Conference for Cooperative Ministry Grants

Rev. Mark Anderson
Synod Ministries Specialist

Examples of cooperative ministries and how conference funds could be expended to finance:

EVANGELISM

Senior Citizens Club
Organize a "social club" for persons 65 years of age and older in your conference. Provide senior citizens an opportunity for fellowship, spiritual growth and evangelistic outreach.  Several secular organizations, like banks, have had enormous success with such groups.  Use conference funds to provide bus transportation to an event, subsidize costs of events or to rent a movie theater for a free showing of some appropriate film. For an award winning model contact Pr. Dennis Neizwaag at St. John, Charles City.

Web Portal
Many communities (especially small towns and rural areas) do not have a web portal—a place where anyone can log on to find what businesses and social services are available or what is happening in the community. Consider putting up a page as a conference. In addition to featuring businesses and local news, the page should also include links to churches and to other sites where web surfers may find a relationship with Jesus and/or help in growing in their faith.  For more information call Mr. Gary Wipperman at Wartburg College.

Evangelism Training 
Hold an event for teams from each congregation to share their faith in Jesus Christ. Themes should include the content of the gospel, conversational skills, and confidence to share the gospel. Provide on-the-job training as part of the training workshop. The goal is to help persons learn how to adequately share a gospel presentation in order to lead people to Christ.  Many excellent training programs are available, for example,

• Discovering Hope: Building Vitality in Rural Congregations published by Augsburg Fortress.  The book and accompanying Video present 9 tools for rural church growth.  For more information contact Augsburg Fortress (see appendix) ISBN # 0806641479 book, 600013326X video.

Marriage Enrichment 
Offer a marriage enrichment retreat to help strengthen healthy marriages.  Couples in conference congregations could register for a weekend retreat subsidized by conference funds.  An enrichment weekend for conference clergy and spouses might also be a healthy investment.  For trained marriage enrichment leaders contact Pr. Mark & Beverly Anderson.

Greeter/Usher Training
Strengthen the welcoming ministry of your congregation by providing a training and enrichment event for your ushers and greeters. There are several good resources available including: Hospitality in the Warm Hearted Congregation produced by ELCA and available for FREE at Augsburg Fortress (see appendix) order #6-0000-25041.

Cable Advertising
Conference funds can be used to create and air a television advertisement promoting worship attendance.  An ad could feature all churches in the conference.  Ad production can cost as little $500.00 and air time as little as $3.00 per and can be seen on networks like A&E, TNT, CNN, Nick etc.

Print Advertising
Conference funds can be used to create and display newspaper advertising for conference churches.  A larger ad (like a quarter page) with worship times at Easter, Christmas, VBS or Rally Day schedules might prove the most productive.

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