Have you carefully thought through a new ministry that you want to start? Have you evaluated your current ministries? Here are 12 planning questions that will help you think through starting a new ministry or evaluating a current one. Consider planning a day away to write a plan based on these 12 questions:
1. What is the purpose of this ministry?
What are you hoping to accomplish with this ministry? What is the purpose and mission of the ministry? How does it fit into your overall vision? Is there a primary purpose? Is there a secondary purpose?
2. Who will this ministry serve?
Who is the target of this ministry? Who will it benefit? Is there a primary target? Is there a secondary target?
3. What are the needs of those who this ministry will serve?
What services will we offer in this ministry? What are the needs of the target group we are wanting to serve? What are their Spiritual needs, Physical needs, Emotional needs, Intellectual needs, Relational needs? Which of these needs should our ministry focus on?
4. How will we provide these services and meet these needs?
What will be our ministry strategy for providing services for the needs of our targeted group? What is our Step-by-Step process for making this ministry happen?
5. How will the ministry be led?
What type of leadership qualities and skills are required to lead this ministry?
6. What kind of team is needed for this ministry?
Is a team needed for this ministry? How many people are needed? What are the various roles and ministry responsibilities that are needed to support this ministry? What are the skills and abilities needed for those who will make up the team?
7. What kind of leadership training is needed?
What training is necessary in order for team members to effectively carry out this ministry. How and when will this training be provided?
8. What kinds of support will be required for this ministry?
What type of support, services, and facilities will the ministry need from the church? What are the budget/financial needs to get this ministry started? What are the budget/financial needs to sustain this ministry? How can we find the money needed to support this ministry?
9. How will communication happen within the ministry?
Communication at various levels should be planned: Communication with each other? Communication with its leadership? Communication with other ministries? Communication with church staff? Communication with the church at large? Communication with who it is trying to serve?
10. What will the process look like for feedback and evaluation?
How will we know if this ministry is doing well? Where will we get this feedback? How will success be measured?
11. How will you spiritually care for the ministry team?
How do we ensure spiritual growth and health of the ministry team? What is the process and structure of providing care for team members?
12. What is our vision for growth and expansion?
What is our vision for growth? What is our “dream” 2 years from now? On the way to our 2-year “dream”, what must our ministry look like in 1 year? How will we expand our ministry?
Can you think of anything else that might be helpful? Feel free to comment!
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