MINISTRY PL AN + BUDGE T 2016
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Seven years ago I worked part time as a youth pastor. To help support my young family I took a part-time job as an overnight shift worker Mr Christies Cookies. I would load trucks with orders of cookies and crackers until the wee hours of the morning. It was incredibly uneventful! Until one day, or make that one night. One night they were training a new fork lift driver. A few of my coworkers and I watched as he tried to raise a pallet of Oreo’s onto the top level of the shelving. As we watched we noticed he was not properly lined up to get it on the shelf. We yelled for him to stop and told him the problem. He assured us it was fine and we quickly backed away as he continued to place the pallet, and hit another pallet already on the shelf, resulting in thousands of Oreo’s crashing down onto the warehouse floor. That job taught me many lessons, but one of the most important ones was about alignment. There are few things in life as incredibly important as alignment. When we are aligned as parents, husband and wife, we love and discipline our kids well. When we are aligned at work, employer and employees, we are productive and aware of our achievements. And especially, when we are aligned with God through the revelation of Scripture, we become more and more like the person He has made us to be. Alignment is critical, especially in the church. This plan and budget is a guide to how the church leaders believe God is inspiring alignment in this church. It is called reALIGN because it is not really something new that we’re proposing, but rather something that finds itself rooted in scripture. We’re striving to align with God’s mission in this world. Within the budget we seek to make clear what we will do in 2016 to be the church God has called us to be. To be persons who, as individuals, profess our belief in the risen Christ and demonstrate it in our personal desire to be more like Him, and to love one another. We hope that this plan will inspire your imagination to pursue God here at BRBC. We also hope that your thoughts will be turned to Christ, and your heart warmed by His Spirit. Ultimately, we hope that we will join together in partnership to be the hands and feet of Christ in our world. In Partnership, Pastor Rob
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2016 PRIORITIES 01 SPIRITUAL FORMATION
03 NEWCOMERS
To encourage one another to embrace the inward working of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives.
To remove roadblocks and build relationships with people as they come to our church for the first time. Encouraging them in their search for faith, and doing whatever we can to help them connect with God and others while at our church.
02 SMALL GROUPS
04 FAMILIES
To encourage everyone within the church to connect in a small group. Small groups are more than a Bible Study – they are a community that is there to support each other in all of life’s ups and downs.
To focus on delivering ministries that reach families and provide the support and encouragement parents need to foster a growing relationship between their kids and God.
05 CHILDREN To strive for excellence in our ministry to children, giving them a solid faith based start and encouraging them and their parents in the journey.
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MISSION + VISION 2408. Do you remember that number? It’s a significant number. That number, 2408, represents 2408 people. 2408 people who are made in the image of God. 2408 people who desperately need to know the love of God. 2408 people who live within a 15 minute walk of 1900 Lauder Drive. 2408. It’s not just a number. It’s people. People God loves. People who need to know God’s love. People who do not believe in God. 2408 people we can share the truth of God’s love with who are within a 15 minute walk of our church building. 2408 is why we need alignment. The opportunity is too great for us not to take it seriously. But aligned to what? We need alignment on why we are a church and what we do because of it. A church can only get it’s meaning from Jesus Christ. Without Christ as Lord at the centre, a church is not a church. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus tells his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This is the mission Jesus invites us to be a part of, this mission is what makes the church, the church. We sum up the invitation from Jesus in our mission statement like this:
To lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, one step at a time. This is why we exist, to lead people into this great relationship with Jesus. And it is our desire that, as we seek to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, we will do so with a vision inspired by Acts 15:19. In this section of scripture the apostles are wrestling with the reality that many people who are very different from them are becoming followers of Jesus. James wisely tells the others that “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” Don’t make it easy, but don’t make turning to God any more difficult, either. This is where we want to grow to, this is what we believe is the vision that God is inspiring for us at Bromley, to
be a church that does not make it difficult for people to turn to God.
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01 SPIRITUAL FORMATION What is Spiritual Formation? Spiritual Formation is the process of becoming more Christ-like. It is about drawing closer to God as He draws closer to you, being made wholly aware of the inner workings of His spirit in your life. It is a lifelong process, and it is said by some to be the most important process in the world. Why is this a priority? Spiritual formation is what we are called to as people. We are to pursue intimacy with God, and as we draw closer to God, He draws nearer to us. Jesus uses the imagery of a vine and branches in John 15 to illustrate how important it is for us to pursue intimacy with God in our lives. What does spiritual formation as a priority look like? Spiritual formation can look different in practice for each person. Our journey in formation can be as unique as we are. It may involve spending time reading the Bible, praying, fasting, periods of silence, etc. But it does not need to be extravagant or extraordinary. It could start as 10 minutes or as 2 hours. Like any relationship, your relationship with Christ requires input from you. Ultimately, the inner work of God’s Spirit is best identified with the outer workings of our lives. The fruits of the spirit spoken of in Galatians 5:22-23 are evidence of God’s inner working in our life. How will we prioritize spiritual formation at Bromley in 2016? Spiritual formation is not a new concept. Those who have been a Christian, or who have attended church for a long time, may be well acquainted with the concept. In 2016, we will work to promote spiritual formation through individual spiritual practices, but also corporately as a church.
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Goals and Strategies for 2016 include: 1. Equip and Encourage BRBC to Engage in a Deeper Relationship With Jesus Christ •
Publishing a monthly prayer guide with suggestions for private or communal prayer
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Creation of an electronic resource centre to support and encourage members in their relationship with Christ
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The opportunity to, as a church, to learn and experience different spiritual practices. Evening and/or weekend sessions will be held where we’ll be able to experience these practices together
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Provide opportunities to hear from others about how they develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Equip and Encourage Pastoral Staff in their Spiritual Growth •
Encouraging and supporting our pastoral staff in their spiritual and professional growth by praying for them, challenging them, and helping them to grow
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02 SMALL GROUPS What is a small group? A small group is an intentional gathering, meeting regularly for the purpose of joining God’s mission and sharing life. It is a dedicated group who makes time to be together and who desire to be formed as Christ’s disciples. Why are these a priority? They are a community within the larger community. They foster new relationships throughout the church. They promote connectedness and unity. Group members care about, and for, one another. We grow best in groups. What do small groups as a priority look like? Making small groups a priority will mean an increase in the promotion of existing groups, and encouraging those who are not part of a group to join one. Our staff and volunteers will prioritize small groups, matching people with groups that are right for them, providing volunteer training for group leaders, and creating a consistent learning experience for the whole family. How will prioritize small groups at Bromley in 2016? Many of us are already part of a small group. The intent is not to stop those groups that are meeting, but to come alongside them to encourage and support them, while also working to multiply the number of groups that are active in the church. We will also help newcomers, or people who are not yet connected to a group, to find the group that is right for them.
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Goals and Strategies for 2016 include: 1. In 2016, Add Five (5) New Groups and Train Five (5) New Leaders •
Develop a Small Groups Coordinator job description and identify a person who is willing and well-suited to being responsible for the role. The position will be volunteer and will be filled from within the church
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Identify potential leaders for new groups, both lay leaders from existing groups who may wish to start a new group, and new leaders who are ready to lead
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Train and equip small group leaders to ensure that new and existing leaders are wellresourced in their roles
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In September 2016, host a small groups kick-off to encourage everyone to be involved in a small group
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Continue to provide online and print resources for small groups through RightNow Media and other sources
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03 NEWCOMERS Who is a newcomer? A newcomer is anyone who attends Bromley but has never been here before. This could be a long-time Christian who is looking for a church home, an individual investigating Christianity, or someone visiting for one Sunday. They may join us for a Sunday morning service, or they may drop in for youth group on a Friday night. Why are they a priority? Our reality is that every week new people seem to be showing up to church, but for the most part they do not stick around. An important part of the Christian journey is us seeking to join God in what He is doing. Bringing new people through our doors is something He is doing. God calls us to go and make disciples of all nations. As a church, we recognize that we should be helping to connect newcomers with God and others, and to remove all barriers for them to do that. What do newcomers as a priority look like? Prioritizing newcomers not only impacts how we do church on a Sunday morning, but also plays into the decisions we make in the upkeep of our building, what our signage looks like, and how we work on a Sunday morning. How will we prioritize newcomers at Bromley in 2016? Removing roadblocks so that we do not make it diďŹƒcult for people to connect with God will be one of our primary objectives 2016 and will impact on the way we do things throughout the entire church.
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Goals and Strategies for 2016 include: 1. Initiate a Long-Term Revisioning of our Worship Service from the Newcomer’s Perspective •
Establish a Worship Service Task Force and provide them with a clear mandate. The role of the Task Force will be to undertake service evaluation, present findings, and work, with the Board of Deacons and senior leadership, to develop a preliminary plan for our service
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The expectation is that implementation of these changes will occur over several years, likely not before the end of 2016
2. Implement Changes to the Worship Service According to our Mission and Vision •
Replace current pew Bibles with new, New International Version (NIV) Bibles
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Implement a video podcast of the Sunday sermon at bromleyroadbaptist.org
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Implement Video Announcements during the weekly service to effectively communicate our church mission and vision, and the activities that are going on
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Rethink the worship service asking the question: In what ways can we improve to help newcomers and current attendees connect with God?
3. Create a Welcoming First Impression for Newcomers •
Create a connection centre to welcome visitors and provide a “one-stop shop” for information about BRBC
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Improve signage throughout the church to let visitors know how they get where they want to be
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Refresh our church building with paint and design. In 2016, we will complete the first phase of work in the gymnasium and lower hallway
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Hold newcomer events throughout the year to welcome those who are new and educate them about our church mission, vision, and beliefs.
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04 FAMILIES Who are families? A family is any household unit - be it parents and their children, grandparents, guardians with children, or a couple. We want to make sure that we’re a place where they feel welcome, where they can be comfortable, find friendship, and most of all, where they can all grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Why are they a priority? It is our mission as a church to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, one step at a time. One group we feel particularly called to minister to are families. We believe that a family built on faith is a family that succeeds and we want to be a part of that. What do families as a priority look like? Prioritizing families means thinking about their needs first. What programs might really speak to them and help them to connect? How can we foster and encourage discussions at home throughout the week based on the teachings in Sunday School at in the sermon on Sunday mornings? Prioritizing families also means creating an environment where they are celebrated, encouraged, and valued. How will we prioritize families at Bromley in 2016? As most newcomers join us for the first time at a worship service, we will seek to create a Sunday morning experience that speaks to families - a worship service that allows them to connect with God, fun and interactive programs for their children, peace of mind in the safety and security of their children with our volunteers, and ultimately a community where they will feel at home.
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Goals and Strategies for 2016 include: 1. Connect with Families •
Create a social media presence for families on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to communicate and encourage them throughout the week
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Establish a family resource library (print and online) where parents and children can loan resources that will help them take their next step of faith
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Link Sunday morning teaching in Sunday School to home throughout the week to encouraging discussions amongst families about faith
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Host family connection events where families can come together, build community, and share in their experiences
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Host Parent’s Cafe events - a time when parents can connect and be encouraged while their kids are busy having fun in age-appropriate programming
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05 CHILDREN Who is a child? A child includes all kids, from newborns to grade 5. They are the kids who are spending time in the Kid Zone in the basement on Sunday mornings, or in the nursery or toddler areas. Why are they a priority? Our hope is to minister to this youngest demographic in a way that will establish a faith foundation that will flourish for years to come. We often say that children are the church of tomorrow, but the truth is they are part of the church right now, and we desire to lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. What do children as a priority look like? Prioritizing children in our church means offering fun and interactive programs where they want to be, and where they are given the opportunity to grow and establish a relationship with Jesus Christ. How will we prioritize children at Bromley in 2016? We will seek to create a safe, secure and fun space where kids can learn and grow together on Sunday mornings. We will also work to increase child involvement in the life of the church and provide opportunities for families to learn and grow together.
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Goals and Strategies for 2016 include: 1. Increase Average Weekly Attendance in our Sunday School Program by 50% •
Create a space that is inviting, safe, and secure place for kids to be themselves and to learn about Jesus
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Fully implement the new ‘Plan to Protect’ security policy to ensure the safety of kids who are in our care
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Purchase age-appropriate Bibles for Sunday School to allow for effective teaching and learning
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Introduce a kids worship time to Sunday School providing copies of music to the families so that they can listen to, and learn the songs all week long!
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Recruit, train, and thank volunteers who dedicate their time to ministry to our children
2. Build Relationships with Kids and their Families •
Make kids information readily available at the information centre for newcomers who might be looking to find out more about the programs that we offer
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Host multi-generational connection events (e.g. games nights, trivia nights, etc.) to provide opportunities for all generations of the church to connect and grow in community together
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Encourage BRBC Kids to be involved in church-wide initiatives such as Operation Christmas Child
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Communicate about BRBC Kids with the congregation through print and video announcements to make sure people are aware of what’s going on in the Kid Zone each week
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OPERATIONS + PERSONNEL While our priorities for 2016 will be spiritual formation, small groups, newcomers, families and children, we must also continue to be good stewards of what God has given us. The operations budget resources the support services that are essential for all ministries, including facility maintenance, grounds, utilities, housekeeping, IT, and oďŹƒce functions. The personnel budget provides compensation and benefits to church staff. It also accounts for the Shine On Summer Camp seasonal employees, and supplies for regular staff during their holidays. Also included in the personnel budget are funds to support the continued professional development of our pastoral staff. As with every year, we make best efforts to find eďŹƒciencies and savings in our operations budget to maximize the amount of funding that we have to support our ministry priorities.
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2016 BUDGET OVERVIEW PROJECTED REVENUES
$380,850
BUILDING SERVICES
$46,500
SUPPORT SERVICES
$15,250
PAY AND BENEFITS
$228,574
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
$53,725
SMALL GROUPS
$4,000
NEWCOMERS
$15,950
FAMILIES
$6,450
CHILDREN
$10,850
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS
$380,849
Full details of the 2016 proposed budget are available online from: www.bromleyroadbaptist.org/mybromley or from the church oямГce
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OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE We are excited about the mission that God has invited Bromley to be a part of outlined in the pages of this plan. We cannot be a church that leads people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, one step at a time, without you. Through your tithes and offerings, we get to be the church that God is calling us to be in this community. If you are already supporting Bromley through your tithes, thank you! We are so grateful for your support. If you’re feeling like you would like to start donating to Bromley, or even if you’ve been donating for a long time, please consider the most effective way for you to give:
PRE-AUTHORIZED DEBITS Have you considered giving by Pre-Authorized Debits (PADs) straight from your bank account? PADs makes it easier for you - your donations are evenly spread throughout the year, you never have to remember to write a cheque, and if you ever miss a service, your donation is not missed. It also makes things easier for the church by reducing the overall work for our volunteers, decreasing risk, and allowing the church to plan and execute missions with some certainty that funds will be forthcoming. Get registered for PAD giving quickly and easily! Visit www.bromleyroadbaptist.org/giving to download the form, or contact the church office.
How often do you think about how you designated your givings? Often, we receive designated offerings for the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec or our Partners in Mission, that exceed our budget targets. At the same time, we’re often behind in our Operating budget. Why not consider simply designating your offerings to the Operating budget line? This money will go a long way to funding the programs described in this Ministry Plan throughout 2016. Any major shortfalls to one of our other budget commitments would then be addressed through surplus operating funds.
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ONLINE GIVING Make your donations quickly and easily through the church website. Just click the links and process your donation through CanadaHelps. You can set your donation up to happen just once, or schedule regular donations. It’s fast and easy!
ENVELOPE GIVING Giving through the offering envelope is still an easy way to give to Bromley. If you’re looking for your own set of envelopes, please contact the church office.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GIVING AT BROMLEY Visit www.bromleyroadbaptist.org/giving to download forms, give online, or learn how to get started with your donations.
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