Vision for 21st Century Ministry Design and Community Transformation
Using
strategies defined by biblical principles and contemporary applications,
the staff of the Powerlife Project has created a
vision which reflects a culturally, relevant approach to meeting
people's needs and serves as one of the new paradigm, ministry models
that God is strategically empowering all around the world today.
The
Solution:
 Our
only hope is in the Lord who has never left or forsaken us. Throughout
history God has successfully orchestrated His plan of salvation and reconciliation
for mankind. He has communicated and implemented His divine plans through
culturally, relevant wineskins
or "paradigms"
that accomplish His divine will.
These new wineskins or paradigms reflect the winds of change that impact
our lives and bring renewal, revival, and reformation to the Church -
the community of God's people and agent for the advancement of the Kingdom
of God.
Oftentimes difficult to accept, change is inevitable! Change can bring
forth a transformational process that breathes new life into people, their
churches, and their communities.
The Powerlife Project can help address four (4) major needs among Christians
and "seekers" in society today.
| 1. |
The
need for a "change agent"
that serves communities as an impartial catalyst for development
of 21st Century, new paradigm ministry models, which take a "direct
approach" to serving people's needs.
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| 2.
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The
need for "tangible,
relevant expressions of true Christianity"
marked by genuine Christians who truly care about people and their
needs.
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| 3.
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The
need for "authentic
Christian community" that breathes new life
into the hearts of people and serves as an agent for the advancement
of the Kingdom of God.
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| 4. |
The
need for "synergistic,
city-reaching strategies"
and "City Church initiatives"
that binds churches together in unity of purpose, mission, and tangible
results. |
Plan To Address the Need for a "Change Agent"
Using creative and innovative designs, a "process" can be implemented
that helps people negotiate change and move forward in progress and growth.
For change to happen, four (4) mighty rivers, characteristic of people's
culture, values, and perception of reality, must be crossed using "relational
bridges."
| 1. |
River
of the Mind - people's intellect
(knowledge and perception of reality). A "bridge" of good information
must be built. This would require a communications strategy in adding
new information for people to digest. This would include facts,
statistics, and testimonies that "raise people's eyebrows," create
a sense of urgency in moving forward with culturally, relevant models
of ministry, and support the need for change.
|
Build "Relational" Bridges |
| 2. |
River
of the Heart - people's emotions (beliefs,
values, and attitudes). A "bridge" of meaningful relationships must
be built. This would require intentional processes for building
relationships built on trust - a growth-oriented environment that
values individual contributions, celebrates differences, and promotes
unity of purpose. We can impress people with facts and figures from
afar, but we cannot impact their lives except through up-close and
personal encounters, which foster understanding and empathy.
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| 3. |
River
of Personal Behavior -
people's personal actions. A "bridge"
of personal experiences must be built. I hear...I forget. I see...I
remember. I do...I understand. Hands-on experiences should be provided
for people. These might include: reading books that have impacted
people's lives, assign tasks or opportunities to serve in ministry,
visiting places where change is needed, fellowshipping with a coalition
that supports change, and attending ecumenical prayer gatherings.
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| 4. |
River
of Group Behavior -
the culture. A "bridge" of life-giving
community must be built. "Community" provides the environment
where change can be embraced, celebrated, and put into action. It
also creates awareness, addresses people's needs, and transforms
(changes) the culture and the community at large. A viable expression
of authentic Christian community can and must be built. |
 The
theme of the Powerlife Project is "power
that breathes new life."
Our mission is to motivate,
mentor,
and mobilize
Christians for broad-based action in city-reaching and community transformation.
The Powerlife Project can help ministry workers bind together in a "synergistic
process" that helps people create a path towards transformation by:
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Creating
a sense of urgency regarding people's needs.
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| ·
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Facilitating
the development of a coalition (purpose-driven teams) that creates
vision and strategy.
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| ·
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Serving
as a resource, coach, or consultant in strategic communications,
informative teaching, and personal training for local Christians,
congregations, and community coalitions.
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| ·
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Help
in the planting of new paradigm, ministry models in the community.
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| ·
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Empowering
ministry teams for broad-based actions that lead to synergistic
results.
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| ·
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Maintaining
the change process through events, activities, celebrations, and
relational "connections."
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| ·
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Encouraging
people to flow with God's future paradigms in change and transformation. |
Plan To Address the Need for "Tangible,
Relevant Expressions of True Christianity"
New
paradigm ministry models can profoundly impact any community by orchestrating
collaborative partnerships with church, business, and civic leaders. These
partnerships can result in tangible, relevant expressions of true Christianity
marked by genuine Christians who truly care about people and their needs.
These ministry expressions serve in a "direct approach" to helping people
in their:
| ·
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Survival
needs - food, clothing, shelter, employment, a safe environment,
and supportive relationships. |
| ·
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Emotional
needs - healing for the brokenhearted, abused, and lonely; rescue
from the storms of life; care for those who face fear, anxiety,
discouragement, depression, and despair. |
| ·
|
Intellectual
needs - teaching, training, and exploration of new insights and
creative ideas. |
| ·
|
Spiritual
needs - salvation, prayer, answers to spiritual questions, and Christian
discipleship. |
New paradigm, ministry models provide the way and means for "connecting"
needy people with genuine, loving, and caring Christians.
Plan To Address the Need for "Authentic Christian Community"
Authentic Christian community "connects"
people in relationship with God and with people. It also helps people
tap into the transformational power of the Holy Spirit.
"Community" breathes new life into
the hearts of people and serves as an agent for the advancement of the
Kingdom of God. This happens by providing:
| ·
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A
welcomed environment pulsated with vibrant, caring relationships. |
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| ·
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A
safe place where people are open and transparent; free of prejudice
attitudes and behavior. |
| ·
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A
practical learning environment for people to develop and exercise
their gifts/talents in service to one another. |
| ·
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A
wholistic Christian setting for building people up and providing
a non-threatening environment for "seekers." |
| · |
A
spiritual place where people love one another, pray, worship, and
experience TRANSFORMATION POWER
together. |
Through
hands-on experiences, The Powerlife Project can help train people in the
process of "Ministry Multiplication,"
which emphasizes: EXALTING
the Lord our God, EVANGELIZING
people for Christ, ESTABLISHING
devoted disciples, EQUIPPING
workers, and EMPOWERING
servant leaders.
The Powerlife Project can accomplish this through facilitating or planting
new paradigm, ministry models that follow biblical principles such as:
|
|
· |
Strategic
prayer gatherings, prayerwalks, and concerts of prayer. |
| · |
Contemporary
music and God-focused worship styles. |
| · |
Culture-sensitive
evangelism and relational discipleship training. |
| · |
Cell-based
(small group) ministry designs that foster meaningful relationships,
develop people's spiritual gifts, and provide pastoral care. |
| · |
Flexible
organization designs based upon team leadership, purpose-driven
process, and relational synergism. |
| · |
Apostolic
networking that plants new ministries, links resources, provides
training, and empowers servant leaders in local communities. |
Plan To Address the Need for "Synergistic, City-reaching Strategies"
and "City Church Initiatives"
One of the greatest ways new paradigm, ministry models can impact a community,
city, or nation is by serving as a catalyst for
"relational synergism" - people
working together for greater purposes realized only through concerted
efforts.
The life-changing transformation of any community is based upon seven
(7) important factors:
| 1. |
The
success in communicating a compelling vision for transformation
that is urgent, relevant, and anchored. |
| 2.
|
The
fertility of the culture's environment for the planting and growing
of new paradigm, ministry models. |
| 3.
|
The
realization in creating an accepted local coalition that guides
the transformation process. |
| 4. |
The
ability to "connect" people in solid relationships that grow in
depth and maturity. |
| 5. |
The
level of commitment, responsibility, and accountability of people
to common purposes and goals. |
| 6. |
The
flexible and functional nature of effective organizational processes. |
| 7. |
The
willingness of Christians to focus on God's will and bond together
in "relational synergism." |
 New
paradigm, ministry models can help orchestrate and/or facilitate city-reaching
and community
transformation.
This provides a platform for good communications, activities for drawing
and connecting people together, and organizational vehicles for empowering
synergistic ministry teams.
This will enhance the labors of Christians to cast vision for unity of
purpose among local church, business, and civic leaders. If they all can
see it; they can all be it!
This will help new paradigm, ministry models grow, develop, and expand
their influence. These might include:
| · |
Strategic
prayer networks, empowered by local intercessors that are ecumenical
in nature.
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| ·
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Local
ecumenical coalitions which build relationships and accomplish city-reaching,
ministry tasks.
|
| ·
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Area-wide
conferences, seminars, and events that advance spiritual awakening,
renewal, and revival.
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| · |
Recognition
and rewards events that celebrate the personal contributions of
individuals and coalition teams.
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| · |
The
developments of Christian Community Foundations which provide new
alternatives in resource development that help finance the ministries
planted within local communities and neighboring geographic areas.
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Ministry Design:
 The
purpose of this design is to help people maximize their efforts, simplify
communications, focus strategies, and match ministry needs with specific
financial resources. This design can be "customized" to fit
each community's demographics and culture.
We recommend that certain ministries consider organizing their efforts
in conjunction with seven (7) strategic areas of ministry within local
communities.
| 1. |
Poor
and Needy Projects
- teams of people that focus on one-on-one help and short-term critical
needs of poor and needy people. These teams show compassion and
mercy to people who are disadvantaged, homeless, destitute, and
hungry.
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| 2.
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Urban
Projects - teams of people that focus on the needs in
cities where people live. These needs include - health, hunger,
unemployment, skills training, economic welfare, housing, and human
needs resulting from crime and incarceration. These teams are collaborative
ministries that bring local church, business, and civic leaders
together in relational synergism.
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| 3.
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Education/Special
Projects - teams of people that focus on educational
programs and innovative projects that increase learning and develop
leaders. These teams include Christian educational programs (seminars,
workshops, conferences, conventions, etc.) in continuing education
and leadership development. Other projects may focus on the educational
needs of children and youth involved in public education such as
reading/writing clinics and tutoring.
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| 4. |
Evangelistic
Projects - teams of people that focus on bringing people
to Christ; and then, teaching and equipping them to reach others.
These teams may include local coalitions that produce evangelistic
events (crusades, concerts, school assemblies, etc.), street evangelism,
need-oriented evangelism, and other activities. These teams would
also teach and train people in relational (oikos) evangelism that
targets family, relatives, friends, and co-workers.
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| 5. |
Discipleship
Projects - teams of people that focus on establishing
mature devoted followers of Jesus Christ. These ministries primarily
serve the needs of Christians who desire transformation, becoming
ambassadors of Christ - bearers of the ministry of reconciliation.
This includes one-on-one discipleship training in conjunction with
a relational mentoring process. Making disciples and disciplers
are the goals.
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| 6. |
Youth
Projects - teams of people that
focus on the needs of young people. These ministries take a direct
approach in helping young people combat negative peer pressure,
bad choices, drugs/alcohol, sexual promiscuity, and violence. Training
programs are designed to implant into the hearts of young people
an intrinsic value system that fosters integrity, morality, and
sensitivity to others' needs. Contemporary strategies and language
are used to speak directly into the heart of youth culture today
and mobilize young people to reach their own generation for Christ.
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| 7. |
International
Projects - teams of people that focus on fulfilling the
Great Commission around the world. This includes Christian missionary
outreaches to nations outside the United States and the networking
of these ministries with others around the world. These apostolic
networks are linked together in prayer, communications, resource
development, training, leadership development, and an Internet "cyber
community." |
Although
these seven (7) areas of interest have primary focuses, this ministry
design helps people organize around processes
rather than functions and uses teams
as the basic organizational building blocks. This design orchestrates
an "interdependent organizational climate" that helps teams reach high
performance levels and synergistic results. This flattens hierarchical
organizational process and makes it more flexible, fast, focused, friendly,
and fun.
Who Benefits From This Vision?
No ministry can meet all the needs of people in the local community; however,
every ministry has its part to play. This is how the Body of Christ works
- connecting people; connecting
ministries.
Because The Powerlife Project is a new paradigm, ministry model that focuses
on city-reaching and community transformation, it can function in broad-based
action. Many people can benefit from the services offered by this ministry
model. Those who benefit are,
| · |
Disadvantaged
children from poor and needy homes. These children need love, support,
and Christian role models to fill the void left by dysfunctional
relationships.
|
| · |
Young
people in need of Christian absolutes and values. According to research,
85% of people who make a commitment to Christ will make it before
age 18, or they never will. Research also shows that only 4% of
Generation X is being assimilated into church settings. This means
that an entire generation could be lost to the world in a number
of years and never become genuine Christians.
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| ·
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People
in general who are searching for real solutions to real problems.
They are not impressed with religious rhetoric that promises better
times.
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| · |
People
who are searching for genuine Christians who reflect the incarnational
presence of Jesus Christ. They want to see Jesus - His love and
compassion.
|
| · |
People
searching for a place to belong…grow…and participate in the building
of life-giving Christian community. This has resulted in "church-hopping"
and an illusion of church growth.
|
| · |
Christians
who have fallen into complacency and spiritual lethargy; succumbed
by apathy. They need spiritual awakening and revival.
|
| · |
The
20% of Christians in most churches who are presently being awakened
by God to pursue life-changing discipleship and serve people's needs
out in the community. Unfortunately, 96% (according to national
statistics) of their local church's resources focus only on needs
and programs inside the church house.
|
| · |
The
vast number of "displaced" Christians who are disenchanted
with outdated traditional, mind sets and religious practices; gifted/talented
people who are unable to find fruitfulness and fulfillment within
static hierarchical, church structures. Research suggests that a
mass exodus of Christians is leaving the Church each year, committed
never to return.
|
| · |
Church
leaders starving to death for true relationships and life-giving
Christian environments. Statistics show that one-half of all ministry
students are out of the ministry within five years of graduation.
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| · |
Parachurch
ministries in desperate need for resources, that will help them
continue their God-ordained missions in local communities. |
Concluding Remarks:
In
Western society today we are moving through a powerful paradigm
shift in cultural changes that will affect the
way we live, work, and do church for many years to come.
This major transition is from a modern to a postmodern society.
Modernism was a period in our history characterized by obsessive
organizing, standardizing, and categorizing reality into one system
of understanding. Corporate endeavors celebrated massive hierarchies
and rigid organizational designs which eventually led to impersonal,
institutional process. Institutions took on a life of their own
and outlived the people who created them.
Postmodernism is a radical departure from the cold nature of modernism.
People and their gifts are more highly valued than organizational
designs. Relationships are celebrated as the glue that holds organizations
together. Hierarchies have been flattened and made more fluid, flexible,
and cross-functional.
Organism is now served by organization, rather than the other way
around. Authority is based upon relationships and trust, rather
than manipulation and half-truths. Leadership is vision-driven as
opposed to heritage-driven. Organizational designs are smaller;
networks are bigger. People's gifts, instead of rigid policy, are
the paths to greater productivity. High performance, team process
and synergism are the new paradigms for success. |
The
Winds of Change
Are Blowing
|
New
paradigm, ministry models are the new
wineskins for the 21st Century. Because they
are "grassroots, community empowering" instruments in the Lord's
hands, they have the potential for influencing Christians, congregations,
communities, and cities all across the United States. The reasons
for this are quite clear. These new ministry models have moved
way beyond the rhetoric that stifles many city-reaching efforts
and moved directly into broad-based community actions that communicate
the gospel of Jesus Christ in relevant, tangible language.
We believe the Church in the 21st Century must awaken to the reality
of its present mission and embrace all
of its foundational, biblical principles in contemporary form
- new wineskins. Christians must recapture their "state of
innocence" in trusting and obeying God. To do so means that
we must be willing to allow God opportunity to bring the needed
changes to our lives that foster transformation according to His
design.
 We
believe transformation is not all about copying ministry
designs, replicating formulas for success, or manipulating imbalanced
attempts at growth. Transformation is all about God helping people
become "originals"
instead of "copycats."
This is grand opportunity for all of us to discover (or rediscover)
the inherent potentials and possibilities that lay docile or "untapped"
within our midst; a time to celebrate our own unique God-given
lives, respecting other's differences, and then capitalizing on
personal strengths and pooled resources. This is what makes transformation
so inviting...exciting...and
worthwhile!
With the help of the Lord, The Powerlife Project (a new paradigm,
ministry model) has rallied the willing hearts of passionate Christians,
who rolled up their sleeves and hit the ground running in ministry
that impacted the lives of thousands of people. We believe that
Christians must come together on common ground...covenant to work
together as the Body of Christ...and concentrate their God-given
resources for concerted efforts - the advancement of the Kingdom
of God.
The gap between Church...and community must be bridged. Time is
short and too many lives are at stake!
Please...let's not just talk; let's do it!
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People
live in a world that is quite different 
