How we do Community Ministries

Why engage in community ministries?

There are many broad reasons for becoming involved in community ministries. These include:

  • To show interest in and respect for other people.
  • To respect ourselves by using our abilities to mutual benefit.
  • To build up a community’s ability to respond to its own needs by drawing on the strengths it already has.

For people in congregations, community ministries work towards realising a biblical agenda for the quality of relationships among people.

‘Community development’ – the road to community ministries.

Community development is both a method of community work and a set of values that Baptcare uses to establish and maintain ministries in local communities. Community development work identifies some aspects of a community’s ‘preferred future’.

Baptcare works to identify and build the capacity of individuals and groups of people to realise this vision.

Baptcare operates on the basis that communities have many untapped abilities and resources that can be coordinated to their own benefit. Where necessary, Baptcare may also seek outside skills and resources, such as funding and expertise.

The values of community development are demonstrated through the programs we develop. These include commitments to:

  • social justice
  • participation
  • equality
  • co-operation
  • mutual learning

When these values are upheld, a method of working with people unfolds that encourages their right to decide and contribute to their community’s wellbeing and development.

Five Major Steps in Community Development.

  1. Preparation: Thinking though the biblical and faith-based reasons for community ministries and building a team of people to explore options for community ministry.
  2. Research: Gathering statistical and narrative information about the community, its strengths, interests, and concerns.
  3. Vision and Strategy: Painting a clear picture of the preferred future, and describing the activities, skills, and resources needed to get to that point.
  4. Implementation: Enacting the strategy, using the most appropriate guidelines and management approach needed for this program.
  5. Evaluation: Keeping a track of whom and what contributes to the program, the activities within the program, and the consequences of the program.

For more information download this brochure: Community Ministries Brochure (PDF, 280kb)

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