐
American churches that has been strongly driven by women who comprise the overwhelming majority of its membership and work force. This tradition is echoed in the historical accounts of African‐American women in the church: 51 From Reconstruction throughout the twentieth century, [African American women] have been the backbone of their respective congregations… As individuals, as members of church auxiliaries and other types of organizations, and as missionaries… women have been instrumental in the success of various church ministries, historic events as they pertain to African Americans, and major reform within the African American communities. 6 Despite the strong presence of women in the Church, biblical interpretations and cultural traditions which espouse male dominance, at Ebenezer like most other churches, women have been workers in churches but not leaders, except to lead other women. Traditionally, women have been expected to focus on the mission work of the church, ministries to the least of these (visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked) while wielding very little power or authority. They were expected to be doers of the Word through good works. The role of women in Civil Rights Movement which had strong ties to the African American church, the civil rights movement leadership structure, by and large, mirrored that of the Church itself: men were the leaders, women were the doers. 7 To be certain, despite distinctive gender role, at Ebenezer and elsewhere, “the many diverse hands of women have made the church strong, powerful and viable force for life in the plan of God.” 8 Yet our conversations and research have fleshed out that while Ebenezer’s women want to continue a tradition of strong mission work, there were at least two needs expressed repeatedly by women in the focus group. First, Ebenezer’s women expressed the need for a safe place to gather to be nourished and nurtured. A passage from Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved echoes this: This is flesh I’m talking about here. Flesh that needs to be loved. Feet that need rest and to dance; backs that need support; shoulders that need arms, strong arms I’m telling you. 9 Large congregations, such as Ray of Hope Christian Church and Allen Cathedral AME Church, host annual large‐scale women’s conferences that focus on spiritual growth. Smaller scale events such as “A Soft Place to Land” (an all‐women’s worship service at Ebenezer which was well‐attended and well‐received), as well as events related to Women’s Day indicate that Ebenezer’s women crave a women’s ministry which provide opportunities to be healed, rejuvenated and grow spiritually. 6
Smoot, Pamela A. African American Baptist Women: Making a Way Out of No Way, Baptist History and
Heritage Summer-Fall 2007.
7
Standley, Anne, “The Role of Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement” in Women in the Civil Rights
Movement: Trailblazers and Torchbearers 1941-19654, eds. Vicki Crawford, Jacqueline Rouse and Barbara
Woods (Indiana University Press: Bloomington, 1993) 183-202.
8
Hollies, Linda H. “It Takes a Woman to Raise a Village” in Mother Goose Meets a Woman Called
Wisdom: A Short Course in the Art of Self-Determination (United Church Press, 2000) pp. 26-40
9
Morrison, Toni “From Beloved” in My Soul is a Witness: African American Women’s Spirituality, ed.
Gloria Wade-Gayles (Beacon Press: Boston , 1995) 102-104
52 Another need expressed by Ebenezer’s women is to connect its mission work within a larger social justice context as reflected in the church’s mission of social transformation. This would be a ministry that in addition to “visiting the sick” and “clothing the naked” asks the question “why are so many people sick and naked and what can we as women of faith do about it?” The following statement by Dr. Renita Weems echoes this expressed desire among Ebenezer’s women: Our prayers and faith are not meant to make us accept the status quo. They should move us toward action. I want women to understand that their passion must be ignited in ways that make them stand up for and make their voices heard. I want women’s passions to spark the Rosa Parks and Fannie Lou Hamer in them to stand up and change the world. 10 IMPLICATIONS FOR EBENEZER The primary benefit of the ‘outputs’ derived from the key processes is the insight gained into how Ebenezer might position itself to better support spiritual formation among its growing, diverse congregation, and more effectively drive social transformation in the communities it serves. The key findings and lessons learned are instrumental in formulating strategies that address the following commonalities found across the key process: 1) The need for women‐centered space with attributes that focus on life issues, attracts and appeals to all women and maximizes Ebenezer’s strengths and resources; 2) The continued encouragement and support of mature Christian women in modeling true discipleship for the next generation of women; and, 3) The expansion of community outreach programs and services to address a more diverse range of local and global needs. 10
Stanley, Kathryn V. “The Relentless Pursuit of Joy and Purpose: Dr. Renita J. Weems’ Newest Book
Explores The Important Lesson in the Song of Solomon, Black Issues Book Review Magazine, March
2004.
53 III. DISCUSSION Spiritual Formation‐Individual Growth A ‘common thread’ interwoven between the internal and external assessments was the need for a women’s ministry that promotes and provides a “place for all women to worship, reflect on God’s word and rest in his presence e.g. a soft place to land”.11 There is a resounding desire for more opportunities to grow in the Christian faith ‐ more women focused worship experiences, bible and book study sessions and space for fellowship (internally and externally). In addition, new and existing younger female members are seeking a “soft place to land” without having to make a full time commitment to any one group or entity ‐ a nourishing, inclusive and engaging environment in which the wisdom and experience of mature Christian women are shared. Social Transformation ‐ Community Impact In spite of a history of relevant outreach programs, the changing face and needs of the community dictate a new set of standards and initiatives. Social, economic and political factors must be among the driving forces that reshape the current ministries; a relevant and sustainable women’s ministry must embrace new challenges and become ‘change agents’ in an urban and global community ‐ a community in which the landscape changes daily and the challenges become increasingly more complex. IV. AIMS RECOMMENDATIONS The information derived from the key processes maps the beginning of a path between Ebenezer’s present environment and its vision for the future. One of the questions embedded in the group conversations generated dialogue from which common themes and trends were identified. The question simply asked participants to articulate how the current women’s ministries promote spiritual formations ‐ individual growth and social transformation – community impact. In addition to the participants responses to that question, insight gained from the ministry surveys, external church visits and external research collectively provided a better understanding of ‘who we are’ and ‘where we are’, and drove the formulation of the AIMS for the Women’s Ministry Commission. The common themes delineated below represent not only strengths but also opportunities to accomplish more meaningful outcomes. The common themes also 11
Rev. Natosha Reid, Associate Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church, November, 2009.
54 form the basis for a roadmap to a future in which the needs of the church, its congregation and communities are better served. Spiritual Formation ‐ Individual Growth Themes: • Older women as role models, life coaches and mentors for younger women • Women‐centered study and interpretation of the Bible • Compassionate relationship building internal and external to the church • Exposure to nourishing groups that facilitate personal development and spiritual growth • Provide a “soft place to land” without a full time commitment Individual Growth Aim Statement The Aim of the Women’s Ministries at Ebenezer Baptist Church are to provide opportunities for women of all ages and life stages (1) to grow in their faith from knowledge to wisdom through women‐centered gatherings, that include in‐depth study and vibrant worship, designed to deepen an understanding of and relationship with Jesus Christ, self and others; and (2) to develop spirituality mature Christian women who model true discipleship through supportive and nurturing relationships with all women in a welcoming, loving and accepting atmosphere. Social Transformation – Community Impact Themes: • Strong mission circles with a history of community outreach programs • Lack of social justice initiatives; need to address critical social issues • Opportunity to assess the needs of those whom we serve • More diverse outreach programs • Meet people where they are Social Transformation Aim Statement The Aim of the Women’s Ministries at Ebenezer Baptist Church are to engage the women of the church in using their spiritual gifts to love and serve people in need through responsible outreach ministries that promote awareness and actions to address currently relevant social, political and economic issues that have a particular impact on women in the immediate community and the world. 55 VI. REFERENCES/RESOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Duncan, J. Ligon and Hunt, Susan, “Women’s Ministry in The Local Church”; Wheaton: Crossway ©2006 Hollies, Linda H. “It Takes a Woman to Raise a Village” in Mother Goose Meets a Woman Called Wisdom: A Short Course in the Art of Self‐Determination (United Church Press, 2000) pp. 26‐40 Hunt, Susan and Thompson, Barbara, “The Legacy of Biblical Womanhood”; Wheaton: Crossway ©2003 Rev. Al Miles, a Church of God minister and domestic violence prevention advocate argues in his book Domestic Violence: What Every Pastor Needs to Know that clergy in general have hindered rather than helped victims of domestic violence: “Our apathy, denial, exhortations, ignorance, misinterpretation of the Bible have added to women’s pain and suffering and placed them in even greater danger. . . . . [Clergy] have the responsibility to preach and teach the biblical truth of God’s love which binds women and men together as equals rather than ordering them in a hierarchy.(Augburg Fortress, 2000) Morrison, Toni “From Beloved” in My Soul is a Witness: African American Women’s Spirituality, ed. Gloria Wade‐Gayles (Beacon Press: Boston, 1995) 102‐104 Kraft, Vickie and Johnson, Gwyne, “Women Mentoring Women: Ways To Start, Maintain and Expand a Biblical Women’s Ministry”; Moody Publishers, 2003. Kotter, John P. “Leading Change”, Harvard Business School Press, 1996, pp. 51‐66 Kotter, John P. “A Sense of Urgency”, Harvard Business School Press, 2008, pp.1‐61 Kotter, John P. “The Heart of Change”, Harvard Business School Press, 2002, pp. 37‐60 Smooth, Pamela, “African American Baptist Women: Making A Way Out of No Way; Baptist History and Heritage, Summer‐Fall, 2007. Standley, Anne, “The Role of Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement” in Women in the Civil Rights Movement: Trailblazers and Torchbearers 1941‐19654, eds. Vicki Crawford, Jacqueline Rouse and Barbara Woods (Indiana University Press: Bloomington, 1993) 183‐202. Stanley, Kathryn V. “The Relentless Pursuit of Joy and Purpose: Dr. Renita J. Weems’ Newest Book Explores The Important Lesson in the Song of Solomon, Black Issues Book Review Magazine, March 2004. 56 V. APPENDICES The Women’s Ministry Commission Report’s Appendices are included in the following pages and in separate attachments. Appendix A: Recommendations Appendix B: Program Recommendations Appendix C: Ministry Operations, Comments/Recommendations Appendix D: Best Practices/Materials/Samples (Separate Attachment) Appendix E: Summary Reports, Ministry Surveys, Church Visits, Related Research (Separate Attachment) 57 APPENDIX A: RECOMMENDATIONS ► Conduct surveys (quantitative in design and content) to identify the needs of a broader representation of the congregation and the community. As the congregation grows, so does its diversity. The Commission process did not capture input specifically from the Anglo‐American and International women of the church. Quantitative research will provide a key strategic and critical piece of the puzzle in developing plans and ultimately a ministry that is truly “culturally competent and data driven”. An additional research tool is needed to identify the external needs of those whom we might serve better – there is an elementary school, senior center, women’s shelter, homeless shelter for men, etc. located in the community surrounding the church ► Conduct a ‘post mortem’ of the Commission process at this point. There are many lessons learned and insights gained that warrant discussion and perhaps modifications before advancing/progressing to the next phase. ► Form a ‘Guiding Coalition’ (recommended by John P. Kotter in “Leading Change”) to drive the change that is required to form a relevant and viable Women’s Ministry. One possibility is to form ‘Standing Councils’ for each of the ministries (women, children and youth, men, etc.) to serve in the capacity as Guiding Coalitions. ► Leadership team and key stakeholders should become grounded not only in scripture but also in John P. Kotter’s ‘framework for implementing change’, thus providing greater probability for success. Appendix B: PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS ► Sponsor a thematic event i.e. “A SOFT PLACE TO LAND” before the end of the year ‐ either a space to worship/fellowship or workshops/forums to begin to address “life issues” highlighted in the findings e.g. job loss, financial management, career management, etc. ► Develop a calendar for 2010 with women‐centered programs based on ‘lessons learned’ from the assessments and that promote a “Women’s Day feeling” throughout the year. There is an opportunity to immediately begin to program differently for all women. ► Adapt curriculum planned for the FALL session of the Christian Education Institute to reflect the need for more women‐centered content that address spiritual formation and growth; ensure that enough promotional collateral links any related classes to the Commission’s findings (i.e. to boost attendance ). Appendix C: MINISTRY OPERATIONS, COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS 58 ► Centralize current ministries under “one umbrella”: consolidates all resources, minimizes duplication, facilitates information sharing, creates a more efficient/effective interface to other ministries and promotes a more focused approach to addressing the needs of all women as well the communities served (internal and external). ►Coordinate an annual church calendar; this was an overwhelming recommendation from the women’s ministry surveys. A calendar reflecting events for the entire year will facilitate better planning and eliminate conflicts and duplications. ►Research computer software that will enable groups to schedule meeting rooms for single events or for a calendar year. Appendix D: BEST PRACTICES/MATERIALS/SAMPLES BEST PRACTICES SAMPLE: RAY OF HOPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH’S THEMATIC
EVENT ADDRESSING A CRITICAL LIFE ISSUE – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Daughters of Destiny Women's Ministry
Sister "CEO" Women's Gathering - "Girl, Get Your Money Straight!"
Monday, August 24, 2009 - 7:00 p.m.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greetings Sisters!
The Daughters of Destiny Women's Ministry of the Ray of Hope Christian Church invites you to our Sister "CEO"
Gathering - "Girl, Get Your Money Straight!" event being held on Monday, August 24, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the
Main Sanctuary.
This exciting 'For Sisters Only' women's gathering will feature Evangelist Sandra Riley who will dialogue with
women about how how to manage money, break away from negative spending patterns, build up your bank account, and
create multiple streams of income through new business ventures. Gain valuable tips and tools for how to become
financially savvy during this economic shift.
We invite every woman to bring at least one other woman and/or your women's ministry to join us for an interactive,
informative, and very insightful evening that you will not want to miss.
Nursery service will be available. For additional information, please see the flyer below or contact us at 770.696.5100,
Ext. 209 or via email at [email protected].
Please don't miss this opportunity to receive a blessing! Feel free to forward this email to all of your friends!
Yours in Christian Love & Sisterhood,
Rev. Tonya Sumter, Min. to Women
Ray of Hope Christian Church
Daughters of Destiny Women's Ministry
Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, Senior Pastor
59 60 APPENDIX E: SUMMARY REPORTS, MINISTRY SURVEYS, CHURCH VISITS,
RELATED RESEARCH
1)
2)
3)
4)
FOCUS GROUPS (Summary Reports, Recorders’ Notes, List of Questions)
INTERNAL MINISTRY ASSESSMENT(Summary Reports, Surveys)
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT/BEST PRACTICES (Summary Report)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN-EXTERNAL RESEARCH (Global Prospective; United
Way’s Five Year Strategic Plan
61 SECTION 1: FOCUS GROUPS (Summary Report, Recorders’ Notes)
WOMEN’S MINISTRY COMMISSION SUMMARY REPORT: INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS – FOCUS GROUPS (Focus groups conducted: July 16; July 22; July 23) (REVISIONS 08/17/09) COMMON THEMES/KEY FINDINGS STRENGTHS •strong mission circles; objectives address members and community outreach •open forums for women in which information and wisdom are shared and participants bond (i.e. provides a sense of family, sisterhood and inclusiveness) •provides a space to grow and listen to what God has to say; an opportunity to discuss strengths and abilities, identify spiritual gifts; build interpersonal skills, planning and implementation skills; chance to grow as leaders •provides ‘live Christian women’ as role models who aid personal growth and spiritual formation – who can address the gamut of life’s experiences: births, deaths, graduations, divorces, marriages, etc. and yet maintain a commitment to God; some of the older women even become surrogate mothers •ministries put a face on Ebenezer in the community that extends beyond its historical profile/presence •succession planning for the next generation of leaders • exposure to nourishing groups and more specifically women with talents, gifts, education – facilitates personal development and spiritual growth •ushering allows one to become an ambassador for Ebenezer WEAKNESSES • ‘perception gap’ that ministries are open to the interests and passions of young women and are willing to embrace change and embrace younger people • ‘perception’ that some ministries are divided by age; not a welcoming environment •same people doing the same thing all of the time •confrontational behavior exhibited by some ministry members is a ‘turn‐off’ for new members 62 •current written information, retreats, personal recruitments, special events newsletters and personal invitations are not effective in getting the message of the ministries communicated across the congregation; need more public relations to address the ministries and their work, accomplishments, etc. •a lot of charity work being done but it does not address the underlying problems i.e. lack of social justice initiatives OPPORTUNITIES •Move in the direction in which the community is going in order to remain relevant; the changing face of the community presents an opportunity to assess and address the needs of those whom we serve •create a more unified and effective ministry structure (under ‘one umbrella’) that encompasses all of the current ministries with a focus on issues, topics and solutions that address all women •become more selfless and less focused on service; focus on more diverse needs and life issues– financial, health (physical and mental), adult literacy, etc. •recruit more younger women; utilize ‘surveys’ as a tool to identify needs and interests of the 25 to 40 age group •create a strong ministry that carries the ‘WOMEN’S DAY feeling’ throughout the year •form alliances/partnerships with community based organizations (including other churches) to address critical social issues •meet people where they are‐not where we think they should be •address ‘life issues’ i.e. spousal abuse, financial management, professionalism, business etiquette and career planning, etc; not force young women to turn to their “crazy girlfriends” for advice and counsel •translate social justice issues into a ministry •develop curriculum (within the Christian Education Institute) to address spiritual formation and growth with a focus on women •provide child care; create a more family‐oriented environment •provide more spiritual guidance, more diverse outreach initiatives and opportunities for fellowship outside the church THREATS •”Ebenezer is on the cusp of being irrelevant and overshadowed by other churches” (Dr. Renita Weems) •not ready for the “world responsibility” (both political and social) that is the residual of Dr. King’s legacy 63 •lack of community awareness of many of the ministries •adapts to change too slowly (if at all) •ministries not attractive to a broad enough base of young women (especially the 30s before 40 age range) •no ministry that specifically addresses the needs of young girls and young women •not a lot of opportunities for spiritual growth for all women– need a “SOFT PLACE TO FALL” (quarterly group sessions) •inability to retain new members, especially younger women and men, and families (these are segments of the general population that contribute to a congregation’s growth) 64 Women’s Commission Focus Group
Thursday July 16, 2009
Facilitator: Alyson Morrissette; Recorder: Debra Shields
Below are the notes from the Thursday, July 16th Focus Group (team 1) meeting.
The Focus Group meeting was called to order at 6:06 pm by Co-Chair Kathryn Stanley. Prayer
led by Linda Dees. Co- Chair Stanley informed the ladies in attendance of the purpose of the
meeting, outlined the agenda and meeting structure, and introduced the Focus Group facilitators
(Alyson Morrissette facilitator for team 1; Kathryn Stanly facilitator for team 2). Alyson then led
the group in introductions by asking each lady to give one or two words why they chose to attend
the meeting and what her vision for the ministry was. The sisters shared words of commitment,
growth, to learn, hope, curiosity, support, cooperation, excitement, change, embracing change,
relationships, and spiritual upbuilding of the women's ministry of Ebenezer. Our Commission
Consultant, Dr. Henderson, gave a brief overview of the church purpose statement and the
ministry commission statement. After an explanation of the group ground rules, Alyson began the
roundtable question and answer session.
Questions:
1. Thoughts about the church's women's ministries
(a) strengths of ministries - the women's knowledge of the history of the church; the different
outreach projects of the circles of the Women’s Missionary Union; Pastoral staff support and
outreach relations formed; fellowship; spiritual growth; numbers; informative support groups;
longevity of WMU and how it has remained relevant and applicable to current day situations as a
church and society.
(b) positives results of a ministry activity - once an uninterested sister became involved
via an invitation to serve the residents at a local nursing home. Thereafter she wanted to join the
circle and become active in the ministry; new member approached by sisters soon after joining
the church was welcomed and invited to join a certain ministry. This made her feel welcome and
involved; fell of inclusiveness and space for growth; see examples of Christian women has
enhanced personal Christian growth; willingness to embrace change; feel of family, guidance,
words of encouragement; spiritual retreats;
(c) Appreciate most about ministries / or programs you have been a part of - support
and opportunity to bond; appreciation, caring, bonding; love and fellowship among the sisters;
opportunity to take the presence of GOD to others; opportunity to put faith into action;
relationships that develop and grow; commitment.
2. (a) Impressions of the ministries participated in - Tradition; opportunity to learn spiritual
growth; tireless service; determination, spirit filled, willingness to embrace change; room for
growth; togetherness, continuity - women will keep things going;
(b) Benefits/values of being in or participating in ministries - Opportunity to serve;
exposure to all the women's talents; relationships formed helped to strengthen faith walk; learning
to agree to disagree; getting to know other spirited filled sisters.
65 (c) Challenges or gaps experienced - room / opportunity to do more at a faster pace;
newer, younger members not feeling welcome or where they fit in; lack of information on different
ministries and the programs they offer; fear and/or reluctance to embrace change; lack of
spiritual training programs; all the ministries appearing to work against one another - not aware of
what each ministry is doing; unity.
3. Currently, what is most important about ministries - service and presence in the
community, adapt to change in community; variety of opportunities to be involved; in pace with
currently community needs; Christian growth; continue what we are doing and enhance services
based on need; there are many women who are willing to participate just need to know what
ministries platforms are and be invited to participate.
(b) What should be future focus - Utilize the umbrella approach and bring all women’s
ministries together; growing membership - more informative literature about the ministries;
continue to do what we're doing but do it better and be open to embrace change; focus on us
more, address the sister's needs; cohesiveness, strengthen ourselves internally; more activities
that include the women of Ebenezer regardless of age; monthly fellowships.
4. How did you learn about purpose of ministries - Retreats, church bulletin and newsletter,
word of mouth, individual invitations from the older sisters to fellowship and get involved, calling
posts, ministry chairs/presidents, pulpit announcements, ministry fairs.
5. How do ministries contribute toward:
(a) Individual growth/Spiritual formation - learning/observing other's faith walk; praying with
each other; reading the Word; just the fellowship with spirited-filled sisters enhances growth and
development.
(b) Social transformation/Community Impact - Sharing our time and talents with those who
are less fortunate than us; not afraid to go out into the community and find out what and where
the needs are; creating more opportunities for community outreach projects and take it to the
community.
6. What could ministries do to better meet question 5a/b - survey of needs and opportunity
for growth; strategic planning; find a way to increase the women's participation; more
opportunities for the women to gather just to fellowship; more participation in the EBC Christian
education institute; encourage one another to come to church, Sunday school, WMU, WOW, get
involved!
7. Please share any ideas, suggestions, comments you would like to express about the
women's ministries - Embrace the umbrella approach - all the ministries come together in unity;
continuity of leadership; try to get more women involved - embrace age groups; be willing to meet
people where they are rather than expecting everyone to accept the way we do things all the
time; provide child care - this may attract more women who have small children and don't
participate because of the lack of a babysitter.
Closing prayer by Sister Daisy Russell. Meeting adjourned at 8:40pm.
66 Women’s Commission Focus Group
Thursday July 16, 2009
Facilitator: Kathie Stanley; Recorder: Debra Shields
Ms. Kathy Stanley opened the Focus Group by stating the ladies thoughts were
needed for the Women’s Ministry that they were involved in.
Ms Stanley started out with I Corinthians 11:10, she provided the vision statement and ask the group what
the statement means to them, she also told the group that Rosie Thomas had explained to her about the
many ministries at the church.
What is the difference from Spiritual growth and numerical growth, are you doing ministry? Connie Walton
stated you could have fifteen members or thirty members who are not spiritually grounded.
Kathy asked the group if anyone had more to say on the vision statement. She assured them that the
information would be kept confidential, but a report would be compiled and given to Commission Leaders
and the Pastor.
How can you be both urban based and global at the same time? Kim stated that we are in the inner city and
we are trying to keep the neighborhoods informed of what is going on the church.
We are also working on state matters and outside of Georgia, for instance Hurricane Katrina.
Mrs. Jones stated that she has been out of the country and speaking with others and Ebenezer is known by
the works that has been done and what is currently being done.
Individual growth and spiritual formation, the issues that our pastor is addressing we are not keeping the
gospel to ourselves.
Mrs. Shipp noted that Ebenezer is a member of AMIS, and the criteria of the students are they must come
and visit the churches that are participating. Ebenezer gives each student a gift card from a restaurant as a
part of our commitment to the program.
Kathy made sure that each participates understood that all the ministries in the church will have you be
aligned with the purpose statement.
Kathy informs all of the ground rules, nothing should be repeated, keep answers short and precise. She
noted that Clarice Conley would be the timekeeper. Please answer questions that are asked, if you think
you will forget write them down. You may turn the sheets in filled out if feel more comfortable with that
process. Kathy asked to turn all cell phones off.
Kathy stated that the group needed to give their thoughts about the church’s women’s ministries.
Question 1A – the StrengthsKim said that the women’s ministries are consistent. Capable leaders to carry out the mission when it’s time
to change officers it continues to be strong, last president continues to work with the group.
67 LaFonda – the people are caring and they are passionate for others, not about themselves, but for others.
Mattie- the circles are focused and in synch.
Mrs. Jones – The circles focus on sisterhood and service, mission, devotion. Focus on the needy. Also the
bible study is dear to her heart. (Women at the Well) The instructor relates to present day issues. They are
sharing and supportive.
1B Share one positive result that you are aware of –
Mrs. Shipp stated that her WMU Circle carries baby items to Grady for the Teen age mothers that are
unable to buy for the baby, they provide item such as diapers baby wipes shirts and other clothing that are
they asked to bring
Mrs. Jones said that the WMU provides hair care at one of the nursing homes, members go and wash and
press the heads of the residents. She also said that the women at the Well deal with members by sharing
their situations and it is very helpful because they are able to discuss the issue.
Connie- Circle members have a chance to visit and assess the needs of the members they are visiting and
can give that information to the WMU and Rev. Darryl Roberts so the needs can be met.
1C What do you appreciate most about the Women’s Ministries or programs and services that you have been a part of? Kim- the fellowship and the building of relationships, time to meet new members and share ideas
LaFonda- How the members that have been there longer embrace the new members
Clarice-When attending The Women at the Well Bible Study was a great place to get to know all age
groups. Great place to come when you are a new member. Able to relate the discussions to every day life.
2What
Kathy answered what had been stated: WMU, Women at the Well, Deaconess and singing Sisters.
Kim- Was a member of the Singing Sister for a little over a year, enjoyed the fellowship, meeting other
members of the group. Another positive that came from the Singing Sisters was the Women’s Day Chorus.
Hattie Shipp- Was a Deaconess at her former church, and was welcomed into the Deaconess Ministry at
Ebenezer. The one thing that she loves about the ministry is the ending where each member is able to get
a hug and kiss one another. The other responsibilities are make sure Water is in the pulpit, to wash all
communion utensils. All members are asked to come to all funerals in uniform to show their support for the
family. They also accompany the Pastor to all in-town services.
Benefits
Fellowship, spiritual growth caring, sharing and how you are responded to when you go through grief and
loss. It helps on your journey.
Connie- Most helpful.
68 Challenges And Gaps
2C- Kim- would like to now what the other circles are doing? There are ten or eleven circles. How they can
come together? What are the circles doing differently or maybe we all come together
Mrs. Jones- How to find a meeting place in the church, sometimes you have to cancel because there is no
place to meet.
Hattie Shipp- The challenge for the Deaconess Board is that they need younger women to help perform the
services that are needed.
LaFonda- Wanted to know what are the physical needs to be done on the Deaconess Board?
Hattie Shipp- To prepare the water for service; wash the utensils; can’t get up the steps; can’t stay after
church.
Clarice- Feels that no effort to ask for younger members, no one ever asks.
Hattie- Appointments are made by the Pastor and voted on by the church.
Mrs. Jones- Would like to see more women join the Bible Study, more women would benefit.
KIM- Did not realize that the Women at the Well still meets
Mattie- when attending new members training different organizations would come to identify their ministries.
Feels as though More representatives from the ministries should come to the New Member Training
Clarice- Feels as though there should be more marketing for all members, all do not know of the ministries
that take place at the church. Need a listing of all ministries and what they are about.
Hattie- Knew a lot people at the church people were asking her to join different ministries she waited a year
before she got involved.
Catritia Aycock comes into the group. She is welcomed by Kathy.
3 What do you think is most important about the women’s ministries currently? What should be their future focus? Mrs. Jones- The fellowship
Catritia – Mission
What should be it’s future focus?
Kathy summed up the statements on focus :Fellowship Focus, mission, love outreach, want them all to grow
encouraging more to join
Mrs. Jones- internal outreach is good
Clarice- More marketing
69 4 How did you learn about the purpose of the Women’s Ministry HOW DID YOU GET INFORMATION
ABOUT THE MINISTRY?
Mrs. Shipp- Knew people that pulled her into the ministry
Kathy asked Mrs. Jones how did she find out Women at the Well?
Mrs. Jones- Was there when it started and liked it and never left.
Mrs. Butler – Only involved in one ministry, Rose Howell pulled her in.
Clarice- Ministries were listed on the back of the bulletin, we had a different kind of bulletin. Name drew her
to the Women at the Well. One Saturday morning she just showed up to find more about it.
Kathy summe (sic)
LaFonda- was asked to join the circle
Mrs. Jones- was asked to join her circle
WMU Day a table is out front that list each circle and what it’s about.
How do you know what the ministries do?
Kim- People were told after they joined the organization.
Hattie Shipp- You learn as you go
Catritia- Was given a manual that told you what Deaconess should do. The book outlined what should be
done. Requirements as a member
Hattie- A monthly calendar of what you should do. There are six teams for the Deaconess
Kathy asked how do you know when the ministries meet: Members stated, emails, phone calls, calling
posts, bullentin
Clarice- That information is on available to the members, a new would not knnow all this information. I
don’t know if the new members training gives you that information
Hattie- At one time they gave you a booklet with all of that information
Kim- We have a Ministry fair that is very effective for the choir
Hattie- Always after the second service
LaFonda- Needs dates when the ministries meet
Clarice- Once again that good for new members, but there is a need for all members
5 How do the women’s ministries contribute to the individual growth
Mrs. Jones- Bible study discussion groups reestablish prayer partners
Connie-The WMU more programs devoted to spiritual things, each circle does devotion once a month
70 -
Kim- Cottage Prayer Retreat, looks at the Bible for spiritual growth looks at the scripture.
Mrs. Jones- Cottage Prayer retreat Gives specific instructions on how to visit, what to say and how to
say it.
Kim- Music Ministry, Singing sisters songs relates to scripture for more spiritual growth, they also pray
to help promote spiritual Growth
Community Impact
Catritia- The WMU goes out to visit different shelters, each circle goes to feed once a month and inter act
with the residents. The members take care of a nursing home with a Hair care ministry once per month, and
fellowship with the members.
Connie- Patients are lined up for hair care and enjoy the spiritual foundation they receive as well.
Mrs. Jones- Rev Rhodes brings the young ladies from Spelman College and have a program called Praise
Fest
How Do Women Embrace Social Justice Issues?
Connie- A member was involved in a car accident, Attorney Dees gave him direction.
Kathy asked what about poverty issues
Clarice- There is no organized way to handle this from the women’s Ministry
Connie- We were involved in the Stephens Ministry to help in issues of Rape, etc.
Hattie- We are involved in the Prison Ministry
6 What could the ministries do for Spiritual Growth and
Social Transformation
Catritia- We should have a Sunday School class just for women, to learn more about issues that involve
women now and in the Biblical Days.
Mrs. Jones- social Transformation should look at Domestic Violence, Divorce cases for women, cases
involving children. I know there are willing to work
Clarice- Would be willing to work on cases such as spousal abuse divorce, mental issues, who do you go
to? Some times the Pastor is not the best person. Needs to be more organized needs spiritual counselors.
Mrs. Jones- Church has professional people that could help.
Hattie- The church needs to what has been mentioned per Clarice and Mrs. Jones has said. The women
that have been dissatisfied that have marched around the church needs some help.
Elderly needs help that are living by themselves
Hattie – One lady in the church needs help. Has been driving her car, is disoriented some times.
Kim- Looking at some these same issues in the Health and Wellness.
71 7 Please share additional ideas
Kim- We need to have more of A soft Place to land
Clarice – What we are doing more with Women’s Day. A minister speaks on a book. Enjoy more about
women’s day this year.
Hattie- We have had a class about Women in the Bible. We had to give reports on the women in the Bible.
I had to report on midwives in the Bible
Clarice-Since we mentioned A Soft Place to Land perhaps we could come together quarterly to have more
of A Soft Place to land.
Mrs. Jones- I agree
LaFonda- Women should embrace more young Women, and to hear the young women’s voices.
Kathy- Ladies you can answer the questions on the sheet and turn them in. Think about it when you get
home and fill it out and bring back, or email them back.
Kathy read one of the articles about Mother Goose Meets a Woman called Wisdom written by Linda hollies ,
and we were adjourned
72 Women’s Commission
Focus Group
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Facilitator: Sarah Finch; Recorder: Debra Shields
Rosie Thomas opened the Focus Group; Sarah Finch was the Facilitator for this
group session.
Sarah asked all the ladies that were not on the Commission to introduce themselves. She encouraged all to
speak what was in their hearts. The ladies were told that a list of the Women’s groups was in their packet.
1. We want to discuss your thoughts about the church’s women’s ministries.
a. What are the strengths of these ministries?
Lisa – The ministries allow you to meet more women and to feel more connected.
Andrea- Different Circle of the WMU can come together
Gladys- Getting to know other women, plus you have a common goal
Cynthia- I have not joined anything because of the way I work, I’m here find out more about the women’s
ministries.
b. Share one positive result of a ministry activity that you have experienced or are aware of?
Pam- The Family and Friends Day. I had the opportunity to work the table for the Ladies Usher Board and
to see how things operated.
Andrea- Actually working through the WMU I had the opportunity to go to the Genesis Shelter. I am able to
connect with the residents and their kids. Opportunity to minister and invite the residents to church.
Hattie- Ditto to Andrea, and to Pam. That is how I learned who people were.
Gladys- The experience with the WMU, the mission work that we do through the WMU, our hands on
Projects such as making Easter baskets for the kids. It’s helps with the fellowship.
Alyson- At one time the mission circle would go offsite to the mountains, have bible study work on our
agenda. We had a positive experience. You could let loose. We invited a minister that was not connected
to Ebenezer and we prayed, talked in tongues said whatever was on your heart.
Kathy- I have attended Prayer breakfast’s for the last three years; always found it inspirational.
b. What do appreciate most about the women’s ministries (or the programs and services you have been a
part of related to this ministry)?
Gladys- the opportunity to find out what kind of ability and talent I had. I was always shy. Was able to share
your talents.
73 Lisa- How opened it was to join the Usher Board. A need was expressed and I got involved
Andrea- In our circle we go out in search to find what we can do that is important
Pam – Always heard the word “Doorkeeper” and it made her feel good. I am able to see everyone coming
and going.
Hattie- It is interesting to see when people came to church and where they sit, sometimes the pastor has
finished his sermon
2. What women’s ministries (programs or services) have you participated in?
Sarah stated that the ladies usher Board and the WMU had been mentioned.
a. What are your impressions of these ministries?
Pam- We can become stronger, we are divided by age. We will work to become closer.
Andrea- A good foundation, needs to be more welcomed to younger people. Younger ladies ask her why
she became a member of the WMU? The WMU needs to be focused on bringing younger ladies to the
organization
Kathy- If you are on the outside looking in there is the 80-20 rule. The same people doing the same thing.
More people sitting than doing.
Clarice- I think it fits here there is a perception that Missionaries are older adult organization a PR kind of
thing. There is a perception problem
Lisa- Pam is right, the Usher Board is divided with a lot of drama. You have to have strong personality to
come to the meeting and still remain a member. Most young ladies leave. The meetings are a bit much;
meetings are also pretty raw.
Gladys- I will agree with that, younger people are members, I was the president of the WMU and I wondered
what I could the members that were older, but I was able to carry the meeting on. Times do change and
everyone can bring something to the table. The ladies have supported her. The Ladies Board does not
want to change.
Pam- On a more personal side, I like the fact that my daughter can see me usher and I can set an example
for her.
Andrea- working with the outreach of the WMU I see a positive change.
Lisa- Being an usher is a great opportunity to be an Ambassador for the church; it’s very liberating.
You should always be kind to the visitors; you are the first that they come in contact with. Being in a
ministry you feel more connected to your church.
Gladys- I agree, growing up here, I watched my mother being involved in a lot of ministries, seemed to help
me. You get to meet all people and form great relationships, I did not know Allyson, but we became great
friends and I am godmother to her son.
Sarah - You learn how to get along with other women, you could easily stay home, but you would never get
to meet anyone. You learn you can’t have your way all the time. It is a great learning experience.
74 c. -What are some of the challenges or gaps experienced by the women’s ministries programs or services
Lisa- I didn’t know about most of these ministries, not aware of what is available, then it would be hard to get
active.
Andrea- Pass
Mrs. Farris- Some of us don’t know what these ministries are. Some ladies are more likely to find out and
others aren’t.
Cynthia- When they had Family and Friends Day, I was trying to find out about each ministry to find my
place. I left with the idea that the members of the ministry did not know much about them. One lady from
the choir continues to ask her has she found her place? The usher gets to meet all the people. At some
mega churches where they have 15,000 to 20,000 they exude love. That’s how you get people to join.
Pat- Maybe we need a class on how to greet people. It’s hard to break the mold.
Hattie- I knew a lot of people when I joined here because of my work at Atlanta Public Schools. I attended
the new members training class which was about eight weeks and got to know the people in that group.
Different organizations came to the class and reached out, but people won’t join. I also thought that if you
were a missionary you had to look solemn
Clarice- From a perspective, I did not grow up here, it is more difficult to get to know people. You do need
to attend new members’ training, that is a problem to get them to attend. Younger women can be an
ambassador for the circles.
Kathy- A lot of ministries do a lot of stuff. Opportunities like “A Soft Place to land” would be a great start.
3. What do you think is most important about the women’s ministries currently? What should the focus
be?
Hattie- Women’s Day was the first place where I volunteered I could get to meet more people. One lady ask
me for my money and I told her that I wanted to become a Women’s Day Captain, I guess I’ve been a
captain for over eight years. That year a lady gave me her money because she liked the way I act.
Andrea- There are opportunities to worship with a lot of people. Learn more about simple life things. We
should be able to learn from everyone.
Lisa- The church is a sanctuary. A lot of us subscribe to essence magazine there should be ministries to
address these problems, real issues abuse, domestic violence, rather than talking with your friends
Cynthia- Most of you should have observed younger people are joining the church, they have needs a
shoulder to cry on. One Sunday there was a young lady crying next to her she asked her to step out into
the narthex, so I prayed with her, she had an abusive mother, she needed love. You know that Ebenezer is
a renowned church. We have to get ready that’s why I’m here. My mother wants me to get involved in the
church as a worker. Ebenezer has to be ready for the world, because they will hold this church
accountable, such as the political arena. It might be through prayer, intercessory prayer, feeding and
clothing. A revelation came to me, they are all coming from all races, and the gay community. As women
we need to take care of business.
At that moment, Clarice told Cynthia her time was up.
Sarah asked all to keep their answers short, because we had more questions to get through.
75 4. How did you lean about the purpose of the women’s ministries?
Sarah told the group that tool us back to question 2c, to family and friends Day. Earlier we had said that we
have not been informed, just given pamphlets, that reminded her of the Seventh
Day Adventist knew all about the ministry.
Pam- If it was not for Deborah shields kept encouraging me to join the ladies usher Board, she continued to
tell me not to become a pew member but to get active in the church.
Mrs. Farris- we need more people to greet and explained the ministries to the members.
Clarice- Needs existing members to talk with members already in the church to explain the different
ministries to them.
Deborah- Explained to the ladies that there are members of Membership Nurture calling all that join to
welcome them to the church and get them to come to the new members training and to get involved. She
also told them that they all are members if the Birthmonth clubs and they could reach out to the new
members to get them involved.
Mrs. Underwood-Told the ladies that Mrs. Alberta King had called her to get involved in the church.
5. How does the women’s ministries contribute toward
a. individual growth/Spiritual formation
Andrea Individual growth/Spiritual formation; when she joined the circle there was Mrs. Underwood and one
other active member. Mrs.Underwood taught her a lot about the circle and other organizations. She enjoys
going to the Genesis Shelter and playing with the kids. Mrs. Underwood continues to help her.
Lisa- Helps women to work together being committed. Being responsible and accountable
Gladys- You meet other people learn to deal with personalities, learning what happens with the office staff
and their procedure.
Clarice- being a part of a ministry it should help you to grow. A variety of opportunities exist, able to find out
your gifts and service. If you have a passion for something that is where should be.
Social transformation- you are doing something to make a difference.
6. What could the women’s ministries do to better to meet these elements (5a/b) of the Church’s Purpose?
a. Sarah- More programs like “Soft landings”
Roslyn- I’m not in any ministries could not choose what I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to be in one that
does a lot. I think there should be small cell s groups with age 25-35 to have in-depth Bible study that would
help you as a Christian woman. Needs more things like Women’s day to continue throughout the entire
year.
Kathy- Community impact, we need to look at what the circles are doing to see if there is a need that not
being met. Joining together on projects. This is a struggle for Church universal, all are doing a lot of charity
work feeding , needs to have a larger solution for those that continue to come back a lager solution for
justice issues. Would not be a revolving door.
7 Please share any ideas, suggestions, comments you would like to express about the women’s ministries?
Pam- I did not know the church has all the ministries. I have had a couple of ideas to start Christina’s
Closet. We could gather up clothes for women, children and even men to help replenish school supplies
76 throughout the school year. Another suggestion a Christmas Tree for needy that would have names
attached and get gifts for the individual. Pam point was that she did not know the Christmas Tree idea
existed.
Andrea- Stated that her circle is working on a project called “Working on the future not the Past”. This
concerns young girls that are prostitutes and the state has received a grant to work to help alleviate this
problem.
Clarice- We need to be proactive, we should be on the cusp of what is happening. Arrange our activities
around what is going on. All should know of what projects are going on in the church. Communication is the
key.
Mrs. Underwood- We need to come together.
Cynthia- There is someone here from most groups. What are there group s doing?
Alyson- The WMU goal is to minister to the sick and shut in. All circles have the same mission that’s why
they overlap, but they also have other projects that do. We also support local and global missions. We
should receive the information from the Pastoral Staff.
77 Young Adults Focus Group July 22, 2009 Facilitators: Kathie Stanley, Rosie Thomas; Recorder: Rosie Thomas What do you need for your own spiritual growth?
Have more spiritual guidance, more outreach services and fellowships outside of the
church.
Continued Commitment
What do you need?
Family-oriented environment
Spiritual relevancy
Outreach
Continued Commitment
What are challenges of external ministries?
Without the Pastor attending the meetings attendance was very low
Where should their focus lie in the future?
Spiritual Relationships, re-launching the ministry and targeting young adults 25-40
Pre-Planning….have a curriculum at least 6-months out. Make sure that the meetings are
consistent and that they crossover into other ministries. PLANNING ON PURPOSE
Provide childcare…maybe partnering with the college ministry to volunteer childcare services.
Recruiting – Survey’s, have the Pastor make a plea from the pulpit for them to stay a few minutes
after service to get some feedback about the ministry and what they would like to see happen.
Communication – very effective via e-mails, Facebook and the Pastor announcing the meetings
from the pulpit
Outreach:
Going to jails and speaking to young adults/doing bible studies
Habitat for Humanity
Mentoring
78 Why aren’t you part of a Mission Circle?
Too much fussing and negative attitudes;
Not a welcoming environment;
A lot of push back for new ideas/members;
Conversations were about money and not enough volunteering commitments.
When and where were meetings held?
Meetings were mainly held Every 2nd Thursday of the month @ 7:00pm
at javaology (local coffee shop on Edgewood that recently closed down).
When was the ministry started?
Two years ago by Pastor Warnock
79 Additional notes from Focus Group July 22, 2009
Added comment:
I think that we should consider a ministry that assists women especially young women with basic
professionalism issues, such as proper business etiquette and career planning.
I also think that if we do not have a ministry dedicated to adult literacy that would be a valuable
ministry.
Combined Answers to Question 1
a).They are consistent especially WMU all circles are in sink – Focus on Service
Consistent sisterhood and service, bible study, support
b). Should donate baby clothes for teen-age mothers @ Grady yearly. The girls don’t
have clothes for their babies when they go home
c). Soft place to land
Combined Answers to Question 2
c). Meeting space, need to include younger members, External outreach
Recruitment of members, marketing, Logistics
Combined Answers to Question 5
a). Bible Study, Prayer, Cottage Prayer Retreat, A Soft Place to Land, Fellowship
b). Genesis Shelter, Hair Care, Prayer Breakfast,
Combined Answers to Question 6
Study classes just for Women, Church School, and Spousal Abuse
Combined Answers to Question 7
Soft place to Land – quarterly, Women’s Bible Study class, Embrace Change –
embracing younger people
Partnering with other organizations on an ongoing basis.
80 FOCUS GROUP AGENDA AND QUESTIONS
Focus Group Agenda
Community Conversations
Begin with Introductions of facilitators and recorders Thank the participants for sharing and invite them to introduce themselves (quickly) Make sure everyone has a name tag Review the Church Purpose Statement and Ministry Commission purpose Ground Rules
Instruct the group that the facilitators you will do the following:  Keep the group focused  Encourage everyone to participate in the conversation  Maintain momentum – responses should be relatively brief and related to the question  Ensure that everyone participates by allowing a reasonable amount of time for each person to share  Ensure that responses are provided within the spirit of the process of a community conversation; non‐confrontational, no personal acquisitions and nonthreatening. Provide each participant a copy of the focus group questions Ask each question exactly as written – REPEAT the question twice. General Questions
1. We want to discuss your thoughts about _________ church ministry.
a. What in your opinion are the strengths of this ministry?
b. Share one positive result of a ministry activity that you have experienced or are
aware of?
c. What do you appreciate most about the _______ ministry (or the programs and
services you have been a part of related to this ministry)?
2. What _________ ministries (programs or services) have you participated in?
a. What are your impressions of this ministry?
b. What has been the benefit/value of being in or participating in the _____
ministry?
c. What are some of the challenges or gaps experienced by the _______ministry
programs or services?
81 3. What do you think is most important about the __________ ministry currently? What
should be its future focus?
4. How did you learn about the purpose of the ________ministry?
a. How did you get information about this ministry?
i. How do you know what the ministry(s) does?
ii. How do you know when the ministries meets (i.e. date, times, etc.)?
5. How does the __________ ministry contribute towards:
a. Individual growth/Spiritual formation
b. Social transformation/Community Impact
6. What could this ministry do to better meet these elements (5a/b) of the Church Purpose?
7.
Please share any ideas, suggestions, comments you would like to express about the
________ ministry?
82 SECTION 2: INTERNAL MINISTRY ASSESSMENTS (Summary Reports, Surveys)
Women’s Ministry Commission Internal Assessments Clarice G. Conley, July 30, 2009 Participating Women’s Ministries: WMU (Women’s Missionary Union): Includes the following: Carrie Dean Boston Circle Mary Beth Slade Circle Rosa Lee Spear Circle Jennie C. Williams Circle Azzie Lee Neal Circle Hines Rogers Circle Circle of Faith Janie B. Lowe Circle Lizzie Thomas Circle Esther Roberts Circle ACTEENS Other Women’s Ministries Women’s Dance Women At The Well Deaconess Board Ladies Usher Board TAMM Women’s Day Committee Singing Sisters 83 Brief Synopsis Strengths: All ministries listed have a strong sense of mission and have dedicated members. The missionary units feed the poor, clothe the naked, care for the sick, comfort those in need and visit those in prisons. Other ministries provide a “soft place to land” for women in Bible study and expressions of praise through dance. They are also the “gatekeepers” of our church and dedicated women who take care of the needs of the pastor and the church. Challenges: There is a need for coordination of church resources in terms of meeting space and scheduling of events and activities. This is not only a need for women’s ministries, but the church as a whole. Many of the faithful members of various ministries are challenged by age and physical ability. There is also the challenge of timely communication between ministries and church leadership. Some feel the response time from leadership is not adequate in order to accomplish new or creative initiatives. Opportunities: A repeating theme is the need for ongoing recruitment of new and/or younger women to get involved in mission work and other ministries. Within the missionary units, the desire for a yearly activity calendar would promote clarity and unity among the various groups. Coordination of the scheduling of church meeting spaces would reduce confusion and establish regular times and locations for meetings. Summaries from Questionnaire (Below are the nine questions that were asked of each of the women’s ministries listed above. The response is a brief summary of the essential details of participants’ answers.) 1. What are the strengths of the ministry? With more than 75% of Women’s Ministries falling under the umbrella of the Women’s Missionary Union, the majority of the responses to strengths stressed mission outreach and service, fellowship, and encouraging compassionate relationships within and outside the church body. The WMU functions as the central coordinating unit that schedules and organizes mission activities, establishes rules, policies and manages the budget. (For the purposes of simplicity, I will refer to the mission circles as a unit under the umbrella of WMU.) The Women’s Dance, Women at the Well, Deaconess Board, and the Ladies Usher Board stated strengths related to their unique missions. Women’s Dance – expressing praise and worship through dance; Women at the Well – Woman‐centered Bible study group; 84 Deaconess Board – service to the Pastor and the Church; Ladies Usher Board – welcoming visitors and members to worship. AcTeens stated their strength was its involvement of teens in missions, although the mission is not active in 2009. Therefore, this ministry’s responses are not reflected in the following questions. 2. What are the ministry objectives? The Mission circles, under the coordination of the WMU, have similar service objectives involving visiting the sick and shut‐in, nursing homes, prison ministry, homeless shelters, mothers and young children. Members of separate circles join to support the activities of other circles. Members of the circles not only serve the needs of people, they are also dedicated to spreading the message of Jesus Christ. The Women’s Dance ministry’s objective has not been formally developed as of this writing. However, they are focused on being integrated with the Music and Worship Arts Ministry and other women’s ministries. The Women at the Well ministry introduces a woman‐
centered study and interpretation of the Bible. This ministry is also a social support group for the women of Ebenezer. The Deaconess Board described their objectives in terms of the services they render to the church and to the Pastor. They clean and store the communion trays and plates, provide and prepare the pulpit elements (water and utensils) each Sunday, assist in preparing candidates for baptism, provide monetary donations for members in need, attend funerals and recognize member contributions during special events. The Ladies Usher Board’s objectives were also related to their activities; distribute church bulletins, welcome members and visitors, and to collect offering. 3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives? The WMU circles participate in numerous outreach projects supporting various service organizations throughout the city. They include: 
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Serve lunch monthly (10 months) to the residents at the Genesis Shelter ‐ a temporary residential home for homeless women & children Provide hair care services monthly for men & women at the Sadie G. Mays Nursing Home Participate as worship leaders with the prison ministry Visit, send encouragement cards, and call EBC sick and shut‐in members throughout the year Financially support church missions (Love Feast, IHAD) Coordinate an annual prayer retreat to prepare and pray for sick and shut‐in visits during Holy Week Celebrate Missions Sunday (WMU Day) annually to promote missions and encourage new members to participate in missions The Women’s Dance ministry’s plans for specific programs have been presented but will not be confirmed until 9/30/09. The Women at the Well ministry conducts monthly Bible studies, bi‐annual luncheons and co‐sponsors “Praise‐fest” with Spellman College Sisters 85 Chapel. The Deaconess teams are assigned their respective duties monthly. It also publicizes monthly articles for “Spotlight on Seniors” for the Horizon Newsletter. The Ladies Usher Board has an annual retreat to practice/review the guidelines for ushering and procedures for collecting the offering. 4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? WMU’s success has been in its feedback from members and shelters that are the recipients of the outreach and care‐giving services. In addition to their mission projects, they send cards and make over 100 hospital/home visits. Over the years, WMU's leaders have served faithfully in the church and are consistently chosen as leaders in other capacities within the church (i.e. trustees, deacons, Women's Day chairpersons, community outreach). The Women’s Dance ministry is currently focused on establishing the ministry’s foundation. They have successfully become one of the newest church ministries encompassing women of all ages. The Women at the Well ministry saw a slight increase in member participation and an increase in programs sponsored by the ministry. As a result of the study of women in the Bible, participants are more aware of women’s issues and how to respond in love. The Deaconess Board sends thank you notes and receives phone calls from recipients expressing gratitude. The Ladies Usher Board are successful by faithfully performing their duties during worship service for years. 5. What are the challenges of the ministry? The WMU circles struggle with some of the same challenges; recruitment of new and/or younger members; inconsistency of volunteers; aging members not being able to physically perform activities; internal and external communication issues, and finding places at church for meetings. Other concerns include: using technology to promote WMU missions and ministry opportunities; lack of focus on mission and objectives while attempting to fill a void in the women's ministry by hosting events that are not totally in line with the mission. The Women’s Dance ministry submitted a lengthy response to this question. To summarize, their first challenge is to find support from church leaders to help their members mature in the faith to become “worship women.” They seek support from the women deacons and the pastoral staff to accomplish this objective. Their second challenge is in the management of the activities at Ebenezer, some activities compete in terms of time and budget. Their third challenge is in the operational structure of the church in terms of support and the use of church resources. The Women at the Well ministry’s challenges include having an established meeting place at the church, involvement of a larger number of women, and support from church leadership. The Deaconess Board’s challenges include the physical limitation of many of the senior members who may now live in nursing homes or who are not able to attend church. The Ladies Usher Board’s challenge also includes an age issue as it states: standing for long periods of time during the church service is difficult for the older members. 86 6. What are the opportunities for improvement? The WMU circles listed the following as opportunities for improvement. 
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Seek more support from seasoned members in embracing new ideals from the new circle members. Create a yearly calendar of all ministry events. (This is also a church‐wide activity) Strengthen methods of recruiting new members. Conduct circle meetings more often. Create a structure to be more inclusive of women who want to do mission work, but do not necessarily want to join a mission circle Improve communications and technology Do more foreign/global mission work. Seek more creative mission opportunities Reactivate ACTEENS (teen mission group) The Women’s Dance ministry included their suggestions for improvement with their response to challenges. They wish that there would be an overarching women’s group that, on an ongoing basis, will help all groups be better communicated, collaborated, streamlined etc. so that efforts can be maximized in serving the needs of the church and meeting the needs of all women. The Women at the Well ministry suggested they could provide additional opportunities for outreach to community groups; they want to be fully integrated into the life of the church; provide an opportunity to host more guest facilitators; and they’d like to develop class participants to become class leaders. The Deaconess Board would like younger Deaconesses to be appointed who are willing and able to serve. The Ladies Usher Board would like to recruit younger members to relieve older members. 7. What are the gaps in the ministry? The WMU circles mentioned many of the same issues that include: doing some foreign mission work, but not physical mission work. The cited a need for younger members. WMU is primarily comprised of older women, although they’ve made progress in the last two years with younger missionaries joining WMU. They are still missing the majority of the 18‐
25 and 26‐40 group of women. Too many meetings and not enough time to implements ideals/ suggestions into action. The Women’s Dance ministry stated their answer to this question was the same as the response to challenges. The Women at the Well ministry cited limited personnel to lead sessions and limited number to meetings. The Deaconess Board stated that there was a limited number of Deaconesses available to participate due to their involvement in other ministries of the church. The Ladies Usher Board would like to recruit members that will remain with the Board for years. 8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry? Secondary congregational group value? The WMU circles generally serve the same primary and secondary congregational group. Primary group = women ‐ Many in the WMU understand this and know that they exist to 87 serve God and His people. Because women are nurturers, service to others comes easily. Secondary group = sick and shut‐in members ‐ They value the love and concern shown to them and appreciate that although they may not be physically present at church on a regular basis, they are not forgotten. Many of them were vibrant, faithful workers and the circles express their love and care to them to thank them for their service to God and the church. The Women’s Dance ministry stated it was too early to tell. However, they believe: a. Primary congregational group = children b. Secondary congregational group = parents. The Women at the Well ministry: A. Primary congregational group = Women a. Participatory Bible study structure. b. A safe space to have voices heard as women without being judged. B. Secondary group = Family members: i.e. husbands, children and siblings. Benefits are derived from the support, advice, guidance and experiences of other members. The Deaconess Board a. Primary congregational group = children b. Secondary congregational group = parents It appears the Children’s Chapel value us by recognizing us on Mothers Day with gifts. Several members honor the Senior Deaconesses with a Christmas Brunch. The Church as a whole ensures Senior Deaconesses receive complimentary tickets to paid activities and functions. The Ladies Usher Board a. Primary congregational group = children Children enjoy ushering because it gives them an opportunity to work in various positions and greet the worshipers. b. Secondary congregational group = parents Parents know that ushering teaches discipline and respect to their children. 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? WMU ‐ *Bulletin announcements, *Calling‐post messages, *E‐mail communications, *Mission circle chairpersons at executive board meeting. Information is then disseminated to mission circles. *Brochures, *Table at the narthex, *Church sponsored Meet‐N‐Greet, *Cottage Prayer Retreat, *Online registrations. 88 The Women’s Dance ministry – Developing. They have a leadership structure with the worship and arts department as well as deacons who are specifically assigned to our ministry. The Women at the Well ministry ‐ Weekly Bulletin and word of mouth The Deaconess Board – Through discussions with the Pastor The Ladies Usher Board ‐ Ministry matters are communicated to the church by the coordinating team. 89 SECTION 2: INTERNAL MINISTRY ASSESSMENTS (cont’d)
(Summary Reports, Ministry Surveys)
Women’s Commission – Internal Assessment
Ministry Name: Women @ the Well Bible Study Ministry Leader: Rev. Dr. Lisa D. Rhodes 1. What are the strengths of the ministry? a. Nurtures trust and facilitates sisterhood. b. Provides a forum for women to study scripture and make them relevant to today. c. Provides a safe environment for women to share. 2. What are the ministry objectives? a. Introduce woman centered study and interpretation of the bible. b. Focus on the Women of the Bible and the relevance to Women lives today. c. To be a social support group for women at Ebenezer. 3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives? a. Monthly bible studies b. Bi‐annual luncheons c. Co‐sponsorship of Praise‐fest with Spelman College Sisters Chapel d. Sponsored book reviews and book signing with Dr. Renita Weems. e. Established Prayer partners within the ministry 4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (quantitative and qualitative results and impressions) a. Saw a slight increase in member participation. b. Realized an increase in the number of programs sponsored by the ministry. c. Spiritual growth d. Personal support in crisis e. Increased knowledge of female biblical characters f. Increase awareness of women’s issues g. Increased awareness of the importance of inclusive language 90 5. What are the challenges of the ministry? a. Having an established meeting place at the church b. Involvement of a larger number of women c. Minimum support from Church leadership 6. What are the opportunities for improvement? a. Provide opportunity for outreach to community groups b. Full integration into the life of the church c. More guest facilitators d. Develop class participants to become class leaders 7. What are the gaps in the ministry? a. Limited personnel to lead sessions b. Limited # of meetings 8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry? a. Primary congregational group = Women, Value 1. Participatory bible study structure 2. A safe space to have voices heard as women without being judged. b. Secondary group = Family member, i.e. Husbands, children & siblings‐‐Value Benefits derived from the support, advice, guidance and experiences of other members. 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? a. Weekly Bulletin b. Word of mouth 91 Women’s Commission – Internal Assessment
Ministry Name: Carrie Dean Boston Circle
Ministry Leader: Rose C. Howell Q. What are the strengths of the ministry? A. Continuity of services. Bring hope to the community; which can dispel loneliness, heartache, weariness and frustration. Hope is the anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, as we are told in Hebrews 6:19. Q. What is the ministry objective? A. Promoting outreach mission through faith working in love. Q. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve this objective? A. Visitations, cards, telephone calls to sick and shut‐ins. Caring and sharing services at nursing homes. Donating baby clothes to Grady Hospital Teen Mothers Clinic. Feeding, fellowshipping and donating care packages to Homeless shelter. Support Prison ministry. Q. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (quantitative and qualitative results and impressions) A. By the comments given at time of services. The follow‐up cards and telephone calls received expressing appreciation. The recognition of service from organizations and Certificate of Appreciation received. Q. What are the challenges of the ministry? A. Getting younger Christian to join the circle and embracing a new way of doing mission ministry. Q. What are the opportunities for improvement? A. Having a foreign mission program and a spiritual enrichment workshop/retreat for members. Equipping the saints to serve and linking mission ministry with other churches in the community. Q. What are the gaps in the ministry? A. The ministry to reach the youth both internal and external. Q. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? A. Through WMU planned programs and one on one approach with congregation and community. 92 Ministry Name: Mary Beth Slade Missionary Circle Ministry Leader: Pat Roper Chairperson
One of our strengths of the Mary Beth Slade Circle is our commitment to the Missionary theme "Rendering to the needs of the sick & shut-in members of the church." We do this by visiting,
sending cards, phone calls, and other services as deemed necessary. We work with the Parkview
Manor Nursing home on Auburn Ave. We visit at least three times or more each year. The
residents there enjoy bingo games and other activities that we provide and we also donate items,
such as socks, lotion, toiletries, as well as sharing words of encouragement. Our objective is to
be more effective to the residents and others that we encounter by first of all sharing the love of
God with them as well as trying to address their personal needs. We feel that we have been
successful, but there is always room for improvement. I think as Missionaries we need to
concentrate our efforts more on missionary work and not as another organization that is
concerned about raising money.
Ministry Name ‐ Rosa Lee Spear Missionary Circle; Ministry Leader ‐ Delores Mims 1. What are the strengths of the ministry? a. Outreach activities for the sick and shut‐in. b. Dedication of circle members towards conducting ministry activities. 2. What are the ministry objectives? a. To conduct at least 2 outreach circle activities annually. 3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives? a. Weekend bible study with homebound circle and other church members. 4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (quantitative and qualitative results and impressions)? a. The circle has visited its sick and shut‐in members on an ongoing basis throughout the years. b. Members visited have stated that they were very pleased regarding the fellowship/time spent with them by other members. 5. What are the challenges of the ministry? a. Acquiring new members on a regular basis. 6. What are the opportunities for improvement? a. To strengthen methods of recruiting new members. b. Conduct circle meetings more often. 7. What are the gaps in the ministry? a. Low circle membership number. 8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry? Secondary congregational group value? 93 (Example) a. primary congregational group = children b. secondary congregational group = parents 1. The group values most the mission of the circle ‐ its commitment to serve others which has been shown on a long term basis by dedicated members. 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? a. Communication occurs verbally ‐ via telephone, at meetings, in person or in writing when required.
94 Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:13:20 ‐0400 Subject: EBC Commission on Women's Ministry ‐ ministry questions Ministry Name: Jennie C. Williams Circle
Ministry Leader: Linda J. Dees
1. What are the strengths of the ministry? Fellowship among the sisters of WMU and service to
one another, the church and community both local and global.
2. What are the ministry objectives? The main objective of the JCW circle is to spread the
message of Jesus Christ. We do this by loving GOD with our all and then loving one another as
we love ourselves. Therefore, it is our mission to serve and love.
3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives? We actively
participate in service to the women and children who reside at the Genesis Shelter through food
service, providing clothing, arts & crafts activities, Christmas and Easter gifts for the children. We
also participate in the prison ministry and support a mentoring program, (Ishmael's Promise) for
young adults (ages 17 -25) who are charged with minor criminal offenses.
4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (quantitative and qualitative
results and impressions). Our service, along with the service of the other circles, provides year
round support to the residents of the shelter. The young adults have an opportunity to mentor with
the deacons of the church for spiritual and life experiences and a wonderful lunch every 1st
Saturday of the month. Many of them have expressed thanks for the opportunity to have
someone to talk with (particularly the young men) when they can't go or don't have anyone to go
to at home. Being one of the Girl Scout leaders at EBC, I also encourage and utilize the Scouts to
put the GS promise and law into action through service. The girls volunteer at the Genesis
shelter, the annual EBC love feast, they have spearheaded a health fair, a back to school
backpack drive for the children at a after school center in Douglas County(these previous two
activities led to a Gold and Silver award for two of the girls) , prepares meals for the families at
the Ronald McDonald House, collected school supplies and sent over 50 backpacks to the
children of Haiti, made quilts and pillows for the Life Flight program, just to name a few.
5. What are the challenges of the ministry? Getting full participation from all members.
6. What are the opportunities for improvement? With the congregation growing it gives the
opportunity to invite new members to join and get busy about GOD'S work.
7. What are the gaps in the ministry? I think it will be the same as our challenges - full
participation of all circle members whether its in service and / or financial support.
8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry?
Secondary congregational group value?
(Example)
a. primary congregational group = children - They need the food and clothing and are
grateful to receive them. They love the activities geared specifically for them, especially the arts
and crafts sessions, the Easter and Christmas gifts. The young adults in the Ishmael's program
appreciate the one on one they have with their mentor and the chance to get their lives back on
track. Successfully completing the program results in charges being dropped.
b. secondary congregational group = parents - The parents are always grateful for what we
do and voice it often. They appreciate the school supplies, the gifts (always from
mom/dad/santa) and the time we give to them to make their lives a little happier.
95 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external
communities? Usually through our WMU president, church bulletin or newsletter , e-mail, or our
ministerial liaison.
Questions: Internal Assessments ‐ Please return to [email protected] no later than Monday, July 13. Ministry Name: Women's Missionary Union (WMU)
Ministry Leader: Alyson Morrissette
1. What are the strengths of the ministry?
The WMU seeks to coordinate the mission activities of 10 mission circles in the church. Our
strengths are that we have an organized structure in place (operating guidelines, handbook,
executive board, annual calendar, minutes, budget). We track visits to shut-in members and
research/recommend local and global mission projects to circles.
2. What are the ministry objectives?
-Promote missions on the local and global level
-Support the mission programs of Ebenezer Baptist Church
-Render to the needs of the sick and shut-in members of EBC and local community
3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives?
-Serve lunch monthly (10 months) to the residents at the Genesis Shelter - a temporary
residential home for homeless women & children
-Provide hair care services monthly for men & women at the Sadie G. Mays Nursing Home
-Participate as worship leaders with the prison ministry
-Visit, send encouragement cards, and call EBC sick and shut-in members throughout the year
-Financially support church missions (Love Feast, IHAD)
-Coordinate an annual prayer retreat to prepare and pray for sick and shut-in visits during Holy
Week
-Celebrate Missions Sunday (WMU Day) annually to promote missions and encourage new
members to participate in missions
-Prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually to perform church work (Heart to Heart Workshop
(Heart Disease Awareness), Estate Planning, Grief & Loss
-Participate in the Atlanta Mission Baptist Association (AMBA) and Northern Region Mission
- New State Era Convention
-Financially support seminary students at Morehouse School of Religion
96 -Provide leadership training to teenage girls through ACTEENS
-Study the God's word through the Mission Study Class
(See 2008 Annual Report that lists accomplishments throughout the year)
4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (quantitative and qualitative
results and impressions)
WMU's success has been in its feedback from members and shelters who have been the
recipients of care giving. In addition to our mission projects, we send cards and make over 100
hospital/home visits. Over the years, WMU's leaders have served faithfully in the church and are
consistently chosen as leaders in other capacities within the church (i.e. trustees, deacons,
Women's Day Chairpersons, Community Outreach).
5. What are the challenges of the ministry?
Our challenges primarily are communications to the internal and external community, attracting
younger women to the WMU, and using technology to promote WMU missions and ministry
opportunities. Sometimes, we lose focus of our mission and objectives because we attempt to fill
a void of a women's ministry by hosting events that are not totally in line with our overall
mission.
6. What are the opportunities for improvement?
-structure to be more inclusive of women who want to do mission work, but not necessarily join a
mission circle
-communications and technology
-foreign/global mission work.
-more creative mission opportunities
-ACTEENS (teen mission group)
-recruiting new missionaries
7. What are the gaps in the ministry?
-We do some foreign mission work, but not physical mission work
-The WMU is primarily comprised of older women, although we have made progress in the
last two years with younger missionaries joining WMU. We are still missing the majority of the
18-25 and 26-40 groups of women.
8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry?
Secondary congregational group value?
(Example)
a. primary congregational group = children
b. secondary congregational group = parents
97 Primary group = women - We are blessed to be a blessing. Many in the WMU understand this
and know that we exist to serve God and His people. Because women are nurturers, service to
others comes easily.
Secondary group = sick and shut-in members - Value the love and concern shown toward
them and appreciate that although they may not be physically present at church on a regular basis,
they are not forgotten. Many of them were vibrant, faithful workers and we express our love and
care to them to thank them for their service to God and the church.
9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external
communities?
-bulletin announcements
-callingpost messages,
‐e‐mail communications ‐through mission circle chairpersons at executive board meeting. Information is then disseminated to mission circles. ‐brochure ‐table at Narthex ‐Church sponsored Meet N Greet ‐Cottage Prayer Retreat ‐ we have had online registrations Respectfully submitted in love, Alyson Morrissette 98 WOMEN’S MISSIONARY UNION
2008 ANNUAL REPORT
The Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) 1908 ‐ 2008 celebrated “100 Years of Service Through Missions” As we look back, we acknowledge the steadfast faith and the firm foundation laid by our ancestors and we continue to move through our personal, social and ministry challenges by strengthening our involvement in mission work. As we look forward to the harvest of our spiritual labor through future generations, we remain driven by the everlasting presence of the One who connects us to both the past and the future: Jesus Christ. WMU’s primary purpose is to minister to the sick and shut‐in members of Ebenezer through cards, phone calls, and visits so they feel loved and not forgotten. During the year, WMU also supports the prison ministry, serves lunch monthly at the Genesis Shelter, and provides hair care services monthly to the residents of Sadie G. Mays Nursing Home. In addition to its regular activities, WMU seeks additional mission opportunities in the church, community, and abroad. During the summer, one our young adults, Samara Jinks traveled to Africa to teach. Ms. Jinks was in need of school supplies because limited funds were available for the students. WMU was ready to answer the call and donated school supplies, books, and monetary contributions to help Ms. Jinks’ volunteer experience be a memorable one. Other highlights during our centennial celebration included the following: February 
Sponsored a “Heart to Heart” talk with Chi Eta Phi Nursing Society. Dr. Sheila Robinson presented valuable information on prevention and early warning symptoms of heart disease March 
Prepared Easter baskets for the Genesis Shelter children and Ebenezer children. April 
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Partnered with the Grief and Loss Ministry and the Brotherhood to scrapbook memories in pictures and in writing of our deceased loved ones to promote healing and to create a “safe place” for discussing our memories. The Cottage Prayer Retreat, facilitated by Rev. Cyderia Gates, Rev. Lisa Rhodes, and other members of WMU led us through a spiritual journey, while focusing on our centennial theme, “Jesus Always: Back, Through and Forward (Hebrews 13:7‐8). As we remembered our past and those who laid the foundation for WMU, we “listened to God” in prayer and reflections for the present needs of those who serve, those who are hurting, those in crisis and those who are healing. May 
Celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a luncheon and worship, May 17 – 18, 2008. Continuing with the theme, “Jesus Always: Back, Through and Forward, we praised God for the past, present, and future accomplishments in mission ministry. The speaker for 99 the luncheon was our own Rev. Cyderia Gates and Rev. Juandolyn Stokes preached at both services on Sunday. September 
Donated baked goods for the church picnic October 
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Presented a fashion show at the annual Parade of Roses fundraiser which supports the Morehouse School of Religion and other mission projects. The Azzie Lee Neal Mission Circle won first place for the highest donation. Contributed to the Atlanta Missionary Baptist Association Women’s Department (AMBA) annual fundraiser which supports the Morehouse School of Religion. November 
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Sent cards and a monetary donation to the sick and shut‐in members Prepared and served lunch at the Samaritan House of Atlanta December 
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Adopted two families from the Genesis Shelter and provided Christmas gifts. Donated gift cards to the IHAD children. 100 EBENEZER MINISTRY INTERNAL ASSESMENTS Please return to [email protected] no later than Monday, July 13. Ministry Name Hines Rogers Circle Ministry Leader Deborah Dupree 1. What are the strengths of the ministry? 
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HRC members attend church and bible study regularly. They have a better understanding of word of God, the pastor’s vision and the purpose of serving in the ministry. HRC members are excited to do community outreach.
70% of the members have identified their gift and have found ways to utilize their gift in this ministry. A great number of the members are flexible. They spend less time of complaining of the change and look for creative ways to positively succeed in accomplishing the goal. If accomplishing the goal will cause harm or stress within the body of the church, we would pray and address the concerns in a timely manner. 2. What are the ministry objectives?
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To focus on social transformation by restoring hope through spiritual enrichment to individuals within the Fulton County Juvenile Justice System Render human & health services to families in need through community outreach Visit the sick & shut in and bear witness to those in need through the word of God. 3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives? (* pending approval of the church administration). 
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Fulton County Probation Incentive Program Community Restorative Board (volunteer) *Parenting Program *Jump Start Program *Angel Tree Prison Ministry Mentoring Program (A Future. Not A Past.) Sick & shut in visitation Genesis Shelter visitation Support church in Community Outreach for upcoming church events. Ministry leaders & church administrative staff refer members & non‐members with juvenile court/ probation concerns to HRC members for assistance with human & health services. 4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (Quantitative and qualitative results and impressions) 101 
Quantitative‐Growth in membership has increase in a year. This is due to defining our mission statement and community outreach that support the mission of the church. The new members are excited to participate in community outreach that will positively impact the troubled youth in the community through the juvenile justice system.  Qualitative‐ Is definitely on the rise! It took a year to restructure the ministry by identifying our mission, increase members, elect new officers and develop programs to support the mission of the church/ ministry. We are now at the stage of implementing the vision. 5. What are the challenges of the ministry? 
Most HRC members are involved in other ministries & church events that hinder full participation in HRC ministry work.  Slow or no response from church administration on approval/ feedback for programs/ community outreach through proposal/ worksheet.  Availability of rooms to hold meetings or a program is limited.  Delays in communication. 6. What are the opportunities for improvement?  Better support from seasoned members in embracing new ideals from the new circle members.  If the church can present a yearly calendar of all ministry events. Each ministry will submit their events for the year in November. In December the church administration will send out a letter to each ministry of their approved events for the year. In January a church calendar of all approved events (at church or within the community) for the entire year, will be submitted to each ministry leader at the leadership breakfast. The Pastor is the only person who can authorize an event outside of what is calendared for the year. 7. What are the gaps in the ministry? 
Too many meetings and not enough time to implements ideals/ suggestions into action. 8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry? Secondary congregational group value? (Example) a. primary congregational group = Adults (18‐40) b. secondary congregational group = Elderly (40‐ up) 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? 
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Internal‐ Email/ Calls/ Letters/ Meeting. External‐ Limited Information through the church bulletin. This is due to the slow response for an approval of an event to announce to the congregation in a timely manner. Submitted by: Deborah Dupree 102 7/9/09 From: Hattie H. Shipp <[email protected]> Date: Thu, Jul 16, 2009 at 9:36 AM Subject: Re: Fw: Women's Commission ‐ Internal Assessment Questions To: [email protected] Ministry Name: Deaconess Board Ministry Leader Hattie Harris Shipp 1. What are the strengths of the ministry? A. To serve the Church, the Pastor, Ebenezer Church Members and our Community, willingly through our ministry in collaboration with other ministries of the church. 2. What are the ministry objectives? A. Ensure that the necessary elements (water and utensils, which we donate) are in the pulpit each Sunday and other times as needed. Clean the Communion trays and plates, store them in their proper place. Assist in preparing the candidates for Baptism. Provide monetary donations and food to members in need. Recognize Our Seniors accomplishments, milestones and deaths. Attend funerals of Ebenezer members and funerals of their family members. Remember deceased Deaconesses via a Candle Light Service annually at one of our Monthly meetings. Accompany the Pastor on in‐town preaching engagements. 3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives? A. (1)Deaconess Teams are assigned monthly to perform their respective duties. (2) Publicize monthly articles for "Spotlight on Seniors" for the Horizon Newsletter. 4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (Quantitative and qualitative results and impressions) Members send thank you notes and call expressing their gratitude. 5. What are the challenges of the ministry? A. Limitation of physical challenges for many of our senior members who are in nursing homes, died and or not able to attend church due to personal illness or ill family members. 6. What are the opportunities for improvement? A. Younger Deaconesses who are willing able and able to serve! 7. What are the gaps in the ministry? A. A limited number of Deaconesses are available to participate due to their involvement in other ministries of the church. 8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry? Secondary congregational group value? (Example) 103 a. primary congregational group = children b. secondary congregational group = parents A. It appears the Children’s Chapel values us by recognizing us on Mother’s Day with gifts. Several members honor the Senior Deaconesses with a Christmas Brunch. The Church as a whole ensures Senior Deaconesses receive complimentary tickets to paid activities and functions. 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? A. I am not sure this is addressed other than through our dialog with the Pastor. Ministry Name : ACTEENS Ministry Leader:Karen Williams 1. What are the strengths of the ministry? The involvement of teens in missions. 2. What are the ministry objectives? To share biblically the principles of missions. 3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives? Inactive in 2009 4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (quantitative and qualitative results and impressions) Inactive in 2009. 5. What are the challenges of the ministry? Reaching age appropriate girls. 6. What are the opportunities for improvement? AcTeen start‐up. 7. What are the gaps in the ministry? Ministry has not been implemented. 104 8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministry? Secondary congregational group value? (Example) a. primary congregational group = children b. secondary congregational group = parents The primary congregational group is children. 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? Activities have not been initiated. Return to Alyson Morrissette, 2953 Ravenwolfe Way, Snellville, GA 30039 or [email protected] or you may fax to 770‐972‐9197 (call first). 105 106 107 Date: Tue, Jul 21, 2009 03:30 PM
Subject: Women's Dance Ministry Assessment
Hi Alyson,
Unfortunately, I received this info on the 13th and was deep into
preparation for Women's day. I apologize for this delay but hopefully, this
input can be included.
Ministry Name: Ebenezer Women's Dance Ministry
Ministry Leader: Macey Singletary
1. What are the strengths of the ministry?
This is a new ministry at Ebenezer which allows for us to move into a space
of transition and transformation with a clean spirit (i.e.. unburdened by the
past).
We have Women from ages 18 to 70, all levels of dancers from beginner to
master choreographers to participate and provide their gifts. They all
represent a different story that we want to tell during the worship process.
2. What are the ministry objectives?
Our ministry objectives will not be formally defined for another 60 days or
so. However, we are most focused on integration with Worship Arts,
integration with Women's Ministries, determining how we will have all
members using their gifts, defining our outreach program, and most
importantly determining our road of transformation to worship women, and
ultimately into worship leaders.
3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their
objectives?
Plans have been presented but not confirmed until 9/30.
4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes?
(quantitative and qualitative results and impressions)
Our current effort has been focused on setting the ministry foundation:
leaders and members, getting involved with worship service, and training our
members. We have met all the objectives we have set to date.
5.. What are the challenges of the ministry?
The biggest challenge is determining how to support women in letting go of
'little girl behaviors' in order to become 'worship women'. We are in
desperate a program that supports this spiritual development process (or to
get on a specific path with Sunday school or women's bible study). We need
leadership and mentoring from the women deacons, ministers, etc. Our
members are in various stages of their spiritual process and each of those
stages means something different that the ministry must accommodate. For a
ministry to do the work it is envisioned and commissioned to do and to also
meet the needs of its members to grow into God's purpose for their life is a
heavy responsibility. Our second biggest challenge is managing all the
108 activities of Ebenezer (some are competing, some are demanding in terms of
the time and budgets we have). Our third biggest challenge is with the
operational structure of our church. With so many new members and the
expectations we have for our ministry activity, we believe that there should
be some specific conversations around what we need to do administratively
and operationally to support our ministries in that we can be effective and
good stewards of our resources. Our wish is that there would be an
overarching women's group that on an ongoing basis will help us to be better
communicated, collaborated, streamlined etc. so that our efforts can be
maximized in serving the needs of the church and meeting the needs of the
women.
6. What are the opportunities for improvement?. Same as #5
7. What are the gaps in the ministry? Same as #5
8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the
current ministry? Secondary congregational group value? Too early to tell.
(Example)
a. primary congregational group = children
b. secondary congregational group = parents
9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate,
the external communities? We have a leadership structure with the worship
and arts department as well as deacons who are specifically assigned to our
ministry. Currently, as we are in the early stages, we are holding off on
external communities and service until the beginning of 2010. However, are
involved in various dance worship arts organizations.
Be Blessed!
Macey
[email protected]
404.219.9949 cell
...Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble
and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort
to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body
and one Spirit-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
Questions: Internal Assessments - Please return to
[email protected] no later than Monday, July 13.
Ministry Name Ladies Board of Ushers __________________
Ministry Leader_Mary H. Glenn____________________
1. What are the strengths of the ministry?
Provides a wonderful way to serve God by serving his people
Marvelous way to actively and faithfully participate in the functioning of the Church. Welcome all visitors and friends to service.
109 2. What are the ministry objectives?
Welcome visitors & members to the service
Open and close the doors
Distribute Bulletins and other materials
Escort worshippers to their seats
Collect offering
3. What specific programs have been implemented to achieve their objectives?
Annual Retreat/ practice
Guidelines for ushering
Procedure for collecting offering
Role and responsibility of each usher
4. How has the ministry been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes?
(Quantitative and qualitative results and impressions)
The ministry has been successful by performing their duties during worship
service.
5. What are the challenges of the ministry?
Standing for long periods of time during the church service for the older
members.
6. What are the opportunities for improvement?
Recruiting younger members so they can relieve older members.
7. What are the gaps in the ministry?
Recruiting members that will remain with the Board for years
8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current
ministry? Secondary congregational group value?
(Example)
a. primary congregational group = children
Children enjoy ushering because it gives them an opportunity to work in
various positions and greet the worship.
b. secondary congregational group = parents
Parents know that ushering teaches discipline and respect to their children
9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate,
the external communities?
Ministry matters are communicated to the church by the coordinating team. 110 Hello all,
We may not receive an internal assessment from the Mission Studies Class, so I copied the brief
history that's listed in the WMU Operating Guidelines
The Mission Study Class was organized on February 2, 1942 by Mrs. Annie
Hudson. The first book studied was “Stewardship and Mission”. In 1945, during
World War II, a Prayer Calendar was designed that listed all service men and
friends of the church. Each day at noon the class members prayed a unity prayer
for these persons. The class continues to meet monthly during the day and is
currently studying "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Barbara Adams is
the ministry leader. Announcements inviting members to attend the class are
printed in the bulletin
Subject: Women's Day Ministry Input Received From Rosie; No Action Required
Internal Assessment
Women’s Day 2009
Women’s Day is a major event in the life of Ebenezer Baptist Church. This year the study of the
book Showing Mary provided a strong platform for a new beginning and new direction in
women’s ministries. At this time Ebenezer is engaged in an assessment of its ministries in five
major areas: Women’s Ministries; Men’s Ministries; Children and Youth Ministries; Health and
Wellness Ministry; and Media and Technology Ministries. From this, a revitalized ministry for
women is expected to emerge, with specific objectives and specific programs to address those
objectives.
Forty-one women completed the Women’s Day evaluation sheet. Of these, sixteen said they were
inspired by the book study. The evaluations also expressed the need for more Christian education
and more emphasis on spiritual growth. Some of the women felt that all Women’s Day goals
were met. The goals mentioned on the evaluation form were:
·
to grow spiritually
·
to fellowship in LOVE
·
to engage in community outreach
·
to raise $40,000
It was interesting to read the responses. Some of the women seemed to connect all the dots while
others didn’t connect any dots at all. To increase the number of women who do indeed connect
the dots, we must work at being very clear about our objectives from the beginning, and
continually emphasize the objectives throughout the Women’s Day season.
111 Encouraging women to change their way of thinking when it comes Women’s Day is a significant
challenge. Change threatens the comfortable foundation of some women. For whatever reason,
they want to hold on to their ways of doing things, without regard for effectiveness or for new
objectives.
Another challenge for Women’s Day is to include all women and young ladies in the activities
throughout the season. Some members want to keep old traditions alive. New members want to
be included in the activities. Young ladies are just waiting to be asked to participate.
The congregation values Women’s Day, and sees it as an opportunity to develop leaders in the
church. Women’s day matters are communicated to the church by the senior pastor, ministerial
liaisons, chairpersons, the church bulletin, and the church newsletter.
SECTION 3: EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT/BEST PRACTICES (Summary Report)
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: EBC Commission on Women's Ministry - Church Visitation
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:52:38 -0400
Ladies,
I had the opportunity to speak with a representative from Ray of Hope women's ministry on
yesterday and it was quite informative.
Minister Tonya Sumter, Minister to Women, was on vacation and asked one of the women council
members (Mrs. Washington) to contact me regarding the questions we sent. The women's
ministry at "The Ray" is know as the Daughters of Destiny Women's Ministry. The ministry was
created and named through the vision of the church's Pastor, Dr. Cynthia Hale. The mission of
the Ministry is to inspire, equip, and encourage women to know God personally; to discover and
use their gifts to love and serve others; and to fully reflect the beauty of Christ in the church and
the world.
Unlike Ebenezer, "The Ray" does not have the different women's ministries with different chairs /
presidents. There are other ministries the women can participate in but the Daughters of Destiny
(DOD) is the only women's ministry. Their ministry operates more on the umbrella approach than
on multiple women's ministries. The executive structure of DOD is an eight (8) member council
chosen by Pastor Hale who serve a two year commitment to the council. This eight member
council is charged with planning the women's activities for the year.
In November and December of the preceding the year council members come together to plan all
activities for every month of the upcoming year. These events include activities just for the
women - intimate activities, spiritual retreats, poetry night, business info forums, etc (of course
there are standing activities such as women's day, women's conference, community outreach
112 projects). Once activities are decided on there is a meeting with Pastor Hale for approval of the
suggested events. In January the council extends an invitation to all women of "The Ray"
to attend it's girlfriend gathering where they pass out the yearly calendar, bookmarks and
informational literature about the ministry.
I asked Mrs. Washington how they get such a large response to women joining the DOD. She
explained that once a new sister joins the church Pastor Hale insist that a member of the council
contact her within a week of her joining and welcome and invite her to become involved. In
addition to the monthly events, there is a quarterly meet and greet for newly joined women of
the church. Just by joining "The Ray" the sisters are members of DOD. The council members
invite the women who have joined the church in that quarter to attend a get-to-know-you function.
The women are given information on the DOD and are encouraged to get involved in at least one
ministry of the church. The monthly events for the women allows for constant contact, interest
and participation. Pastor Hale, the council members and the sisters of DOD are dedicated to
making the ministry vibrant and relevant to the needs of the women of DOD and the community.
Ministry matters are communicated to the church (external communities) via Pastor Hale,
Minister Sumter, council members, church newlsetter, constant contact website.
What is the history of the ministry? How did it start, how long has it been in existence, etc.? The
ministry was created and named through the vision of the church's Pastor, Dr. Cynthia Hale. Mrs.
Washington was not quite sure how long DOD has existed. She stated she has been a member
of "The Ray" for three years and her sister twelve years. DOD was in existence when her sister
joined so its been around and doing a wonderful service for at least fifteen years
113 Questions 1. What is the focus of the ministry? 2. What are the ministry objectives of current ministries? Why? Zion Hill Ray of Hope
Sisters in Sync (SIS) Daughters of Destiny (DofD) To provide a safe haven for women to share
and grow spiritually. (see note 1)
The mission of the Ministry is to inspire,
equip, and encourage women to know
God personally; to discover and use
their gifts to love and serve others; and
to fully reflect the beauty of Christ in the
church and the world.
Matrons: Visit different organizations that
house teenagers and provide outreach service
Operates on the umbrella approach.
The executive structure of DofD is an
eight (8) member council chosen by the
Pastor that is charged with planning the
women's activities for the year.
* Meetings once a month to discuss
upcoming events.
* Collect cell phones & used ink cartridges
throughout the year for domestic violence
shelters.
3. What specific programs have these * Fellowship through dinner & a movie
current ministries implemented to achieve night.
their objectives? * Network in business.
114 Intimate activities, spiritual retreats, poetry night, business info forums, etc (of course there are standing activities such as women's day, women's conference, community outreach projects). 4. What are the strengths of external ministries? 5. How has the external ministries been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (Qualitative and quantitative results and impressions.) a. Success is defined as furthering the mission and achieving meaningful results. * Provide child care services
* Provide transportation during events
* Women’s Morning Prayer Meeting
monthly followed by breakfast and church
school.
* Events Hosted by S.I.S In-Reach/Outreach
Initiative (see note 2)
* Sunset Prayer monthly
Each ministry has an outreach person and
there efforts are coordinated through the
committee outreach coordinator
In November and December of the preceding year, the council members come together to plan all activities for every month of the upcoming year. * Ladies night out
* Women in Christ Sunday (Wonen's Day)
* Summer Month Activities (June – August)
(see note 3)
6. What are challenges of external ministries? The challenges they have are with the age
group 18-36.
7. What are the opportunities for improvement of external ministries? Getting more young adults involved
115 8. What does the target (primary) congregational group value about the current ministries? Secondary congregational group value? * Speak & Slumber: Night out shared with
seasoned saints and the younger ladies of the
church range from 13-18. Bonding event.
Annual, overnight (similar to Lock-In)
* Tea for Cancer Awareness: 3 times/year;
fundraiser. All ages are included in this
effort.
a. Primary congregational group= children b. Secondary congregational group= parents 9. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? Church monthly newsletter that provides
information about all of the events at the
church including a calendar of events for the
Women’s ministry
Ministry matters are communicated to the church (external communities) via the Pastor, Minister to Women, council members, church newsletter, constant contact website. 116 * Once a new sister joins the church, a member of the council will contact her within a week of her joining and welcome and invite her to become involved. * Monthly events to allow for constant contact, interest and participation. * Quarterly meet and greet for newly joined women of the church. The council members invite the women who have joined the church in that quarter to attend a get‐to‐know‐you function. The women are given information on the DOD and are encouraged to get involved in at least one ministry of the church. 10. What is the history of the ministry? How did it start, how long has it been in existence, etc.? "Sisters in Sync" (S.I.S) which started in
1998; theme is Living, Serving for Christ.
The ministry was created and named through the vision of the church's Pastor. In existence for at least fifteen years. Note 1: Spiritual Foundation: Note 2: In‐Reach/Outreach Initiatives:
Note 3: Successful Events
Titus 2 ‐ Duties of Older & Younger A. PADV – Partnership Against Domestic Violence A. Ladies Night Out: Women 18 and above seeking time with their heavenly father amongst there fellow Christians Titus 3 ‐ Doing What is Good B. Financial contributions Mother’s Day and Christmas B. Women in Christ Sunday: Theme is Cancer Awareness Day; worship in Pink; annually. C: Summerset Assisted Living Home (monthly): sing and share with the elderly; celebrate birthdays and holidays with residence. C: Summer Month Activities: STRAW HAT – Sisterhood Through Relaxation Art Worship Humor And Togetherness D: Acknowledge Sick, Shut‐in and Bereaved Cards, Visits/Calls, Assistance, Tokens of Remembrance (i.e. bookmarks) External Assessment - Best Practices/Church Visitations Summary, Patricia Jones, Ebenezer Baptist Church, July 2009.
117 SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN-EXTERNAL RESEARCH (Global Prospective; United Way’s Five Year Strategic Plan)
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Sunday, March 8, 2009
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: WOMEN'S HEALTH
A recent UNICEF report revealed that 1 out of every 5 children die before their 5th birthday, 500 newborns die daily and one pregnant woman dies every 10
minutes in childbirth. These depressing statistics have been challenged by Nigeria's Minister of Information, but whether or not they are indeed accurate, the sad
state of womens health in Nigeria is definitely an issue that must be remedied.
118 As a mother of 3 children, my mind refuses to grasp the reality of those staggering statistics. No matter how many lives are lost during childbirth, be it 1 or 1000, any
life lost is saddening. Particularly, as such deaths would be preventable when a people and their leaders commit to preventing such losses. In my opinion, these
numbers, which have been challenged by Nigeria's Ministry of Information, illustrate the human costs of corruption in Nigeria. I am thankful that I am not a proponent
of the death penalty and that Nigeria is not mine to do with as I pleased because if that was the case, every single person directly tied to the murder of the millions of
Nigeria's women and children would stand a good chance of some form of humane execution.
119 So, on this day when, the world unites to celebrate "the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future," instead of advocate the
execution of those responsible for the poor health of all Nigerians (regardless of age, sex or income), I use this opportunity to add my voice to those calling for better
healthcare for Nigeria's people. The health of women and children is a crucial indicator of national development. And for Nigeria to someday become the shining
beacon it aims to be, these statistics must improve starting now.
120 UNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN ATLANTA FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN STAKEHOLDERS MEETING (JUNE 16, 2009) •BABIES WILL BE BORN HEALTHY. In the U.S., every 2 minutes a baby is born with low birth weight. Every 2 hours in Georgia, a baby is born with low birth weight ‐ 1 out of every 11 babies born in metro Atlanta. •CHILDREN WILL ENTER SCHOOL READY TO LEARN AND GRADUATE PREPARED FOR CAREERS. It costs $5,674 a year for child care for a 4 year old. High quality child care for a 4 year old costs $8,000 a year. Child care in Georgia is 47% more than college tuition. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says families should spend 10% or less of their income on child care. That means in Georgia, families with an infant need to make at least $69,000 a year. That’s more than the average income ($51,000) for families with children. The state of Georgia can help only 12% of the children who qualify for subsidies. •YOUNG PEOPLE AVOID RISKY BEHAVIOR. There are 1.6 million students in Georgia; 453,210 of them are in high school. Of those, 13.8% are obese; 4 out of 5 of them do not eat healthy; 2 in 5 do not exercise enough. 368,734 of the students in Georgia are in middle school; of those, 14.6% are obese; 1 in 5 sixth graders are obese. •FAMILIES ARE SELF SUFFICIENT. Meeting basic needs is the biggest struggle facing low income families. 328,613 households (21% of metro Atlanta) are living on less than $87 a day; that amounts to $35,000 a year for a family of four. The average family spends $26 a day on groceries. Food stamps provide $8 a day for families; $2 for lunch. Last year, United Way 2‐1‐1 received 38,041 calls for food pantries. •HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE HOUSED WITHIN ONE YEAR. 58,397 children in Georgia are homeless; 2 in 5 of them are younger than 6. Homeless children have twice as many health problems as children with homes; they are 4 times more likely to experience traumatic stress. 3 out of 4 homeless high school students will not graduate from high school.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY COMMISSION FINAL REPORT Submitted November 16,2009 Introduction The Children and Youth Commission began with a conference call meeting on June 9, 2009 with Mary Hughes serving as the Chairperson, Vanessa Milton as Co‐Chairperson, and Dawn Jackson‐Robinson serving as Scribe. The overall commission’s mission and expectations were reviewed. The Chairperson provided specific goals and a timetable for completion of major tasks. Each successive commission meeting began with a scripture and prayer. These were instrumental in providing centering and focus when exploring and discussing the many needs of children, youth, college students, and young adults. Commission members fulfilled the assignment of reading several assigned articles and discussing what the information could mean to our children, youth, college student, and young adult ministries at Ebenezer. The articles are listed in the Bibliography. Commission tasks and activities were outlined and committees were formed with members signing up for the committee(s) of their interest. The five committees formed were: the Exploratory Question Committee, the Focus Group Committee, the Internet Research Committee, the External Visits/Best Practices Assessments Committee, and the Internal Assessments Committee. The committees were provided with a timetable and expectations for their individual assignments. A Writing Committee composed of Kameshia Freeman, Mary Hughes, Dawn Jackson‐Robinson, and Vanessa Milton was formed to review information collected and to prepare two AIMS Recommendations by the deadline of August 14, 2009. The AIMS Recommendations were first reviewed by the entire commission membership and then submitted to the Commission Chairperson and Commission Consultants who provided constructive edits. Throughout the course of this process information was shared via e‐mail, text messaging and phone conferences as well as face‐to‐face meetings. 122 Children & Youth Ministry Commission Members Name Affiliation Commission Task/Activity Assignments: Alice Jenkins Church Life and Program Committee Focus Groups Brenda Davenport Children's Chapel Director
Focus Groups, External Visits Carletta Sims Trustee Board
Focus Groups, External Visits Trustee Board Exploration Questions, Internal Assessments Former Children's Choir Director Focus Groups, Internal Assessments Parent Scribe, Internet Research, Writing Team Diane Jackson‐Chapman Volunteer Worker External Visits
Elliott Bryant Deacon Board
Internet Research Gladys Camp Deacon Board
Internal Assessments Youth Group Focus Groups, Internal Assessments Church Life and Program Committee, Trustee Board Internet Research, Focus Groups Kameshia Freeman Church Member
Writing Team
Kevin Stacia Deacon Board
Exploration Questions Lessye Banks Church Life and Program Committee Internal Assessments Dance Ministry Director Exploration Questions, Focus Groups Church Life and Program Committee Internal Assessments Cheryl Spiva Cynthia S. Terry Dawn Jackson‐Robinson Jessica Turner Judith J. Pickens Macey Singletary Martha Hemmans 123 Mary Hughes Girl Scouts Director
Commission Chairperson Minister Michael Wortham Associate Minister – Youth External Visits Minister Shanan Jones Associate Minister
Exploration Questions Associate Minister ‐ Children Focus Groups, Exploration Questions Parent and Volunteer Worker
Commission Co‐Chairperson Rev. Clevette Ingram Vanessa Milton 124 Summary of Key Processes and Key Findings The information gathered from focus groups, internal assessments, external best practice assessments, and research was used to identify the strengths, gaps, over‐arching issues, and opportunities within children and/or youth ministries. Focus Groups Focus groups were held to explore issues and challenges facing children, youth and their families. Several focus groups were conducted throughout the month of July. See Appendix for dates and categories. The number of participants ranged from 4 – 25, with the largest participation from the Youth Church. Scheduling the focus group during a Youth Sunday Church service contributed to the high attendance. Key findings from the focus groups are presented below. The Children’s Ministry is currently comprised of several different age specific auxiliaries, which require different structural, organizational and developmental plans. The ministries for children, generally ages 6 through 13, are fairly well structured. According to focus group participants in each category, these ministries do an excellent job of instilling early biblical knowledge, core values, responsibilities as Christians, and the importance of community service. The major challenges for these groups are in regard to purposeful planning, space, budget constraints, and consistency in leadership and volunteers. Children’s Chapel is the ministry where children come on Sundays during the 11 am worship service. Children progress from the Children’s Chapel into the Youth Group, ages 14 to 18. Between these two ministries is L.I.N.K.S., a ministry within Children’s Chapel that focuses on middle grade students. This age group ministry assists providing connection to the Youth Group, however, many in this age range experience challenges in deciding where they fit. Respondents shared that this challenge has existed for several years. Participants in the Youth Focus Group shared excitement about the relationships they form with each other and express a thirst for greater spiritual knowledge and real life application training. As mentioned above, findings indicate that the transition process into the Youth Group is often confusing. Many youth elect to no longer participate in either L.I.N.K.S. or Youth Group ministry at this transition stage. Other major challenges expressed by youths include a breakdown of planning and program structure, consistency with youth group activity meeting dates and times, continuity in leadership, and continuity in biblical lesson plans. There is a strong interest in having improved structure, relevant involvement with the Senior Pastor and adult church, structured transition between the children’s and youth ministries, collaboration with other church organizations and involvement in community outreach and social transformation initiatives. The need was recognized to have focus groups for two additional age groups – College Students (ages 18 – 24) and Young Adults (ages 25 – 40). The focus groups for College Students and Young Adults were conducted in collaboration with the Women’s Ministry Commission and the Men’s Ministry 125 Commission. The key findings from participants indicated a need for a purposeful ministry for young adults that are between college age and early stages of transitioning into adulthood and independent living. The college age group shared an overwhelming desire for spiritual connectedness with the church, support with everyday needs, decision making processes, guidance in developing life skills, help with transitioning into independent living, and being welcomed to participate in church programs. Internal Assessments The Internal Assessments Sub‐Committee identified and conducted interviews with 15 ministries via telephone and/or email. The noted strengths identified across all children and youth ministries were a display of strong commitment to the ministry by the leaders. This often means working within time constraints, limited resources, and a lack of funding. The dedication from the leadership is consistent and the spirit is one of hope that positive action will take place as a result of this work. Relationship building, commitment, and cooperation are important components of each ministry. A recurring theme noted during the interviews was the budgetary constraints and real commitment by the church leadership. The lack of funding has an impact on the success and continuity of the programs which directly impact the level of participation and engagement from the youth and young adults. Additionally, parental involvement is lacking throughout the ministry. The support of parents is needed for supervision and implementation of activities. Also mentioned throughout the interviews was the lack of preparation and planning by the entire ministerial staff which affects the quality of each ministry’s program focus. All events and programs should be Christ‐centered and planned with a focus linked to the mission, vision and goals of the church. A strong, well‐developed, leadership team is crucial to the growth of the ministry and leadership training is essential to enhancing/improving the skills of the ministry leaders. The Children and Youth Ministry needs more visibility and a greater connection to the entire church family as a means to increase the volunteerism and parent involvement which will allow the ministry as well as the church to grow together as one unit. The desire for positive change was evident in the discussion. Many ideas were shared and it was evident that the leaders were excited about this opportunity to share. Their creative energy led to the sharing of many wonderful ideas and suggestions for enhancing the various ministries. The desire is for the senior leadership to facilitate a strategy session that will lead to the entire Children and Youth Ministry being on one accord. One of the main challenges described is the lack of connections across the Children and Youth Ministry. The greatest identified need is a clear mission, vision and goal. A planning session is needed for all ministerial leaders with a senior leader present to help identify strategies to be used, an action plan, a method of accountability for proper execution, and formative and summative evaluations to inform and evaluate the plan and the process. The Children and Youth Ministry has determined, Christ‐centered, devoted leaders ready for clear direction. Through discussion of the needs of children and youth, it was recognized that families are a vital part of children and youth ministries. As a result, the Marriage Enrichment Group and Singles Obeying the Lord Only (SOLO) ministry were invited to provide assessments of their ministries. Key findings from these assessments indicate the need for purposeful planning, visibility, understanding of the purpose of the ministry, and connection with the ministerial staff. 126 External Assessments/Best Practices External best practice interviews were conducted at churches throughout metro Atlanta, Gainesville, and Alabama. These churches were identified for having vibrant children and youth ministries. Appointments were set‐up with key youth leaders and two Ebenezer commission members were present during the visit. The churches provided individuals or groups of their members to meet and meetings occurred in a variety of settings. Two of these settings included attendance at a children’s church service to observe the ministry’s process of welcoming children and worshipping with them and a church carnival for the community. The churches also eagerly provided tours of their children and youth ministry facilities. The External Assessment process allowed commission members to explore the efforts of other church‐
based children and youth programs. Commission members were inspired by the varied activities and programs offered by the churches visited. All of the six churches visited conducted developmentally‐focused children and youth ministries. Most of the churches conducted very interactive, vibrant and organized programs that incorporated biblical dramatizations and video technology in their instruction periods. The leadership of the ministries was either ministers or lay persons that had several years experience in leadership, program planning, relationship building, and curriculum development. Leadership was provided by a division head that included responsibility for ministries and scouting organizations. The majority of these programs were curriculum‐based. One church even utilized curriculum written in‐house. The curriculum for this church was developed by paid church staff. Many of the ministries utilized thematic topics to organize their programs. Some of the themes were connected to the pastor’s sermons. Parental involvement and volunteer involvement was easily visible in one church with color coordinated shirts. Many of the ministries utilized a secure check‐in and check‐out procedure that ranged from a computerized wristband identification system to a manual color‐coded wristband identification system. These ministries expressed being proactive and purposeful in the safety of children and youth at their churches where the average church membership is greater than 8,000. These churches deal with similar challenges of children and youth ministries. One major challenge is the need for additional trained volunteers. Although parent involvement was seen as strength, the churches expressed a need for even more involvement from parents. Some of the churches are exploring the development of programs and activities to strengthen parent involvement and family worship in and outside of the church environment. Another challenge was the transition from children to youth. In the churches where this was a challenge, i.e. some children were not comfortable transitioning, the children remained a part of the children’s ministry in a leadership role such as an usher or praise team leader. 127 Two churches are exploring activities and plans to strengthen their connection and relationship with children and families in the surrounding communities. A need to strengthen their interaction and connection with other church youth groups in the surrounding communities was also expressed. Research Internet research into best practices was also conducted to assess and evaluate youth related activities of churches throughout the United States. The information gained from this process was insightful. Some of the key findings were: 
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Spiritual and numerical growth of the local church is determined by the success of the children’s ministries. Physical, emotional & spiritual development of children begins with long term commitment and focus on building nurturing relationships. There must be a commitment to recruiting and training the best professional staff and volunteers. There must be safe environments of both physical structure and of the adults who serve. There needs to an aggressive use of technology in communicating and training children and youth. Children and youth are our future church leaders and need to be groomed for service and leadership in the church. Students in grades 6 to 12 are learning and using leadership skills in school activities and on student councils, in sports teams, in scout troops, and other youth groups. Why does the church ignore this precious Some statistics showed: o 80% of believers come to Christ before age 13. o A person’s moral foundations are generally in place by age 9. o A person’s response to the gospel concerning Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is usually determined by age 8, and for most American, the response is set by age 12. o Adult church leaders usually had significant involvement in the church when they were children. o Congregations that involved children in worship are more likely to experience significant growth The theme threading throughout the “successful” child/ youth ministries‐‐meaning those that show spiritual and numerical growth‐‐is that the church ministry and body has prioritized these ministries by investing in programs, trainers, and facilities. And those that don’t take children/youth ministries seriously are committing spiritual neglect at the least and spiritual suicide at the most. 128 Children and Youth Ministry Commission SWOT ANALYSIS Combined Summary of Data from Focus Groups, Internal Assessments, External Assessments and Research STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Structure and organization within ministries Building relationships with peers Children led to Christ at an early age Bible knowledge Variety of children and youth ministries Mission and outreach projects Development of leadership skills Development of music knowledge Participants look forward to attending Inquisitive, full of energy Exposure to opportunities that develop spiritual and personal development, skills, and character Volunteer base Lack of volunteer base Transportation for group travel Trained volunteers Lack of space; shared space Budget/Finances (shortfall) Scheduling conflicts Clarity of goals, strategies, plans Security – check‐in/check‐out Communication Minimal social transformation and community impact efforts Parental involvement, partnership w/ parents Consistent program or curriculum from children to youth Attendance in Sunday school Connection with Senior Pastor Childcare provision Transportation ‐ difficulty with traveling to inner city church due to traffic, school and family responsibilities OPPORTUNITIES Transition between ministries Bridge ministries – nursery, children, youth, college, young adult Training volunteers Involvement of parents in biblical knowledge Scheduling to connect with other ministries Recruiting new volunteers, mentors Different ways of teaching Age appropriate learning More visibility in “big” church Service oriented and outreach program Recruitment Technology for interaction Curriculum use for ministries Serving as mentors to younger age group Connection with Senior Pastor Family oriented environment Support of college students away from home Importance of building relationships with children, youth, college students, young adults 129 THREATS Value and recognition of children and youth ministry leaders Lack of structure and organization may contribute to decrease in participation Consistency in teaching about commitment in being in a ministry Communication/sharing of calendars Cliques, negativity Lack of space; care and responsibility of current space Discussion Strengths: There are many ministries available to the children and youth of our church. The ministries range from those that teach the importance of biblical knowledge and application of that knowledge to life skills and character development, the instruction of instrumental music and group singing skills, and outreach projects that serve the local and in a couple of instances, the global community. Many of the ministries have a fairly well structured program. This enables participants to attend regularly scheduled services, activities, or meetings. Children, youth and young adults look forward to fellowshipping with their peers, with adults, and with the senior pastor and ministerial staff at worship services, social church functions, retreats/camping, and educational field trips. Weaknesses: Overwhelmingly, the responses indicated we are not purposeful in our preparation, planning, and program development. There are individual ministry structures in place, but there is not an internal structure or stabilizing force to keep the ministries connected, keep the ministry leadership and programs continuous, and allow the leader to guide a much needed collaboration effort among the children, youth, college‐age and young adult ministries. The many children and youth ministries at Ebenezer are active, energetic, engaging, and proud of what they offer. Maybe even “territorial.” Having many opportunities to be involved in an active church is a blessing. Unfortunately, at times, it presents scheduling challenges. There is a collaboration of ministries involved in Children’s Day and Youth Day activities. However, the lack of ongoing collaboration throughout the year is a problem. This contributes to scheduling conflicts, shared space conflicts, communication conflicts, program planning conflicts, and inconsistency. A purposeful life stages process is needed. In assessing best practices from several churches we visited, the lead minister(s) for the children and youth ministries possessed training, knowledge, and is seasoned in his or her experience. If the minister does not have experience he/she is working under or paired with a minister that provides guidance, direction, review, and support. Over the years, the leadership of our children and youth ministries, mainly based in Children’s Chapel and the Youth Group, has swung back and forth between lay leaders, ministerial interns, and associate ministers. It appears as if there is not a sincere interest in providing and keeping a strong leader, a stabilizing force in these ministries. This lack of interest contributes to the lack of structure and committed ministry our children, youth, and parents seek. 130 Opportunities: A fairly strong volunteer base has enabled many of the ministries to continue providing quality ministry involvement for children and youth. Many of the volunteers have teaching and leadership skills they bring from professional careers. These skills, when used in the everyday workplace provide for strong organizations with strong structures and strong results. Why not incorporate these skills to form a strong structure for our children, youth, and college student ministries? This structure would include one ministerial leader accountable to the Senior Pastor. This leader would share the Senior Pastor’s goals, vision, concerns, and message with the other ministerial staff assigned to the Children and Youth Ministry. Training for volunteers is utmost importance. Even if volunteers have experience, teaching and leadership skills, the training and support of the volunteer base needs to be a purposeful, ongoing effort. Exposure to learning opportunities relating to working with children and youth would only enhance and increase the effectiveness of our children and youth ministries. Some organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Boy and Girls Clubs provide ongoing learning opportunities for volunteers that have undergone a background check. From the article, “Five Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Program” by Doug Fields, we learned:  Programs need to put relationships first. Positive relationships are one of the key reasons a youth ministry grows. At Elizabeth Baptist Church, each ministry volunteer is charged with personally getting to know 6‐7 children or youth.  Programs need a fresh source of ideas. The essence of creative programming is simply our ability to find an idea and adapt it to our situation.  Programs need strength beyond a personality. Our ministry programs are only as strong as our support team. There needs to be succession planning and a smooth transition when leadership changes.  Programs need an ongoing follow‐up system. If God has entrusted one with the leadership of students, we must be aware when they are absent, because their physical presence often gives an indication of their spiritual condition.  Programs need clarification of their purpose and potential audience. Within a healthy youth ministry, there should never be any question as to why our programs exist. We should know and communicate the primary purpose our programs fulfill, for whom they are intended, and what usually happens at each program. Five additional elements to healthy youth programs include: 1) Keeping a safe environment and positive environment, 2) nourishing an ability to have fun, 3) building relationships with youth, 4) providing opportunities and setting high expectations and 6) including recognition in your programs. The use of technology is ever‐increasing in our lives and our children and youth today are often more technologically advanced than many adults. There is a major interest in incorporating technology into 131 our teaching and communication methods. With limited budgets, it will require being creative and that does not necessarily mean coming up with BIG ideas. Finally, ministry to families, family ministry or families‐in‐ministry can equip, encourage, and support individual Christian families by reinforcing the teachings of our beliefs in their homes and everyday lives. We can also develop new family relationships in the community of faith. The role of the family in Christ is not limited to biological connections. It reaches beyond the bonds of blood and marriage, beyond the bonds of our church family, and beyond the bonds of our community to create a bond with Christians and non‐Christians around the world. Threats: Attracting families from the Metro Atlanta area is a challenge for an inner city church. Families face the responsibilities of transportation, homework and extracurricular activities in schools and the community. A strong children and youth ministry would need to exist that appreciates the value and recognition of children and youth and their families, that provides a cohesive community in children and youth ministries, and that provides opportunities that are fresh, cutting‐edge, primetime, and of interest to the participants. There is a need to have adequate transportation and an after school program that provides meals to better serve the needs of families. This would encourage greater family participation in weekday church activities. Another threat involves teaching children values and principles that parents sometimes are not prepared for. In some ministries, there is an expectation that all will commit to a single values model. In reality, children are living in families that all have a different values model and sometimes they are in conflict with what is important for a successful ministry. Many, many, hours are spent with parents helping them to understand basic procedures, protocol, and values for ministry. When you work with children, there needs to be consistency in speaking and doing. Children hold you accountable and ask for answers when you have not been and as a result, become cynical of our teaching. Work is being done to educate parents each year to how we can together have the right environment for ministry and all work on the same page. However, there are always parents who have difficulty understanding and cooperating. 132 AIMS Recommendations and Purpose Statements AIM #1: Spiritual Formation – Individual Growth Enhance our Christ‐centered children & youth and college ministry programs by: 1) Placing a priority on providing a positive spiritual environment that is engaging, informative, and structured; while strengthening family‐oriented connections and ensuring consistency between children & youth ministries and adult ministries; 2) Connecting children and youth with a purposeful Life Stages Ministry that supports the age appropriate development of core Christian values through bible study, worship and fellowship and offering fresh approaches for individual growth and spiritual formation. “but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Matthew 19:14 (NRSV) We will provide a CHRIST‐CENTERED ENVIRONMENT ensuring that the plan for the ministry is developed, structured and carried out with Christ as its central focus while exploring, adapting and accepting change and originality in an effort to take the ministry to the next level. We will provide CONSISTENCY ‐ a desire for leadership to function on one accord among the various groups and programs to ensure a coherent message is always delivered throughout the children and youth ministry; a focus on succession planning for all programs so that children have fluid progression throughout the ministry. We will provide CONNECTIVITY and CONTINUITY – a need to work within the established boundaries to share information and resources while demonstrating a joint effort to foster relationships with the youth ministry, general church ministries and ministerial staff. We will provide COLLABORATION ‐ the entire leadership of the children and youth ministry working from one mission, vision, and goal with ministerial leaders who provide direction and ensures successful implementation of the established priorities and objectives. We will provide COMMITMENT ‐ a concerted effort from all parties including volunteers, leaders and parents to be held accountable by learning their role in the ministry and participating as required; children arriving prepared to actively engage and learn. 133 We will provide CREATIVITY – an environment that researches, listens to and accepts fresh ideas, changing teaching methods, and continually develops positive opportunities for spiritual development and social transformation. AIM #2 ‐ Social Transformation – Impact on the Community Create a mission‐based service learning environment for children, youth, college‐aged young adults, and their families, which includes service‐oriented education, development of leadership skills, and community service while encouraging our children and youth to share their gifts with others by proactively addressing the current issues and challenges of the local and global community. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love. as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1‐2 (NRSV) We will be PURPOSE DRIVEN ‐ making certain that our objectives and activities are connected to the mission and in alignment with the moral values of the church. We will be PRAYERFUL ‐ seeking direction and asking for guidance from God to lead us in effort to strengthen the core of the ministry and to guide our planning. We will be PROACTIVE ‐ actively engaging in the ministry's succession planning and ensuring the availability of the necessary resources while soliciting new ideas and demonstrating a commitment to the programs by being responsible, responsive, and timely. We will be PRIMETIME ‐ participating in service projects that are developmentally age appropriate and appealing to captivate children’s, youth’s and college age young adult’s attention and energy; becoming an inclusive ministry that encourages their engagement and leadership in the planning process. We will be PRODUCTIVE ‐ transforming into a results oriented ministry with clearly established objectives and goals that are aligned with the mission and purpose of Ebenezer Baptist Church. We will need PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT – encouragement, support and active participation from parents; to parents we must convey the message that they are an essential and expected part of the ministry. 134 References/Resources/Bibliography Bibliography and Research Works Cited Baxter, Jeff. “What Does the Next Generation Want?: Twentysomethings are Calling for Change in the Way Church is Done. Are You Hearing Them?” REV Magazine Apr/May 2007: 17‐18. Beresford, Vince. “Equipping Students for Life After High School.” REV Magazine Sept./Oct .2008: 148. Beresford, Vince. “Helping Teens Who Hurt Themselves.” REV Magazine Jan./Feb. 2009: 82. Fields, Doug. “Five Characteristics of Healthy Youth Programs.” Purpose‐Driven Youth Ministry: 9 Essential Foundations for Healthy Growth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 1998: 195‐206. Kamrath, Carmen. “Community Outreach Ideas for Kids.” REV Magazine Sept./Oct. 2008: 150. Mueller, Walt. “The Times. . . They Are A‐Changing.” Youth Culture 101: Youth Specialities Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2007: 32‐76. Scott Thumma.“New Survey Examines America's Megachurchgoers.” The Christian Post. 2008. Caleb Heidebrecht. “On Life and Faith (And Other Stuff): Definition of Urban Social Transformation.” Blogspot. 8 Sept. 2004. 2006 http://calebh.blogspot.com/2006/06/definition‐of‐urban‐social.html Hadaway, C. Kirk. “Facts on Growth: A new look at the dynamics of growth and decline in American congregations based on the Faith Communities Today 2005 national survey of congregations.” Hartford Seminary. 2005. http://fact.hartsem.edu Haight ,Wendy. “African American Children at Church: A Sociocultural Perspective.” Cambridge Press. Cambridge, England. 2002. Garland, Diana R. “What is Family Ministry?” Christian Century. 13 Nov. 1996. 2004. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_n33_v113/ai_18884875/ Calderone‐Stewart, Lisa. “Does the Church Put Faith In Our Youth? 28 July 2008. U.S. Catholic. http://www.uscatholic.org/church/2008/07/does‐church‐put‐faith‐our‐youth 135 Research Websites The Potter’s House. Bishop T. D. Jakes. Dallas, TX. http://www.thepottershouse.org Saddleback Valley Community Church.Website. Rev. Rick Warren. Lake Forest, CA http://www.saddleback.com Lakewood Church. Website. Pastor Joel and Victoria Osteen. Houston, TX. http://www.lakewood.cc/pages/index.aspx Emerging Best Practices. Websites. Sources: Columbia College Research: http://www.echristianed.com/?pageid=27 CrossPoint Church: http://www.thecrosspointchurch.org/children‐youth‐ministries/ http://www.northpoint.org/ Peggy Kendall. “Youth Ministry & Technology Study.” Website. http://pkendall.squarspace.com Value of Childrens & Youth Ministries. Website. http://www.christianodyssey.com/com/children/children01.htm Brian and Jacob. “New Concepts.” Blog. http://rethinkingyouth.blogspot.com/2009/04/10‐ideas‐for‐
rethinking‐sunday‐school.html/ MacQueen, Neil. Workshop Rotation Model. Website. www.rotation.org/ The Rotation Sunday School. Website. First Baptist Church. Columbus, GA. http://www.firstbaptistcolumbusga.com/RotationSS.html/ Local Churches using Rotation Model. Websites. St. James; Episcopal Church. Marietta, Ga. www.stjamesmarietta.com/home/conent/ Westside Baptist Church. Mableton, GA. www.wbcfamily.org/templates 136 Appendix A Catalog Data and Information Agenda and Minutes from Children and Youth Ministry Commission Meetings 
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06.09.09 – Initial Meeting – Telephone Conference Call 06.16.09 – Meeting @ Ebenezer Baptist Church, Room 200 06.30.09 – Meeting @ Ebenezer Baptist Church, Room 103 07.14.09 – Meeting @ Ebenezer Baptist Church, Room 200 07.28.09 – Meeting @ Ebenezer Baptist Church, Room 103 08.29.09 – Meeting @ Ebenezer Baptist Church, Room 103 Writing Team Meetings 
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07.28.09 – Meeting @ Ebenezer Baptist Church, Room 103 08.02.09 – Conference Call Meeting 08.22.09 – Meeting @ Atlanta Urban Ministries 08.27.09 – Conference Call Meeting Focus Group Responses 
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07.09.09 – College/Young Adult (ages 18‐24) 07.11.09a – Parents and Volunteer Workers (current and former) 07.11.09b – Children (ages 8–12) 07.12.09 – Youth Group (ages 13‐17) 07.22.09 – Young Adult (ages 25–35) Internal Assessments  Acteens (Women’s Missionary Union)  A.D. Williams King Children’s Chapel  Boy Scouts  Christine King Farris Youth Handbell Choir  College Ministry  Ebenezer Gilstrap Dance Ministry  Girl Scouts  IHAD (I Have a Dream)  Marriage Enrichment Group (MEG)  SOLO (Singles Obeying the Lord Only) Ministry  Teenage Mothers Ministry (submitted to Health & Wellness Ministry Commission)  Voices of New Era Youth Choir  Youth Church School  Youth Ministry  Youth Usher Board External Best Practice Assessments Visitations 137 
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07.18.09 – Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Birmingham, AL) 07.20.09 – Trinity Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, GA) 07.26.09 – Free Chapel Worship Center (Gainesville,GA) 07.27.09 – Elizabeth Baptist Church (Atlanta, GA) 07.30.09 – Wieuca Road Baptist Church (Atlanta, GA) 08.01.09 – Greenforest Community Baptist Church (Decatur, GA) Best Practice Materials/Samples Elizabeth Baptist Church: 
Arthur, Kay and Arundt, Janna. 2000. Boy, Have I Got Problems!” A Study on the book of James. Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Study for Kids. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. Free Chapel Worship Center: 
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Kidpak Adventures: Ladder 123. July 2009. Monthly Devotional and Study Guide. In‐house curriculum written David Cypher, Children’s Curriculum Director and the Curriculum Team. Kidpak Adventures: Parenting Matters – a weekly parenting resource. Kidpak Registration Form Kid Discovery Sunday Lesson Guide KidDiscovery Involvement Application Free Chapel Kids – Description of ministries for children Free Chapel One Family Counseling – professional counselors and referral services DivorceCare for Kids http://www.dc4k.org/ Wieuca Road Baptist Church: 
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Coordinator’s Guide – Jubilation Station. David C. Cook Ministries. The World of Paul. http://www.davidccook.com/MRKids/LessonsPrograms/index.cfm?N=34,148,8,2 Summer Sabbath – Wednesday Night Breakouts to foster intergenerational relationships. Exploring God’s World – Experiencing God’s Love at Discovery Pointe (K – 2) Hand in Hand Mother’s Ministry – Network of support, friendship, prayer and guidance for expectant mothers and their babies. Spiritual Formation – Frequently Asked Questions (brochure) Spiritual Formation – New Topics for July (flyer) 138 Appendix B Youth Ministry & Technology Use Study Research from Youth Pastors & the use of technology with their Youth Ministry Source: http://pkendall.squarespace.com/ “we can’t ignore the fact that online technology is a significant part of the teenage environment … But isn’t that what we are called to do? After all, if Jesus was willing to go to the well, maybe it’s time we are willing to go online.” ‐‐ Rewired: Youth Ministry in an Age of IM & MySpace – Peggy Kendall – Author 139 Appendix C Program Recommendations Short Term Goals 
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Create a community event similar to Cutting Thru Crisis (i.e. go to a park to feed the homeless). Strengthen the LINKS visibility and purpose in an effort to have a stronger transition from the Children’s Ministry to the Youth Ministry Get involved with other youth groups in the area and develop partnerships across the church community. Have a biblical curriculum that connects Nursery to Children’s Chapel, Children’s Chapel to Youth Group, and Youth Group to College Ministry. Use of Rotation Model for Children’s Chapel and/or Youth Church School. Create a distinguishing characteristic between Youth Church School and Children’s Chapel to increase Church School attendance. Every Fifth Sunday, involve the children, youth, and college ministries in the Main service as the greeters, the choir, dancers, hand bell players, musicians, ushers, scripture readers, etc. where they conduct the service. This would provide children, youth, college and young adult ministries a more relaxed opportunity to participate in leading the Main worship service. Also, it will provide exposure to the Main worship service so when youth move to college/young adults, they are able to appreciate a worship service. Long Term Goals 
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Connect with the College Freshman Orientation Committee and request the opportunity to share information with the freshman regarding our programs for this age group. Include bible Study, community outreach, and fellowship or gathering programs for the College Ministry (local students). Cards and/or care packages to church members that are away at college. Have a 12‐month curriculum for Young Adult Ministry and make sure that the meetings are consistent and that they crossover into other ministries. Research local and global mission opportunities and create an age appropriate missions program for children and youth that will culminate with completing and experiencing a global mission trip. Facelift of 2nd floor rooms in the Administrative Building. Brainstorm on ways to designate certain spaces as i.e. “Youth Zone” or “Children’s Corner.” Being responsible for a space may help with the cleanliness, upkeep, and organization of the rooms on the 2nd floor. 140 Appendix D Ministry Operations Comments or Recommendations  A ministerial structure involving the Senior Pastor and Associate Minister(s) that will work in collaboration with all children and youth ministries to ensure a connected and cohesive community. We recommend the advice father‐in‐law Jethro gave to Moses‐‐in Exodus: 18: 19b‐22. “Be thou for the people to God‐ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.” ‐‐‐that this procedure be used at Ebenezer in such a way that it establishes a strategy for accountability instead of judgment which was in Moses days. This way the Senior Pastor will be kept abreast of all the Commissions and their programs by having joint periodical meetings with those he has assigned to be over the various Commissions. And the Commission Heads would meet periodically with the various directors of programs under their Commissions. This way everybody knows what everybody else is doing to help ensure connectivity, consistency, continuity, collaboration, commitment, and cohesive community within each ministry throughout Ebenezer and especially the Child/Youth/Young Adult ministries where there needs to be an age appropriate, Life Stages Ministry.  Each ministry develops a strategic plan that a) drive the ministry and not the programs and activities sponsored by the organization. The strategic plan should include a vision and mission statement based on the church’s vision and mission statements. Create goals, objectives and action plan, budget and timeline. 
Better communication from pastoral staff to decide, communicate, and coordinate our priorities as a church so that we can work effectively with the parents and then work effectively in ministry areas to teach, nurture, and lead by example. 
Develop and implement a screening process including a background check for all persons who work with children and youth to ensure our children are safe. 
Training module for adults working with children and youth. Provide ongoing training for our children and youth leaders and ministers. 
Better security procedures ensuring a safe environment and more secure check‐in and check‐
out of children and youth at ministry functions.  Biblical guidelines on what Ebenezer as a church believes and teaches our children on controversial moral issues such as fornication, homosexuality, abortion, same sex marriage, abstinence, etc. 141  Ebenezer’s website includes a special space for Children and Youth to communicate with each other and create a joint calendar. Studies indicated that an informative, creative website provides introduction to non‐members about the church and also possibly increases growth. 
Incorporate technology and other interactive methods into teaching children and youth. 
Designate an associate pastor(s) to lead a Family Ministry, which involves the Marriage Enrichment Group and SOLO (Singles Obeying the Lord Only) ministry. This could be in combination with children and/or youth responsibilities. 
Provide children and youth opportunities to develop and enhance leadership skills through an Institute for Christian Education leadership workshop and/or through planning a church‐wide event. Appendix E Exploratory Questions The Children and Youth Ministry Commission saw a need to form a subcommittee to develop thought provoking questions specific to children and youth ministry issues. In addition to the questions provided by the commission consultants, we were armed with information to explore and assess not only our children and youth ministries, but also external children and youth ministries. A subcommittee was formed to develop approximately 15 questions for each assessment category so that those leading the focus groups, internal assessments and external assessments would have enough questions to choose from to complete their task. Also, to develop questions more specific to a children’s or youth ministry. These questions were reviewed by the consultants, and it was determined that this was partially a duplication of the questions they provided and to remain consistent across the ministry commission, the original set of questions from the consultants should be primary. The questions below from the subcommittee are worth exploration, maybe in the future, as we strive to enhance and align our children and youth ministries in relation to the church’s mission and purpose. 
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Are the ministries actively supported by the church leadership? If so how? Does the volunteer staff receive an appropriate amount of training and the tools/materials necessary to effectively implement the ministry’s programs and educational plans? What tools are needed to ensure that children and youth ministries reach their objectives? Is there collaboration across all youth ministries (church school, choir, dance, scouts, ushers, WOW and etc.?) What methods are employed to attract new children and youth to the ministry? Are the children and youth ministries adequately funded to achieve their objectives? Are the children and youth ministries staffed appropriately to achieve their objectives? What involvement do you request or require from parents? How has participation in children and youth ministries helped you? 142 
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What methodology is used to obtain feedback from the children & youth to determine program focus, activities and effectiveness? Have you visited any other Children and/or Youth programs at other churches? If so, what did you like/dislike versus our own? Have you ever brought or invited another young person to EBC with you? Why/Why not? What do you think the main purposes of children and youth ministries are? What are the strengths (the best things) about the children and youth ministries at Ebenezer? What do you like most about the current ministries? Give us some examples of specific programs and activities that are being done to make sure these purposes are achieved? Do you think the current children and youth ministries are successful? If so why? What’s currently being done that could be improved in the children and youth ministries? What’s the main reason you are or are not involved in EBC children and youth ministries? How easy is it to communicate with the leaders and teachers in the children and youth ministries? If it is not easy what could be done to make it better? How is the ministry funded? Is the funding adequate to achieve the ministry’s objectives? How is the staff for your ministries selected? Are the ministries staffed appropriately? What percentage of the staff is paid versus volunteer? How do you balance activities and the spiritual formation in your children and youth ministries? ### 143 Health and Wellness Ministry Commission Final Report Submitted November 19, 2009 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, as thy soul prospereth” 3 John 1:2 INTRODUCTION Throughout its history Ebenezer Baptist Church has been responsive to the health needs of the congregation and the communities that it serves. The church’s ministries and programming have sought to offer comfort and care to members and the community during times of distress, illness, and death as part of the core mission of the church. With great interest by the pastor and the congregation in establishing a comprehensive health and wellness ministry, a panel of members was commissioned to embark upon a robust assessment process that deployed community conversations (focus groups), interviews, and surveys. This process was designed to; 1) elicit the perspectives and recommendations from the congregation for developing a health and wellness ministry, 2) examine current and recent health ministry activities and programs at Ebenezer (internal assessment) and, 3) to observe and examine the best practices of established health ministries at other churches (external assessment). Those assessments along with a scan of the literature have informed the development of specific aims and recommendations for the creation of a health and wellness ministry that are aligned with the stated purposes of the church as we seek to advance individual growth and spiritual formation and embrace the goal of social transformation as a continuation of the social justice agenda of Ebenezer Baptist Church. As indicated in Table 1 members of the Health and Wellness Ministry Commission met during the months of June and July, 2009 and established subcommittees to design and implement an assessment process. Table 1: Commission Process and Activities Activity Date Meeting / Introduction June 12 and Timeline; Internal assessments with Commission members Meeting/ June 17 Subcommittee Assignments; Draft Questionnaires/Guides Participation Process/ Product Commission members Subcommittee Assignments Commission members Drafted Questionnaires/Guide 144 Meeting/ reports; sites, community conversation dates and place, internal interviews June 24 Commission members Reviewed Questionnaire Meeting/ Subcommittee Reports; Site approvals, date and reporting for internal assessment, finalize focus group July 1 Commission members Site Approvals, Scheduled community conversation, internal assessment Community Conversation/Focus Group Community Conversation/Focus Group Internal Assessment (IA) Internal Assessment (IA) July 14 CC subcommittee Completed Ebenezer members Community Conversation July 18 CC subcommittee Completed Ebenezer members Community Conversation July 18‐August 10 July 18‐August 10 IA Subcommittee External Assessment (EA) July 16 July 18 July 23 EA Subcommittee IA Subcommittee 145 Completed Interviews: Commons Ground Intergenerational Resource Center Stephens Ministry (Grief and Loss) AIDS Ministry Teenage Mothers Ministry Breast Cancer Programming Men’s Health Program Disaster Preparedness Beulah Baptist Church Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church Ray of Hope Cascade United Methodist Church Commission Members and Subcommittees Dr. Fleda Mask Jackson, Chair Kimberly Hightower, Co Chair Ministerial Liaison Minister Walter Hughes Minister Bobby James Internal Assessments (IA) Burnette Cockfield Mary Glenn Gywneth Carpenter Kimberly Hightower Community Conversations/Focus Groups (CC) Dr. Carrie Buggs Tracy Victor Deacon Gwen Morgan Connie Smith Dr. Fleda Mask Jackson External Assessment (EA) Dr. Anita Johnson Deacon Carl Terry *Dr. Natasha Buchanan Research and Writing Minister Walter Hughes *Dr. Joyce Essien Dr. Fleda Mask Jackson Deacon Carl Terry *volunteers I. BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW Health ministries within black churches have traditionally responded to the medical emergencies among the congregation and worshippers and assumed the role of providing health 146 education, screenings, and resources. Increased emphasis on community health and the efficacy of culturally competent approaches for health promotion and intervention have spotlighted the actual and potential role of black churches in reducing health disparities. In this regard, the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS and the debilitating effects of disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases, infant mortality and premature death in African American communities, in the absence of quality assessable health care and the conditions required for health and wellbeing, compel black churches to confront health disparities as a social justice mandate. Numerous studies have been conducted which confirm the relationship between church participation and health. In general, studies have found that individuals who participate in churches live longer and have better health outcomes than those who do not (Levin, 1998). While better health outcomes can be observed for African Americans who participate in churches, a closer examination is needed to determine the buffering effects of religious participation on the health outcomes for African Americans. The connection between religious participation and distress is not as straightforward as expected. For instance, findings indicate that the buffering effects of religion for depressive symptoms may be stronger for black men than women who have the highest rates of church participation (Taylor, 2004). There is evidence for the link between longevity and high levels of religious participation among the black elderly, but despite the high levels of church participation among African Americans and evidence of its positive effect on health outcomes, African Americans still are sick and dying at disproportionately higher rates. These and other findings point to the need for health ministries in black churches to be fine tuned by a thorough integration of religious beliefs and the best health practices in ways that are responsive to the specific health behaviors and environmental exposures that pose health risks for African Americans. A review of the literature on the effectiveness of faith‐based health programs documented that faith based programs can produce positive health effects because they;1) increase health knowledge, 2) improve screening behavior and 3) reduce the risk associated with diseases and disease symptoms (Dehaven, 2004). In this review, where the majority of the sites described in the studies were African American churches, the author makes a distinction between church‐based, church‐sited, and collaborative faith‐based health programs. Church‐based programs are created and operated by a church, church sited denotes programs that are created elsewhere but take place in churches, and collaborative faith based efforts are partnerships between churches and other entities. The study notes that one of the key differences between church‐based and church‐sited efforts is that church‐based programs are less apt to evaluate the outcomes of the programs. But, research findings also indicate that church‐based health programs are being evaluated and shown to have positive health effects (Kennedy, 2005). Mental Health and End‐of‐Life Care The rates of death, violence, and murder associated with untreated or undiagnosed mental disorders within African American communities are alarming. Many of the diagnosis of behavioral 147 problems for our children are directly related to their home life. The instability of the family has had a direct impact on the ability of our young people to cope and thrive during stressful times. In research that examined churches in the urban and rural South and their provisions for mental health services, the survey results from 269 churches indicated black churches reported providing more mental health services than white churches ( ). The research also indicated that there were few links between churches and formal mental health providers. The Black Church has been the primary place of refuge for persons with mental health issues but has not always sufficiently addressed those needs beyond the standard advice of “pray about it” in the absence of needed therapeutic interventions. The therapeutic tools used in the church include prayer, grief support, and faith healing. While these responses my offer immediate relief, the long range counseling needs typically go unmet. Mental health counselors should cultivate collaborative relationships with the black churches in order to develop meaningful counseling interventions with African American clients (Adkinson‐Bradley, 2005). According to Atkinson‐Bradley mental health services conducted in collaboration with churches should: 
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Incorporate the historical and current religious experiences of African Americans Be responsive to the various characteristics of the church setting, e.g., ages and socioeconomic characteristics, clergy orientation toward community activism, programs, resources, and services Establish close relationships with members and a mutually beneficial and respectful working relationships with the minister and leadership of the church Work with churches to erase the stigma attached to mental illness End‐of‐life care among African Americans faces significant barriers. The black church is a natural resource for bereavement support but the barriers to hospice care for African Americans are both cultural and institutional exacerbated by the lack of knowledge about hospice services and preferences for life saving measures born out of religious beliefs in miracles or Gods’ determination of life or death. In one study, the author offers several recommendations for presenting hospice care as a viable option that include; 1) identifying the convergence between the beliefs of the church and hospice care (caring, compassion, transition), 2) increasing the presence of African Americans working in hospice settings as chaplains and other professionals, and 3) educating the African American community about the services that hospice care provides for patients and families (Moore, 2003). Models of Faith Based Health Activities and Ministries There are numbers of successful models of church‐based and collaborative health programs and activities at black churches. One community‐wide health program that has successfully integrated faith practices and good health practices is the Health Care Revival that was developed as collaboration among community health advocates, church leaders, and the community health department in Boston, Massachusetts to create a unique annual health fair. As the title suggests, the Health Care Revival merges the spirit filled sermons, singing, and praying of a tent revival with health education information and screenings. This annual event also includes health testimonials; another core element 148 in revival services (Lawson, 2002). The results of this event have demonstrated increased use of the services of the community health center and the development of community‐generated health projects. Other programs that have integrated faith practices with health information, support, and technical training are A Balm in Gilead, a nationally recognized advocacy group to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in African American communities whose signature activity is a Day of Prayer for HIV/AIDS in black churches and the Association of Black Cardiologist’s text of scriptures and prayers combined with health information on preventing heart disease (Amusa, 2009) Models for sustainable health education, prevention programs, and services within black churches include free clinics, staffed by health professional and lay members from the church, parish nursing programs, and collaborations with local public health agencies, hospitals, and universities. The concept of parish nursing utilizes the skills of nurses to promote heath and well‐being and offers services within churches and communities that are not always readily available in public health settings. There are indications of the successful application of this model in black churches (Armmer, 1995, Carson, 2004, Mendelson, 2008). Since public health agencies recognize the tremendous impact that black churches can have on the health outcomes among its members, agencies have partnered with black churches and created manuals for health ministries that include assistance for assessment and evaluation (Tennessee Department of Health, www2.statetn.su/health/faith; see Appendix C). “The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well watered garden like an ever‐flowing spring.” Isaiah 58:11 IIa. METHODOLOGY Community Conversations/Focus Groups Two community conversations were conducted with members of the congregation. With an emphasis on Ebenezer’s aims of individual growth and social transformation, the objectives for the community conversations were designed to capture the insights and recommendations from Ebenezer’s congregation for the development of a health and wellness ministry. The guide for the community conversations was informed by an Appreciative Inquiry methodology where the objective is to elicit ideas and constructs that emerge from a group’s contemplation of assets and possibilities as the concrete basis for intervention, innovation, and sustainable transformation. This approach incorporated questions about the participant’s knowledge of and experiences with health programming at Ebenezer while asking them to share their own experiences of health and wellbeing as the starting point for their visions of a health and wellness ministry. The sessions ended by asking the participants to share their ideas and individual commitments to establish and sustain a health and wellness ministry at Ebenezer. In addition to being asked to respond to the questions from the community conversation guide, each participant was asked to complete a brief demographic survey (Appendix A). Internal Assessment 149 Interviews were conducted with the leadership from several health related ministries and activities. The ministries included Common Ground, the HIV/AIDS Ministry, Stephens Ministry/ Grief and Loss, the Intergenerational Resource Center, and the Teenage Mothers Ministry and the activities/programs for breast cancer (Worship in Pink), disaster preparedness, and men’s health (Appendix A). External Assessments/ Best Practices Site visits were made to four churches that were identified by members of the Health and Wellness Ministry Commission as places exemplifying the best practices for health ministry. The churches that were visited were Ray of Hope, Beulah Baptist Church, Turner Hill A.M.E. Church and Cascade United Methodist Church. During the visits representatives were asked to respond to a series of questions developed by the EA subcommittee (see Appendix A). Findings: Community Conversation/Focus Group Participants There were a total of 17 participants for the two community conversations whose ages ranged from 22 to 60. The participants were recruited from the list of individuals who indicated their interest in serving as members of the Health and Wellness Ministry Commission but were not selected. Others who participated in the conversations responded to an announcement of the dates and times for the sessions that were printed in the church bulletin. The majority of the participants were female (88%) with 59% between the ages of 51‐71. For those who were under fifty years old, seventy‐one percent (71%) were between the ages of 31‐40. Seven (7) of the participants indicated that they had neither experienced nor had any knowledge of health related ministries at Ebenezer. Ten of the respondents indicated their familiarity with at least one or more of the health related ministries. Responses indicating familiarity or experiences with Ebenezer health ministries were: Common Ground 2 Stephens Ministry 1 Teen Mothers 1 Others 11 Wellbeing Ambassadors 1 Health Fairs 1 150 Crisis Closet 2 Nurture Care 2 Breast Cancer Walk 2 Diabetes Ed. 1 AIDS Leadership Meditation/ Christian Yoga None 1 1 7 Individual Health and the Church The responses indicated that participants viewed different periods of their lives as being the healthiest. For those who saw their 20s and 30s as the healthiest period of their lives the reasons were they: 
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Felt carefree Felt energetic Had solid support systems Associated fitness with health For those who indicated that they felt their healthiest during their 40’s the explanations were: 
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Access to healthy foods and the responsibility for children More conscious of and responsive to family health history of chronic diseases Their work in the healthcare and insurance field For individuals over 50 explanations included: 
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An internal focus on well‐being Working in the field of health care Concern for prevention Health Focus in the Church Participants asserted that we must place more emphasis on the prevention of chronic diseases and that addressing the mental health concerns of the congregation was paramount. The discussions on physical and mental health centered on a life‐course approach to addressing the health concerns of members from infants to the elderly. Thus, participants discussed providing assessments of the 151 strengths and weaknesses in children’s physical and emotional health as well as making plans for the health needs of the congregation’s aging members. Integration of Faith and Health In terms of the church’s role in integrating spiritual growth and physical and mental health, participants shared that the church should: 
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Help us to understand where God wants us to be Teach individuals that caring for ourselves is needed in order to be good stewards to carry out the work of God Help us to understand that our bodies are our temples Participants further elaborated on ways to integrate their faith with the health practices when they said: 
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We must begin with prayer, that’s our common ground We must begin our health journey with the spiritual as the point of departure. We must have a spiritual focus in conjunction with health education Health Education and Communication Participants discussed several methods for communicating health messages and information on health resources throughout the congregation and community. Those included: 
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Using the church’s website as a source of health information where health tips could be posted. Creating a health directory that would provide information on resources within and outside of the church (medical personnel, services, resources and supplies).  Launching a help referral line. One of the most innovative recommendations for disseminating information and providing support was to develop and enhance the practice of health coaching where individuals would offer advice and needed support similar to prayer partners. Another approach that was offered was intergenerational health mentoring for teens by adults in the church. Health Advocacy “Ebenezer is the “voice” on so many pertinent social issues, “we could use that platform to speak on political issues as they relate to health care,” said one of the conversation participants. Another participant concurred when she said, “Ebenezer is viewed as a rallying point around a number of issues and therefore other groups will get involved [in the issues that we bring forth].” Ways to address the social transformation aims of the church offered by the participants were: 
Actively engaging in the policy agenda around heath and healthcare reform by convening and mobilizing to eliminate the conditions that create racial and economic health disparities, 152 
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confronting racism in health care in the form of unequal treatment, and advancing the goal of health equity. Confronting the realities of internalized racism in regards to judgments about the quality of health care received from black providers Serving as health navigators and advocates to make certain that members of the congregation and community know their rights in regards to health care Barriers During the discussions participants described several barriers to addressing the health care needs of members and the community: 
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Individual concerns about stigma (mental health, abuse, HIV/AIDS) The absence of safe spaces where individuals can feel comfortable to share their health concerns; the absence of a culture of sharing at the church The absence of consistency and commitment The lack of accessibility to personnel and resources to address health matters Focus Group Suggestions 
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Emphasize the importance of healthy food and proper nutrition by reviving the church’s food coop to provide healthy fresh fruits and vegetables and giving instructions on reading food labels Advance collaboration and information on health and wellbeing between and among the ministries and auxiliaries of the church by having members of the health and wellness team attend the auxiliary meetings to provide guidance, statistics, and general information that would be helpful in changing risky behaviors. Serve as health navigators who accompany members, particularly the elderly, to their doctors visits Create a mechanism for mental health support and counseling Provide medical‐legal information, knowledge and resources, for health ministry volunteers Commitments When asked what they were willing to do to assist a health ministry, participants committed to: 
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Serving as health educators and navigators for the church; helping individuals to understand their health rights and responsibilities and their insurance benefits Creating a directory of health resources Mentoring young people on health professions Posting health tips on the EBC website Assessing the mental and physical health status of children 153 IIb. Findings: Internal Assessments During the first meeting of the commission members were asked to share their own visions for a Health and Wellness ministry. Those responses centered on the agenda, structure, and emphasis for developing and implementing a health and wellness ministry at Ebenezer. Agenda for the Health and Wellness Ministry 
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I envision a family model that utilizes a life course approach to health care and invites family and community responses to the health and wellness needs within Ebenezer and the surrounding community. I hope to see the experiences of those who have been sick and those who have not been be the basis for developing the ministry. Structure 
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We should have an organized ministry comprised of healthcare professionals that would offer education and health care services to Ebenezer members. I would like to see a team of doctors and nurses within the congregation who would have special seating during the services and be available for medical emergencies. Emphasis 
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Ebenezer must have a focus “on the least of these” as we offer healthcare services to members of the community. We must have an organized approach to medical services and education, particularly in regards to mental health. In light of health care reforms, we should focus on seeing our members receiving the medical attention that they need. I would like to see us involved in dispensing medical supplies and equipment to other countries and possibly taking mission trips. It is important to give attention to individuals with drug/alcoholism problems and I would like to focus on AIDS education within the community. Underage prostitution is a problem in metropolitan Atlanta and there is the need to educate young people on healthy lifestyles. I hope that we would have a focus on total wellness especially for African American men. I would like to see a focus on mental health and abuse issues. Ebenezer Health Programs and Ministries Health Programming The results from the interviews with individuals who either led or were involved with health programming on breast cancer (Worship in Pink), men’s health, and disaster preparedness indicated the importance of those programs continuing as integral components of the Health and Wellness ministry. 154 Assets The health programs on breast cancer, men’s health, and disaster preparedness: 
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Provided awareness of breast cancer screening and detection; church‐wide, intergenerational involvement Created heightened awareness of men’s health and proactive responses to chronic diseases Heightened awareness and provided materials on disaster preparedness. Challenges 
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Finding ways to increase the participation of the men in our congregation in health programs and activities The integration of health programs into the comprehensive aims of the Health and Wellness Ministry Opportunities 
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Health programming at Ebenezer has laid foundation for collaborative and church‐sited components of a health and wellness ministry. Individuals involved in the planning and implementation of health programs can form te links and liaisons to connect and integrate the health related events to the overall aims and objectives of the Health and Wellness ministry Health Ministries Assets The existing and recent health ministries operated to address the emotional, social and health concerns of the congregation and the community at different life stages. Specifically those ministries were established to: 
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Train leaders to address crises among members working under the supervision of the ministerial staff (Stephens Ministry and Grief and Loss) Increase the church’s involvement in the healing, care, and support of those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS (HIV/AIDS ministry) Provide daily spiritual, emotional, and practical support in a community setting designed for individuals with HIV/AIDS (Common Ground) Encourage and empower teen mother to develop long‐term and short‐term goals for themselves and their infants through family planning, developing parenting skills, and through educational achievement (Teenage Mothers Ministry) Provide a health and social services program for senior citizens, disabled young people, and veterans (Intergenerational Resource Center –IRC) 155 Challenges Two of the five ministries are no longer active (HIV/AIDS ministry and Teen Mothers Ministry). In both instances, shifting priorities and restructuring led to those ministries discontinuing. Other challenges: 
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The difficulty of moving from education and awareness to an actual care ministry for individuals affected with HIV/AIDS within the church The level of planning and consistency needed to devise and sustain a church‐based HIV/AIDS ministry. Opportunities The existing health ministries offer continuing opportunities for community outreach and for addressing the needs of the elderly, disabled, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Because of the supervising minister for the Stephens Ministry left the church to assume a new position, the Stephens Ministry faded but fortunately the work of the Stephens Ministry formed the basis for establishing the Grief and Loss program designed by EBC church member to lend support and care in the aftermath of the death of a loved one. The formation and continuing services of the Grief and Loss Ministry has been the impetus for reintroducing the Stephens ministry as a format for the church to be responsive to the ever increasing needs of individuals and families in crisis. No doubt the Stephens ministry will be foundational for addressing the mental health needs of the congregation through the use of trained lay persons working in collaboration with and under the supervision of mental health professionals and the ministerial staff. The collaborative partnership between Ebenezer and Common Grounds offers a model for health collaborations. The resources of the Intergenerational Resource Center are underutilized by the Ebenezer congregation, particularly by those individuals who are caregivers for elderly and impaired loved ones. III. Findings: External Assessments of Best Practices Composition The membership for the health ministries at the four churches was comprised of medical and health professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists, nutritionists, researchers) as well as non medical professionals, including deacons and other officers of the churches. On average there were 10 members participating in each of the ministries. Cascade United Methodist Church, however, has 50 members in its health ministry. The length of time that the health ministries had been organized ranged from 10‐20 years for the four churches. 156 Activities As indicated in Table 3 the health ministries from the four churches offer an array of programs to address the health needs of their congregations and communities, locally and abroad. Most of the ministries met monthly and their programs took place throughout the year, during ongoing and special events that took place during, between, and after the services. All of the ministries indicated that they were involved in community outreach and that aspects of their ministries were conducted in collaboration with other churches, public health departments, and community organizations (Dekalb and Fulton County Departments of Health). Beulah Baptist Church, for instance, is working in collaboration with the Dekalb Department of Public Health and the community to address the issue of bullying among preteens and teens. Turner AME church reported its partnership with Life Chiropractic University and Cascade United Methodist Church works in collaboration with two other churches in the Cascade corridor: Providence Baptist and Hillside. The responses revealed that all of the churches involved young adults in their ministries who have assumed leadership roles, volunteer, or participate in the programs and activities of the health ministries. The activities and services of the four health ministries are supported through the churches annual budgets. Announcements from the pulpit and in the church bulletins along with materials distributed during health ministry activities were the principal ways that church members from the four locations were recruited to participate. Table 3: Best Practices Church Turner Hill A.M.E. Meetings Monthly Programs Bone marrow
Breast cancer Awareness Community Mission Outreach Trips Involvement/ Life No
Chiropractic From the pulpit Recruitment Prostate Screening Vision Screening Ray of Hope Monthly Working with shelters Health fairs Clothes drive; Toy drive Home improvement‐
157 Jamaica, Pulpit Kenya, Haiti, India asthma Cascade Monthly (Initiative groups), quarterly entire ministry United Methodist Church Blood Drive Health Fair Brown Bag (doctors and pharmacists answer medication needs) AIDS In the past awareness; but not at Pine Shelter this time Bulletin announcements New members packets e‐mails from ministry chair Newsletter Beulah Baptist Church Every other month Universal system for monthly health focus; Diabetes, Breast cancer;
Community Life Center Africa Pulpit; attend auxiliary and other ministry meetings Booth between services to pass out information BP screening between services Medical Emergencies At Beulah Baptist Church and Turner Chapel AME nurses, in uniforms and seated together, respond to medical emergencies during the worship services and at other church related events. The medical emergency team at Turner A.M.E. also has a crash cart and defibrillator. The services at Cascade are equipped for first aid and minor emergency care and CPR and defibrillator responses by certified individuals. Cascade also has an emergency hotline operated by clergy members that can be accessed after hours. Ray of Hope is in the process of developing a medical emergency response ministry. 158 Strengths and weaknesses The health ministries from the churches attributed their successes to; 1) the types of programs they sponsor, 2) feedback from the ministers and congregation, and 3) participation in other health ministry programs. Weaknesses in the programs were; 1) membership burnout 2) being under budgeted, 3) the need for increased visibility, and 4) the need for increased membership. III. Discussion Despite the advances in health care, on a number of key health indicators, the United States ranks among the lowest of the industrialized nations. The disparate racial and economic health outcomes seen among African Americans and the poor are contributors to the abysmal health status of this country. The placement of health services and education within faith based institutions has been offered as solutions to halting the widening racial and economic gaps in health outcomes. While successes have been seen in church‐sited programs their sustainability and effectiveness in the absence of mutual partnerships between health agencies and churches is questionable. The assessment process for developing a health and wellness ministry at Ebenezer commenced with questions designed to elicit the individual experiences and visions aligned with health assets rather than the health deficits captured by health disparities. This approach sought to advance the creation of a health and wellness ministry that embraces the best health practices but equally important is informed by the core religious beliefs of faith and hope and knowledge of the miraculous healings of Jesus Christ and compassion as the foundation for a health and wellness ministry. The discussion centered on mental and physical health across the life span with particular emphasis on health education, prevention, care, and advocacy throughout the life course. Unquestionably mental health emerged as a priority area during the community conversations and the deliberations among the among the commission members. The internal and external assessments uncovered the challenges and opportunities for structuring and sustaining a health ministry. Going forward it is recommended that strategic planning and study take place to advance a health and wellness ministry that is thoroughly saturated with the religious beliefs of the congregation and it is organized in the best possible way to address the plethora of health needs and interests in our congregation. 159 IV. Aims and Recommendations Individual Growth The aims of the Health and Wellness Ministry are to: 1) advance the healing ministry of Jesus Christ as the foundation for creating a culture of wellness and caring to promote mental and physical health and 2) to develop a life course approach to health ministry that is consistent and well organized with its focus on the intentional integration of the practices of faith and practices for good health. Social Transformation Our aims are: 1) to foster congregational and community engagement and advocacy in the pursuit of health equity for all people and 2) to commit to the elimination of racial and economic health disparities through service, education, navigation, and advocacy that exhibit the integration of practices of faith, practices for good health and advocacy for the environmental and social conditions to ensure good health and care and compassion for the sick and dying in our church, the community, and the world. Recommendations for a comprehensive Health and Wellness Ministry at Ebenezer: 1. Develop a culture of wellness and caring through ministry and spiritually‐based support practices within the congregation through education, wellness coaching, intergenerational mentoring, and support groups that encourage members to make good choices about their mental and physical health. 2. Advance a culture of caring to assist individuals and families during times of illness. 3. Promote and support emotional and mental wellbeing through safe and caring practices and that offers guidance for relationships, support groups, and ministries. 4. Work to inform and make members and the community aware of free and reduced health care, resources‐‐pharmaceuticals and services. 5. Serve to assist members in navigating health care and health care insurance and advocate for equitable access to health care service and resources 6. Inform the congregation and community of relevant health issues that are prevalent and preventable in our communities. 7. Educate the congregation and community on preparedness for natural and man made disasters and epidemics 8. Develop a platform to speak on public policy as related to health and health care 160 9. Develop partnerships and opportunities to create a global health ministry 10. Create a structure for responding to medical emergencies among the congregation and worshipers 161 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES Adkinson‐Bradley C, Johnson D, Lipford S, Duncan L, Holcomb‐McCoy C Forging a collaborative relationship between the black church and the counseling profession Counseling and Values, January, Volume 49, 147‐154. Armmer FA, et al. Parish nursing: Extending health care to urban African‐Americans. N and HC Perspectives on Community, 1995 Mar‐Apr; 16(2):64‐8. Anusa M Black female ministers target AIDS danger. Women’s e news, June 2, 2009. Baldwin KA, et al. Perceived health needs of urban African American church congregants. Public Health Nursing, 2001 Sep‐Oct, 18(5):295‐303. Billingsley A Mighty like a river: The black church and social reform. Oxford University Press, 1999. Carson VB and Koenig HG. Spiritual Caregiving: Health Care as a Ministry, Templeton Foundation Press (Philadelphia) 2004 (242 p.) ISBN: 1932031553. Catanzaro AM, Meador KG, Koenig HG, Kuchibhatla M, Clipp EC. Congregational health ministries: A national study of pastors' views. Public Health Nursing, 2007 Jan‐Feb; 24(1):6‐17. DeHaven MJ, Hunter IB, Wilder L, Walton JW, Berry J. Health programs in faith‐based organizations: Are they effective? American Journal of Public Health, 2004 Jun; 94(6):1030‐6. Diluilio JJ Living faith: The black church outreach tradition. Jeremiah Project Report, No 3, 1998. Hummer RA, Rodger RG, Nam, CB, Ellison CG. Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality. Demography, 1999, (36) 273‐285. Kennedy BM, Paeratakul S, Champagne CM, et al. A pilot church‐based weight loss program for African‐American adults using church members as health educators: A comparison of individual and group intervention. Ethnicity and Disease, 2005 Summer; 15(3):373‐8. Laken MA, Wilcox S, Swinton R. Working across faith and science to improve the health of African Americans. Ethnicity & Disease, 2007 Winter;17(1 Suppl 1):S23‐6. McGinnis SL, Zoske FM. The emerging role of faith community nurses in prevention and management of chronic disease. Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 2008 Aug;9(3):173‐80. Lawson E Health care revival renews, rekindles and revives American Journal of Public Health, 2002, 62(2), 177‐179. Levin, J. & Chatters, L. M. Religion, health and psychological well‐being In older adults: Findings from the national surveys. Journal of Aging and Health, 1998, 10, 504‐531. Lincoln CE The Black Experience in Religion Garden City, NY Anchor Press, 1974. 162 Mendelson SG, McNeese‐Smith D, Koniak‐Griffin D, Nyamathi A, Lu MC. A community‐based parish nurse intervention program for Mexican American women with gestational diabetes. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2008 Jul‐Aug; 37(4):415‐25. Moore P The black church: A natural resources for bereavement support. Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 2003, 38, 45‐57 Office of Minority Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Data and Statistics, African American Profile, 2009. Taylor RJ, Chatters LM, Levin J Religion in the live of African Americans: Social, psychological and health perspectives. Sage publication, 2004. 163 APPENDICES 164 Appendix A: Assessment Tools Community Conversation/ Focus Group Guide Introduction: As we engage in a process of visioning a comprehensive Health and Wellness Ministry at Ebenezer, the conversation for this session is divided into five areas:  Individual Health and Well Being: Role of Church  Spiritual Transformation and Health  Social Justice and Health *  Health Ministry Priorities and Commitments Questions 
What was the healthiest period of your life and why? Was this because of your family, your community, your church, your healthcare? And what were you doing for yourself?  What do you see as the role of the church in contributing to the health and well being (physical and mental health) of its members? Of the community? What can a health ministry contribute toward individual growth and spiritual transformation?  How is the goal of good health and well being connected to the teachings of the church? At Ebenezer? Elsewhere? *Ebenezer has in the past and continues ministries, programs, and activities that focus on aspects of health and well being: AIDS ministries and Leadership Programs, Grief and Loss, Teenage Mothers Ministry, Breast Cancer programs, Diabetes Education. Which one of these ministries, programs, and services have you participated in? What were the values/ benefits of your participation in this ministry? 
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What do you see as the challenges and gaps in your experiences in those health wellness ministry and activities? How did you learn about the current health & wellness ministries, programs and services? In what ways might we apply the history and reputation of Ebenezer as a beacon of social justice to get to the goal of good health and well being for all people? What role can a health and wellness ministry at Ebenezer contribute toward social transformation and community impact? What do you see as the most important concern that we might address now and in the future to address health and well being within our church, in the community, in the nation? What commitment will you make to address those concerns? Are there any ideas, suggestions, and commitments you would like to express about a health and wellness ministry at Ebenezer? 165 Demographic Survey Gender M___ F___ 1. Age Range _____Under 20 _____22‐30 _____31‐40 _____41‐50 _____51‐60 _____61‐70 _____71 and older 2. What Ebenezer Heath ministries or activities have you participated in or received services from (check all that apply) 166 Interview Guide for Internal Assessments 
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What were the primary purposes of the ministry? Why was this important to Ebenezer? When was it implemented? How did people join the ministry? How long was it active? What do you think caused it to flourish or fade? How was it introduced to the congregation? Do you think that the ministry should be (re)introduced to the congregation? What would you suggest be different, if anything at this time? Interview Guide for External Assessment/ Best Practice 
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How many years has the ministry been active? How many members? How do you meet the needs of the members? How do you assess the needs of the church? What programs do you have on a yearly basis? Who makes the decisions about what programs are approved? How do you cover church emergencies? Is there a budget that you maintain and monitor? Do you involve young adults, if to how? Are you involved in mission trips? If so, where? How do you get your members involved? What community activities are you involved with? When are the activities scheduled? What do you feel has made the program succeed? What other ministries outside of your church do you admire? What are you weaknesses and how do you plan to correct them? 167 Appendix B: Description of Current and Recent Health Ministries Intergenerational Resource Center (IRC) Contact: Brenda Sanford Purpose: To provide a health and social services program for senior citizens, disabled young people, and veterans. IRC is a program for health maintenance and stabilization. Beginning Date: Started in the basement of Ebenezer Baptist in 1976 Rationale/Church Involvement/Recruitment: The people who are served by IRC need supervision during the day and shouldn’t be left alone. Ebenezer members were introduced to IRC by Reverend Roberts who wanted to provide assistance to the church’s sick and shut‐in and Brenda Sanford, its current director began as a volunteer. Flourish/Fade: In 1987 the state of Georgia asked Ebenezer to participate in a research project where the results showed that people lived longer if they were able to stay at home versus a nursing home. The state then allocated funds for IRC and other similar programs to work closely with care givers to provide educational support (particularly for Alzheimer patients). The program provides adult day care, respite services, mental health counseling and social support for families. It works with personal business owners who respond to the housing needs of seniors. The program started with 8 people from Ebenezer and elsewhere now it serves almost 40 people per day. Congregation and suggestions: There is the need to be able to get more churches and the private sector to support the program financially, so that people who are not eligible under Medicaid, including Ebenezer members, could participate by having the cost subsidized. Stephens Ministry Contact: Daisy Russell Purpose: To assist and support others during a crisis (illness, loss of loved one, loss of job, etc) Beginning Date: Started in 1995; Active from 1995‐2005 Rationale/Church Involvement/Recruitment: The ministry was organized to train lay leaders to address crises among members working under the supervision of a member of the ministerial staff. This approach increased the responsiveness of the church to the needs of members of the congregation and provided support for the pastoral care function of the church. Members of the ministry were recruited through meetings and announcements in the bulletin. Individuals who 168 indicated interests in caring for members during times of crisis were interviewed and selected by the Stephens Leader/ Ministers and Reverend Roberts Flourish/ Fade: The ministry flourished because of the training that members received from the national organization as well as the support from the Ebenezer ministerial staff. The Stephens ministry faded once the supervising minister, Reverend Rhodes, left the church to assume the position of the Dean of the Chapel at Spelman College. However, elements of the Stephens ministry continue in the Grief and Loss ministry that was established by former member of Ebenezer’s Stephens ministry. Congregation/Continuation/ Suggestions: Since the pastoral staff cannot be with all of the members during times of crisis it is important to have something in place to meet those needs. The program should be reintroduced to the congregation and to insure its stability, the Stephens ministry should be placed under the auspices of the Deacon Board. AIDS/HIV Ministry Contact: Dr. George Roberts Purpose: To increase the church’s involvement in the healing, care, and support of those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS Beginning Date: 2000, operated from 2000‐2005 Rationale/Church Involvement/Recruitment: Several members have lived and died from AIDS and yet there is so much silence surrounding their illness and death. Members of the congregation also have family members and loved ones who either died from or are living with AIDS. Members first became aware of the ministry by word of mouth and later because of the activities of the ministry. Members were first introduced to the ministry from the pulpit and through presentations by the ministry leaders and members during the worship service Flourish/ Fade: The ministry faded because of the lack of clarity regarding consistent support for the HIV/AIDS ministry. Other challenges were the hurdles for moving from education and awareness to an actual care ministry within the church and community. Congregation/Continuation/ Suggestions: There is the need for new leadership for the ministry and consistent education from the pulpit. Integrating this ministry within a larger health ministry would be a welcomed enhancement. Common Ground Contact: Marianne Clark Purpose: To provide daily spiritual, emotional and practical support in a community setting designed for individuals with HIV/AIDS. Beginning Date: 1998 and it continues 169 Rationale/Church Involvement/Recruitment: The HIV/AIDS population is underserved in metropolitan Atlanta and Common Ground attempts to meet the needs of this population by providing a nutritious lunch, individualized social services, consultations, periodic recreational activities, and spiritual presentations by guest speakers. The clients are transitioning from shelters to independent living, retuning to work and to school and becoming financially and spiritually empowered. The former Assistant Pastor, Reverend Sharon Austin and Marianne Clark introduced the ministry to Reverend Roberts who in term introduced the ministry to the congregation. Marianne Clark continues to recruit volunteer speakers from Ebenezer Flourish/ Fade: Despite the challenges of not having adequate staffing and the resources to meet the growing demands, the ministry has been in existence for more than two decades and what sustains it is the documented progress of the clientele who continue to participate in the program. Congregation/Continuation/ Suggestions: Ebenezer should continue its contributions to and participation in this ministry. Teenage Mothers Ministry Contact: Delores Harper Purpose: To encourage and empower teen mothers to develop long‐ term and short‐term goals for themselves and their infants through family planning, educational achievement, and by developing parenting skills. Beginning Date: 1985 and continued until 2007 Rationale/Church Involvement/Recruitment: This ministry was important because too many teenage mothers were not finishing high school after becoming pregnant. Several of their babies were born underweight. The teens needed mentors to help them through this difficult time in their lives. The program was implemented in 1985 by Rev. Sharon Austin and Pastor Roberts introduced the program from the pulpit. Members were recruited from Southside High School, Grady High School Teen Clinic (social workers and counselors from the two schools) and from the Ebenezer congregation who provided support and mentoring for the teens. Flourish/ Fade: The ministry was active off and on until about 2007. The ministry flourished because of the dedication of the mentors who served as role models for the teens. They planned activities for the teens that included their participation in health fairs and exposure to college life through field trips. The mentors encouraged the teens to excel and all of them finished high school and a few finished college. The most challenging issue was keeping the girls focused on excelling. Congregation/Continuation/ Suggestions: This program needed stronger and consistent support from the pulpit and dedicated mentors 170 Appendix C: Health Ministry Web Links Tennessee Department of Health (Division of Minority Health and Disparity Elimination) http://health.state.tn.us/Dmhde/growaministry.shtml Web page with links to Health Ministry models, a health ministry survey, an evaluation tool and other resources related to health ministry. PCUSA National Health Ministries http://www.pcusa.org/nationalhealth/programs/index.htm Provides a variety of tools and resources to assist in developing a health ministry program Mental Health Ministry Resources (From the Congregational Resource Guide Website) http://www.congregationalresources.org/mentalhealth.asp Links to various resources (especially videos and printable documents) meant to assist churches in addressing mental health Introduction to Health Ministry for UMC Congregations http://new.gbgm‐umc.org/umcor/media/pdfs%20health/umcorhealthbooklet09.pdf Provides a theological basis for Health ministries, briefly summarizes 4 health ministry models and provides information to assist with starting a health ministry program United Methodist Health Ministry Fund http://www.healthfund.org/newsletters/hfn_2008‐03special.php A newsletter highlighting health ministry happenings in the UMC. Also references the “Unnatural Causes” documentary. The Fund apparently sponsored a screening of the doc in Kansas. Health through Faith and Community http://www.healthfaithstudy.info/ 171 A study resource promoting person and social health and well‐being to be used in Faith contexts. There is a fee for the book, but a variety of supplemental materials can be found on the site free of charge. Christ Community Health http://www.christcommunityhealth.org/outreach.htm A faith based health outreach organization in Memphis. Literature available on a variety of different programs; make particular note of the Memphis Healthy Churches outreach program. Church Health Center http://www.churchhealthcenter.org/ Is also located in Memphis. An organization working in collaboration with congregations in the area to serve the health needs of the underserved. Website also contains a snippet of a documentary put together by the organization. United Church of Christ Health Ministries http://www.ucc.org/health/ Site outlines various health ministries supported by the UCC and implemented by many of their congregations. These ministries include (but are not limited to) Healthcare justice, HIV/AIDS, sexual health and mental health. 172 Men’s Ministry Commission Final Report Submitted November 23, 2009 “Beloved, I do not consider that I made it on my own; but this one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phillippians 3:13‐14 I. MINISTRY COMMISSION INTRODUCTION AND PROCESS The Men of Ebenezer Baptist Church who were selected to serve as Commission Members meet for the first time at the Ministry Commission Kick‐ off event held Saturday June 6th 2009. The Kick‐Off event served as an informational session, in which Pastor Warnock provided details of the purpose and work of the various commissions. The first order of business was to elect a Chairperson for each commission, and the Men’s Commission voted for Gary Harris and Joseph L. Grant to serve as Co‐Chairpersons for the Men’s commission. The event served as a as an opportunity to think deeply about our ministry work and to align the ministries with the church's purpose statement. Pastor Warnock provided insight into some of the challenges facing the church. Pastor Warnock used the example of “Tide detergent”, in that even though there are now many different types of Tide (with bleach, fabric softener etc.) but each are used to clean. “The church must find a way to reintroduce itself to the community and the world”. Commission members signed pledge forms and prayed for the insight and wisdom to carry out the charge of documenting the various issues and concerns of the Men of Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Men Ministry Commission (MMC) was charged with assisting the Ebenezer Baptist Church in aligning the Men’s ministry with the Church’s vision and purpose. The MMC was composed of 21 members who represented a cross‐section of male members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in terms of length of service at the church and, to some extent, in terms of age. The MMC held three meetings of the full commission on the following dates: June 8th, June 16thth, and July 15th. Additional discussions were numerous conference calls were conducted and extensive use of email communications. The Men’s Commission member were assigned to one of four team (Internal, External, Research, Data Compilation and Report Writing) on which to serve in order to carry out the various tasks intended to inform the formulation of two overall recommendations to serve as the basis for overarching principles (aims) designed to provide guidance for the future Men’s ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Internal Assessment Team conducted both qualitative and quantitative assessments of selected groups to assess the current status of the Men ministry. In total there were three external 173 assessments conducted. Three consisted of conducting focus groups. One consisted of a quantitative set of data gather from a survey instrument distributed to ministry leaders. The Internal Assessment Team consisted of focus groups and the use of a quantitative survey. The members of the internal assessment include Carl Crum, Herb Adams, Garry Harris, Deacon Willie Alexander, and Terrence Davis. The MMC held two joint focus group meetings (both were with youth groups) the third was with the Men’s Brotherhood Ministry. This was specifically done to ensure younger voices were heard and included in the process. The focus groups were held on July 7th, 13th and 22rd. A quantitative survey was conducted on July 20th by interviewing ministry leaders from designated men’s ministry using a quantitative survey instrument. Approximately fifty (50) persons were in attendance at the focus groups sessions. The External Assessment Team included interviews of church ministry leaders from other churches to identify key practices for effective Men’s ministries. This team consisted of the following members: Joshua Jefferies Nelson Geter, Jesse Cumberland, and Deacon James Gaskin. The External Team contacted six diverse congregations in the Atlanta area (Turner Chapel, Antioch Free Baptist, First Baptist, New Birth and Elizabeth Baptist Church) in an effort to interview Men’s ministry leaders to discuss the infrastructure, activities, successes and challenges of their church’s Men’s ministries. Responses were obtained from three of the six churches contacted. The team met with a ministry leader from Turner Chapel on July 10th, 2009, with First Baptist on July 18th, and with Elizabeth Baptist Church on July 24th The Research Team’s task was to review current practices, and approaches as evident by relevant data from sources including published text, articles and periodicals and other documented sources of research data. The team members included Deacon Lamar Lake, Joseph Grant and Garry Harris. The Research Team, with Deacon Lake taking the lead, reviewed and compiled data from summaries of each individual research item. In all, nearly fifteen research items were reviewed and compiled. The Data Compilation Team’s task was to review the raw data from the Internal, External and Research and provide an analysis of trends and outcomes using analytical tools, provide data summaries, provide relevant data in accordance with reporting requirements and provide early draft statements of the AIMS. The team consisted of seven members who included the following; Darryl Weathers, Patrick Nelson, Clyde Chapman, Mark Moore, Terrence Davis, Harold Spence and Deacon Clarence Luckett. The Report Writing Team consisted primarily of the Commission Chair and the leaders of the four assessment groups(Internal, External, Research and Data Compilation. This group was charged with providing a draft report to the Commission chairs. These members included Garry Harris, Carl Crum, Darryl Weathers, Deacon Lamar Lake, and Josh Jefferies. The final revised report was written with the helpful assistance of Deacon Willie Alexander, Carl Crumb, Deacon Lamar Lake, Joseph Grant, Deacon James Gaskin and Garry Harris. The ministerial liaison for the Commission was Rev. Darryl Roberts. Garry Harris and Joseph Grant served as co‐chairs. In addition, Sylvester Barnett provided assistance across groups and where needed. 174 Ebenezer has a long history of serving as a magnet for Christ‐Centered men from leadership on the pastoral, lay leadership and membership levels. The church recognizes the fact that in order to be able to serve the community we have to be able to have Men who are well equipped to serve as ambassadors for Christ from all age groups. The Men’s Commission Report will serve as a guide to how to address some of the issues facing our church, but also provided a living record of our commitment to building a stronger men's ministry that is intergenerational, spiritually focused, organized, relevant and socially engaged. To God be the Glory for the Great Work he continues to do in the lives of the Men of Ebenezer Baptist Church! “If any one would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” Matthew 16: 24 II. SUMMARY OF KEY PROCESSES A. FOCUS GROUPS12/INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS OBJECTIVE: The objective of the focus groups was to gather information from a cross section of Ebenezer Baptist Church’s men. Participants were asked to respond to a series of questions (refer to Appendix E) to capture levels of participation in current ministries, barriers to participation, perceived value of current ministries, and the effectiveness of Ebenezer’s current men’s ministries in helping the congregation live out the mission of the church. The congregants who participated in the focus groups were members of several male specific ministries including The Brotherhood, Men’s Usher Board, Deacons Board, J.L. Roberts Men’s Chorus, and the Parking Ministry. Key themes and trends were also identified from the focus groups. KEY THEMES AND TRENDS: STRENGTHS: The participants expressed a perceived value of current Ebenezer men’s ministries: 1) it presents men with opportunities to build spirit‐filled relationships and fellowship with one another; 2) the men’s ministries contain healthy frameworks for facilitating meetings. Common themes across the focus group sessions are a commitment to the church family and a willingness to participate in any changes that may be necessary to improve the current men’s ministries. Many of the participants are members of The Brotherhood Ministry which provides a forum for men to share information, wisdom, times of prayer, and participate in community outreach. The participants also largely consisted of young adults (ages 24‐40). These men represent the emerging leadership of the church and expressed a longing for greater participation within current and future ministries. The older men expressed a willingness to share their life experiences and faith with the younger generations and serve as role models for younger men throughout the church’s ministries. 12
Source: Internal Assessments ‐ Focus Groups, Men’s Ministry Commission, Ebenezer Baptist Church, July, 2009. 175 CHALLENGES: There was a consensus among participants that there is a need for a forum that can help facilitate a deeper connection among men both spiritually and emotionally. The younger men stated some concern that the older men do not want to change the ministries to fit their needs. Several older men responded by stating that they don’t mind some change and in fact they expect it. However, the older men felt as though certain changes are made without providing explanations. Some participants identified experiencing feelings of anger and resentment as a result. The many older men also expressed burn‐out due to over‐involvement in areas that do not fit their spiritual gifts. OPPORTUNITIES: There is a need to create men’s ministries that are focused on specific areas of interest to encourage broader participation. There is also a need to encourage intergenerational dialog and fellowship. In addition, the participants expressed a desire to be spiritually fed. They expressed a glaring need for more Bible studies, small groups, life application, and personal accountability to help them grow spiritually. The limited participation of younger adults in current men’s ministries is a great concern. There is an opportunity for the ministries to be restructured to better meet the needs of this growing population while maintaining the ministries’ historical components. Many of the younger men expressed feelings that the current methods of communication are ineffective in reaching the congregation and the surrounding community. The church web‐site could be used more dynamically as a communication tool to address this area. B. EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS OBJECTIVE: External assessments were conducted to identify and research Atlanta Metro‐area churches that had effective Men’s Ministries which were deemed to possess best practices and significant ministry components from which to glean usable organizational and ministry program data that could be applied to The Ebenezer Men’s Ministry model. Three churches were selected: First Baptist Church Atlanta; Turner Chapel AME; and Elizabeth Baptist Church, and interviews were conducted during on‐site visits with specific ministry leaders utilizing a consistent questionnaire aimed at identifying and collecting specific information to address ministry history and focus, development, strengths and challenges. (See Appendix for details) STRENGTHS: First Baptist Church Atlanta has a very well‐defined and organized Men’s Ministry called Sons of Thunder (SOT), which is named after the Sons of Zebedee in the Bible, and is scripturally‐
based and focused on prayer engagement. Through the practice of men praying together, the needs of the church at‐large and the members individually are addressed and successfully resolved. This structured and formalized ministry process for prayer enhances individual prayer‐life and personal and corporate church growth. The Pastor actively participates in this ministry, as well as promotes the ministry before the congregation, which encourages stronger participation by men. It also has a very structured 5‐pronged organizational structure, with each prong addressing a specific ministry focus, while offering men a variety of ministry options. In addition, the ministry has upwards of 150 regular and active participants, and its continuing growth and development is due to a strong and committed ministry leadership. 176 Turner Chapel AME’s Men’s Ministry is called Sons of Allen after AME Founder Richard Allen, and is structured on a national level which drives the local church’s initiatives and programs. They have a strong focus on mentoring youth (males & females) through a Rites of Passage Program, which transitions from age 6 through children’s church to youth ministry, and the men of the church serve as mentors. Elizabeth Baptist Church is re‐formulating its Men’s Ministry to make it more relevant. It has active Pastoral involvement and is biblically‐based. In order to participate in the ministry, men must be serving in ministry, discipleship and seeking growth, and must complete 3 Bible Institute classes or 2 Discipleship classes before they can serve. “When you stop pursuing your own growth, you can’t take anyone else;” and “it takes one to make one.” WEAKNESSES: Like Ebenezer, the challenges faced by each of the selected Men’s Ministry models center on inconsistent and wavering participation by men, and the need to continually motivate men with consistent upgrades and enhancements to program offerings to maintain consistency in enthusiasm and participation. Each also benefits from and relies upon the consistent Pastoral encouragement and participation, along with dedicated and committed ministerial / lay leadership to maintain ministry design, energy, communication and focus of the men. When there is inconsistency in active Pastoral support, each ministry suffers. Each also strives to motivate men through appealing to their embracing of their God‐ordained responsibility of spiritual, familial and community leadership, which when favorably accepted by the men, results in positive and growing participation and effectiveness; when it isn’t embraced by the men, the ministry falters. OPPORTUNITIES: Like Ebenezer, there are opportunities to enhance men’s active involvement in each of the selected Men’s Ministry models. Given the declining conditions in our churches, families and communities, there are continuing and increasing needs and opportunities for men to “step up to the plate” to assume effective lay leadership responsibilities. When we experience men assuming their God‐ordained positions of leadership, we will experience exceptional and positive growth in our churches, families and communities, and realize The Lord’s blessings upon us and our church which will be exemplary and redemptive. THREATS: Declining church membership and attendance, growing apathy, economic constrictions, losses of jobs and reduced giving, increased school drop‐out rates, increasing drug and alcohol abuse, pregnancy and decaying moral values, increased crime and other illegal activity, and finally disenchantment with organized church / religious activities all pose significant threats to the growth and effectiveness of the men’s ministry and proactive men’s involvement as effective role models, which is essential and crucial. Also, given the dependence and reliance on active and enthusiastic Pastoral emphasis and involvement, as well as committed lay ministry leadership in the selected Men’s Ministry models, there is a significant challenge to maintain active motivation and encouragement of these leaders to minimize and / or prevent ministry burn‐out and discouragement. More men need to become active to facilitate this. 177 C. SURVEY / OTHER OBJECTIVE: A QUANTITIVE ASSESSMENT of the MEN’S MINISTRY was conducted through a Survey of the four key Men’s Ministries in the Ebenezer Baptist Church Family. These Ministries are; the Brotherhood, JL Roberts, Jr. Men’s Chorus, Men’s Usher Board, and the Parking Ministry. These four Ministries were identified in one of the initial Men’s Commission meetings as the main Ministries where the Men of Ebenezer have an opportunity to serve. The survey consisted of seven (7) questions (see the Men’s Ministry Quantitative Assessment) concentrating on support and resources from the Church to run the particular Ministry, and comparison to a similar ministry in another church. The Survey was based on a rating scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being poor to 5 being excellent. STRENGTHS: The four Ministries surveyed indicated a strong sense of support and feel they receive more than adequate resources from the Church to run their Ministry. The overall rating was more than 78% in the above average to excellent rating. The four Ministries indicated they are satisfied with the participation from the congregation and feel their particular Ministry compares favorably with a similar Ministry in another church. Overall, the Ministries surveyed indicated a positive attitude towards fellowship and satisfaction with the level of support and resources. CHALLENGES: There is a need for improved effectiveness in certain of the Ministries in meeting the mission of the Church. In addition, certain Ministries felt their impact on and/or engagement/involvement in the social transformation of the Ebenezer congregation could be improved. While the ratings in these categories were in the average range, the Ministries surveyed felt a need for improvement. OPPORTUNITIES: The Ministries surveyed generally indicated a need for more pulpit support, specifically during the promotion of Men’s Day and other events involving the Men’s Ministries. D. RESEARCH The research process team focused on finding information that pertained to building and sustaining an effective men’s ministry. Most of the research data was obtained via the Internet because of the ease and convenience of gathering considerable data quickly via Google, Yahoo! and other search engines. At the time, this approach was deemed superior to any other approach given the limited number of research participants and the short time frame available to the team. The research was conducted from two perspectives—a macro view and a micro view. The “macro view” focused on data that disclosed best practices for building and sustaining an effective men’s ministry independent of denomination, demographics, and culture. The “micro view,” on the other hand, focused on data that addressed the impact of demographics and culture on an urban‐based congregation’s ability to engage in effective men’s ministry. Findings based on the collected data support the following SWOT analysis of Ebenezer’s men’s ministry: 178 Strengths -
Ministerial support Christ‐centered, servant‐leader focus Mentoring and tutoring at‐risk youths Term‐limited leadership positions Weaknesses -
Transition between leadership teams Lack of participants Lack of volunteers Community outreach Multiple entry points Opportunities -
Grow a more diverse congregation Reach out to young adults Expand use of technology Work with other congregations Threats -
Changing demographics Other congregations III. DISCUSSION A. FOCUS GROUPS Common themes across the focus group sessions were a strong existing commitment to the church family and a willingness to participate in any changes that may be necessary to improve the current church ministries. There was a consensus among participants that there is a need for a forum that can help facilitate a deeper connection among men both spiritually and emotionally. Participants emphasized the importance of developing components of men’s ministry to attract brothers who are uninvolved in the ministry such as Bible studies, cell groups, fellowships, a mentoring program, life‐skill training and counseling services. Participants also expressed concern about the limited participation of young men in the men’s ministry, and believe that ministry restructuring with a specific focus on young men and building intergenerational relationships will enhance the men’s ministry so that it is more effectively fulfilling the mission of the church. 179 B. EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS/BEST PRACTICES Key Themes: In summarizing and analyzing the results gleaned from the experiences of the selected Men’s Ministry models, there some consistent themes that emerge: 
Men’s Ministries should be well‐conceived and organized around biblical principles and be focused on a spiritual, God‐ordained objective in order to be effective, relevant and successful: –
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Men recognizing and demonstrating their faith in God; Effective, committed and enthusiastic Pastoral emphasis and proactive participation, and committed, dedicated and competent lay leadership; The Men’s Ministry should have a sound organization structure, well communicated and understood, with sufficient roles and components, which will allow and encourage comprehensive involvement by most, if not all participants; Men “stepping up to the plate” to embrace and accept God’s calling upon them to be leaders in our churches, families and communities; Men assuming their roles as positive role models for their families, church, communities, children and other men, and to be intentional about spiritual growth in prayer, Bible study, discipleship, and stewardship to be effective role models; Men assuming supporting roles, and encouraging each other to strengthen Men’s Ministries – “iron sharpening iron;” Men needing to admit their vulnerability and their need for support and help for themselves; Men recognizing that the time for talking is over, and the resolution of problems in our churches, families and communities is in our hands, which requires positive and proactive actions; Men willing to reach out and encourage and invite other men collectively and one‐on‐
one to be proactive and involved in advancing Men’s Ministries; Ministry program should be designed to address relevant men’s‐centered topics and issues, which are also relevant to church, family and community needs and concerns to maintain interest and enthusiasm; The Men’s Ministry should be consistent with the church’s doctrines and mission, and support the achievement of the church’s goals and objectives; C. SURVEYS/OTHERS One key finding from the qualitative assessment is that the men surveyed reported experiencing a strong sense of support and emphasized that the resources that the church currently provides more than adequately meets the needs of the core men’s ministries. However, respondents expressed concern that the current men’s ministries can do more to promote social transformation. Other common themes from the survey results are the need to strengthen opportunities for fellowship, the 180 importance of increased pulpit support for men’s ministries and the critical need to expand existing resources to increase the visibility, ministry effectiveness and outreach services of men’s ministry. D. RESEARCH Some key findings from the research were: 
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The ministry should be led by men who have these qualities: a servant spirit, character, godliness, passion, and giftedness. The over‐arching focus of an effective men’s ministry should be on discipleship. The ministry should be based on and sustained by prayer. The ministry should be God‐centered rather than program‐centered. The ministry should be purpose‐driven rather than event‐driven. Small groups should be developed within the ministry to allow multiple entry points for men to participate in the ministry and build ongoing relationships. Urban‐based ministries must consider the impact of demographics on ministry focus as the population becomes more Hispanic, older and poorer. Many of these spiritual and biblical principles are evident within the men’s ministry at Ebenezer. Consider these aspects of the Brotherhood Ministry: 
The Brotherhood Vision Statement The Ebenezer Brotherhood aspires to be a magnet for developing and perfecting male Christian leaders. 
The Brotherhood Affirmation We, the men of Ebenezer Baptist Church, in the presence of God and this assembly, pledge ourselves to: ‐ conduct myself at all times in a manner that will be pleasing to God ‐ busy myself in doing those things that can be identified as God’s work ‐ be conscious at all times that I am being observed and emulated by youth ‐ refrain from recompensing evil for evil ‐ witness more often for God by speaking more to the un‐churched ‐ see my accomplishments as God’s blessings ‐ recognize that God’s power, working through me, makes all things possible ‐ constantly strive to be more Christ‐like Monday through Saturday, as well as on Sunday 181 ‐ realize that for every opportunity, there is a corresponding responsibility ‐ be reminded that he who would lead must be willing and available to serve 
Visionary leadership from the senior pastor, whose support and guidance led to the formation of the Parking Ministry, Project STAND UP, and an earlier ministry of the Brotherhood Ministry – Faith, Fellowship & Football. According to the data, the findings do not in any way diminish the importance of doing ministry outreach to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, mentor at‐risk youths, etc. Rather they serve to underscore that these are the spiritual and biblical principles on which ministry outreach can be effectively maintained and sustained. By focusing on discipleship, the ministry models itself after Christ, who focused on making disciples of men so that they would live out the Great Commandment and fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of other men. This is what we’re called to do as Christians. While biblically sound, the focus on discipleship does not appeal to the majority of men in the church, yielding a “faithful few” versus the “fickle many” as one writer put it. Consequently, most men’s ministries are challenged with keeping men interested in their ministries after the completion of many ministry‐sponsored events and programs. This has been true at Ebenezer and is especially noticeable during the Annual Men’s Day Celebration. Men generally respond to the appeals and announcements calling for their participation in “Men’s Day” events and outreach held during the months of September and October, but disappear in large numbers after “Men’s Day” has been declared a success. A direct result of this practice is that the outreach programs such as Faith, Fellowship & Football and the spring and fall builds with South Fulton Habitat for Humanity began “dying on the vine” for lack of volunteers. What has not been an integral component of the Brotherhood Ministry over the years has been the formation of small groups as discussed in the data. These small groups are commonly referred to as “affinity groups” and are touted for their effectiveness in helping men build relationships around common interests. The idea put forth by the data is that the relationships formed within these small groups will promote greater involvement of men in men’s ministry on an ongoing basis. An extension of this idea of having small groups within the ministry is to use the groups to comprise a core of dedicated volunteers to support a specific ministry or outreach. A ministry outreach like the South Fulton Habitat for Humanity spring and fall builds might still be viable had it been supported by a group of 5 to 10 dedicated men who had an “affinity” for construction, carpentry, etc., and wanted to use their gifts to provide affordable homes for the poor. The concept would have to be married to the idea that the same men cannot consistently support every ministry outreach and event. Each outreach and event should have a nucleus of dedicated volunteers. One doesn’t have to look far to see this concept already successfully at work within Ebenezer—in the outreach ministries done by the various women missionary circles. And, the concept was successfully applied by the Brotherhood to the recent 182 Men’s Day fund raiser, through the creation of 12 tribes (named after the twelve tribes of Israel) to form teams where each had a goal of raising $2,500. In spite of the lack of participation from most men in the church, the Brotherhood has managed to maintain a couple of ministries across leadership teams. They are Project STAND UP! and the Parking Ministry. The former encourages men to tutor and mentor students in three outreach ministries: Ishmael Promise, Prodigy Project, and IHAD. The latter is staffed by men who provide parking directions to assist visitors who may be visiting Ebenezer for the first time. While the transition between leadership teams has not always been swift, the two‐year term limit does offer the opportunity for younger men to get elected to leadership positions. This is the case with the current leadership team. Though younger than recent ministry leaders, they have embraced newer technologies (Calling Posts, Conferencing, e‐mail, etc.) to improve communications and ministry (e.g., awesome prayer conference call at noon each Thursday). As an urban‐based church, the men’s ministry must begin planning for the challenges brought on by changing demographics. Over the years the larger community served by Ebenezer has changed from a largely black population to a mostly mixed population of whites and blacks. Demographics now show a growing Hispanic population in the area. Whether these challenges are seen as opportunities or threats to the success of the men’s ministry will depend on how the ministry reacts to accommodate these changes. 183 IV. AIM Statement Recommendations The data collected from the key processes provides concrete feedback that will help as we align the men’s ministry of Ebenezer with the church’s mission statement: “Ebenezer Baptist Church is an urban‐
based global ministry dedicated to individual growth and social transformation through living in the message and carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ. Information gleaned from focus groups, ministry surveys, external church visits and research together provide clearer insight into who we are and the kind of people that the Lord is calling us to be. This information also served as the source for the AIMS Statements from the Men’s Ministry Commission. The core themes outlined below provide prescriptive guidance as we focus our efforts to build a men’s ministry that promotes spiritual growth and assists as we seek to better serve the needs of our church, the surrounding community and the world in which we live. Spiritual Growth Purpose Statement The Men's Ministry will create a supportive and spirit‐filled community that deepens men's relationship with God and with each other by: (1) developing a strong men's ministry community that reaches multiple generations of men and supports friendship & fellowship and encourages long‐term relationships; (2) creating, maintaining and sustaining a deeper understanding of God's word through increased Bible studies, small group studies and open worship; (3) providing opportunities for visible leadership and assessing, mentoring and preparing young men to become active and contributing participants in the church and ministry. Spiritual Growth‐‐Themes 1. Addresses the need to strengthen relationships among men 2. Addresses the need to recruit, retain and reclaim multi‐generational men 3. Addresses the need to be sprit filled and God Centered 4. Addresses the need to use proven techniques to enhance men worship such as affinity groups 5. Addresses the need for men to be assigned and assume more visible and viable roles in the church 184 6. Addresses the need to build effective ministry leadership teams 7. Addresses the need to have men of good character, focused and fueled by prayer and to ensure such men are reproduced in other ministries Social Transformation Purpose Statement The Men's Ministry will practice and model the gospel command to become doers of the word by actively engaging in purpose‐driven ministry in the community, church and world in a way that is culturally relevant and based in the servant leadership model of Jesus Christ. This ministry will intentionally encourage men to: (1) share their time, talents and treasures for ministry work that impacts the lives of men in the church and everywhere; (2) contribute to and engage in dialogue and solution building around issues that impact the health and well‐being of men; (3) develop faith‐based approaches, in collaboration with churches and community partners, that sustain communities, promote the Kingdom of God and conserves the gifts of creation. Social Transformation: Common Themes 1. Address the need to ensure purpose driven ministry with relevant and broad impacts beyond the church 2. Address the need for men to place themselves in a role as Jesus Christ did in servitude for mankind and that they profess endless love for God and his creation 3. Address the need to freely and willingly give to the church, community and the world those tangible and intangible gifts that can be turned into valued service for the church 4. Address the need for men to ensure that they understand the need to ensure both mental and physically toughness and those routine things necessary for the health and welling of all men 5. Address the need to become active in the community through collaborative partnerships with church, agencies, non profits, authorities including government entities to better the community and sustain the care of God’s creation; air, land and water. 185 V. Bibliography/References/Resources Michael Eric Dyson, “The Plight of Black Men” in the Michael Eric Dyson Reader (Basic Civiitas Books, New York, NY 2004) TD Jakes, “Purpose or Perish‐‐‐Finding Your Place in the World” in the Motions Even Strong Men Struggle (GP Putman’s Sons Publishers, New York, NY 2004) Frank M Reid, III, in “The Purpose of the Church” in the Nehemiah Plan: Preparing the Church to Rebuild Broken Lives (Treasure House :Shippensburg, PA 1993) James Bell, “Correcting the System of Unequal Justice” in the Covenant with Black America, Tavis Smiley, ed (Third World Press, Chicago, Ill 2006) Steve Sanderman, How to Build A Life Changing Men’s Ministry: Bringing the Fire House to Your Church (Bethany House Publishers Minneapolis, MN 1996) Carlyle Fielding Stewart III, “ Three Principles of Prophetic Evangelism” in African American Church Growth: Twelve Principles for Prophetic Ministry (Abington Press Nashville, TN 1994) George Barns, The Habits of Highly Effective Churches, (Regal Books Ventura, California 1999) Jim Collins, Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Other Don’t Good to Great ( Harper Business New NY 2001) Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Contaminating Your Message & Mission (Zondervan; Grand Rapids, MI 1995) Internet Texas Faith: How are changing demographics shape the pew, pulpit and theology schools? Dallas News “Can a Men’s Ministry Really Last?” Patrick Morely “Thank God for Boaz, A Real Man of God” by Timothy Clarke—Sound the Trumpet! Message to Empower African American Men—Edited by Darryl D Sims ‐2002 by Judson Press, Valley Forge PA “Success Strategies for Developing an Effective Men’s Ministry” “The Foundations Men Ministry at North Park Baptist Church” “Fishers of Men: A Baltimore Minister Black Christian Manhood” 186 APPENDICES Appendix A…………………………………………………………………….Men’s Ministry Recommendations Appendix B…………………………………………..Ministry Operations Comments/Recommendations Appendix C…………………………………………….……External Visits/Best Practice Materials/Samples Appendix D……………. Research/Best Practice Materials/”The Framework for Men’s Ministry” 187 Appendix A. Men’s Ministry Team Recommendations The following are process, program and follow‐up recommendations are presented by the men ministry team for review, files and disposition. 1.
The Men Ministries should develop a tactical plan around the AIMS that have been developed that embraces their intent and provides projects, activities and meaningful activities 2.
The Men Ministries should continue to benchmark with other church, non profits and relevant agencies to “fine tune” and implement a continuous process foe improvement 3.
The Men Ministries and the Church Ministerial Staff should collectively develop strategies to implement the outcome of AIM(s) through relevant workshops and group discussions 4.
The Men Ministries should work with the church to develop supportive processes that enable the ministry to fulfill its mission in a timely and complete manner 5.
The Men Ministries should insist on and conduct leadership training for its ministry leadership 6.
The Men Ministries should adopt a philosophy and strategy of “progressiveness” in its ministry to ensure that its activities are in step and current with the needs of the community and region 7.
The Men Ministries should develop a “Central Point of Contact” or coordinator for its efforts. 8.
The Men Ministries efforts should be tracked and monitored against a set of metrics and/or objectives to ensure continued progress and alignment 9.
The Men Ministries should be taught relevant problem solving techniques to ensure that its closely examines its issues and provides relevant solutions 10.
Alignment of church ministries with the purpose/mission of the church should occur in a open and productive problem/solution forum to preclude alienation of the membership 11.
Establish term limits and succession planning as part of normal operations for the men’s ministry; ensure adequate leadership preparation prior to organization turnover 188 12.
Perform an assessment of church operational support for the current set of men’s ministry; assess resources, processes, equipment, financial support and facilities 13.
Make community service, outreach ministries a focal point of new men’s ministry efforts; dramatically increase the number of men’s ministry efforts that service the community including legal, justice, environmental stewardship, health/wellness, sustainable communities, healthcare, education, workforce development, social services targeted at underserved, disadvantaged and at risk populations 14.
Make social transformation a focal point of new men’s ministry efforts; dramatically increase the number of men’s ministry efforts that service the community including immigrant and refer gee issues, criminal justice, environmental stewardship, community redevelopment targeted at underserved, disadvantaged and at risk populations 15.
Men’s ministries should develop ways to develop incorporate cross cutting measures that incorporate professional and personal development activities and projects as well as health and wellness; seminars, workshops, speakers should be routinely incorporated into standard meetings The outcomes of the Men’s Ministry Commission should be assessed along with those of the other missions to develop fundamental overall problems/issues; further assessment of these issues should be implemented using a cross discipline team lead by experts in data compilation and analysis techniques. 16.
17.
Encourage ministries to construct a matrix of “gifts” (soft and professional skills. 18.
Assess changing demographics of the neighborhoods surrounding the church and modify the men’s ministry accordingly to meet community needs including education and employment 19.
Conduct an assessment of the current men’s ministry leadership team; rebuild team as necessary to ensure that leadership team members possess at a minimum a servant spirit; good character; godliness; passion and giftedness. 20.
Each men’s ministry should conduct a self effectiveness assessment against the following principles (1) God Centered Versus Program Centered;(2) Focused and Fueled by Prayer;(3) (4) balanced(5) culturally relevant and (6) sustained by relationships 21.
The Ebenezer Baptist Church Ministry Commission and Men Ministries should perform an assessment collectively to determine relevant organizational, process and leadership changes necessary to bring about desired changes in ministries. Tactical strategies need to be formulated to ensure critical “buy in” to changes at all levels. 189 22.
Conduct an external assessment of the church impact on the immediate community and its effectiveness to assess and deliver both standard and emergency service. Review relevant data as part of assessment including United Way 211 service logs, Fulton County Action Agency logs and records, HEAT and other utility service records, PUMA statistical basis, Housing Urban Development Authority’s records, and other relevant databases. Consider conducting benchmarks with churches along “Peachtree Corridor” to determine best practices and best in class service delivery methodologies. Appendix B. Ministry Operations Comments/Recommendations Research Process Questions Data relevancy was determined from the list of questions in the guidelines provided for the research process by the Chair and Consultants of Commissions. The questions were broken down into the following groupings to facilitate recognition of emerging themes from the collected data: Ministry Focus What is meaningful to the target congregational group about the ministry focus? What are the defined results for this ministry focus? What is most appreciated about the ministry? What would encourage the primary/secondary congregational member to contribute and participate? How could this ministry focus make a meaningful difference in the church experience and relationship with Christ? What are the break‐through cutting edge priorities for the ministry focus? What is critical to this ministry's long‐term effectiveness and survival as a ministry? Demographics What are the changing demographics and the impact on ministry focus? How will growth impact the ministry focus area? What community issues have an impact on the effectiveness of the ministry? What impact does this ministry have on the community? Culture What cultural issues have an impact on ministry focus? 190 Technology What new technologies would be helpful and are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the ministry focus? Appendix C. External Visits/Best Practice Materials/Samples Site #1: First Baptist Church Atlanta Men’s Ministry – Sons of Thunder (SOT) FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ATLANTA, 4400 N. Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, GA 30338, Mark Mirza (404) 606‐2322; [email protected] Basic Information: 1.
What is the focus / objectives of SOT Ministry? How did you develop this focus? -
Men PRAYING for the needs of the church; We are dedicated to seeking the will of the Lord for each other, our church, our city, our nation and the world. It is work that is done praise by praise, request by request and petition by petition. Building strength of men to assume their God‐ordained leadership in the Church, family, home and community 2.
What is the history of SOT? How did it start, how long has it been in existence, etc.? -
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Dr. Stanley has been a Prayer Warrior for over 50 years Began 3 ½ years ago Dr. Stanley invited all men of the church to a Saturday gathering (didn’t reveal the purpose) 800 men came. Structure was developed around a strong, consistent prayer ministry Strong committed leadership developed methodology and focus -
How does the ministry operate? Sons of Thunder (SOT) is broken out into different groups: a.
"The Sanctuary Men," Men who pray at FBA on the first and third Saturday of every month. These men are the foundation. These are the men who pray every first and third Saturday of the month. They usually meet for fellowship at 8 A.M. in Lakeside Grill and then by 8:30 A.M. are in the sanctuary for a time of worship, announcements, and a special message from Dr. Stanley and then an hour of prayer. The Sons of Thunder Power Team would not exist without these men. 191 Part of James 5:16 says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." On April 7, 2007, Dr. Stanley reminded us that, "If one righteous man's prayer can accomplish much, how much more can all of us gathered here accomplish, when we are praying God's will?" "Chapel Men" ‐ Men who meet for a half‐hour, BEFORE the Sons of Thunder breakfast. These are men committed to encouraging men at FBA to join them as they pray on Saturday mornings. They meet in the Chapel at 7:30 A.M. before each Sons of Thunder for a 30‐minute Bible study and live out Proverbs 27:17, men sharpening one another. "Issachar Men" ‐ Men who that desire to spread Sons of Thunder to other churches in other lands. These men get their name from 1 Chronicles 12:32. They are men who understand the times and know what must be done, PRAY! They take prayer beyond the first and third Saturday prayer time. They desire to pray all night, have prayer in homes and start Sons of Thunder prayer groups in other churches. We have developed a simple one‐sheet document for starting your own Sons of Thunder Power Team "Under the Pulpit Ministry," ‐ Men who are literally under the pulpit praying. "Once a man prays under the pulpit, he wants to do it again." ‐‐ R.W., September 11, 2007 Men pray, quite literally, under the pulpit while Dr. Stanley (and guest speaker) is teaching. There is a monitor in the prayer room so they are praying very specifically for the events as they occur in the service. "Bible studies," opportunities to get to know more about the God we love. The Bible studies mentioned to the right are not all Sons of Thunder Bible studies; some are from the Sunday school department, FBA Men's Ministry, and personal Bible studies, and some are mixed male and female. One thing is common to all, however: The teacher/leader participates in the Sons of Thunder Power Team. 4. How many men do you serve? 140 ‐ 150 5. What specific programs have these current ministries implemented to achieve their objectives? (See # 4 above) 192 Reflection and Analysis: 1.
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How do you keep men involved? Best way is pulpit emphasis and Pastoral participation and involvement Personal contact (personal interaction / invitation), phone calls, emails, follow up Enhanced relationships, answered prayers, spiritual growth, positive results, men supporting each other What are the strengths of SOT? Strong Biblical / Spiritual foundation Pastoral emphasis and involvement Strong committed leadership Committed, corporate prayer ministry How has SOT been successful, i.e. impact and outcomes? (Qualitative / quantitative results and impressions.) 
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Success is defined as furthering the mission and achieving meaningful results: a. Primary congregational group – men: Relationship building w/ other men Sharing needs, praying for needs of the Church, community, families, world Broadened opportunities for service to God Sense of belonging and accomplishment b.
Secondary congregational group ‐ wives and children: More active, Godly Men in the Church, home, community, etc. Enhanced, positive relationships More effective male role models How do you measure success? Increased participation Answered prayers Enhanced relationships / closer bonds between men What are challenges to SOT? Keeping men active Satanic attacks What are the opportunities for improvement of SOT? Increased participation Starting new SOT Ministries in other churches and globally Enhanced prayer lives What does the target (primary) congregational group value about SOT? Secondary congregational group? c.
Primary congregational group – men: Relationship building w/ other men 193 d.
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Sharing needs praying for needs of the Church, community, families, world, etc. Broadened opportunities for service to God Sense of belonging and accomplishment Secondary congregational group ‐ wives and children: More active, Godly Men in the Church, home, community, etc. Enhanced, positive relationships More effective male role models How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? From the Pulpit Word of mouth, phone, email Bi‐monthly newsletter SITE #2: TURNER CHAPEL AME – MEN’S MINISTRY TURNER CHAPEL AME 492 N. Marietta Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30060‐8031; Contact: Randolph Merriweather, (770)‐424‐4778; [email protected] Basic Information: 1.
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What is the focus / objectives of Turner Chapel’s Men’s Ministry? How did you develop this focus? “To aid and assist the men in doing the Lord’s work—to openly and freely worship him.” To encourage brother’s to study the word Specific areas the ministry tries to cover are 1) Serving as mentors to the youth 2) community outreach program, and 3) Work in the Christian education realm Development of focus: The National Men’s ministry arm of the AME church is called the Son’s of Allen, named after Richard Allen who founded the African Methodist Episcopal church in 1816. Most local initiatives of Turner Chapel are set on the connectional (national) level. And the local church implements these initiatives. Mentoring the Youth: There is a Rites of Passage program that youth, both young men and women, participate in. Participants start in their 6th grade year, and the process is a transition from children’s church to youth ministry. Lessons learned include learning the bible, protocol in the church experience, and what it means to be a Christian young man or woman. It is like they are “on line.” Men from the church serve as mentors during this process 2. How does the ministry operate? ‐ Approximately 2,300 men are members of Turner Chapel. The expectation is that every male automatically a member of the men’s ministry. Approximately 175 brothers are active ‐ Primary Meeting: Men’s prayer breakfast 194 
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Monthly meeting that has been occurring for 2.5 years. Goes from 8‐
10am Starts with devotion, announcements, then breakfast/ word from pastor or another minister in the church Breakfast is occasionally used as a business meeting Old format: A separate men’s meeting. It was not well attended and shifted more to an “open” executive officers meeting. Breakfast has better attendance 3. What specific programs have these current ministries implemented to achieve their objectives? i.
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October Men’s retreat: Opportunity to have a round table discussion to understand what brothers need and want from the ministry. Also an opportunity to promote the ministry. “You have to create an opportunity for brothers to get to know each other. Now they can focus more on some of the mandates. It took a while to get to this point” Reflection and Analysis: 4. How do you keep men involved? “It helps to ask in person—someone who knows you personally. The one‐on‐one experience is crucial” -
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“The perception is that African American men are not really into the worship experience. If men lose their job, stop showing up and no one contacts them saying “what’s going on?” you feel like you’re alone” It’s the simple things: reaching out by phone call/ email 5. What are the strengths of Turner Chapel AME? -
Pastoral involvement Talented men/ dedicated core 6. How has the men’s ministry been successful/ how do you measure success? (Qualitative / quantitative results and impressions.) 
Success is defined as furthering the mission and achieving meaningful results: - The primary way is by attendance at events. “When the numbers increase, it is an indicator that brothers felt that it was important and well‐worth their time to do it” - Secondly, feedback from the brothers through two ways - Face‐to‐face feedback – relationships are key for this - Hard copy surveys passed out 195 7. What are challenges to Turner Chapel Men’s Ministry? -
Informing that they are a part of the men’s ministry and getting them to be active Finding and implementing programs/ activities that are appealing to men. Interest in men’s ministry peaks around Men’s Day in June. Keeping participation after that is a challenge. Being a large church, a number of brothers do not know each other. Getting men to plan: “Most brothers are not interested in participating in meetings or planning. Many brothers interested in participating on the backside. Most brothers want the ‘tell me when and where you want me to serve,’ not the planning” Increasing men’s participation in outreach activities Getting to the next level of greatest. “We see the brothers’ success in their personal, professional, and civic lives. It must be God ordained. So the potential is there. How do you coordinate that? Go back to what has worked. Survey to discover what brothers want from the ministry/ church. What are their passions? If they are not interested in current offerings, we should not force brothers to operate outside of their gifts and passions. Maybe there are opportunities for a new ministry that is not currently on the roster” -
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8. What are the opportunities for improvement of Turner Chapel Men’s Ministry? -
“We want men to be saved” Engaging as many brothers as possible Being a liaison between the men of the church and the leadership of the church Discipleship outside the church Partner with other churches within the community 9.
What does the target (primary) congregational group value about Turner Chapel Men’s ministry? Secondary congregational group? 10.
Primary congregational group – men: Relationship building w/ other men Feeling of being connected However, there is the perception that the men’s ministry in not on the level of the women’s ministry because of participation turn out. Secondary congregational group ‐ wives and children: Men as positive role models – mentoring youth/ leading by example with Church worship How are ministry matters communicated to the church and the external communities? From the Pulpit – announcements 196 “Sisters seem to enjoy being together—talking and striking up a conversation. Because we are men, we don’t always do that. So when pastor comes up to us, he often has to be more direct/ more to the point. For Turner Chapel, this dynamic works” -
Email/ phone tree SITE #3: ELIZABETH BAPTIST CHURCH – MEN’S MINISTRY, ELIZABETH BAPTIST CHURCH, 4245 Cascade Road, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30331; contact: Minister Terrence Albriton; (678) 464‐5475; [email protected] Basic Information: 1. What is the focus / objectives of Elizabeth Baptist’s Men’s Ministry? How did you develop this focus? Currently working to refocus on men’s role and responsibility “We get together once a month. A Couple of ideas to increase involvement include partnering up with another ministry every other month.” 2. How does the ministry operate? ‐ Meet every second Saturday at 8:30 with a devotional for first 45 minutes. There will also lesson on serving. After that there is open mike/ bible study. ‐ Every event must fit with mission and core values of the church. That kills a lot of events sometimes. Most people must rework their event to align with the mission and core‐values. Elizabeth values people, servant leadership, giving, tithing, cultural relevance, biblical authority. Gospel must be shared during fellowship times. Events must have redemptive purpose 3. What specific programs have these current ministries implemented to achieve their objectives? -
Pastor was very hands on. With expanding membership, the need to bring on other leaders arose. Elizabeth Baptist is formulating their Men’s ministry leadership support team Leadership team men from various backgrounds. Men from other ministries, lay people. Men’s conference coming up this week. In past years there has been a men’s retreat Reflection and Analysis: 4. How do you keep men involved? 197 -
Had a field day/ flag football one year Get men from pews involved. “A lot of time things don’t go well in planning of church because only church staff involved.” “Don’t have a good pulse from the pews” 5. What are the strengths of Elizabeth Baptist? -
Our core age is approximately 25‐35 adult single males. Church culture is a young culture. We can really get men in this age bracket plugged in. Men’s ministry is versed in the word, biblical astute. We’ve had to cut off bible study/ input time because everyone is engaged. Our men know about systematic theology, spiritual formation, etc. 6. How has the men’s ministry been successful/ how do you measure success? (Qualitative / quantitative results and impressions.) -
Success is defined as furthering the mission and achieving meaningful results: “Defining success is difficult. How do you measure spiritual growth? We ask how many men are living out their spiritual discipline. How many men are serving faithfully, attending bible institute other classes? Men must be serving in ministry, discipleship, and seeking growth and understanding.” Men at Elizabeth Baptist cannot serve unless they take three bible institute classes or two discipleship classes. “When you stop pursuing your own growth, you can’t take anyone else.” “It takes one to make one.” Statistically, small groups are the best vehicle for learning. -
7. What are challenges to Elizabeth Baptist Men’s Ministry? -
Class requirements lead to a decrease in participation among men. The classes are typically10‐12 week study groups meeting once per week. Give everyone a year to meet requirement Getting more men. At times, it feels like you’re preaching to the choir. Getting men to participate that first time. “The gospel is gonna do what the gospel is gonna do. We’re just trying to get them out once and taste and see” 8. What are the opportunities for improvement of Turner Chapel Men’s Ministry? Improve recruitment of men. Improve assimilation process so men are funneled directly into the ministry. From new members classes to men’s ministry. 9.
What does the target (primary) congregational group value about Turner Chapel Men’s ministry? Secondary congregational group? -
Primary congregational group – men: 198 -
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People value the men’s ministry. “We don’t have women ushers. Men are the ones holding doors, escorting people to their seat.” Men are literally visibly serving the church Secondary congregational group ‐ wives and children: He doesn’t know. Minister Albriton has never looked at it from this perspective. How are ministry matters communicated to the church and, as appropriate, the external communities? Every second Saturday, there is a Link meeting. Every ministry participant must attend. Anything introduced to the church is introduced to the Link meeting first. That is where both ministry leadership and all volunteers are. Have to plan schedule a year in advance. Fill out event planning form which is circulated to every other ministry. Forms are signed off on again by core ministerial staff (5 people) who reviews them 2 months in advance. They other ministries sign off on their requirements. This keeps all internal ministries informed. Appendix D. Research/Best Practice Materials/”The Framework for Men’s Ministry” 199