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Natural Church Development: A Strategy for Health

Imagine that you have set an appointment with your doctor for a physical. Afterwards, your doctor explains that in most respects you are a healthy individual, but there is one area, your blood pressure, that is of concern. He suggests a couple of things that will help with that and closes the conversation by saying, if we ignore this, it could kill you!

The Natural Church Development Survey could be described in similar ways.
It is very helpful in identifying strengths in eight key ministry areas; it is also able to pinpoint areas where growth and development are necessary. Any of these eight key ministry areas, if ignored, could have a detrimental effect on the church and its ministry.

The survey itself is completed by 30 leaders in the church and then scored by computer. The church receives a report on the results to assist them in self-assessment. The “minimum factor” is identified and a ministry development plan in one or more of those areas is designed. It allows a church to focus on areas of growth that have been identified and make specific action plans with regards to those plans.

Peter Kelder has been trained and certified as a coach of Natural Church Development. It would be a privilege to help you navigate this process and follow up with specific growth plans. Our Regional Team work plans include having a number of churches in the region(perhaps 6-12) lead the way by participating in NCD every other year and monitoring the development of ministry areas. The results would become a resource for the Classis in learning about this and encouraging other churches to participate in NCD. Our work plan includes forming peer groups for churches in the eight ministry areas, for example, in need-oriented evangelism, and have 5-6 churches around the table to discern and help one another with next steps in evangelism. The results could be exciting!

If you would like more information about this or would like to schedule NCD for your church, please contact:
Peter Kelder
815-690- 2408
pkelder@crcna.org

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Mission Vision and Direction

Crosspoint Strategic Network staff is available as coaches or leaders for retreats, consultation, workshops or adult education opportunities. Sessions are designed with ministry leaders who are discerning ways to join in God’s mission and vision as kingdom builders. Contact any staff person to begin the planning process.

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Navigating Congregational Change

The Navigating Congregational Change workshops help congregational leaders assess and monitor how their own presence and functioning contribute to the relative health or dysfunction of the congregation. The experience of the workshops should be for most participants much more than a program to move through, but a catalytic process within a learning community that will continue to yield leadership insights.

The congregation is seen as a unit in need of care. Therefore, these workshops center (on) the stewardship of the congregation: how leaders care for, respond to, and oversee the congregation’s life together. Congregational leaders are the chief stewards. They are in a position to promote the well-being of the congregation. They are accountable for setting a direction, taking stands, staying connected to others, encouraging participation, and attending to the ongoing interplay of many conditions and forces.

These workshops enable participants to:

• Gain a renewed sense of purpose and mission
• Cultivate strong leadership capacities to challenge a congregation
• Learn how to develop healthy patterns of living together in community
• Learn to focus on strength, resources and options for the future
• Boost confidence in responding to challenges and opportunities
• Learn how to lead with calm and thoughtfulness
• Move the congregation towards healthy functioning

(from the introduction to Healthy Congregations training materials, “The Marks of a Healthy Congregation”)

For more information about being a part of this workshop or on how this training can be used with your church leaders, contact Peter Kelder at 815-690-2408 or pkelder@crcna.org

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Discover Your Leadership Design

Crosspoint Strategic Network offers coaching for leaders who desire to come to a clear understanding of their own God-given leadership design.  A clear self-awareness of personality style and spiritual giftedness gives leaders the confidence and freedom to serve according to their unique strengths and weaknesses. Coming to this understanding as a leadership team enables the movement from “me” to “we” in order to serve others more effectively

Individual Leadership Design Discovery Process

• Completing the Grip/Birkman Blueprint, a proven online behavioral and personality assessment tool which gives deeper understanding of:
• What is my usual behavioral style?
• How do I process information?
• How do I make decisions?
• What stress behaviors surface when my motivational needs go unmet?
• What are my God-given interests?
• What is my team style?
• Who do I need beside me in order to operate at my best?
• What is my leadership style?
• What are my spiritual gifts?

• Coaching sessions to help you understand your Grip/Birkman Blueprint results. These sessions are designed to bring new self-awareness and confidence to face next steps in leadership.

Team Leadership Design Discovery Process

• Each team member completes the Grip/Birkman Blueprint online assessment
• Individuals are coached through the Grip/Birkman Blueprint results in order to increase their own self-awareness
• Teams participate in team building sessions in order to:
• Develop an awareness of how their God-given personality strengthens the team
• Develop an awareness of the value others bring to the team
• Come to an understanding that “who I am affects who we are.”

Cost: The coaching fee will be determined according to the amount of sessions agreed upon by an individual leader or team. This fee will be in addition to the $35.00 cost for completing the online Grip/Birkman Blueprint

Coach: Ruth Kelder
Certified Grip/Birkman Coach

Link: www.gripbirkman.com

Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God.
--John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

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Clifton StrengthFinders Coaching
        Discover your God-given talents and inspire your community.

The single most important piece of information a leader possesses is self-awareness. (Reggie McNeal, Practicing Greatness)

The Gallup Organization’s online assessment instrument, Clifton StrengthsFinder, enables people to discover and understand their God given strengths. Ministry leaders, leadership teams, and church members discover the fulfillment and joy that comes from building their ministry around their greatest natural strengths, rather than their weaknesses.

God has given each of His children a calling to ministry—a calling to build His kingdom through service. God has also graciously given talents and strengths which He uses to fulfill each unique calling. When a talent or strength is discovered and understood, it can be unleashed and used powerfully by God.

Crosspoint Strategic Network can link you to a Strength Performance Coach who is trained to help others understand their natural strengths in order to leverage them most powerfully in ministry. This coaching is valuable for individuals, but also for teams who want to function at their best through each team member’s strengths.

For more information, please contact:
Peter Kelder
pkelder@crcna.org

“…invaluable if you are serious about building a world-class congregation.” –John C. Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of leadership;

www.strengthsfinder.com

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Small Group Training and Coaching Options
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Community. It seems to be the buzz word all around us. Starbucks. Neighborhoods. Cell phone networks. Insurance companies. Churches. Small groups. Small group ministry is about developing Christ-based communities where the Holy Spirit can change lives. People can be transformed through small group communities. Our world can be transformed when small groups take seriously the call to mission. Consultations/Coaching Is our church ready for small groups? Where do we begin? Why have our groups become stagnant? What’s the big deal about small groups? These are common questions that are worth discussing together in order to discern the next steps for your church. Ongoing coaching is available for those who lead small group ministries.  Small Group Coaching Clusters are formed several times a year to provide leadership coaching in a peer group. Small Group Leadership Team Training This training is designed for those who oversee or coordinate a Small Group Ministry as well as interested staff members or church leaders. It will stretch your vision for small groups and give practical steps to start, launch and support small groups and their leaders. Build a small group ministry based on  biblical principles that promote and enhance your unique vision and mission for building God’s kingdom.

Small Group Leader Training
This training provides both new and experienced leaders a vision for small groups. Tapping into their gifts, interests, and calling, participants are encouraged to design a small group unique to God’s leading in their life. Focusing on God’s purpose for their small group, leaders will be energized and eager to invite people to join them in this purpose.

Next Steps Small Group Leader Training
As a small group ministry develops, it’s healthy to discover new and practical next step opportunities for sustaining and growing a healthy small group ministry. Next Step sessions are designed around themes unique to each ministry. Some examples may be: Dealing with Difficult People, Evaluating Your Ministry, Healthy Transitions in Small Groups, Small Group Prayer Life, Building Deeper Community, Missional Small Groups, etc.

Coffee Break
Coffee Break small groups help women discover for themselves the message of the Bible through inductive Bible studies in a relational setting. Click here for more information.     

For more information contact Ruth Kelder, Community Life Developer
815-280-5035
rkeder@crcna.org

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Reach Out to Women with Coffee Break Small Groups! Download Brochure God uses Coffee Break to bring women from all walks of life into a closer, vital relationship with Him. Relationships are built with others while discovering the truths of the Bible. What makes Coffee Break Attractive?  An informal atmosphere with coffee, food, laughter and conversation where friendships develop.  A small group setting where a circle of friends provide encouragement and pray for each other. Simple Bible study questions which require no previous Bible knowledge and encourage members to discover the Bible’s truth for themselves. Questions are welcome. Coffee Break provides a safe place to ask questions that some may have been too afraid to ask anyone else.  A place for children in Story Hour and Little Lambs which uses Bible stories and related songs, activities and crafts to introduce preschool children to God and His world in an age-appropriate, fun way.

What resources and training are available?

Coffee Break leader training is available through Ruth Kelder, Crosspoint Strategic Network’s Community Life Developer (rkelder@crcna.org). The core training is designed for those beginning a Coffee Break program, new Coffee Break leaders, and seasoned leaders who want to keep their vision strong and skills sharp. The three hour training focuses on:

•      Inductive Bible Study Method
•      Evangelistic Purpose
•      Small Group Principles and Dynamics

Cost will be determined in consultation with the ministry being served.

Ongoing Training Opportunities can be designed to meet the needs of your Coffee Break leaders. In careful consultation with you, Ruth Kelder will format a training specifically designed to help leaders grow in their evangelistic leadership skills.

Faith Alive Christian Resources (www.FaithAliveResources.org) publishes the Discover Your Bible series, easy-to-use inductive study guides, as well as other materials to get your ministry started or to keep it fresh.

Link: CRHM Coffee Break

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Everyday Evangelism: Linking People to Jesus
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Growing in a faith relationship with Christ is a journey that includes many linking experiences. This new training opportunity helps ordinary people understand how God can use them in ordinary life experiences as links in a chain that prepare another’s heart for a life-changing commitment to Christ. This training has three modules which can be adjusted to meet your ministry’s needs. It includes specific training in how we can participate with God in mission by serving others, praying for others, inviting others to events, engaging in spiritual conversations, explaining the Christian faith, and helping someone make a faith commitment. Cost will be determined in consultation with the ministry being served.  For more information or to schedule a seminar, contact: 
Ruth Kelder
815-280-5035
rkelder@crcna.org

"Everyday Evangelism Training" is perhaps the most practical, effective and sensitive method of training to share Christ with neighbors that I have encountered.? I highly recommend it as a very significant step in motivating and equipping a church for outreach."? John DeVries, Founder, MIssion India.

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Leadership Development Network (LDN) 

Leadership Development Network is designed for present and future leaders in the church.  It is structured to equip potential church planters, staff members, lay leaders, and volunteers for the harvest. Leadership Development Network channels individuals to explore God's calling, increase Bible knowledge, pursue character development, and enhance leadership skills.

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Crosspoint Strategic Network - Church Planter Process

Crosspoint Strategic Network partners with Christian Reformed Home Missions to find new church development.  Usually there is a parent church and classical Home Missions Committee involved as well.

Due to the generosity of many  dedicated donors, opportunities to start a new ministry can happen anytime throughout the year.  See the steps to involvement if interested in planting a church in the Crosspoint Strategic Network region.  

How Do I Get Involved?

Step 1-Initial Contact Step 2-Personal Interview Step 3-Discernment I Step 4-Discernment II Step 5-Expectations Interview Step 6-Project Proposal Step 7-Formal Call Step 8-Support Team Step 9-Transition Step 10-Church Planting Begins
Details
1. Initial Contact     You have already done that! It begins with a phone call, e-mail or     question that initiates the process. Contact Peter Kelder, Regional Leader,     at pkelder@crcna.org or 815-690-2408.  2. Personal Interview     The second step is to talk at length about church planting, either in     person, or on the phone, to discuss your possibilities in church     planting. 3. Discernment I     If you are interested in continuing, more information will be shared     by completing an application and submitting it. You will also go     online and take the Gallup tool for assessing church planters. If you     are recommended, the process continues. If not, we will help you     find another ministry opportunity. 4. Discernment II     At this point, you will have a behavioral interview with your spouse.     There will also be a one day group meeting with other planters (if     possible) and the Grip/Birkman tool will be used. 5. Expectations Interview     Having passed the formal assessment, we will talk together about     the expectations you have for Crosspoint Strategic Network and     those that Crosspoint Strategic Network has for you. This is done     so that policies and procedures are clearly understood so that     moving forward stays harmonious.	6. Project Proposal     You will be asked to work through a six page church planting     proposal which will outline the details of your anticipated church     plant. 7. Formal Call     Your calling church will issue the call to join the church planting     team, including salary and other arrangements. 8. Support Team     During this phase, you will recruit an intercessor team and develop     a financial support team. 9. Transition     You will prepare to move to the church planting site. The parent     church, CSN, and the CHMC will assist the transition as much as     possible. 10.Church Planting      Coaching through all stages of the plant takes place. The CSN,      parent church, and new church network provide support for the      planter and spouse.
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