Natural Church Development
Purpose: Helping Congregations to become healthier in their spiritual walk.
The Natural Church Development process, which includes a survey of thirty members of a congregation, including the pastor, evaluates the qualitative health of a local congregation by looking at eight essential quality elements in effective ministry.
By using the Natural Church Development process a church can assess its state of health and implement growth and direction in various areas of ministry by exhibiting it’s lowest quality rating (minimum factor) and working on this area.
The District has several congregations participating in the NCD survey process and working on their minimum factor growth..
The 8 Quality Characteristics
Empowering — Leadership
Gift-oriented— Ministry
Passionate— Spirituality
Functional — Structures
Inspiring — Worship
Holistic — Small Groups
Need-oriented — Evangelism
Loving— Relationships
If you would like to participate in NCD, please contact your area MMF.
Rural and Small Town Ministry in the Ohio District includes 28 congregations throughout the Ohio District.
For articles on rural ministries please go to Resources and click on the "rural" catagory listed to the right of the screen.
Below is a list of current helpful rural ministry links:
United Methodist rural links web site: http://www.gbod.org/membership/links.asp
New Life Ministries: www.newlifeministries-nlm.org
From New Life Ministries site: "Our common heritage is that of the Anabaptist/Believers' Church movement, but we serve congregations and denominations of all Christian faith traditions."
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LCMS Rural Ministry Site dedicated to reaching the rural community.
www.spife.org
Saint Paul Institute for Education (SPIFE) is located on the campus of Saint Paul Lutheran High School, Concordia, Missouri www.splhs.org approximately 50 miles east of Kansas City on Interstate 70. The campus consists of 9 buildings on 40 acres and is easily accessible from the Interstate.
SPIFE partners with the Missouri District www.mo.lcms.org of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) www.lcms.org and other LCMS heartland districts as a service provider in the area of leadership training.
A Recognized Service Organization of the LCMS, the ministry is owned and operated by an 11-member Board of Trustees.
History
Originally called St. Paul's College, the school was founded in 1883. For many years only those training to be pastors in the LCMS attended. This expanded to teacher training and became co-educational in 1954.
Today Saint Paul has two educational tracks. Saint Paul Lutheran High School is a residential and community college preparatory high school. Saint Paul Institute for Education is a center for professional and lay leadership training.
Vision
Saint Paul Institute for Education is a vibrant educational environment where God's people are equipped through leadership training to more effectively fulfill the Great Commission.
Mission
Providing Christ-centered experiences in learning, for living.