A Church Reforming to Reach the Lost for Christ

Christian Reformed Churches of Australia

Ministry-Formation-train

"To equip our church members to be disciples of Christ and multiply the number of well-trained leaders (ordained, non-ordained, full time, part time, voluntary) who are actively involved in God's mission. "

Christian parents:

  • Christian parents be encouraged to see full time Christian ministry as a marvellous opportunity for their children, not a second class career choice.
  • Ministers and others trained in ministry.
  • Those trained for ministry be encouraged and equipped to train others and, in particular, ordained ministers consider training at least one person as their ministry "apprentice".
  • All full-time ministry workers are encouraged to be involved in an annual mission (i.e., SWIM, Schoolies, Burma, G.O.S.P.E.L.) proclaiming and introducing Jesus to the lost.


Congregations:

  • Congregations continually identify and recruit all members into the evangelistic task of the mission;
  • Congregations encourage appropriate people to attend courses and conferences for facilitating their thinking about vocational ministry options;
  • Congregations actively support and grow the recruitment role of conferences such as MTS Challenge conferences;
  • Each congregation deploy at least one more trainee ministry worker each year;
  • Utilise appropriate means for each member of their congregations to identify, use and enhance their God-given gifts, and introduce strategies to achieve these aims.
  • Congregations are encouraged to consider appointing an administrator to free up the time of pastoral workers so that they might focus on ministry, proclaiming God's Word, pastoring God's people, and developing and implementing mission strategies.

Classes:

  • Classes are encouraged to consider how they might contribute to the training of church workers, such as holding regular seminars or conferences for training ministry workers.
  • Classes facilitate seed funding to assist the increase of congregational ministry workers.

Ministry training in general:

  • Representatives of the RTC faculty and Ministry Formation ensure that they meet together on a regular basis to ensure effective collaboration and a unified approach to ministry training in the CRCA with a view to effective pursuit of the mission.

Reformed Theological College(RTC):

  • The Reformed Theological College be encouraged to develop training that will equip students for the fourfold task;
  • To encourage churches to send suitably gifted people to the RTC to train for lifelong ministry;
  • That local churches encourage the election of RTC Board members who are keen to see the mission realised;
  • To become fully aligned with the mission in order to be most effective in raising leaders;
  • To determine the most effective means to build its teaching around the CRCA Mission through close and effective cooperation with Ministry Formation;
  • To accelerate production of courses which can be delivered in the local church, with a view to maximising the ability for people to be trained locally, perhaps also through collaboration at the Classis level;
  • To collaborate in the development of effective and regular inservice training of those engaged in the ministry of the Word;
  • To collaborate effectively with the Resource Centre and Ministry Formation for the realisation of the mission;
  • That future funding be tied to a positive outcome of the above.

The Reformed Church Youth Committee(RCYC):

  • To equip young people and children so they understand that spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is the normal calling of all followers of Jesus;
  • To ensure youth conventions and events promote love for Christ, maturity in Christ, living for Christ, life worship of Christ and witness to Christ as atural and desirable for human development;
  • Courses and publications for the training of leaders in congregations be reviewed (and, if necessary, created) to ensure their accessibility, availability and relevance, with particular emphasis to be given to:
  • Courses for specialised ministries, such as children's work, home group leadership, youth group leadership and Sunday School teaching;
  • Part time courses and courses of a short term duration to meet the needs of members in full time employment;
  • Collaborating effectively with the RTC for the realisation of the mission.

Ministry Formation:

  • To facilitate ministry development in the CRCA and the pursuit of the fourfold task;
  • To facilitate the alignment of the Pastor Church Relations Committee, Candidacy Committee, RCYC, RTC Deputies, toward the fourfold task.