CHURCH MINISTRY ESSENTIALS Building an Everyone Can Do Something Culture in Your Foster Care and Adoption Ministry
Summer 2020 Course Syllabus
Welcome! We are so grateful to have you participating in the Summer 2020 “Church Ministry Essentials” course and are excited to be offering this special session of the course exclusively to Orphan Sunday coordinators! Our goal is to provide an experience of broadened and deepened knowledge, an encouraging and stimulating community, challenge where necessary, and inspiration for the road ahead. We’ll gain critical knowledge of the best practices and central issues relevant to a variety of facets of launching, leading and growing ministries in your church - and hopefully enable you to take your next best steps forward more resourced, more connected and more inspired than ever before! These next several weeks together will help give you the clarity and confidence you need to prayerfully set the trajectory of your ministry for years to come. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, new insights and a renewed sense of hope on this journey of mobilizing your church to care for kids and families. With you on the journey, Jason Johnson Director of Church Ministry Initiatives | The Christian Alliance for Orphans
WHAT TO EXPECT Proven principles drawn from the book, “Everyone Can Do Something” This easy-to-read and extremely practical guidebook provides principles and practices for you to contextualize and implement in your church’s ministry. PLEASE PRE-PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE PRIOR TO THE COURSE BEGINNING. One-page PDF action guides for each module These simple next-steps guide sheets will help you and your team identify the next steps you can take utilizing what you learned in each section of the module. Weekly dynamic video teaching Each module is anchored by video-based teaching segments, several of which feature some of the country’s best church-based ministry practitioners as they share on various aspects of launching and leading effective OVC based initiatives.
On-going ministry and leadership coaching At the conclusion of the course participants are given opportunities to engage in an on-going coaching relationship with a seasoned CAFO Member Church leader. This is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow and be reminded that you’re not alone on this journey. Additional resources for learning and growing You will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from some of the best resources on particular topics out there - from books, blogs, articles, videos and podcasts.
COURSE CONTENT
COURSE ORIENTATION + INTRODUCTION The course orientation and introduction is a pre-recorded video we ask that you take time to watch prior to moving forward with any other sections of the course. It will provide an overview of the course, answer key questions and help set expectations moving forward. You can view the 10-minute video HERE.
MODULE 1: LEADING TEAMS AND MANAGING VOLUNTEERS Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, May 27 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Laura Mobley, Foster & Adoption Ministry Director Traders Point Church, a multi-campus church in the greater Indianapolis, IN area The importance of building a leadership team early on in the ministry cannot be overstated. No one person, or couple, can carry the weight of the ministry long-term alone. A team is required, however formal or informal you choose to set it up.
In this section we will explore the following topics: Three Key Roles of a Leader How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge FAQ’s About Forming a Leadership Team How Do I Approach My Church Leadership? How to Handle a Church Leader That Doesn’t “Get It” Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 1: Building Healthy Leadership ● Hero Making Practices Listen: ● Six Types of Leaders Watch: ● How to Start a Movement
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Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Action How to Handle a Church Leader Who Doesn’t “Get It” The Starfish and the Spider
Optional: ● The “Five Leadership Questions” Podcast from Lifeway Leadership o What is Recruiting? o Types of Recruiting o Current Methods of Recruiting o How to Create a Culture of Recruiting o How to Onboard Volunteers ● Book: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge Do: ● Complete the Module 1 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. ● Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 2: ARTICULATING A COMPELLING MESSAGE Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, June 3 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans In the flurry of all the things that come with leading and implementing ministries, one of the most critically important yet often overlooked components of ministry leadership is establishing and reinforcing a clear vision message.
In this section we will explore the following topics: A Gospel-Centered Theology of “Why” How to Increase Clarity and Decrease Anxiety The “Should” vs. “Can” Principle Three Principles to Consider When Launching and Leading The Art of Scaling Your Vision Building a Communications “Drip” Strategy Read: ● ● ● ●
Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 3: Clarifying Vision Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 4: Articulating a Compelling Message Leveraging the Power of Orphan + Stand Sunday in Your Church What’s Your Why? Articulating a Gospel-Centered Message for Your Church’s Foster Care and Adoption Ministry
Watch: ● Orphan Care is Not an Act of Charity ● A Pure and Undefiled Reflection Do: ● Complete the Module 2 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. ● Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 3: BUILDING AN EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING CULTURE Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, June 10 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans The goal of your ministry is to not to create an isolated, peripheral ministry that only a few are a part of but rather to build a foundational culture upon which everyone has the opportunity to get involved. Effectively articulating a theology of the Body of Christ as central to that goal reinforces the belief that “everyone can do something” and inspires people to consider what their “something” is.
In this section we will explore the following topics: Articulating a Theology of the Body of Christ Building a Tiered On-Ramping System Sharing a Diversity of Stories Making Orphan Care “Normal” Read: ● ● ● ●
Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 3: Space for Everyone Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 3: Supporting Your Message Ten Simple Ways Your Church Can Serve and Foster Families Wrapping Around Foster and Adoptive Families
Watch: ● Everyone Can Do Something ● What’s Your Something? ● Everyone Can Do Something Webinar Do: ● Complete the Module 3 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.
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Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 4: CONNECTING PEOPLE INTO COMMUNITIES OF SUPPORT
Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, June 17 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Johanna Stein, Director of Training Promise 686, Inc. There is power in community, and any effective and sustainable ministry will understand and utilize this valuable tool in their church. Creating safe spaces centered around shared experiences among those interested in foster care and adoption as well as those already involved is central to building a strong care within the ministry.
In this section we will explore the following topics: Why Forming Community First is Essential to Building a Ministry How to “Pave the Paths” of Your Ministry Creating Smaller Circles of People (Love vs. Get) Building Wraparound Teams for Your Families Four Essential Pillars of Support Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 5: “Four Essential Avenues of Support” ● Ten Simple Ways Your Church Can Serve Foster Families ● Replanted: Chapter 4, “The Soil: Emotional Support” Watch: ● Say Yes – Form a Wraparound Ministry ● Working With and Supporting Foster and Adoptive Families Do: ● Complete the Module 4 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. ● Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 5: CREATING A STRATEGIC “NEXT STEPS” PLAN Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, June 24 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans Central to effectively forming your clear and consistent message is the development of a core strategy for how you will bring that message to bear to the whole of your church.
In this section we will explore the following topics: Three Essential Ingredients of Movement Leading from the Top Down Growing from the Bottom Up Hosting a “Bridge” Event or Informational Meeting Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 2: Gathering the Interested and Involved ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 5: Identifying Your Path ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 5: Three Ingredients of Effective Engagement ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 6: Building a Discipleship Pipeline ● Shrinking the Problem Watch: ● Shrinking the Problem Webinar ● Three Principles to Consider Webinar Do: ● Complete the Module 5 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. ● Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 6: ENGAGING THE HOLISTIC CONTINUUM OF CARE
Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, July 1 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans Churches can often default into a “silo” of ministries — “That’s the missions ministry over there,” “That’s the homeless ministry over there,” “That’s the orphan care ministry over there,” etc. In reality, however, many of these justice, mercy and hospitality-oriented ministries are not mutually exclusive. They are on some level interconnected — all part of the same continuum intersecting at different points along the way.
In this section we will explore the following topics: Systemic Issues of Marginalization Addressing the Whole Story of Child and Family Welfare
Strategically Planning at Different Points of the Continuum Forming Partnerships for Effectiveness and Sustainability
Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 6: “Using the Existing” ● Breaking the Cycle of Human Trafficking ● Why Family Preservation Services That Prevent Foster Care are Key to Healthy Communities ● Developing a Holistic Orphan Care Ministry in Your Church
Watch: ● A Tale of Two Rivers (Patrick Henry Family Services)
Do: ● ●
Complete the Module 6 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 7: “MORE THAN ENOUGH” MOVEMENT BUILDING
Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, July 8 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans When it comes to big problems, real and lasting solutions require everyone heading in the same direction. We are better together. Better at maximizing resources, optimizing our efforts and impacting the lives of children and families. Your church can do some things, but it doesn’t have to do everything. This is where the power of collaboration comes in and the opportunity for true, lasting movement is discovered.
In this section we will explore the following topics: The Power of Collaboration Steps to Building Organizational Trust Becoming Hyper-Localized in Your Efforts Church Health and Growth Assessment Tool Read: ● Providing More Than Enough Before, During and Beyond Foster Care is Possible ● Growing a Foster Care Movement in Your Community ● An Ancient Recipe for Addressing Brokenness Where You Live Watch: ● Four Principles of Moving Barns (and Building Foster Care Movements) ● More Than Enough – CAFO2019
Do: ● ● ●
Complete The “More Than Enough” Church Assessment
Complete the Module 7 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 8: CULTIVATING A TRAUMA-INFORMED CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, July 15 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Ryan North, Founder One Big Happy Home
It is crucial that leaders working with children and students are properly equipped and empowered with a better understanding of the impacts of trauma, practical tools for working with children in their ministries who have experienced trauma, and a plan of action to equip their volunteers to best serve those children and families in their ministry.
In this section we will explore the following topics: What is trauma? What impacts does trauma have on children and students? How trauma informs behavior, connection and relationships Practical strategies to serve children who have experienced trauma A plan of action to equip leaders and volunteers
Read: ● Four Focus Areas for Creating a Trauma-Informed Ministry Watch: ● Meeting Sensory Challenges ● How to Make Kids Feel Safe ● Guiding Behavior ● How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime ● ReThinking Children’s Ministry: Creating an Environment of Felt Safety
Do: ● ●
Complete the Module 8 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. Consider how you might present some core principles of trauma-informed ministry to your church’s children’s leader and encourage them to incorporate systems and structures into their current systems.
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Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
MODULE 9: CREATING A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SOUL HEALTH
Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, July 22 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call
Facilitator: Jedd Medefind, President The Christian Alliance for Orphans Christians never look more like Jesus than when humbly serving amidst the world’s hurt - caring for orphans, battling trafficking, promoting urban renewal. But this good will inevitably be short-lived when rooted in zeal for justice alone. If it is to be sustained, our commitment to justice and mercy must be paired with an even stronger commitment to cultivating a vibrant inner life rooted deep in Christ. Ultimately, vibrant ministry springs from healthy souls.
In this section we will explore the following topics: The Biblical Call for Rest and Renewal Developing a Strategic Plan for Soul Care in Our Ministries Identifying Resources and Opportunities for Spiritual Growth and Refreshment Read: ● Strategic Plan for Thriving Souls ● The Fight for Social Justice Starts Within Listen: ● Justice and the Inner Life Podcast Episodes with: o Gary Haugen o John Eldredge o Ruth Haley Barton Optional: ● Book: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton ● Podcast: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton Do: ● Complete the CAFO Soul Health Assessment ● Complete the Module 9 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing. ● Use the Weekly Summary Google Form to submit your reflections and biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.
REQUIREMENTS FOR CAFO CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION 1) Participation in class Zoom Calls You are required to either attend live or listen to each conversation, and then submit a your reflections and takeaways after the fact. We recognize that you all have busy schedules and likely won’t be able to attend every video call in person. While this is the goal, each call is recorded and will be available to view/listen to after. Whether you attend the call live or opt to engage the call after the fact, a summary of your thoughts and takeaways from the call and that week’s module resources should be submitted through the use of the Weekly Summary Google Form. We are incredibly privileged to be connected to some of the sharpest leaders in this field, several of whom you will get the chance to interact with through these calls. The calls will be casual, and the expressed purpose is a Q+A session in relation to the materials and content you’ve been processing and absorbing during that week. Each week you’ll then be expected to submit 1-3 questions for the speaker to me via email (johnson@cafo.org) at least 24 hours prior to the call. 2) Engaging in Weekly Community Forum: Each week, there will be an online discussion forum to engage the theme together. You are expected to engage in some way, either by a) posting a question/idea to the forum for discussion, b) responding to a question or idea shared on the forum (this could be a response of affirmation and elaboration, personal connection and encouragement, respectful questioning/curiosity and push back, etc.) or c) both – posting and responding. 3) Updating the LearnDash Platform: All course material, including the Zoom call schedule, supplemental resources and downloadable PDF guides will be available on the course LearnDash platform. You are expected to note in your class dashboard when you have completed sessions so that together we can track your progress. All sections of your course dashboard must be selected as complete before receiving your Certificate of Completion. AUDIT option: For those who aren’t concerned with the Certificate, you’re welcome to audit the course. My strong preference for those auditing is that you still choose at least one mode of engagement - Zoom calls, discussion forum, updating LearnDash- so that we are in communication and you are gaining as much as possible from the content.