Just Go Toolkit by Convoy of Hope

The Toolkit A Guide to Crafting Your Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Compassion Strategy

Contents Introduction 5 Creating Your Strategy

Elements of a Strategy

Step 1: Gather & Review

Asset Mapping Exercise Part 1

Step 2: Dream & Plan

Asset Mapping Exercise Part 2

Step 3: Heart & Hand

Step 4: Launch & Go

Generosity at Work 21 Post-Launch

Strategic Plan Checklist

Toolkit

Toolkit Overview

Teaching Generosity & Service

26 28

Teaching from the Field: Generosity Matters

Lesson/Sermon One: Why Does Participation Matter?

Lesson/Sermon Two: Mobilizing the Church – Who Should Be Involved?

Lesson/Sermon Three: What Does Generosity Have to Do with Hearts?

Lesson/Sermon Four: What Are the Results of Sowing?

Lesson/Sermon Outlines

Action Sheets

Church Profile Sheets

Community Profile Sheets

Disaster Preparedness Agenda

Communication One-Sheet

Gauging Culture

Sample Strategies 71 Strategic Planning Opportunity Scorecard

Conclusion 75 How to Connect with Convoy of Hope

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Introduction We want to honor you and thank you for partnering with the most amazing organization in the world, the local church. One of the reasons Jesus continues to create and form the Church is because we are his solution. We express his kingdom on earth. In his kingdom, there is hope and joy. No children are hungry, and all people are valued and made whole. Thank you for your commitment to seeing the kingdom of God expressed in your local community. You’ve got a desire to carry out the life and message of Jesus that has driven you to make many sacrifices — and you’ve found that Jesus is worth them all. Convoy of Hope wants to help as you lead your church in reaching out to your community and the world. That’s why we’ve created this guide. We want it to be a resource for you as you create a strategy to live out the life and message of Jesus. Every question, piece of insight, story, and tool presented here is meant to maximize the gifts already present in your church, so you can work together to introduce hope to people all over the world. The message of Jesus will never be confined to a church building, because Jesus is always working to bring hope where it is needed most. He invites us into this individualto-global, history-to-eternity, conformity-to-creativity, deepest-death-to-fullest-living kind of work. We know you’ve got everything it takes to do this. That’s why this guide exists, and we at Convoy of Hope can’t wait to share it with you. Begin with whatever you have right now. It will grow from here. Are you ready for this? Let’s go!

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Creating Your Strategy Elements of a Strategy

The following steps, exercises, and tools are meant to assist you in creating a strategy to carry the life and message of Jesus beyond the church building. A strategy begins with consistently observing four key areas: God’s heart; your church and its people (including yourself); the context in which the church operates (on a small and larger scale); and the resources at your disposal. These key areas will inform your strategy, which some say is simply doing the right thing at the right time. Our process for creating a strategic plan for compassion has four steps: Step 1: Gather & Review Step 2: Dream & Plan Step 3: Heart & Hand Step 4: Launch & Go Step 1: Gather & Review is all about identifying the people who will create the strategy with you and also assess your church’s spheres of influence. This is the most timeconsuming step, but it’s the step that will give your plan the best chance of creating effective ministries in your context. Step 2: Dream & Plan is exactly what it sounds like. In this step, you’ll begin to use the four key areas to generate new ideas and turn those ideas into action. Step 3: Heart & Hand helps you communicate to the church why they should care about compassion and introducing others to hope. During this part of the process, you’ll see how to engage both people’s hearts and hands with the vision – all to prepare your congregation for participating in the various elements of your compassion strategy. Finally, Step 4: Launch & Go is where all of the preparation is put to work! In this step, you roll out the greater vision 6

and strategy to the church and share with them the ways they can participate throughout the year. This is where the transformation happens. The Goal The goal for this guidebook is to give you helpful resources, insights, stories, and tools you can pick and choose from to create a strategic plan that works for you. As you follow these steps, know we’re cheering you on and look forward to hearing your stories! Connect with Convoy of Hope through the information provided in the back of this book.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Step 1: Gather & Review How well do you know your church? Step 1 is all about assessing exactly where the church is in this season and all the resources and people available to you. If you do thorough work in this step, you will be better positioned to maximize your resources and create a strategic compassion plan with longevity. Gather You can engage the world on your own. But, as a community of believers, outreach together can be even more transformative. Who are you going to invite to walk through this process? Keep an eye out to gather people who understand the heart and culture of the church and are ready to invest their abilities into making this vision a reality. Our recommendation is to start with a team of three to five people. Coaching Questions • Who comes to mind when you think of people who might be interested in assisting with either developing or executing your church’s strategy? • Who do you know from inside or outside of your church who’s currently creating or has created a strategy like this in the past? Would they be willing to answer questions or discuss ideas? Review The purpose of this step is to take an inventory of the areas that affect your strategy and your church. Reviewing is more effective (and fun) when done with a team, so read through this section and then gather a team to contribute to this process. When you meet with the team you have gathered, the first session should be used to explain the process and what the goals are for Step 1. If you have time, you could also do an initial review of the current outreach efforts at your 8

first meeting. If you’re a denominationally-affiliated church, share your denomination’s strategy and explain how it works. If you’re starting with a fresh, non-denominational strategy, then take the first session to discuss with the team the value of engaging beyond the church. The sessions following your initial meeting can be guided by the exercises and tools you choose to implement found throughout this guide. Coaching Questions First, let’s take a look at where the church is right now. (Church & Community Action Sheets in Toolkit.) 1. What do you believe is God’s heart for your church? 2. What is the vision and the mission of your church? Perhaps the Coaching Questions led to quick answers, or perhaps they require further discussion and thought. Either way, the Asset Mapping Exercise Part 1 will be especially helpful to complete in articulating how to act on the vision established for your church. It will be helpful to know about all of the resources and assets available to the church in building relationships and making an impact locally, nationally, and globally. No matter how big or small the church budget, there are many different kinds of resources you can leverage to help your church go beyond the building. From nearby public parks and playgrounds to connections made across the world, through the internet there really is a lot available to your team. Asset Mapping Exercise Part 1 is one way in which to start this conversation. Bring your team into this if you can because they may uncover resources you didn’t know you have! After you finish, keep your asset notes handy. You’ll need them as we move on to Step 2: Dream & Plan.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Asset Mapping Exercise Part 1 Identify Additional Resources When you think about resources, what comes to mind? Usually, people think of budgets or buildings. However, there’s more available to your church than just money in the bank. The following exercise is one way to think through the relationships, networks, and resources that are available to your church locally, nationally, and globally. You can focus on each level separately in generating ideas, or consider all local, national, and global assets at the same time. • Begin by giving each person in the group a stack of sticky notes or half sheets of paper. • Type up and project the questions below on the wall or copy them so each person can see. • Everyone should then answer a few of the questions below. The more specific the answers, the more helpful they will be! • Save these notes for Asset Mapping Exercise 2. Questions – Assets 1. What do you know something about? Also, list a few skills of other people at the church. 2. What are some physical things that are available for the church’s use? • Examples: laptops, chairs, parks close by, mountains natural landscapes, meeting spaces, downtown square, websites, businesses close to church, books. 3. What groups of people do you (church or individual) connect with in the community or around the country or world? Connections could be: • Informal (like a weekly frisbee group). • Formal (like a business association). 4. Where do members of the church volunteer, socialize, and work?

5. What institutions make decisions that affect the church? What other institutions have something in common with the church? 6. How does the church bring in income? 7. How is the church’s income currently being used? How is money spent and sent? The answers to these questions are resources, or assets. They can be physical assets, economic, associations, etc. You can incorporate all of them into your church compassion care strategy. We’ll show you how to do that in the Asset Mapping Exercise Part 2.

From The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts by Luther K. Snow. Rowman & Littlefield, Inc. JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Step 2: Dream & Plan Once you have gathered a team and mapped out the different assets available to you, it is the time begin Step 2. It is in this step that you will identify next steps and form an initial strategy. Begin this step with an action-oriented method of dreaming, by completing the Asset Mapping Exercise Part 2. When you recognize just how many assets you have and how many feasible ways there are to combine assets to do good, it is very motivating. A motivated dream, a strategy, and a plan of action are the right components for both a transforming and transformative community. If you complete the parts of the Asset Mapping Exercise Parts 1 & 2, you can then consider which of the actions you and your team are most motivated to complete. You could: • Go local by building relationships with people and staff at the local homeless shelter by funding and serving a meal once a month. • Go national by hosting a summit about an important national issue to build relationships across the community, or by taking a team to serve at a Convoy of Hope Community Event somewhere in the United States. • Go global by building a relationship with (and supporting) a global missionary and gather teams to travel to learn and pray for the countries in which they serve.

Asset Mapping Exercise Part 2 Next Steps & Action Clusters Once you have completed the Asset Mapping Exercise Part 1, you’ll have a more comprehensive perspective of the assets available your church. Part 2 is a creative way to reframe how you could use these assets, generating fresh 12

vision for how you could use resources you have right now to engage with the world. • Take out the sticky notes or half sheets from Part 1 , and stick them on a wall so everyone can see them. • Work together to think of actions you could take that connect two or more assets from the wall. • Don’t group assets by similarity, because it can prevent action. Sometimes the best ideas come from seemingly unrelated assets. • Cluster these assets together. One by one, have team members share the actions they thought of with the others in the group. Add assets to others’ clusters if they could connect. • Think of actions such as: organize, build, perform, demonstrate, grow, gather, develop, fix, campaign, celebrate, etc. • Give each cluster of assets a name based on the action you could take. • Post these clusters on the wall, and have team members stand by which action is most compelling to them. (Let them vote with their feet!) From The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts by Luther K. Snow. (Rowman & Littlefield, Inc.)

Coaching Questions 1. Based on the actions you and the team generate in Asset Mapping Exercise Part 2, which ones seem to have the most momentum? 2. What about these actions make them seem like a good fit for the next year? 3. How do these actions and goals relate to the overall vision of the church? How can they support the vision? 4. What are some ways you could build in progress check-ins over the next 6, 12, or 18 months to be sure this plan is on track?

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Step 2: Dream & Plan continued ...

Outline the Strategy With all of the potential actions in mind, it’s time to lay out the compassion strategy. Remember — a strategy is simply doing the right thing at the right time. You have the information you need about God’s vision and heart, your church and its people, the assets available to you and your context. Now you can work with your team to identify the priorities for the next year based off of this information. Perhaps you’ll start with local actions and giving, move to national-level goals, and then incorporate global outreach elements in your strategy. Or maybe you want to start small in all three areas and let it grow from there. Creating the strategic plan lays out the trajectory and priorities for the year, as well as the planned action steps required to move in that direction. You can find some sample strategies in the Toolkit. Work with your team to identify these strategic priorities, and then move on to Step 3.

Story from the Field “As I am writing this note, I’m also texting back-and-forth with a local refugee agency about donating some furniture to a newly-arrived family from Congo. I can’t recall an exact moment when my church began to be the hub of resource center for incoming refugees, but it naturally happened as we’ve been engaging in the community consistently in the past few years. Giving goods is a great first step to practicing the spirit of generosity. It’s only a first step, though, because these materials can be consumed, used, and then will be gone someday. There is another kind of giving that is much more valuable, lasting, and uplifting: your time. “Over the years, I’ve encountered many well-intended volunteers simply donating stuff to my church so we can help the stuff find new homes. These are helpful resources but are short-lived. What’s much more impactful for God’s kingdom is giving of our time. Why? Because it communicates that you value getting to know the people God loves. That’s how Jesus lived out the spirit of generosity, and look at the result! Life360 Intercultural Campus is simply doing what Jesus taught us through His actions. So consider being generous with your time and see what God does through you and your church!” Saehee Duran Lead Pastor | Life360 Intercultural Campus

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Step 3: Heart & Hand Once you’ve developed a strategic plan for the big actions over the next 6, 12, or 18 months, it’s time to lay the groundwork so your church is ready to hear about the vision you’re creating. It’s possible your church and those you lead don’t have a clear understanding of why engaging in compassion or outreach is important in the first place. It doesn’t mean they don’t care about others — it simply means they don’t know what they don’t know. They may not understand what Jesus says on the topic or that they are God’s modern-day followers with a mission to accomplish. That’s when the pastor and team will need to work together to transfer the excitement they feel into the the hearts of everyone else. Here are two possible ways to connect the vision with the hearts of the church: 1. Use components from the lessons provided in the Toolkit to teach people what the mission, life, and message of Jesus are about. 2. Try out the Gauging Culture chart in the Toolkit to accurately convey the current church culture to your leadership team and what it could potentially look like in terms of generosity and compassion. There are a lot of preconceived notions about what it means to serve, and sharing the vision and addressing these notions can help lower barriers to participation. The four lessons/sermons included in the Toolkit outline the core messages of Jesus, including the why, who, and how of the mission, as well as the results that come by getting involved. Capturing a congregation’s heart is the spiritual connection that produces a physical response. Without it, you’ll never get your people to engage and respond. That said, it’s wise to think through the best ways you and your congregation can serve others. Your goal is to inspire 16

people to respond both physically and financially. When people give their time and energy to serve, help, or go on a trip, it makes the mission, life, and message of Jesus personal. Think through specific opportunities for people to physically serve, based on the actions and strategy the team created. Perhaps some of them can come from the Asset Mapping Exercise 2 ideas. The idea is simply to encourage forward movement, however large or small the steps might seem. Here are several ideas to get you started: • Host a global or local impact summit at your church for the community, and invite local leaders. • Invite life group leaders to host missionaries at their life groups a few times a year, and assist in making the connections. • Find people to help lead a related documentary screening and discussion about an important issue on a Friday night. • Plan a “Global Impact Sunday” or “Missions Sunday” every year. • Announce a One Day to Feed the World offering for which people give one day’s pay once a year to support Convoy of Hope’s work. • Sponsor or participate in a Convoy of Hope Community Event. • Invite your congregation to make a regular monthly giving commitment. They set the amount and then can be faithful in it. • Support one or more missionaries financially, and ask them to share at your church.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Step 3: Heart & Hand continued ...

• Build relationships at a local homeless shelter or youth center by eating dinner with attendees once a month. • Volunteer at a women’s shelter or pregnancy care center. • Include a giving incentive option for the kids ministry, where kids could earn a certain number of points for the church to donate on their behalf. • Clean up a local park. • Invite the congregation to commit to feeding one child each month for $10 per month through feedONE. • Read to kids in an after-school program. • Connect with a local university or program that hosts international students to build cross-cultural connections. What better way for people to get the vision than to step out of the norm, try something new, and experience the joy that comes through generosity. When you engage their hearts and their hands on a consistent basis, it can be a catalyst for transformation toward a new culture that embodies who they were created to be. In Step 3, you want to make sure your launch efforts cast the vision for why the mission matters. If every person is born with abilities of some kind, gifts, and the ability to pray, then every person is capable of contributing something. It all starts with the heart. When an individual’s heart engages, they will respond with what’s in their hands. In Step 4, we’ll tie everything together, talk about your launch strategy, and discuss how to Launch & Go!

Coaching Questions 1. What cultural beliefs, trends, or values might prevent people in your church from being generous with their time or resources? • If they are too busy, what are they working toward? What do they make time for? 2. How could you further expand your network to identify potential partners?

Giving hope and encouragement to people is not expensive, but neither is it free.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Step 4: Launch & Go Now is the time to fine-tune how youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to roll out this strategy to the church and all of the opportunities it entails. What works for one church may not work at another, but what matters is that the church has the opportunity to connect with the mission and message of Jesus. In the Toolkit, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the Communication One-Sheet to assist in figuring out how the team can communicate through various channels at the church, including service time, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s church, youth service, online, and other areas. By integrating the message in every area of the church, your church will experience the message of the mission through many different sources. This reminds them of the opportunities they have to go. Generosity is a matter of the heart, and it will likely take time and repetition for some to grasp the significance of serving locally, nationally, and globally. The Culture Gauge rubric chart in the Toolkit can help you and the leadership team measure cultural progress at the church, as it helps to create a picture of what your church is like as the members progress from where they are today to where you envision they could be.

Generosity at Work: Tualatin, Oregon “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17, NIV) David Snyder gave his best. This young boy was asked to pray — along with all the others at Horizon Community Church — about a miracle offering. An usher came up to me the morning of the offering with something in an envelope we’d never seen before in an offering — a baseball card. David’s dad told me shortly after that it was worth $200. I was so moved, I held the card up in the second service before their offering and shared the story. After that service, someone came up to me and said, “Do you still have that card?” I pulled it out of my pocket and showed it to him. He said, “I would like to buy that card for $1,000.” I sold it on the spot. He handed me a check and I handed the card to him. The man took it, held it in his hands, looked at me intently and said, “Now I would like you to give this card back to the young man.” I went to little David a few minutes later and told him someone had purchased the card for $1,000. He was absolutely thrilled. I pulled out the card and said, “That man also asked me to give the card back to you.” I knelt down and said to the young boy, “Isn’t that incredible? You gave your best card worth $200 and God turned it into $1,000. Then, He gave the card back to you. God is amazing!” I will never forget David’s smile and excitement. He had just learned something that no one could ever take away from him. God used his gift to motivate others. David had given his best and, in the end, had lost nothing. Horizon Community Church is a place where we challenge people to bring their best gift to God. Giving beyond Horizon has always been a priority to us. ...continued JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Generosity at Work: Tualatin, Oregon continued ...

I remember being in Cambodia years ago and seeing the impact of another church. They had built seven churches and a regional office for the leaders there. God moved on my heart. I looked around and saw such a wounded nation that Pol Pot had taken the heart out of with his killing fields. The happiest people there were the ones who had been impacted by the Christian schools and churches we were visiting. I remember having this thought: “I think if we give big here, I would feel good about it when I lay my head down in my grave some day.” On the flight home from that trip, God put a radical thought in my heart: give $1 million to the mission of God in Cambodia in the next decade. I really felt it strongly. I remember saying to the Lord in prayer, “I was there. I saw the need of the children and the need for churches, but the people of Horizon didn’t. How are they going to receive a challenge to give $1 million to this nation when they weren’t personally moved in that setting like I was?” But I prayed, and then I shared my burden with the church. It’s hard to explain, but in five minutes of sharing, the Holy Spirit transferred what he had put on my heart as a pastor to those of my congregation. It has been just over eight years since that day. To date, we have built 10 churches, purchased five acres, built three homes to rescue young women from sex-trafficking, helped with a major gift to purchase land for Teen Challenge Cambodia and sent 11 teams for medical missions and outreach to Cambodia. That $1 million goal seemed so huge in the moment God put it in my heart, but just seven years later Horizon has given more than $1.65 million to show the love of God and share Jesus with the precious children and families in Cambodia. That is just unbelievable to me! I also remember early into that goal season I told the people, “We need millions to build out the dreams the Lord has given us for his church and Christian school here 22

at Horizon. We don’t have the ability to get that kind of money, so here’s what we’re going to do: we’re going to give to build churches and schools in other nations. We can raise hundreds of thousands to help them and we can get that done. We’re going to help those who can’t get it done where they are and trust God to help us get it done where we are. We’re going to give to build the schools that they can’t afford there and trust God to build the church and school that we can’t afford here. We will build it for them and trust God to build it for us!” We have helped in other nations and locations in America too — feeding the poor and helping the destitute (through our strategic partner, Convoy of Hope), helping to build schools and building churches and homes to rescue the enslaved and those in bondage. At Horizon, we have an amazing joy to build God’s Kingdom beyond us. As a result, we’re seeing Him build His kingdom here, too. It’s too long to write about here, but we’ve already seen many miracles, and we’re on the verge of more amazing miracles. I can see it by faith. God is doing what we can’t do for ourselves as we do what we can for others in need. I hope to tell you the rest of our story down the road. But please know this for certain: Horizon Community Church has learned — just like young David Snyder did with his sports card — when you give your best to God for His purposes, He makes sure you see His goodness coming right back to you for His purposes! We’ve experienced the joy of radical generosity and as a result can say along with young David in this story and King David in the Bible, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from our own hand we have given to You.” (1 Chronicles 29:14, NIV) Stan Russell Senior Pastor | Horizon Community Church Tualatin, Oregon

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Post-Launch The goal isn’t to set up a one-time, short-term compassion strategy that has an expiration date. Living compassionately is more than just a plan; it’s a lifestyle and a culture. It’s working alongside Jesus to bring hope to people close to home and across the world. You may have written down how you were going to check in about the progress for the plan. If you haven’t, consider adding that to your calendar before getting too far. As the size, culture, environment, and capacity of your church changes, allow your plan to change with it. In the Toolkit, you’ll find a Strategic Planning Opportunity Scorecard to give you an example of how you can filter new opportunities according to these changes as the months go on. All of the tools and templates in this kit are resources you can use time and again to keep strategizing how your church can best reach out and serve others locally, nationally, and globally. Toolkit: Strategic Planning Opportunity Scorecard Opportunities and requests will continue to come even after you’ve created your service strategy. It can be difficult to know which opportunities are truly valuable open doors and which are distractions. To help create a system for filtering these opportunities, you’ll see an example of a Strategic Planning Opportunity Scorecard in the back of this resource that can help you assess opportunities or ideas as they come and to see if they fall in line with the church strategy and vision. Included are criteria you can use as you pray about and discuss opportunities with the team to figure out what is most important to your church in terms of how you engage. Of course, feel free to write in your own. By using a scorecard, you can compare opportunities based on the same criteria. This helps you and your team filter the many opportunities and needs that come your way.

Strategic Plan Checklist Below is a checklist demonstrating how the tools in this guide fit within the strategy-creating process. You can pick and choose the tools that work best for you and your church. Step 1: Gather & Review oGATHER a team. oREVIEW your church. oChurch Profile Action Sheets. oAsset Mapping Exercise Part 1. oREVIEW your community. oCommunity Profile Action Sheets. Step 2: Dream & Plan oDREAM using the Asset Mapping Exercise Part 2. oPLAN which action steps to implement over the next 12 months and why. oCreate a strategy visual (see examples in Toolkit) based off of actions. oSet schedule for follow-up and check-ins along the way. oBegin planning the engagement actions (contact partners, set dates, etc.). oDisaster Preparedness Action Sheets. (if applicable) Step 3: Heart & Hand oReach HEART & HAND through Identifying communication methods and opportunities for participation in the vision. oComplete the Communication One-Sheet to integrate communication across all ministries. Step 4: Launch & Go oLAUNCH & GO by executing on the plan. oPotential check-in system for progress. Use the Culture Gauge chart. oUse the Strategic Planning Opportunity Scorecard to filter new opportunities as they come. oIn 12 months, complete process again to review church and community, then adjust strategy.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Toolkit Toolkit Overview

The purpose of the Toolkit is to provide you with ideas for sermons, action sheets, templates, and systems to test at your church. To see how they could fit within the strategy process, see the checklist on page 25. Simply choose two or three tools that could work for you right now, and reference these tools later as your strategy grows and adapts. You can obtain printable versions of these sheets, as well as videos and other resources, with the link and code provided on the card in the Toolkit. Here is what you will find in the Toolkit: • Teaching Generosity & Service Lessons – We’ve included the content and outlines for four teachings, which can be used for sermons, classes, or small groups. They include relevant stories, passages from the Bible, key thoughts, and discussion questions. • Church Profile Action Sheets – These sheets will serve as an inventory and reference of information about your church, such as member demographics, mission, and vision. • Community Profile Action Sheets – Used to highlight key individuals and entities in your local community, this resource can help identify ways to grow your church’s capacity and network. It can also help guide you to information about your community that will increase understanding of the church’s context. • Disaster Preparedness Agenda Sheet – Use this sheet to think through how you can best respond to a disaster before it occurs.

• Communication One-Sheet – This tool assists you in thinking through how to communicate the strategic vision in each of the ministry areas in your church to create plan a fully integrated launch. • Gauging Culture – Keep the conversation going with your team about the culture of the church with this resource. It’s a way to show what generosity and service look and sound like in your context and is a way to gauge cultural progress over time. • Sample Strategies – A couple of examples of how to visualize the strategy for your team so all can see how the parts work together. • Strategic Planning Opportunity Scorecard – This sheet is one way to help you form a system that filters new opportunities as they come, post-launch. You and the team identify your church’s priorities and, through prayer and discussion, use this sheet to compare opportunities and needs to identify the best courses of action.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Teaching Generosity & Service Teaching from the Field: Generosity Matters We asked Pastor Melissa J. Alfaro from Texas how she teaches on God’s promises related to giving, to provide an example to spark ideas. Here’s how she teaches about generosity and why generosity matters. Introduction: Reflect on the following and finish these statements: • “If I had more time, I would …” • “If I had more energy, I would …” • “If I had more money, I would …” Time, energy, and money are three resources in highdemand and short supply. In fact, when confronted with an opportunity to give, serve, contribute, encourage, and be generous, many respond with, “I don’t have enough time! If only I weren’t so tired, I’d be more involved. I’m barely making ends meet, so how can I meet someone else’s needs?” These resources can be at the root of many of the excuses people use to not fully engage in God’s work on Earth. However, the truth is we are all called to make a difference in our church, community, and in the world through generosity whether we feel we have a shortage of these resources or not. There are opportunities to express generosity all around us on a daily basis. If we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and are willing to offer what we have, God will use that to reflect Christ’s love to others. Transition: The word “give” is referred to more than 2,000 times in the Bible. That’s even more than the words “faith,” “hope,” and “love” combined! This reminds us that giving and generosity are important to God and should matter to us as His church. I. Generosity reflects the generous heart of our Heavenly Father. As believers, we have been recipients of God’s generosity. 28

• “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son …” (John 3:16) • “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV) • Other Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 1:3-6 God gave us His one and only Son to tear down the wall of sin and shame through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Therefore, we give generously because God first gave to us sacrificially. God’s generosity is our supreme model, and His sacrifice should compel us to emulate His example by living a generous life. II. Generosity reflects a Christ-like character. Our generosity reflects our Christ-like character and spiritual maturity. As we grow in our walk with the Lord, the act of being generous to others is not just simply an act of obedience. It becomes a lifestyle of surrender. We don’t operate in fear or worry about whether we will have enough, be enough, or do enough. Why not? Because we offer what we have in our hands in faith to God trusting He will multiply the results. A. We honor God through our generosity • “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 4:31, NIV) We do not turn a blind eye but rather seize the moments in our day to respond to the needs around us. If God allowed us to observe the need, then He has equipped us with the right words, resources, experiences, relationships, and/or strength to meet it head on. B. We put our faith in action through our generosity. • “And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.” Philemon 1:6, NLT) The moment we put our faith in action by being generous, we become the hands and feet of Jesus and make even the unbeliever a recipient of God’s provision. JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

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III. Generosity is a form of worship. • “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:12, NIV) • “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all hehas done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (Romans 12:1, NLT) “To give” in the Greek is “paristemi,” which means “to present, to bring near, to bring into one’s fellowship or intimacy, to place a person or a thing at one’s disposal.” When we give to God we draw close to Him. Generosity demonstrates humility as we offer every part of our life unto God for his service — including our time and money. Our generosity also demonstrates that we trust in God to provide for our own needs as we partner with Him to meet the needs of others. IV. Generosity is a great evangelistic tool. Generosity mobilizes the church to be God’s hands and feet both inside and outside the four walls of the church. Generosity allows the church to engage in Jesus’ mission while meeting the holistic needs of the lost and hurting, and ultimately leading them into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. • Matthew 5:14-16, MSG • Other Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 9:10-14 V. Generosity is a conditional promise attached to blessing. God provides us with a conditional promise — if we are generous, then we will have the promise of protection, provision, and purpose over our lives. A. Promise of Protection • “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.

The Lord protects and preserves them — they are counted among the blessed in the land — he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.” (Psalm 41:1-3, NIV) B. Promise of Provision • “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV) • “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.” (Psalm 112:5, NIV) • “Generous people will be blessed, because they share their food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9, NCV)

C. Promise of Purpose • “Give freely to the poor person, and do not wish that you didn’t have to give. The Lord your God will bless your work and everything you touch.” (Deuteronomy 15:10, NIV) • “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, NIV)

VI. Generosity leads to influence here on earth and in eternity. When we are generous, we influence future generations to live a generous life. Our generosity also allows us to store up treasure in heaven. • “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever They will have influence and honor.” (Psalm 112:9, NLT)

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Teaching from the Field: Generosity Matters continued ... • “A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children.” (Proverbs 13:22, AMP) • “… command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19, NIV)

Conclusion: Generosity starts with being intentional with your time, energy, and resources. Begin each day by asking the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive to the needs around you. Determine what resources and abilities the Lord has equipped you with to serve the needs of others. Make yourself available rather than waiting to be called upon. Be intentional about making time to be around those who are in need and surround yourself with other generous people who can spur you on to good deeds. Be ready to seize the moment to reflect the love of our generous God as the need arise. When generosity matters to you, it can go beyond meeting the holistic needs of a hurting person. It could provide a spiritual transformation that changes the course of their life and the lives of those in their family for all eternity. Generosity matters. Melissa J. Alfaro Pastor | El Tabernaculo AG Facebook: Melissa J. Alfaro Instagram: @pastor_melissa

Lesson / Sermon 1: Why Does Participation Matter? Opening Story On December 7, 1988, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake devastated a northwest section of Armenia, killing an estimated 30,000 people. In one small town, a father rushed 32

to his son Armand’s school to find the building had been leveled. There were no signs of life. But he had no thought of turning back. He had often told his son, “No matter what, I’ll always be there for you when you need me.” Even though the situation appeared hopeless, the father began feverishly removing rubble from where he believed Armand’s classroom had been. Other parents cried hopelessly “My son!” or “My daughter!” Some people told the father, “Go home and mourn. It’s too late. You know they are dead. There’s nothing you can do.” To which the father replied, “I made my son a promise that I’d be there for him anytime he needed me. I must keep digging.” Armand’s father worked alone tirelessly; no one volunteered to help him. He refused to quit until he knew whether his son was dead or alive. With strength and endurance beyond himself, the faithful, loving father continued to dig for 8 hours … 12 hours … 24 hours … 36 hours. Then, after 38 hours, he heaved away a heavy piece of rubble and heard voices. “Armand!” he screamed. A child’s voice responded. “Dad! It’s me, Armand! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you’d save me, and when you saved me they’d be saved, too. You promised you’d always be there for me! You did it, dad!” Moments later, Armand’s father helped him and 13 other frightened, hungry, and thirsty children climb out of the debris. When the building collapsed, these children had been spared in a tent-like pocket within the rubble. When the townspeople praised Armand’s father, his explanation was simple, “I promised my son, ‘No matter what, I will be there for you!’”¹ Key Thought The Father will never stop looking for his lost children. From the moment sin entered the world in Genesis 3, God the Father launched the greatest disaster response in history. 1 Tom Vartabedian, “Vartabedian: Are you going to help me?” Armenia Weekly, Accessed Dec. 13, 2018, https://armenianweekly.com/2011/06/21/vartabedian-are-you-going-to-help-me/ JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

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It was a response that began with the greatest step of all; the arrival of his Son. Jesus’ sacrifice and our surrender — by grace through faith alone — was the life line we needed to rise above sin and its effects on our soul. While Jesus finished the eternal work of salvation, the daily work of reconciliation continues with us as we, His disciples, intentionally show and share the love of Jesus Christ . The Word A simple search of the phrase, “famous last words” on the internet brings up thousands of profound, funny, and even sad final statements made by people just before they left this life. Some of these statements tend to be far more insightful because the person is aware of their impending departure. Typically, the words are given as a strong warning to be heeded or an instruction to be followed. With that in mind, consider the famous last words of Jesus to his disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved …” (Mark 16:15-16, NIV) “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.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV) Jesus Said Go! Jesus gives his disciples a mandate — not just a suggestion, but a passionate and powerful instruction to go declare the message of Jesus to the world and make disciples. Notice Jesus didn’t tell them to wait, stay, sit, or even pray. As it relates to searching for the lost, Jesus gave us a clear “no excuses” mandate to fully engage God’s rescue mission to seek and save the lost. One hindrance we face is the understanding of this commonly used word “missions.” Isn’t that just a church program? Is it just something that happens in a poor 34

country? Aren’t there people who do that full time? Why should I do anything if I’m not a missionary? Those are all great questions that shed light on the confusion. Let’s reconsider it from a biblical view. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ today, then technically you are a disciple, and you engaged with the life and message of Jesus Christ. When Jesus presented the mission to his disciples, it was a command for all disciples past, present, and future to help everyone else encounter Jesus in the exact same way. The mission is to engage with Christ’s message in a way that changes us, then to go and share that message with others so that they can find eternal hope, too. Is the mission something we’re a part of everyday? Yes. Is the mission a strategy for the church and other believers? Yes. Is the mission supposed to be a plan and a lifestyle? Yes, yes, yes! Discussion Questions 1. What are some of the biggest hindrances people face in sharing the truth of Jesus? 2. What has shifted in your life since you became a follower of Jesus? 3. Who has influenced your life in your pursuit of truth? Go Everywhere! As we look deeper into the life and message of Jesus, we quickly see that he never asks us to do anything the he hasn’t already demonstrated. His leadership style wasn’t “do as I say.” It was truly a “do as I do” approach. Here’s one example Jesus gives us: “So he (Jesus) left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.” (John 4:3-6, NIV)

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

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On the surface, this just looks like insignificant travel from one place to another. But when we dig deeper, there’s a cultural context that makes this example even more interesting. When traveling between Judea and Galilee, most Jews would take a longer route around the territory of Samaria because of they hated the Samaritans. Only when they were in a hurry would they consider the shortcut through Samaria. Nothing about this story demonstrates that Jesus was in hurry. He seldom was. Jesus intentionally went to a place others avoided. This example, along with many others in scripture, shows there are no physical limits to where the Father wants to extend his restoration response — no place is off limits. Discussion Questions 1. Where are some places (locally, nationally, or globally) people tend to avoid? 2. What are some of the reasons people avoid these places? 3. What would the consequences be if you were to intentionally reach out in these places? Go to Everyone! Not only would Jesus go where others wouldn’t, he also interacted with people others avoided. For example, consider the person he encountered at the well while traveling through Samaria. “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)” (John 4:7-9, NIV) Based on the customs of the day, both Jesus and the woman did a few uncommon things. For the woman, there was a different well that women normally drew water from later in the cool of the day. Based on her past (John 4:18), it was clear she was a social outcast and was avoiding contact with the other women. 36

For Jesus, he was publically engaging with a woman from a people group others held in contempt who also had an unsavory past. All of this was considered highly unacceptable for someone in his position. While this struck others as unusual, this was totally common for Jesus. His life and message were clear — he had come to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) without exception. As followers of Jesus, that message has to become our message and his life must be reflected in our lives. He must increase, and we must decrease (John 3:30). We have a mission to go declare Jesus’ message everywhere and to everyone so the lost can be found and hope can be restored. Will you accept the mission? Discussion Questions 1. What people groups often get ignored or rejected in our culture due to stigma, past history, prejudice, or preconceived opinions? 2. What are some simple ways these people could be shown love, respect, and hope? 3. Using Armand’s story from the beginning, how does his father’s relentless actions reflect the heart of our heavenly Father? How do you think the Father feels about the lost, hurting, poor, suffering, and hopeless?

Lesson / Sermon 2: Mobilizing the Church – Who Should be Involved? Opening Story In late December 2004, 10-year-old English schoolgirl Tilly Smith was vacationing on the coast of Phuket, Thailand, with her parents and younger sister. “It was like paradise — white sand and blue turquoise sea,” Tilly remembered. On the morning of December 26, the family went out for a long walk on the beach. However, Tilly noticed something was very different about the ocean that day. “The water was really, really frothy. It wasn’t calm and it wasn’t going in and then out,” she said. “It was just coming in and in and in.” JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

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Seeing it reminded her of a lesson on tsunamis she’d had in school just a few weeks before. Tilly began to get hysterical as she desperately tried to convince her parents to return to the hotel. At first Tilly’s parents ignored her. She persisted. “There is gonna be a tsunami, listen to me,” she begged. Finally, she convinced her father to turn back to their hotel, where he approached a security guard stationed on the beach. He said, “Look, you probably think I’m absolutely bonkers, but my daughter’s completely convinced there’s gonna be a tsunami.” Thankfully, the security guard listened and began warning visitors. Dozens of tourists streamed toward the hotel. As they did, Tilly’s mother noticed the first surge of the massive tsunami approaching the shore. A wall of water soon rushed into the beachside community. People ran screaming, frightened, and desperate to find higher ground. The Smiths made it to the second floor of their hotel just as the tsunami smashed into the building, crushing everything in its path. The family watched the devastation from a balcony. The giant tsunami killed more than 10,000 people in Thailand. The total death toll was more than 250,000 people. There were several injuries at the Smith’s hotel, but not one single fatality. More than 100 people on the beach were saved because Tilly wasn’t afraid to take the knowledge she had and speak up so everyone had a chance to be saved. If a 10-year-old girl can save people from a tsunami with basic information, what can you do with the hope of Jesus?² Key Thought Often we hear about a troubling situation and think, “Someone will do something. I’m sure somebody will respond.” That may be true, but what if that somebody is supposed to be you? When the life and message of Jesus 2 Jessica Hornig, “From Fear to Survival: Knowledge is Key.” ABC News. Accessed on Dec. 13, 2018: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/fear-survival-knowledge-key/story?id=6691940

truly changes our hearts, we should reflect his life and take his message to everyone who is physically and spiritually suffering in response. It’s not just “somebody’s” mission — it’s our mission. God wants to use us to distribute hope to a world that desperately needs it. The Word Jesus takes another opportunity in the New Testament to drive home the importance of who should go and declare his message for generations to come. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Matthew 1:8, NIV) Notice a word that’s repeated three times in this verse; that word is you ! As his disciples, our lives are intended to be a witness of Jesus’ love, mercy, and hope. Through us, the entire world is supposed to see the life and message of Jesus. It’s in the simple words we speak, the way we go about our work and life, and also in how we extend our reach around the world. Then as a New Testament body of believers, Christians come together to take our individual influence and collectively use it in our relationships, our schools, our communities, our country, and the world. While it takes everyone to see this fully happen, it starts with you deciding this mission is for you! You Are Chosen The first step is acknowledging God wants to use you. As a modern-day disciple of Jesus Christ, he has chosen you to engage your world and share his message (John 15:16). It’s easy to list every excuse for which God could never use us. In doing so, though, we forget God can use anyone. Many of the heroes in the Bible weren’t qualified by human standards. It’s almost like God intentionally chooses those who feel unworthy to be used by him. God wants to take our submitted lives and display them as trophies JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

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of his grace for a hurting and suffering world to see. We surrender, and then he works through us. I love how Jesus explains this to some of the first disciples. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19, ESV) But don’t miss this phrase, “I will make you …” Who transforms us, redeems us, and makes us worthy? It’s Jesus! He takes our lives, all our past failures, guilt, and shame and makes us into disciples with a world-changing mission — your mission. You are chosen and God is calling you to get involved. Discussion Questions 1. Have you felt unworthy to be used by God in the past? Why? 2. How does being forgiven, redeemed, and chosen by God for such an important mission make you feel? You Are Empowered If you’ve ever used a screwdriver or a drill, you probably already know there’s a big difference. While both can get the same job done, the drill is capable of doing so much more because it’s connected to a powerful source. Often we fail to accept the mission because we look at ourselves and think, “I can’t do this. What do I have to offer? I don’t have what it takes!” And, to be honest, we aren’t entirely wrong. We aren’t capable of doing nearly as much on our own as when we place ourselves in God’s hands and allow him to empower us beyond our weaknesses and fears. Soon after Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow him and become “fishers of men,” Jesus went throughout the region, demonstrating his life and message in powerful ways. What did it look like to be a “fisher of men?” Teaching, proclaiming, and healing. Throughout the time he spent with his disciples before his crucifixion, Jesus was training them to live out his life and message in the same way. 40

In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised he would give us power through the Holy Spirit. We’re promised the Holy Spirit will give us the right words to speak at just the right time (Luke 12:12), remind us of Jesus’ message of truth (John 14:26), give us guidance and direction (John 16:13), and that he will live in us and always be with us (John 14:17). These are just a few examples of the Holy Spirit’s power at work in and through you. It’s the same power that was at work in Jesus after he called Peter and Andrew. With this type of power on our side, who or what could possibly stop us or the church from taking the life changing message of Jesus to the world? When God’s mission, your calling, and his power come together, nothing can stop what God wants to do. All he needs are empowered people who are willing to make a difference. Discussion Questions 1. What has been your biggest fear about sharing the message of Jesus? 2. What has God’s power looked like in your life? You Must Go! Hulda Buntain, missionary to India, said, “Doing does not count unless love motivates it.” Most Christians also know God has a mission to bring his message of hope and life to the entire world. We even know someone has to deliver the message. But, for some reason, we assume someone else will do it. Maybe you assume the pastor will take care of it or that a professional will make it happen. While the mission does involve pastors and ministers, it also includes you because you have a mission. Remember, missions is all about you engaging the life and message of Jesus Christ and then making a way for others to do the same. Doing compassionate work isn’t just a strategy or a plan, although it’s wise to have both to be effective. At the core, it’s a lifestyle we live every single day of our lives. It’s us owning the personal responsibility to GO in love and demonstrate the life and message of Jesus.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

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Again, if 10-year-old Tilly Smith could take what she knew and save the lives of more than 100 people, how much more could the church accomplish when hundreds of people like yourself come together around the life and message of Jesus Christ? What if we banded together, determined not to let anything get in the way of sharing that hope with everyone locally, nationally, and globally? You have the power of the Holy Spirit available and working in you to make it happen. It doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher, construction worker, nurse, factory worker, or stayat-home parent — God has called you to a mission and he’s empowered you to see people saved and changed, all for the glory of God! Discussion Questions 1. Be honest. Have you ever thought “outreach” or “compassion care” was for others but not for you? Why? What have you learned today? 2. Dream for a minute. What could you, other believers and your church do if you worked together and believed that the power of God was working through you?

Lesson / Sermon 3: What Does Generosity Have to Do with Hearts? Opening Story Hattie May Wiatt stood near a small Philadelphia church one Sunday morning, crying. She had been turned away because it was too crowded that day. “I can’t go to Sunday School,” she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing this little girl in such distress, the pastor took her by the hand, walked her inside, and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. Overjoyed that they’d found place for her, Hattie went to bed that night thinking of all the other children who had no place to worship Jesus. Two years later, Hattie became sick and died in the tenement building where she lived. Her parents called for 42

the kind-hearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her little body was being moved, they found a worn and crumpled purse. It looked like it had been rummaged from a trash dump. Inside were 57 cents and a note scribbled in a child’s handwriting, which read, “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.” For two years, she had saved this offering of love. In 1884, this was a huge amount of money for such a poor little girl to save. The pastor cried as he read the note and knew instantly what he had to do. Carrying the note and the cracked red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of Hattie’s love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. A newspaper learned of the story and published it. The story was read by a realtor who offered the church a parcel of land worth many thousands of dollars. When the church explained they couldn’t afford such a payment, he offered it to them for exactly 57 cents. Church members also made large donations, and checks came in from far and wide. Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000 — a huge sum for that time. Today, that 57 cent investment continues to bring tremendous returns. If you’re ever in Philadelphia, you’ll find Temple Baptist Church and Temple University still making a difference in the world because of an unselfish and sacrificial investment made by a little girl who did her part.³ Key Thought Great stories begin with radical obedience, sacrifice, and generosity. You never hear a great story that starts with, “There was once a guy who was doing nothing, living selfishly, and thinking only of himself who made an eternal difference in the lives of countless people.” That’s not how it works! 3 Temple University. “The History of Fifty-Seven Cents”. Temple University. Accessed on Dec. 13, 2018: https://library.temple.edu/collections/scrc/hattie JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

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Inspirational stories are ones like those of Hattie May Wiatt, Tilly Smith, or Armand’s dad. People whose hearts were moved to action in ways that didn’t seem normal to others, yet became part of a story worth telling. When we accept the mission to share the message of Jesus, we are helping to write the story that others will tell for generations to come. Are you willing to invest sacrificially into that story? The Word In the Gospel of Luke, we find one amazing example of what radical obedience, sacrifice, and generosity. It’s a story about a widow who was radically poor but refused to view herself, her commitment to God, or her opportunity to give in that light. “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’” (Luke 21:1-4, NIV) Jesus praised this woman not only for her giving, but for the heart with which she gave. Her giving wasn’t done begrudgingly, but as a humble act of obedience. It was rooted in trust, love, and a desire to serve God with everything. Generosity is the result of a heart that has chosen obedience and sacrifice as normal response to loving their neighbor with the message of Jesus Christ. Two ways we get started on our mission to share the message of Jesus with the world are through physical and financial investment. Give Yourself When we think of generosity and compassionate living, we often begin with the thought of giving money or making a pledge. Those are both good and necessary things, but are not really the starting place. The starting place is your heart. It’s often much easier to give money to a cause than it is to give ourselves to the cause. When we truly believe that we 44

have a mission to go, we must start by becoming physically involved. The widow in the story was powerless in her society. She was poor and had no one to care for or defend her. In her destitution, she gave all she had to live on . The coins she gave were two lepta, which was the amount given out each day by the temple to those living in poverty. It provided them with just enough money to buy a day’s bread. Since she gave her lepta that day, she likely did not eat, unless God provided for her through work or somone’s generosity. She was demonstrating both radical generosity and trust, as she volunteered to place herself in complete dependence upon God as she gave. The amount of her gift mattered only because it demonstrated her great faith in God. Jesus honored her for her heart, which recognized who God is: her trusted provider and Lord and one worthy of all she had to give. What we are willing and unwilling to sacrifice can tell us a lot about how we view God and how we view ourselves. It can show us where we place our trust, our identity, and our hope. What would your life look like if you surrendered everything and said, “Yes, I will go! I will physically invest my life in this mission! No excuses, just surrender.” That doesn’t mean you have to quit your job or family. It simply means that you begin to obediently, sacrificially, and joyfully allow God to be the first to inform your identity, your calendar, and your resources. It may start as simply as scheduling time to use your skills or labor at a local nonprofit or taking time to get to know someone in your neighborhood. It could mean traveling to a city or state nearby to serve at an outreach event or assist in the response to a disaster. It might be a service trip to another country to work, pray, encourage, and learn from the people there.

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When the life and message of Jesus inform your calendar, your heart will be regularly moved toward the people Jesus loves. The mission is local, national, and global. Start local and expand from there. With the power of the Holy Spirit on your side, nothing is going to stop you from giving yourself physically to his work. Discussion Questions 1. When was a time you found something difficult to sacrifice? Did you sacrifice it in the end? What was the result? 2. What do you think you are unwilling to sacrifice at this point in your life? What does that show you about how you view God or yourself? 3. What do you think it would it look like if God arranged your calendar this week? How would your life be different (if it would be)? Give Financially While we start by letting the life and message of Jesus capture our heart and move us to physical involvement, it must also move us beyond that. Remember, great stories begin with radical obedience, sacrifice, and generosity. While generosity doesn’t have to start with our wallet, an obedient and surrendered heart will eventually allow the spirit of generosity to reach every facet of life, including finances. Jesus connected the dots for us when he talked about how to wisely invest. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV) Throughout the Bible, we see that God is very concerned about our hearts. And the state of our hearts is reflected by the ways in which we invest our time, money, and other resources. What we consider valuable is reflected by how 46

we invest these things. Each person is incredibly valuable to God, and his call to us to make disciples reflects his priority. With that in mind, ask yourself this question, “How valuable is the person who is suffering in physical and spiritual poverty? What would you be willing to invest because you see the value of each person hearing the message of Jesus?” Where you invest your resources, your heart will naturally be drawn. If you want your heart to be drawn to the mission of bringing the hope of Jesus to the poor and suffering, then invest your finances there. It will naturally turn your heart toward what touches God’s heart. Serving the vulnerable has a cost. Facilitating an outreach event in your city has a cost. Feeding a hungry child in a desperate country has a cost.Empowering a woman with job skills and start-up funds has a cost. Sending a missionary to another country has a cost. Building a church in an impoverished village has a cost. Despite all of that, are you and I willing to take even a little bit of what we have and invest it so others can have the hope that we’ve experienced? We should always begin by returning the tithe to God through our local church. Then we can obediently, sacrificially, and generously invest something that God can use to empower others around the world the hear the message of Jesus. Perhaps our sacrifice won’t look like giving away every cent we have, like the poor widow in Luke 21. Jesus honored her because of her heart’s desire to honor God and the extravagance of her faith. Many times in the Bible, we’re told God pours blessing back into our lives as we are generous toward others. We don’t give generously to be given more, though. We give generously because we’ve already experienced God’s generosity toward us. The widow’s response to her experience with God was generosity. Whatever we give generously to God, he takes the little and turns it into much.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Lesson / Sermon 3 Continued...

Discussion Questions 1. If God set your budget this month, what changes do you think he would make (if any)? 2. What thoughts typically stop you from giving to others? 3. What could your church do together if everyone generously invested as God directed them? Big or small, what could you do together that you can’t apart?

Lesson / Sermon 4: What Are the Results of Sowing? Opening Story It was a devastating day in 1969 that set in motion a result nobody could have imagined. As a father and mother drove to a business meeting, they were struck head on by a drunk driver. The father was killed instantly, and the mother was seriously injured. Their four children were at home with a babysitter. As a crowd gathered outside the family’s home, the police officer brought the siblings onto the porch and explained the situation. The children would be taken to the police station if no one took them in. A family decided to provide a place for the children and neighbors, church members, and community members helped out however they could. Hal was the oldest of the four children and was 12 years old when his dad died. He grew up to be a successful journalist and write a number of books. It was on one of his journalistic assignments that he found himself face to face with Mother Teresa. As a journalist, Hal was used to asking the questions, but Mother Teresa asked him a question that day that stopped him in his tracks. She asked, “Young man, what are you doing to help the poor and the suffering?” He knew he had to be honest and admitted, “I am not doing much of anything.” “Everyone can do something,” she told him. 48

And so when he came home, he decided to do something. He loaded a pickup truck with groceries and supplies and distributed them to poor working families in California. It was a life changing experience that reminded him of how, many years earlier, the loving kindness of others helped him and his family find hope during one of the darkest times of their lives. Convoy of Hope was birthed that day. Twenty-five years later, the amazing results and stories continue. Convoy of Hope, in partnership with churches and businesses, continues to distribute hope and the message of Jesus Christ through children’s feeding initiatives, women’s empowerment programs, disaster response, community events, agriculture training, and rural church training in the U.S. and around the world. Key Thought Your response, no matter the size, can produce a result that outlives you! Every story and testimonial you’ve read so far happened in days and years past, yet the impact those individuals had will last long after they are gone. At our core, every single person wants to be part of something that matters, something that makes a difference, something that has a long term effect. That’s the story of Christ followers throughout history — obedient, passionate, sacrificial disciples who answered the call Jesus and were moved to action. It wasn’t a one-time response or single event that made them part of the story. It was their daily, consistent approach to the mission as a way of life, not just a program, that produced an eternal return. The Word Several times in scripture, farming is used as a metaphor for how we live out the Christian life. One that stands out is a simple verse that discusses how we can do good to all. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Lesson / Sermon 4 continued ...

We find this verse directly in the middle of a passage where the Apostle Paul is encouraging the Galatian church to do good and for all people. He mentions other believers, but we know it’s application is also connected to everyone we encounter. He wants to make sure that believers know the results of our efforts may take time to manifest, but we can’t allow ourselves to get weary and give up in the waiting time. We never plant a seed then reap the harvest in a day. Regardless, we never miss the opportunity to plant the seed. The results of our visible efforts and God’s invisible efforts may take longer than we planned. However, in the end, there’s always a harvest if we don’t give up. Sow Good Seed Generously Jesus uses seeds in his stories to represent generosity in sharing his message. As a crowd gathered around the Sea of Galilee, Jesus began to tell a story about a seed sowing farmer and the eventual results that came from his work. “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” (Mark 4:3-8, NIV) At first glance it may seem like the farmer was wastefully flinging seed with no regard for where it landed. But in a time where fields were seeded by hand, seeding wasn’t as exact a process as we’ve made it with modern farming. Much of the seed landed where the farmer intended, but some also fell in places that weren’t ideal. Is there wisdom in planning well and using your efforts, energy, and resources wisely as you advance the message of Jesus Christ? Absolutely! Yet some can be so cautious, that they never sow anything out of fear that it might not produce. 50

Here’s one thing that’s guaranteed; if nothing is ever sown, nothing can ever be harvested. As followers of Jesus, it’s our responsibility to sow the message of Jesus everywhere we can. Discussion Questions 1. How do you know if/when you’ve planted good seeds? 2. In what setting would you be willing to share the message of Jesus with someone? 3. Where are some places locally that others avoid but you could engage? 4. How generous are you in sowing seeds? Trust Wholeheartedly After Jesus shared this parable with the crowd, he took the disciples aside to share what the parable meant. He explained how the various soils mentioned in the parable represent the different types of people who hear the message and how they respond. There are numerous conditions at work in people’s hearts. We don’t always know what’s going on in someone’s life when the seed of the message lands within them — they themselves may not even know! But when the seed hits the right heart at the right time, the results can be amazing. “ And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Mark 4:20, NLT) Our mission is to sow the seed of hope; God’s mission is to make it grow and change hearts. We share the life and message of Jesus Christ at every turn not knowing exactly how it will turn out, trusting wholeheartedly that God is doing something in the background we can’t see. We must do our part and leave the results in God’s hands. He can be trusted, and he is more than capable of producing a harvest as a result of our obedient, sacrificial and generous efforts.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Lesson / Sermon 4 continued ...

Discussion Questions 1. Why do we find it so hard to trust God to do his part sometimes? 2. Name a few times God has been faithful to you. Remembering his faithfulness helps us trust him. Sow, Trust, & Repeat! The goal in all of this isn’t just to go for a short-term time period. The goal is for you and and every follower of Jesus to acknowledge and accept that serving isn’t a program — it’s intended to be a lifestyle that’s lived out through every Christian and in every church. We don’t sow once, get a harvest and then quit. We make this our personal mission, one of which God has called us to be a part. The process is sow, trust and repeat. Notice it doesn’t say sow, trust, harvest, and repeat. We aren’t waiting for the results before we go out and share the message of Jesus again. We sow, we trust that God is working, then we go out and sow again. It may be getting to know new friends at a homeless shelter, or responding after another disaster next year, or by investing in a community next month in an impoverished country. We trust the results to God’s hands, and we keep doing our part to take the message of Jesus around the world. You and your church are part of something that’s so much bigger than what any of us can currently see. As you make the decision to engage the world, you’re joining together with the worldwide body of Christ — churches of all denominations but under the banner of one savior, Jesus Christ! Each person and each church becomes a part of an eternal cause that will outlive us and eternally change our lives and the lives of those we invest in. You are writing part of the story that will be told generations from now. It may not make the headlines or the nightly news, but I can assure you it’s being celebrated in heaven! It’s time to make a decision — it’s time to go! Discussion Questions 1. What is one small thing you could do today to help someone? 2. What is happening at your church in terms of local, national, or global efforts? How could you contribute to one of these efforts consistently? 52

Lesson / Sermon Outlines Lesson / Sermon 1: Why Does Participation Matter? Opening Story • On December 7, 1988, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake devastated a northwest section of Armenia. • A father searched through the rubble for his son, Armand, for 38 hours. • He found his son and 13 other children underneath rubble. • A child’s voice responded, “Dad! It’s me, Armand! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you’d save me, and when you saved me they’d be saved, too. You promised you’d always be there for me! You did it, dad!” Key Thought • The Father will never stop looking for his lost children. Scripture • Matthew 28:19-20 • John 4:3-9 Points 1. Jesus said go! It’s a mandate to all Christians everywhere. (Matt. 28:19-20) 2. Go everywhere! a. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. (John 4) Application 1. What people groups often get ignored or rejected in our culture due to stigma, past history, prejudice, preconceived opinions? 2. What are some simple ways these people could be shown love, respect, and hope? 3. Using Armand’s story from the beginning, how does his father’s relentless actions reflect the heart of our heavenly Father? How do you think the Father feels about the lost, hurting, poor, suffering, and hopeless?

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Lesson / Sermon Outlines continued ...

Lesson / Sermon 2: Mobilizing the Church – Who Should Be Involved? Opening Story • In December 2004, 10-year-old Tilly Smith was vacationing with her family on the coast of Phuket, Thailand. • Tilly noticed the water looked different. She convinced her father and the hotel security to evacuate the beach. • A tsunami came and ended up killing over 250,000 people that day — 10,000 of which were in Thailand. • Tilly’s concern helped save more than 100 people on the beach that day. Key Thought • I have a mission, and God wants to use me! Scripture • Matthew 4:18-25 Points 1. You are chosen. (Matthew 4:18-22) 2. You are empowered. (Matthew 23-25) a. Jesus asked Peter and Andrew to come with him to learn how to live out his powerful life and message. 3. You must GO! a. Hulda Buntain, missionary to India, said, “Doing does not count unless love motivates it.” Application 1. Be honest, have you ever thought “outreach” or “compassion care” was for others but not for you? Why? What have you learned today? 2. Dream for a minute. What could you, other believers, and your church do if you worked together and believed that the power of God was working through you?

Lesson / Sermon 3: What Does Sacrifice & Generosity Have to Do with Hearts? Opening Story • Hattie May Wiatt cried because she was turned away from church because it was too crowded. • The pastor came and found a place for her. She was so happy, but went to bed that night thinking of all of the other children who had no place to worship Jesus. • Two years later, Hattie became sick and died in a the tenement building where she lived. Her parents called for the pastor to handle the final arrangements. • As her little body was being moved, they found a worn and crumpled purse. Inside, the pastor found 57 cents and a handwritten note. • Hattie wrote she wanted to use the money to build a larger church so more people could fit inside. • For two years, she had saved this offering of love. In 1884, this was a huge amount of money for such a poor little girl to save. • The pastor brought that note and change to the church. He raised enough money for a larger building. • That 57-cent investment continues to bring tremendous returns today, as it helped to expand Temple Baptist Church. Key Thought • Great stories begins with radical obedience, sacrifice, and generosity. Scripture • Luke 21:1-4 Points 1. Give of yourself. a. The amount of her gift mattered only because it demonstrated her great faith in God. b. Jesus honored her for her heart, which recognized who God is — her provider and Lord and one worthy of all she had to give. c. What we are willing and unwilling to sacrifice can tell us a lot about how we view God, and how we view ourselves. It can show us in what we place our trust, our identity, and our hope. JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Lesson / Sermon Outlines continued...

Application 1. When was a time you found something difficult to sacrifice? Did you sacrifice it in the end? What was the result? 2. What do you think you are unwilling to sacrifice at this point in your life? What does that show you about how you view God or yourself? 3. What do you think it would it look like if God arranged your calendar this week? How would your life be different (if it would be)?

Lesson/Question Four: What Are the Results of Sowing? Opening Story • In 1969, a drunk driver had a head-on collision with a mother and father. • Four children lost their parents that day, but were soon invited to say with a couple from church. Eleven people in all now shared a single-wide trailer. • Hal was the oldest of the four children and was 12 years old when his dad died. He grew up to be a successful journalist and write 30 books. • It was on one of his journalistic assignments that he found himself face to face with Mother Teresa. • Mother Teresa asked him, “Young man, what are you doing to help the poor?” He thought about lying to her, but eventually admitted, “I am not doing anything.” • “Well, everyone can do something,” she told him. • After that trip, Hal loaded up a truck and held an outreach in a low-income neighborhood. That was the birth of Convoy of Hope, which now serves all around the world. Key Thought • Your response, no matter the size, can produce a result that outlives you! Scripture • Galatians 6:9 • Mark 4:3-8

Points 1. We are always planting seeds. a. Galatians 5 and 6 demonstrate we are always planting seeds of some kind. 2. Trust wholeheartedly. a. We send and we share the life and message of Jesus Christ at every turn. We may not know exactly how it will turn out, but we trust wholeheartedly that God is doing something in the background that we can’t see yet. 3. Sow, trust, and repeat. a. It doesn’t say sow, trust, harvest, and repeat. We aren’t waiting for the results before we go out and share the message of Jesus again. b. We sow, we trust that God is working, then we go out and sow again. c. Like Galatians mentions, if we sow actions to please the Spirit, we will reap eternal life. Doing good takes perseverance. d. Galatians says we will reap a harvest — but only if we do not give up. Application 1. Where are some places locally that others avoid but you could engage? 2. Name a few times God has been faithful to you. Remembering his faithfulness helps us trust him. 3. In what setting would you be willing to share the message of Jesus with someone?

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Action Sheets Church Profile

Compiling a comprehensive profile of your church will provide you with a good assessment of the potential resources your church can offer your community. Major Employers

Size of Congregation Age

<18

% 18-35

36-50

% 51-65

65+

Ethnicity

Family Type (#) Other Forms of Income

Married, with Children Married, No Children Single, with Children Single, No Children Senior Citizens

Economic Factors Average

Below Poverty

Income

Monthly Tithe Missions Budget Various Ministries Expenses

Recent Changes

Church Profile Sheets

Defining Your Church Mission

Creating a mission for your church involves three key elements: 1. Who will the church reach? 2. What needs does the church aim to reach? 3. How will the church meet those needs? Put a Team Together Choose a team from your congregation. Include pastoral staff, lay leaders, and others from your congregation that are invested in your church. Include someone from each population group within your congregation (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.). With this team, review your church assessments and community and write a mission statement in paragraph form that reflects: 1. Who your church is called to reach. 2. What needs your church will meet. 3. How the church will do it. This mission statement will be key in guiding your program development. If your church already has an existing mission statement, review it to see if it reflects the who, what and how you will be serving your community. Many times, church mission statements do not reflect their churchesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; responsibility for enhancing their communities. Modifying your current mission statement to reflect these elements will help redefine the direction your church or program is heading.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Church Profile Sheets

Your Church Mission

While on this earth, Jesus had a clear mission (Luke 19:10) and every action He did in His ministry was reflective of His mission. The church is no different. The church has been given a large mission (Matthew 28:19,20), and while local churches can “go into all the world” through the various ministries and missionaries they support, the best part of the world to reach is in their local community. Your church’s mission must be people-driven and focus on redemptive purposes of God because your church’s mission is based upon the people God has called you to serve. Write out your mission.

Church Profile Sheets

Know Your Church: Values “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21, NLT) Values play an important role in determining what programs your community and congregation would most benefit from, how your church’s involvement will be perceived, and what will motivate your congregation to become involved in the process. Values are the consistent, passionate, biblical, and distinct convictions that determine your priorities, influence your decisions, drive your ministry, and are always demonstrated by your behavior. They are the “why” not the “what” behind the things you do. Values are not: • Your church’s statement of faith, doctrine, or theology • A biblical purpose statement. • Methods or programs through which you minister. Values influence attitudes and behavior and connect passions with priorities. In order to help you discover your existing church values, consider the following questions, and list the top values you discover. 1. Look at major items of the budget and church spending. What gets funded and what doesn’t? When money is tight, what gets paid and what gets deleted? 2. What gets the most space in the bulletin and church publications? What events get special notice? Special announcements? Special emphasis? 3. What is the approval process for decision-making? How does one become a leader in the church? What is expected of members? 4. What observations can you make as you examine the minutes of meetings and reflect on board discussions and decisions?

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Church Profile Sheets

Church Values Worsheet

Write out a list of five to seven things your church values:

Church Profile Sheets

Your Existing Church Ministries

Church strengths identify existing ministries or programs in your church that are successful in helping fulfill its mission. Do these fit either the new or existing mission statement?

Church Weaknesses identify ministries or programs in your church that do not help fulfill its mission. Why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they support the mission?

Maximize changes you can implement to make existing ministries more effective. Which programs do you need to get rid of so that other programs can become more effective?

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Community Profile Sheets

Know Your Community Profile

Assessing your communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs begins with understanding your community. Most of the information within this assessment can be found within your local community or easily accessed. Total Population

Ethnicity

In-Town Rural

Age

<18

% 18-35

36-50

% 51-65

65+

Male

Female

Gender

Economic Factors

Religions

Languages

Average Income Average Cost of Living Average Utilities

The following figures are the 2014 HHS poverty guidelines which are scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2014. For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,060 for each additional person. Person In Family/Household

Poverty Guideline

Community Profile Sheets

Community Values & Attitudes

This information can be gathered informally, through interviews with local residents or through a mail survey, or through your observations as a member in the community. Overall Community Values

Community Attitude Toward the Church

Community Attitude Towards the Poor

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Community Profile Sheets

Networking to Connect Reaching your community begins with creating a web of connections and support. Think about the people you know and interact with on a daily basis. These people are your informal networks within the community. Relationships are the building blocks for connecting with your community. Jesus recognized the value of connecting with people on a daily basis. Throughout the Gospels, we find that Jesus engaged in intentional outreach in His everyday interactions by: 1. Initiating contact with people. 2. Welcoming people that initiated contact with Him. 3. Welcoming people that others brought to meet Him. 4. Joining people while they were going about their daily tasks. You also engage in intentional outreach when you arrange lunch meetings, attend your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sporting events, or join the PTA. Each person you come to meet through these events can become an open door for you to another group within your community. They are your community network. Think of five people you know in the community outside of your church, and list three organizations or groups within your community to which each person is connected. Example: Marieâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;PTA, Hispanic community, Mothers of Preschoolers.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Community Profile Sheets

Know Your Community Leaders It is vital that you know your community leaders, both formal and informal, so that you can have sources of influence to create change. Identify all of your community leaders.

County/City Governement Mayor

Senator

Name

Other

Phone

Name

Phone

City Council

Other Legislators

Name

Phone

Community Leaders Chief of Police

Fire Marshall

Sheriff

Name

Phone

Deputy

Judge

Doctor

Name

Phone

Superintendent

Principal

Pastor

Name

Phone

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Disaster Preparedness Meeting Agenda Simply stated, disaster mitigation is an effort to reduce the effects a disaster may have. Use this meeting agenda when meeting with teams regarding disaster preparedness. Date: Agenda Items: 1. What are the hazards we commonly face as a community? 2. In the past, how has our community been affected by disaster? 3. What can we do as a neighborhood to build resilience before disaster happens again? 4. How would we prioritize the work that needs to be done? Which things are most important? 5. Who will be in charge of these projects, and when should they begin? 6. In the event of an emergency, which homes have safe spaces they are willing to share? 7. In an emergency, which neighbors should be responsible to check on especially vulnerable people (small children, the elderly, those with disabilities, etc.)? 8. Do we want to develop an emergency alert or communication system through WhatsApp or something similar? If so, who will be in charge and how will it work? 9. When will this committee meet again? Who else should be included that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t here today?

Communication One-Sheet What are some ways the church could communicate the vision in each of these areas? Complete a sheet for each quarter, once a month, or a few times a year! Main Message/Opportunity:

Teaching/Preaching

Children’s Ministry

Life Groups

Youth

Classes

Before & Between Service

Online

Worship & Order of Service

Prayer Times

Meetings/Events

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Gauging Culture Show members what it looks like to â&#x20AC;&#x153;goâ&#x20AC;? in context by using this rubric to start and continue conversations about what compassion and missions look like. Pro tip: Invite some church leaders to create this chart with you. Allow your continued learning to keep this a living document as you all continue to grow!

Sample Strategies

Strategy Map: Local, National, & Global

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Sample Strategies

12-Month Missions Strategy

Strategic Planning Opportunity Scorecard

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Conclusion Hopefully you have found an insight, a story, a tool, or a thought in this guide to further energize and equip you on your journey. That’s our hope and prayer for you. We know there are many tools and insights presented here, so we recommend you choose a couple of the most helpful things to use and focus on now, then expand from there. Working with so many pastors on staff and as partners, we at Convoy of Hope understand that your journey isn’t easy. We honor you for the sacrifices you’ve made — and for those you continue to make — to lead your people well and live out the life and message of Jesus. It would make our day to hear stories about how your church or team has lived out generosity, whether it is locally, nationally, or globally. We would love to hear from you and have included a few ways you can connect with us in the back of this guide. Jesus is relentless in his wildly creative effort to bring hope to people around the world, and we hope this guide has energized you as you and your church join him daily in that work. He is with you, and you’re ready. Now, JUST GO!

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

How to Connect with Convoy of Hope Initiatives, Opportunities, & Ways to Get Involved @convoyofhope Website convoyofhope.org To learn more about our many initiatives and work around the world, check out our website.

One Day to Feed the World onedaytofeedtheworld.org One Day to Feed the World is Convoy of Hope’s annual campaign that has the power to transform the lives of children and families throughout the world. By taking part, you will help us provide healthy living through nutritious food, clean and safe drinking water, and much more to people in need.

feedONE feedone.com Convoy of Hope’s feedONE campaign supports its Children’s Feeding program. Currently, Convoy of Hope is providing meals for more than 200,000 children in 14 countries around the world. Just $10 a month — $120 a year — provides children with regular, nutritious meals.

Convoy:Women convoyofhope.org/women Convoy:Women is a sisterhood who advocates for the work Convoy does and the women the serve. Visit their web page to see many ways you can partner with Convoy:Women to empower women and their families around the world.

Community Events convoyofhope.org/events A Convoy of Hope Community Event is a united act of compassion that helps families in need. Local churches, businesses, as well as community service and heath organizations, partner with us to provide Guests of Honor with free groceries, medical screenings, prayer, haircuts, lunch, family portraits, and much more! Visit the web page to see a list of upcoming events.

JUST GO: A GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR CHURCH’S COMPASSION STRATEGY

Notes