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Many of today's most successful churches are expanding their facilities and programs at an incredible rate. Chances are pretty good that your own church or a church near you is currently considering either a physical expansion of the church building or a ministerial expansion of the outreach programs already in place. Such renovations reflect not only a growth in church attendance and monetary income, but a revived interest in expanding the scope of the church's vision. In the modern and often challenging world we live in today, finding programs and outreach ministries that will appeal to the masses can be quite a difficult task for the minister and staff. Here are three proven outreach ministries that you may want to consider when undertaking a physical expansion of the church itself. Some modern ministries do require some additional facilities and equipment, which you may want to consider as the plans for expansion are still on the architect's board.
1. Drama ministry While many members of the church still look forward to the annual Christmas pageant, with the paperplate haloes and bathrobe-clad shepherds, others may wish to present more structured productions. Drama ministries have proven to be a way to allow members with a talent for acting to express themselves creatively and spiritually, while also appealing to those in the community who enjoy theater work. Some churches have approved designs for a professional-level stage and auditorium to be added during renovations, while others agree to purchase professional lighting, sound and other theatrical equipment. A good drama ministry can bring many visitors to productions, which will give the sponsoring church an opportunity to invite the audience to consider membership. Play productions can range from short one-act Christian plays and skits to full-length secular plays suitable for a religious audience. Such programs may require some additional guidance from the minister, especially regarding suitability of intended productions, but should be fairly self-supporting. Many theater enthusiasts tend to remain with a good theatrical company for many years. Your church could also sponsor traveling drama ministries, such as puppet shows designed to teach children about the dangers they may face in life. Some churches have been known to sponsor entire road tours, in which the various churches that book the performances take care of the company while they are travelling. This allows for more interdenominational contact and also breeds a lot of good will among congregations.
2. Multi-cultural outreach Many communities today have large populations of minorities, due in large part to the economic opportunities offered by industries. While many churches have sponsored grassroots programs that invite minority communities to church, few have actually initiated programs that can bridge the cultural and communication gaps. How long would any of us attend a church that only spoke Mandarin Chinese, for example, or did not make an effort to share in our culture? If you have a large population of different cultures in your community, you may want to consider starting a multi-cultural outreach program. Services can be held in Spanish or Chinese, or a special Sunday School group could be started for each of the minority communities in your area. An area of your expansion could be set aside as a cultural ministry that actively includes elements of Hispanic, African-American or Asian cultures. Staffing these areas with members of those communities could make all the difference in the world. You may also consider creating a way to translate services, either through a translator actually interpreting the sermon in real time or a wireless radio system that connects minority members to a translator listening in another room.
Church materials could also be translated into several other languages and used as part of the outreach ministry. Church bulletins in other languages should also be a regular part of the multi-cultural ministry.
3. Family health and fitness ministries This ministry does require a substantial commitment of space and equipment from the church body, but the benefits are clear. Many of the larger churches are now designing family health and fitness centers as part of the overall expansion of services. With the increasing awareness of the importance of diet and exercise, church members may want to have a more private facility in which to do their routines. Since many churches already offer daycare facilities, parents can leave their children with the church daycare worker and enjoy their workouts in peace. Classes could be offered in aerobics, dance, conditioning and other sport-related activities. Membership could be restricted to members of the church, or include members of the public who pay a nominal fee for the services. Strictly from an economic standpoint, the money saved from not having to maintain a membership in an outside gym can be considerable. If you open the facilities to the general public, you have an excellent opportunity to share other benefits of church membership or the Christian life with them. Tracts and other religious material could be left within easy reach of the guests. Family health outreach ministers could also sponsor exercise programs for the elderly, or set up dieting and nutrition seminars for the community. The possibilities are almost limitless, and the members will truly benefit from the programs, both physically and spiritually.
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