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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Still Thinking?

Well, we have had one response to the challenge of what you would do with a 5 million dollar, three year capital campaign in your church.

While you're thinking about it, add this to the mix. What do you think the leaders (elders, ministers, deacons, whoever) would do with it?

What do you think a collection of the 10 most influential women in your church would do with it?
What do you think that your youth group would do with it?

What do you think that your unchurched neighbors would suggest that the church do with it?

I am so curious what you are thinking about this one.

1 comment:

Keith Brenton said...

I am so curious about what I'm thinking about this challenge, too.

- Okay, I've thought about it.

My best proposal would be a "Full Employment" ministry. We'd train unemployed and underemployed people for available jobs and careers. People within the church family with expertise in available jobs would help provide training. We'd use existing facilities, but equip them for employment education. We'd help write resumes. We'd work with local employers just like an employment agency would, except that we wouldn't charge a fee. We'd provide child care at reduced cost (an existing ministry) for as long as each client was employed.

And our clients would always know that the place where they got their training was full of people who loved them and cared about them and wanted them to do their best because God loves them and cares about them and wants them to do their best.

I think my elders might actually consider it. I think the ministry staff would support it. I think the ten most influential women in my church family would be willing to pray for it and a few would be willing and helpful in providing training. I think the youth group would help provide some weekend child care for the underemployed while taking training. I think some of our unchurched neighbors would be nervous at first about all the unemployed people getting off the bus in front of our building, but I think they'd come around when they saw them gainfully employed, hopefully in the area.