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ChurchCare Follow-up & Visitation Planning Guide

Table of Contents  …………………....                    I
Foreword         …………………………                   II                                           Author  ……………………………….....                   III
Acknowledgments  …………………..                    IV

Chapter 1:                        Introduction  ….….                        1-1

Chapter  2:                        Set-up …………….                        2-1

Chapter  3:                        Operations ……….                        3-1

Chapter  4:                        Technology ……...                        4-1

Chapter  5:                        Appendix  …………                       5-1

 
Forward:   By Tommy Barnett, Senior Pastor, Phoenix First Assembly

The success of your Deacon Ministry will be one of your greatest assets in growing your church and developing new Christians into victorious living. After an altar call, when everyone goes home and all is quiet, I’ve often wondered at the path of the new converts who proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.  Do they fall by the wayside?  on rocks? amongst  thorns? or on good ground?  (Luke 8:5).  After the Deacon Ministry was formed at Phoenix First, I had to wonder no more.  This Ministry is not only instrumental in our multiplication, it also gives me peace, knowing that every new convert and visitor to our church is ministered to in their home or via a telephone visit, thereby ensuring spiritual growth and personal needs are met.

This ChurchCare Follow-up & Visitation Planning Guide will give you a practical  hands–on, step-by-step approach to organizing and maintaining your ministry.  This is not just a theory, but rather a concept that has been proven here at Phoenix First Assembly since 1991 and is based on our Deacon Ministry’s philosophy of  “Everyone Deserves a Visit”, a 21^st century approach to a 1^st century method for ChurchCare.  This book is guaranteed to be one of your most valuable assets in organizing your new ChurchCare Ministry. 

I first met Derick and his wife Annette, in February 1993. They were attending our annual Pastors and Leaders School. Derick joined our staff in 1994 and became pastor of the Deacon Ministry. Coming from a 20year career in business, his progressive management and organizational skills have been a wonderful blessing to our church.   With a heart of compassion and integrity, Derick not only believes in closing the back door, but also desires to help churches successfully open their front door.

Today I am excited for you as a pastor or leader. In this book, you well walk through the process that we have developed in the Deacon Ministry here at Phoenix First and rise up to a higher level, for the glory of God.

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Author:    Derick Sharron

“Excellence in doing, and doing as unto the Lord, and not unto man” is Derick’s motto and his basis for service in the Lord.  Derick was born and raised in Canada, a fourth generation businessman for more than twenty years. He held several offices of leadership in his local church and in the Gideon’s International of Canada, including Trustee on the National Cabinet.

He transitioned from the business world in 1993 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona where he attended Phoenix First Masters Commission. After graduating from Masters and receiving his credentials with the Assemblies of God, he became the Pastor of the Deacon Ministry at Phoenix First Assembly under Senior Pastor Tommy Barnett.  With a congregation of more than 13,000 people, he was ready to serve and God was ready to move greatly, both in Derick’s life and the Ministry.

Derick is responsible for the leadership and training of lay leaders in Follow-up, Visitation and Altar work.  In addition to leading the Deacon Ministry, Derick, along with Len Gavin, developed and produced the “Total Church” software, a complete church visitation follow up and gifting program now used by hundreds of churches across the country.  He also established the Hospitality, Home Fellowship Groups and the Internet Ministries at Phoenix First.

As Co-author of the book, “Everyone Deserves a Visit, ” Derick now focuses his efforts in helping Pastors and church leaders establish ChurchCare ministries. His passion is origination and leadership.

Derick was born in Canada and was blessed to be raised in a Christian home by his parents Joe and Sylvia Sharron. He is happily married to his wife Annette, of twenty-five years, and they reside in Phoenix Arizona with their son Philip. Their daughter Sarah and her husband Charles also live in Phoenix.

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Chapter 1

In This Chapter                                                                  Page

 *   ChurchCare Follow-up & Visitation Deacon Ministry                   1-1

 *   Biblical basis for a ChurchCare Ministry                                         1-4          

 *   ChurchCare in the Old Testament                                                     1-4

 *   Developing your ChurchCare Mission Statement                          1-7

 

“Everyone Deserves a Visit”, our first book, captures the heart of the Deacon Ministry and shows the importance of having an effective follow-up program. In this ChurchCare Planning Guide we will take you step-by-step through the process of setting up and operating a successful ChurchCare ministry. Driven by time-management and organization, combined with a passion to reach souls, several years ago God birthed in my heart this Mission Statement:

“To Bring Business and Ministry Together to Reach our Cities for Christ.”

As Pastor of the Deacon Ministry here at Phoenix First, my Mission Statement began to unfold long before I realized that God was using a lifetime of training to accomplish His purpose.  I began by stressing the importance of service and having the office set up in an efficient user-friendly manner.

I discovered that, when training our Deacon Ministry leaders, it was important to provide them with hands on material.  This supplied them with more than a lecture, it was valuable information they could reflect on and become familiar with such as, the does & don’ts of a Deacon, as well as the policies & procedures of the ministry, plus much more.  

Because of this, our database has expanded with a wealth of information over the years and our Deacon Ministry leaders have developed with confidence and are better equipped to care for people.

The effectiveness of our ChurchCare Deacon Ministry has brought me to another level, one in which I had to prepare to answer the questions of Pastors and Leaders across the country.  Questions such as: “How does Phoenix First accomplish Follow-up?  How do you train your people? And do you have training material available to share with other churches?”…  

This Planning Guide is the answer to every Pastor and Leader who asked the above questions and whose goal it is to have a successful Follow-up and Visitation Team! Each chapter of this planning guide is dedicated to a key area of the ministry. The worksheets are specifically designed to help focus you’re thought processes to determine your mission, type of operations, organization and technology that is best suited to your environment. It will help you develop plans, mobilize your people for leadership and also plan your implementation.

I firmly believe the time you expend on this Planning Guide will be multiplied back to you in more ways than you could have imagined. Firstly, your ChurchCare Team will expand and become more proficient and you, their Pastor and Leader will be more equipped to prepare and maintain an effective follow-up plan for your church.  

My prayer as you apply this Planning Guide is that God will reveal His plan for you, stir up what He’s put inside you and cause you to take action towards an even greater plan for His church. Remember, you are not created to be all things to all people, take the time to train your people, then release them so together you will be a Team.


(The preceding is the Intro to Chapter 1)

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Chapter 2

In This Chapter                                                                  Page

 *    Introduction                                                                                         2-1

 *    Starting your ChurchCare Ministry                                                  2-2

 *    Develop a Time-Line Strategy                                                           2-5


The time has come to put your vision in place.  This chapter is focused on the start up of your Ministry.  Be sure to fortify your Ministry in prayer from the onset. Also keep in mind the vision of Corporate America / Ministry America as you approach your goal. It is recommended that a target end date be designated before you get started.  Assign completion dates to each set of tasks to enable you to establish milestones and determine issues that may hinder the target end date for breaking ground in your Ministry. 

The dedication and commitment of your volunteers and paid staff is your key to success, so choose carefully. 

As you begin to put things in place, your sense of accomplishment will grow.  It is always a rewarding experience to start at the beginning and see your vision taking form.  

The two key points to remember in this chapter are:

       ü      Designate a timeline before you get started and assign a target end date.

      ü  The importance of promotion and sponsorship from the Senior Pastor.

(The preceding is the Intro to Chapter 2)

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Chapter 3

In This Chapter                                                                 Page

*   Introduction  ……………………………………………….               3-1
*   ChurchCare Ministry Structure and Policy                                       3-2
*   Office Procedures  …………………………………………                3-3
*   ChurchCare Training and Development                                            3-6
*   ChurchCare Home Study Course  ………………………….           3-11
*  Graduating Anointing Service                                                            3-12
*   Weekly ChurchCare Meetings  …………………………….           3-12
*  ChurchCare Leadership Meetings                                                     3-15
*   Special Annual Events  …………………………………….            3-17
*   ChurchCare Communications                                                            3-18
*  Tools to get the Job done     ………………………………….         3-20

This chapter focuses on the procedural aspects of the Ministry such as Training, Scheduled Meetings, Communication, Ministry Tools and more.  We’re going to introduce a lot of new forms and terms. Every subject referred to in this section has some significance in the Ministry.  We sometimes have a tendency to opt for the short cuts to get things done quickly, yet, it’s these same short cuts that lead to failure. We urge you to take the time required and follow through on the guidelines in this workbook. 

The two key points to remember in this chapter are: 

     ü      Schedule weekly ChurchCare Ministry meetings and encourage all your Deacons to attend on a regular basis.

     ü    Communication is the glue that keeps the Ministry together.  

(The preceding is the Intro to Chapter 3)

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Chapter 4

In This Chapter                                                                 Page

*    Introduction     
CMS  -  Church ManagementSystems                                                      4-1

(The preceding is the Intro to Chapter 4)

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Chapter 5

In This Chapter                                                                 Page

*   Contents   ………………………………………                                 5-1
*   Ministry Flow Chart                                                                             5-2
*   Ministry Policy   ………………………………                                  5-3          
*   Ministry Position Guidelines                                                              5-4
*   Office Schedule and Responsibility List   …                                    5-5           
*   TotalChurch - Receiving Completed Visitation Procedures           5-7          
*   TotalChurch - Assigning Visits   …………                                       5-8
*   Zip Code List                                                                                         5-9
 *   Visitation Codes List   ………………………                                    5-11        
*   New Leader Welcome Letter                                                              5-12
*   Altar Worker Resource   ……………………                                    5-13         
*   Training To-Do List                                                                             5-14        
*   Training Check-List   ………………………                                       5-15
*   Training Note Pad                                                                                 5-16         
*   Training Prospect List   ……………………                                       5-17        
*   Training Agendas                                                                                 5-18
*   ChurchCare Application / Recommendation Form                          5-20         
*   Training Registration and Sign-up Forms                                         5-22        
*   New ChurchCare Partner Office Visit   ……                                      5-25
*   ChurchCare Training Certificate                                                         5-26         
*   New Partner Welcome Letter   ……………                                       5-27        
*   Personal Development                                                                         5-28
*   ChurchCare Training Skit Dialogues   ……                                      5-30         
*   Training Test Assignments                                                                5-34        
*   Weekly ChurchCare Meeting Schedules   …                                   5-40
*   Weekly ChurchCare Meeting Resource Table Checklist                5-41         
*   Home Visit Resource  …………………………                                   5-42        
*   Televisit Resource                                                                                 5-43
*   ChurchCare Yearly Planner   …………………                                   5-44         
*   ChurchCare Events Resources                                                            5-45
*   ChurchCare Promotional Material  …………                                     5-47
*   TotalChurch Resource Products                                                         5-49

(The preceding is the Intro to Chapter 5)