CareConnect Training

A series of teachings to create a more caring community of connection in our congregation. This training is provided for all Pastoral Staff, Deacons, Deaconess and Care Captains of Tabernacle of Prayer and Latter Church - Pastor Micah J. Scott, Sr. Today's Outline: SPONTANEOUS CARE You don't have to wait for a specific appointment or assignment to reach out and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ. When God puts someone on your heart to call and encourage them, just do it. Or if you just know of a situation and you have the opportunity to do so, step out and be an encouragement. Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) {10} Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. 1 John 3:17 (NKJV) But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? SYSTEMATIC CARE It is also Biblical for pastors to organize members and church leaders to provide a plan and perpetual system of care. A pastor takes better care of his members when visitation and membership care is a shared responsibility. Hebrews describes Moses as being a faithful servant in the house of God. Is it reasonable to think that Moses and/or Joshua made personal house calls to every member of the congregation of Israel? The size of the army alone was over 600,000 men and this did not include women and children. God instructed Moses to set up a system of congregational care in which members would care for one another; and only the more difficult matters would be brought to him. Exodus 18:17-23 (NLT) {17} “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. {18} “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. {19} Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. {20} Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. {21} But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. {22} They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. {23} If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” Deuteronomy 1:15 (NLT) {15} So I took the wise and respected men you had selected from your tribes and appointed them to serve as judges and officials over you. Some were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred, some for fifty, and some for ten. Certainly no one is expected to spend an exorbitant amount of time visiting people. Believers should not need that much visitation to stay committed. Too much visitation is actually discouraged by the Scriptures. Proverbs 25:17 (NKJV) Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you. 1 Timothy 5:13 (KJV) And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. That being said, systematic routine contact with all members should be an ongoing practice of the local church.

GIVING E. A. R. : 1.Encouragement: Encourage in Tribulation – Contacting (visiting) members to comfort those enduring a crisis. James 1:27 (NKJV) {27} Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB) {11} Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 (ESV) {12} We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, {13} and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. {14} And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 2.Appreciation: Maintain through Appreciation — Contacting members for the purpose of maintaining connection and demonstrating general concern. Appreciation – 1: a feeling of being grateful for something. 2: an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something : an ability to appreciate something. Ephesians 1:16 (ESV) I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, Philippians 1:3 (KJV) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 3.Restoration: Regain through Restoration — Contacting and confronting members who have gone astray to encourage them to return to God and the church. Galatians 6:1-2 (KJV) {1} Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. {2} Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. James 5:19-20 (KJV) 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

HOW TO SHOW APPRECIATION – 3 C’S 1. EMPLOY CONNECTION Acts 2:44-46 (KJV) {44} And all that believed were together, and had all things common; {45} And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. {46} And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 2. ENCOURAGE COMMITMENT Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV) {12} Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. {13} But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 3. EXPRESS CONCERN 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (KJV) {25} That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. {26} And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Session 1 - A Biblical Plan for Resilience The primary role of five-fold ministry, including the pastor, is to train the church as whole to care for itself. Ephesians 4:11-12 (HCSB) {11} And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, {12} for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, No one should be released to do membership care, as a representative of the church, without training. Those who represent the church in such a manner should be spiritually mature, sound in the Word and submissive to pastoral leadership. When members are trained to do the work of the ministry, including this responsibility of membership care, the Body of Christ will grow both numerically and spiritually. Why? Because members will be less vulnerable to derailment, deception, division and departure. Ephesians 4:14-16 (HCSB) {14} Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. {15} But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. {16} From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part. My vision of membership care is a vision of shared responsibility. The shepherd/overseer (Senior Pastor) cares for members by feeding, leading, and watching. The pastoral staff, elders, deacons, and deaconess care for members by mentoring, modeling, and mending in an organized manner. The members via Membership Care Captains, care for members through connecting, communicating, comforting and encouraging; as well as through either organized or spontaneous in-reach.