Even with the recent announcement of the departure of SBCV’s executive director, the Maturing Churches Team still has its eyes on the goal of Vision 20/20. As a matter of fact, during a spring planning retreat, new strategies were laid out that should prove beneficial to existing churches in their task of fulfilling the Great Commission.
With the overall theme for 2012 being Transforming Churches, the Maturing Team will focus on three E’s:
- Evaluating
- Equipping
- Evangelism
Evaluate:
The church health strategists stand ready to conduct Church Health Workshops in each region. By using LifeWay’s Transformational Churches resources, 120 churches have already begun the process of discovering their current condition and are implementing strategies that can lead them to the next level of church health, growth, and vitality.
Equip:
Each region is comprised of church staff and leaders that are experts in their field of ministry. The regional missionaries are in the process of enlisting and equipping them to be a part of the Regional Ministry Assist Team. So, for example, if you have a Women’s Ministry need or a Sunday School need, you will have a go-to person near your church. E412 conference is going regional. With these great leaders and resources in the field, instead of traveling to a state leadership conference, you will have the advantage of equipping your church leaders in your immediate area. These equipping conferences will be held in September.
Evangelize:
GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) takes a different approach in 2012 with an emphasis on using attractional events for evangelistic opportunities. In 2011, the Central-West Region piloted a FindItHere.com Race at the South Boston Raceway, where 11 churches partnered together for this attractional event. There are raceways in every region, and such an opportunity provides the possibility of networking churches. You could also use an existing event in your church and make it more intentionally evangelistic. Also, the SBCV will encourage churches to participate in a convention-wide Serve Your Community Day that happens each summer. Speaking of summertime, the SBCV will continue to provide VBS training for church volunteers. The 2012 VBS Clinics will offer general sessions for multiple curriculums and give all workers an overall view of the greatest event evangelism tool.
Pastor Fellowships—Connection Tours:
At these gatherings, pastors and ministerial staff not only enjoy fellowship with others who share the same vocational calling, but they pray and encourage one another in ministry. Starting this fall, Connections will take a different twist. We will be on tour—on location at some strategic churches of all sizes and styles in each region. While on site, there will be a fellowship meal, a tour of the facilities, and a time to glean from the staff and/or lay leaders on how they do effective ministry. They will be highlighting aspects of ministry such as: first impressions, greeting, follow-up strategies, media communication, assimilation, small group Bible studies, worship teams and preparation, promo of offerings and CP, missions strategies, evangelism and outreach strategies, and specialized ministries for women, men, youth, children, etc.
