GOALS
Increase the Network by growing it
25 new churches in 4 years
Recruitment of new AA pastors 25 in 4 years
Identify & develop pastors for cross cultural ministry
Retain current AA pastors
Help educate and guide denomination in interface with AA
STRATEGY ONE: Develop Pastoral Leadership
Identify, recruit, and nurture young people for considering call to ordained ministry
Identify, motivate, and help potential leaders fulfill their potential in the denomination
Provide mandatory training for clergy at theological educational level
Advance/Recruit Women in ministry in the Wesleyan tradition
Help clergy-women to be accepted in ministry and in their appointments
Become the bridge builder for the denomination
STRATEGY TWO: Develop Discipleship
Explore and implement experienced models of discipleship
Pastors must train disciple-makers
STRATEGY THREE: Provide Teaching/Training
Train/orient new ministers in evangelistic training
Train small group leaders
Equip pastors and lay leaders to preach/teach the word
STRAGEGY FOUR: Acquire Resources
Identify and develop a list of available resources
Human resources
Texts written for and by denominational leaders
Denominations materials
Available data in and about all the denominations
Share such available resources wherever and whenever appropriate and/or necessary
Identify a cadre of leaders, facilitators for teaching and training; retreats, workshops
Identify and target cities for AA pastors and churches
STRATEGY FIVE: Identify and Develop Other Areas of Ministry
Organize conferences for pastors and leaders
Understand the rural church and the rural community
Study the culture(s) of the community(ies)
Develop creative and new forms of worship to meet the needs of varieties of person
- Dynamic worship is evident in growing African-American churches
- Dynamic worship often involves freedom to/for praise and worship
- Preaching must be representative of experiences of people
- Focus on transformation and encounter with God in worship
- Planning and flexibility are crucial
Empower congregation to move out and do…
Develop new creative ministries to reach men and boys with the whole Gospel, focusing on such areas as:
- Community oriented ministries
- Prison ministries
- Ministries of hope
- Teaching ministries
- Mentoring programs - Home away from home ministries
- Skill training
- Overcoming peer pressure
- Overcoming stereotypes
- Building healthy creative relationships
- Develop and train church planters
STRATEGY SIX: Strengthen Existing Churches
Assessment tools will be used to help pastors and churches to become healthy leaders in church planting.
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Please direct questions about the African Heritage Network to Albert Poteat at al.poteat(at)deaconessokc.org or Jeffery Harrold at jharrold(at)umich.edu