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Table of Contents

Appendix B

Here are some typical items of business for council meetings.

  • Share spiritual concerns and pray together
  • Assess the adult needs of the church
  • Develop and refine the ADM ministry calendar
  • Plan ways to train and communicate with all ADM workers/disciple makers
  • Prepare a budget and oversee disbursement of finances
  • Assign responsibilities
  • Evaluate programs and activities.

  1. Share spiritual concerns and pray together.
    An ADM Council meeting is primarily a business meeting, but the business is God’s business. Beware of trying to do God’s work without depending on His guidance and help. Begin your council meetings with a time of sharing, praying, and addressing concerns such as:
    • The spiritual needs of adult workers/disciple makers/adults, and their families
    • Programs and ministries the council is planning
    • Budget needs
    • Personal needs of council members
    • The work of the district council and other churches.
  2. Assess the adult needs of the church.
    Consider these questions:
    • Does our church provide comprehensive discipleship for adults?
    • Do the ministry activities meet the needs of adults, or are we continuing ministries that are no longer effective?
    • Do workers/disciple makers effectively reach unchurched adults, or are we ministering only to church families?
    • Can we strengthen outreach to adults?
    • What new ministries or activities would strengthen ministry to adults and their families?
    • Are we resourcing parents so they can reinforce and strengthen the ministries for children and teens?
    • What can we do to improve worker/disciple makers morale and personal satisfaction in their ministry roles?
    • What training do workers/disciple makers need and how can we best provide it?
      Note: It may be helpful to survey all workers/disciple makers using these questions.
  3. Develop and refine the ADM ministry calendar.
    The council’s task is to determine what ministry activities the church will provide. The council will also determine when to conduct the special events it plans.

    Begin planning with a brainstorming session. Consider every possible ministry activity idea. The council may not be able to use every idea suggested. However, it is important to consider every option before beginning the process of evaluation and selection.

    The list of possible ministries and activities should be evaluated by asking these questions:
    • What is the strength of this ministry or event? What needs does it meet?
    • Does this ministry or event complement or compete with others we now have or are considering?
    • What will this ministry or event cost? Where will we get the funds?
    • Do we have or can we provide the space and supplies for this ministry or event?
    • Do we have enough workers/disciple makers to carry out this ministry or event? Will doing this overload the workers/disciple makers we have?
    • Is there room on the calendar for this ministry or event? (Note: The council may not be able to answer this question fully until the ADM Coordinator has met with the NDI Board to coordinate the adult calendar with the total church calendar.)

      Based on answers to these and related questions, the council can develop its plan for the year. They can then prepare a calendar of events and submit it to the NDI Board for approval or adjustment.
  4. Plan ways to train and communicate with all ADM workers/disciple makers.
    Training workers/disciple makers and communicating with them regularly are key factors in a successful ADM program. ADM Council members are responsible for training workers/disciple makers. Sometimes information should flow directly from council members to those working under them. Other times the council will work together to provide training. Sometimes training will be coordinated under the NDI Board covering all age-level workers/disciple makers. As the council considers training and communication options, they should ask questions like the following:
    • What kind of training do adult workers/disciple makers need?
    • What kind of training do adults need?
    • What form of training and communication can we provide?

Workshops

What should we provide in our local church and what will the district or denominational entities provide? (Note: Some district ADM Councils conduct zone or district training workshops. The local church benefits when the council coordinates training plans with those the district offers. The local ADM Coordinator should consult the district ADM Coordinator for information.)

A local ADM handbook. Items in the book could include:

  • Names and contact information of ADM Council members and other adult workers/disciple makers
  • A brief description of the mission, goals, and objectives of the church’s ministry to adults
  • The mission, goals, and objectives of each ADM ministry the church offers
  • The church’s policies and procedures for conducting ministry to adults. (For example, the procedure for a teacher to arrange for an absence.)
  • A calendar of events for the year
  • A Certificate of Commitment for NDI teachers and workers/disciple makers
  • Training resources such as age-group characteristics of adults, ideas for social events, or teaching tips. (CLT or The Discipleship Place)
  • The Discipleship Place contains a great number of resources which will help in training lay leaders for age-specific ministry.
  • Instructions for using the church’s resource room, including a list of the items the room contains

Presence in the church newsletter or other communication tools. The ADM Coordinator should check with the pastor to see how often ADM can submit information.

Letters or E-mails. Everyone likes to feel appreciated, especially a volunteer. Written communication provides a good way to give a faithful team member a pat on the back or to encourage a discouraged team member.

Presence at church website.

  • What training resources do we have? Consider the following:
  • Information from the district ADM Coordinator and other district ADM Council members. The district may also have a lending library of resources.
  • Training workshops provided by the district or Global Ministry Center (GMC).
  • Continuing Lay Training/Lay Ministry curriculum. For a free Continuing Lay Training list, go to CLT or The Discipleship Place or call 888- 243-2767.
  • Training resources provided in NDI communication to pastors and NDI superintendents. Adult resources are available at https://ndi.whdl.org/en, https://ndi.whdl.org/es and https://www.nazarene.org. The ADM Coordinator should check NDI website for addition resources from the global NDI office.

  1. Prepare a budget and oversee disbursement of finances.
    This task will grow out of discussions of items 1-4 (above). Council members should prepare a budget for their ministry. (Note: This usually happens toward the end of the church’s financial year. If so, a new council will oversee the budget recommendations made by the outgoing council. There may be an opportunity to revise this budget once the new council is in place.) To these requests, the ADM Coordinator may add funds needed for additional expenses.
    Here are typical expense categories for ADM:
    • Curriculum and supplies for all ministry’s activities and events
    • Printing of letters, handbooks, training handouts, and flyers
    • Postage and telephone reimbursement for council members
    • Honoraria and other travel expenses for workshop speakers, special workers/disciple makers,
    • or others who come to the church by invitation
    • Awards for contests or recognitions.

Submit the budget to the NDI Board for approval or revision.
NOTE: See a Simple Sample Budget

  • $3,000 Curriculum and supplies for all ministry’s activities and events
  • $1,000 Printing of letters, handbooks, training handouts, and flyers
  • $500 Postage and telephone reimbursement for council members
  • $1,000 Honoraria and other travel expenses for workshop speakers, special workers/disciple makers, or others who come to the church by invitation
  • $500 Awards for contests or recognitions Total $6,000

6. Assign responsibilities

As the council develops its plans, it should assign responsibilities for carrying out the work. Usually one council member has primary responsibility for a ministry activity or event under a ministry and its volunteers. List what needs to be done, and agree on assignments.

7. Evaluate programs and activities

Some evaluation will occur spontaneously during the year as the council develops and refines its calendar. However, the group should also plan a formal evaluation at the end of the year or beginning of the following year. In this more detailed evaluation, council members should compare what they hoped would happen with what actually happened. Here are suggested questions to consider:

  • Did this ministry or event achieve the goals set for it? Why or why not?
  • How well did adults respond to the ministry or event? How did adults feel about it?
  • What were the strong points of this ministry or event? Can improvements be made?
  • What are the weaknesses or problems in this ministry or event? How can they be corrected?
  • Should this ministry or event be used next year? Why or why not?