Pastor Ritter ~ March
I was honored to be able to share about the excitement we have been experiencing here at Immanuel with friends and colleagues last month down in Phoenix at the Best Practices for Ministry conference. It was my third time attending this conference and I am already looking forward to the next time I will get to attend. It is such an uplifting experience where we share with one another ministry success stories, sit in on biblical studies that feed our faith, and network with other ministry leaders who are there both to be encouraged and to encourage others for the work of the Kingdom.
I often come away with ideas or ministry practices that can be implemented here at Immanuel that will help us to continue to grow and remain focused upon the mission for which God has planted us here in Wisconsin Rapids to do. Sometimes, ministry practices come from experiences we have gained in other settings. Each of your called workers have had experiences in churches or schools outside of Immanuel, some positive and others not as helpful, but all of which have helped to shape us into the ministers of the Gospel that we are today.
As the Senior Pastor, I am blessed and encouraged by all of our workers here. I have the pleasure of working most closely with my operational leadership team made up of Pastor Bryce, Brian Betts, Nic Cass and Jonathan Blum. We have been discussing the objectives for achieving the critical targets set forth by you in our new strategic plan. An idea was shared by Pastor Bryce from his experience while he was in his vicarage that we will be implementing here at Immanuel. It is a way for you as church members to partner with your called ministry staff to plan and carry out ministry.
We are introducing to Immanuel Ministry Action Teams, or MAT’s. Ministry Action Teams (MAT’s) are specialized volunteer groups of church members who come together to accomplish specific tasks, projects, or ongoing ministries. The MAT aims to unite people with shared passions and skills to serve the church family, support community outreach, and foster spiritual growth while operating in concert with the church’s mission, vision and values.
MAT’s are not a new concept, they have been employed in many churches whose goal is to bring together people who are passionate about the gifts that God has given them to join Jesus on his mission to seek and save the lost. What are you passionate about? In what ways can you put to use your gifts and passions to help grow the Kingdom? You are not Alone! There are others like you in this congregation and we are looking to bring you together. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” (Ecc. 4:9)
While we will be announcing opportunities to be a part of a Ministry Action Team here at Immanuel that will help us achieve specific ministry targets, if you have an idea of a ministry that could take place, I would encourage you to speak with me about it and perhaps form a ministry action team that will help us Share the Love of Jesus, Grow in our Faith, and Serve the Community!
Pastor Tim Ritter