Church Ministry Essentials Course Syllabus - Spring 2020

CHURCH MINISTRY ESSENTIALS Building an Everyone Can Do Something Culture in Your Foster Care and Adoption Ministry

Spring 2020 Course Syllabus

Welcome!

We are so grateful to have you participating in the Spring 2020 “Church Ministry Essentials” course! Our goal is to provide an experience of broadened and deepened knowledge, an encouraging and stimulating community, challenge where necessary, and inspiration for the road ahead. We’ll gain critical knowledge of the best practices and central issues relevant to a variety of facets of launching, leading and growing ministries in your church - and hopefully enable you to take your next best steps forward more resourced, more connected and more inspired than ever before!

These next several weeks together will help give you the clarity and confidence you need to prayerfully set the trajectory of your ministry for years to come. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, new insights and a renewed sense of hope on this journey of mobilizing your church to care for kids and families.

With you on the journey, Jason Johnson Director of Church Ministry Initiatives | The Christian Alliance for Orphans

WHAT TO EXPECT Proven principles drawn from the book, “Everyone Can Do Something” This easy-to-read and extremely practical guidebook provides principles and practices for you to contextualize and implement in your church’s ministry.

PLEASE PRE-PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE PRIOR TO THE COURSE BEGINNING. One-page PDF action guides for each module.

These simple next-steps guide sheets will help you and your team identify the next steps you can take utilizing what you learned in each section of the module.

Dynamic video teaching from leading practitioners Each module is anchored by video-based teaching segments led by some of the country’s best church-based ministry practitioners on various aspects of launching and leading effective OVC based initiatives.

On-going ministry and leadership coaching

At the conclusion of the course participants are given opportunities to engage in an on-going coaching relationship with a seasoned CAFO Member Church leader. This is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow and be reminded that you’re not alone on this journey.

Additional resources for learning and growing You will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from some of the best resources out these particular topics out there - from books, blogs, articles, videos and podcasts.

COURSE CONTENT

COURSE ORIENTATION + INTRODUCTION The course orientation and introduction is a pre-recorded video we ask you take time to watch prior to moving forward with any other sections of the course. It will provide an overview of the course, answer key questions and help set expectations moving forward.

You can view the 10-minute video HERE.

MODULE 1: LEADING TEAMS AND MANAGING VOLUNTEERS Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, February 26 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Laura Mobley, Foster + Adoption Ministry Director Traders Point Church, a multi-campus church in the greater Indianapolis, IN area The importance of building a leadership team early on in the ministry cannot be overstated. No one person, or couple, can carry the weight of the ministry long-term alone. A team is required, however formal or informal you choose to set it up.

In this section we will explore the following topics: Three Key Roles of a Leader How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge FAQ’s About Forming a Leadership Team How Do I Approach My Church Leadership?

How to Handle a Church Leader That Doesn’t “Get It” Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 1: Building Healthy Leadership ● Hero Making Practices Listen: ● Six Types of Leaders Watch:

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How to Start a Movement Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Action How to Handle a Church Leader Who Doesn’t “Get It” The Starfish and the Spider

Optional: ● The “Five Leadership Questions” Podcast from Lifeway Leadership o What is Recruiting? o Types of Recruiting o Current Methods of Recruiting o How to Create a Culture of Recruiting o How to Onboard Volunteers ● Book: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge Do: ● ●

Complete the Module 1 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 2: ARTICULATING A COMPELLING MESSAGE Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, March 4 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans In the flurry of all the things that come with leading and implementing ministries, one of the most critically important yet often overlooked components of ministry leadership is establishing and reinforcing a clear vision message.

In this section we will explore the following topics: A Gospel-Centered Theology of “Why” How to Increase Clarity and Decrease Anxiety The “Should” vs. “Can” Principle Three Principles to Consider When Launching and Leading The Art of Scaling Your Vision Building a Communications “Drip” Strategy Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 3: Clarifying Vision ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 4: Articulating a Compelling Message ● Leveraging the Power of Orphan + Stand Sunday in Your Church

● What’s Your Why? Articulating a Gospel-Centered Message for Your Church’s Foster Care and Adoption Ministry

Watch: ● Orphan Care is Not an Act of Charity ● A Pure and Undefiled Reflection Do: ● ●

Complete the Module 2 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 3: BUILDING AN EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING CULTURE Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, March 11 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans The goal of your ministry is to not to create an isolated, peripheral ministry that only a few are a part of but rather to build a foundational culture upon which everyone has the opportunity to get involved. Effectively articulating a theology of the Body of Christ as central to that goal reinforces the belief that “everyone can do something” and inspires people to consider what their “something” is.

In this section we will explore the following topics: Articulating a Theology of the Body of Christ Building a Tiered On-Ramping System Sharing a Diversity of Stories Making Orphan Care “Normal” Read: ● ● ● ●

Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 3: Space for Everyone Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 3: Supporting Your Message Ten Simple Ways Your Church Can Serve and Foster Families Wrapping Around Foster and Adoptive Families

Watch: ● Everyone Can Do Something ● What’s Your Something? ● Everyone Can Do Something Webinar Do: ●

Complete the Module 3 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

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Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 4: CONNECTING PEOPLE INTO COMMUNITIES OF SUPPORT Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, March 18 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Jenn Hook, Founder and Executive Director Replanted Ministries There is power in community, and any effective and sustainable ministry will understand and utilize this valuable tool in their church. Creating safe spaces centered around shared experiences among those interested in foster care and adoption as well as those already involved is central to building a strong care within the ministry.

In this section we will explore the following topics: Why Forming Community First is Essential to Building a Ministry How to “Pave the Paths” of Your Ministry Creating Smaller Circles of People (Love vs. Get) Building Wraparound Teams for Your Families Four Essential Pillars of Support Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 5: “Four Essential Avenues of Support” ● Ten Simple Ways Your Church Can Serve Foster Families ● Replanted: Chapter 4, “The Soil: Emotional Support” Watch: ● Say Yes – Form a Wraparound Ministry ● Working With and Supporting Foster and Adoptive Families Do: ● ●

Complete the Module 4 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 5: CREATING A STRATEGIC “NEXT STEPS” PLAN Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, March 25 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Eric Porter + Steve Gillis Central to effectively forming your clear and consistent message is the development of a core strategy for how you will bring that message to bear to the whole of your church.

In this section we will explore the following topics: Three Essential Ingredients of Movement Leading from the Top Down Growing from the Bottom Up Hosting a “Bridge” Event or Informational Meeting Read: ● ● ● ● ●

Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 2: Gathering the Interested and Involved Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 5: Identifying Your Path Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 5: Three Ingredients of Effective Engagement Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 6: Building a Discipleship Pipeline Shrinking the Problem

Watch: ● Shrinking the Problem Webinar ● Three Principles to Consider Webinar Do: ● ●

Complete the Module 5 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 6: ENGAGING THE HOLISTIC CONTINUUM OF CARE Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, April 1 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Jason Johnson, National Church Ministry Initiatives Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans Churches can often default into a “silo” of ministries — “That’s the missions ministry over there,” “That’s the homeless ministry over there,” “That’s the orphan care ministry over there,” etc. In reality, however, many of these justice, mercy and hospitality-oriented ministries are not mutually exclusive. They are on some level interconnected — all part of the same continuum intersecting at different points along the way.

In this section we will explore the following topics: Systemic Issues of Marginalization Addressing the Whole Story of Child and Family Welfare Strategically Planning at Different Points of the Continuum

Forming Partnerships for Effectiveness and Sustainability Read: ● Everyone Can Do Something, Chapter 6: “Using the Existing” ● Breaking the Cycle of Human Trafficking ● Why Family Preservation Services That Prevent Foster Care are Key to Healthy Communities ● Developing a Holistic Orphan Care Ministry in Your Church Watch: ● A Tale of Two Rivers (Patrick Henry Family Services) Do: ● ●

Complete the Module 6 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 7: “MORE THAN ENOUGH” MOVEMENT BUILDING Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, April 8 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Jason Weber, National Foster Care Initiative Director The Christian Alliance for Orphans When it comes to big problems, real and lasting solutions require everyone heading in the same direction. We are better together. Better at maximizing resources, optimizing our efforts and impacting the lives of children and families. Your church can do some things, but it doesn’t have to do everything. This is where the power of collaboration comes in and the opportunity for true, lasting movement is discovered.

In this section we will explore the following topics: The Power of Collaboration Steps to Building Organizational Trust Becoming Hyper-Localized in Your Efforts Church Health and Growth Assessment Tool Read: ● Providing More Than Enough Before, During and Beyond Foster Care is Possible ● Growing a Foster Care Movement in Your Community ● An Ancient Recipe for Addressing Brokenness Where You Live Watch: ● Four Principles of Moving Barns (and Building Foster Care Movements) ● More Than Enough – CAFO2019

Do: ● ● ●

Complete The “More Than Enough” Church Assessment Complete the Module 7 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 8: CULTIVATING A TRAUMA-INFORMED CHILDRENS MINISTRY Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, April 15 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Kim Botto, Director of Kid’s Club and Student Ministry Crossroads Church, a multi-campus church in the greater Cincinnati, OH area It is crucial that leaders working with children and students are properly equipped and empowered with a better understanding of the impacts of trauma, practical tools for working with children in their ministries who have experienced trauma and a plan of action to equip their volunteers to best serve those children and families in their ministry.

In this section we will explore the following topics: What is trauma?

What impacts does trauma have on children and students?

How trauma informs behavior, connection and relationships Practical strategies to serve children who have experienced trauma A plan of action to equip leaders and volunteers Read: ● Four Focus Areas for Creating a Trauma-Informed Ministry Watch: ● Meeting Sensory Challenges ● How to Make Kids Feel Safe ● Guiding Behavior ● How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime ● ReThinking Children’s Ministry: Creating an Environment of Felt Safety Do: ● ●

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Complete the Module 8 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Consider how you might present some core principles of trauma-informed ministry to your church’s children’s leader and encourage them to incorporate systems and structures into their current systems.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 9: GOING GLOBAL: HELPING WITHOUT HURTING Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, April 22 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitators: Nicole Wilke, Director of The Center for Applied Research The Christian Alliance for Orphans The question is not should your church be engaged in global missions, but rather, based on the most current research on how to engage globally most effectively, where is your church excelling and where can you afford to make some shifts in your current approach to be more effective long term?

In this section we will explore the following topics: Forming Healthy Strategic Partnerships Best Practices for Short Term Missions Transitioning Funding to Family-Based Care Assisting Global Partners in Approving Quality of Care Read: ● ● ● ●

Due Diligence Guidelines Continuum of Care Graphic (infographic) Twelve Principles on the Place for High-Quality Residential Care, and How We Achieve It Principles for Wise Short Term Missions

Watch: ● Eight Principles to Do Good and Not Harm Do: ● ● ●

Complete the Core Elements Self Assessment Complete the Module 9 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

MODULE 10: CREATING A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SOUL HEALTH Zoom Call Date: Wednesday, April 29 Click here to add this Module’s Zoom Call to your calendar Click here to go directly to this Module’s Zoom Call

Facilitator: Jedd Medefind, President The Christian Alliance for Orphans

Christians never look more like Jesus than when humbly serving amidst the world’s hurt - caring for orphans, battling trafficking, promoting urban renewal. But this good will inevitably be shortlived when rooted in zeal for justice alone. If it is to be sustained, our commitment to justice and mercy must be paired with an even stronger commitment to cultivating a vibrant inner life rooted deep in Christ. Ultimately, vibrant ministry springs from healthy souls.

In this section we will explore the following topics: The Biblical Call for Rest and Renewal Developing a Strategic Plan for Soul Care in Our Ministries Identifying Resources and Opportunities for Spiritual Growth and Refreshment Read: ● Strategic Plan for Thriving Souls ● The Fight for Social Justice Starts Within Listen: ● Justice and the Inner Life Podcast Episodes with: o Gary Haugen o John Eldredge o Ruth Haley Barton Optional: ● Book: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton ● Podcast: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton Do: ● ● ●

Complete the CAFO Soul Health Assessment Complete the Module 10 Worksheet with your leadership team or others involved in the work you are doing.

Write and submit a 1/2 page reflection on your biggest takeaways from this module including 1-2 practical steps you will take to implement some of your learnings into your ministry.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CAFO CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION 1) Participation in class Zoom Calls You are required to either attend live or listen to each conversation and submit a 1/2-page reflection/notes after the fact.

We recognize that you all have busy schedules and likely won’t be able to attend every video call in person. While this is the goal, each call is recorded and will be available to view/listen to after.

We are incredibly privileged to be connected to some of the sharpest leaders in this field, several of whom you will get the chance to interact with through these calls. The calls will be casual, and the expressed purpose is a Q+A session in relation to the materials and content you’ve been processing and absorbing during that week.

Each week you’ll then be expected to submit 1-3 questions for the speaker to me via email at least 24 hours prior to the call.

2) Weekly ½ Page Reviews: Each week you will participate in a Zoom call with other course participants, and if for extenuating circumstances you are unable to attend live you will have the opportunity to watch the recording. All participants will be asked to submit a ½ page review of the module’s material within one week of the Zoom call, outlining some of your biggest takeaways as well as some application points you intend to bring into the context of your ministry and leadership. In order to receive the certificate of completion you must submit a ½ page review for each of the ten modules.

3) Updating the LearnDash Platform: All course material, including the Zoom call schedule, supplemental resources and downloadable PDF guides will be available on the course LearnDash platform. You are expected to note in your class dashboard when you have completed sessions so that together we can track your progress. All sections of your course dashboard must be selected as complete before receiving your Certificate of Completion.

AUDIT option: For those who aren’t concerned with the Certificate, you’re welcome to audit the course.

My strong preference for those auditing is that you still choose at least one mode of engagement - Zoom calls, discussion forum, updating LearnDash- so that we are in communication and you are gaining as much as possible from the content.