Welcome to the eleventh article in a series designed to enhance the use of the Small Membership Church Guideline. Ideally, this Guideline will be shared among your church leaders, read, discussed together, and used to strengthen ministry. Here are some added nurture ministry suggestions to get the most out of this resource in your small- membership church. (Coordinate this material with content beginning on page 27.)

Define "Nurture"
Use the following questions to help you discern your church's unique ministries that nurture people and help them grow spiritually.

Below you will find some synonyms for the word nurture:

aid	assistance	comfort	cure
help	feed	support	nourish
protect	care	raise	assist

• What stories of Jesus' life come to mind as you read these words? How has Jesus nurtured your life? How have you felt yourself nurtured by other Christians?
• Is there a difference between taking care of a congregation's members and making/developing disciples? If so, how would you describe it?

Organize and Assess Your Church's Nurture Ministries
Forming a team of people who will work on developing nurture ministries in the congregation or charge is important. Even the smallest churches should have more than one person working in this area. A representative from nurture should be on the church leadership council. Some congregations form a nurture ministry team by gathering the people who already lead various ministries that fit in this area: Sunday school superintendent, VBS coordinator, fellowship group leaders (UMYF, UMM, UMW), worship leader, and others. Other congregations try a seasonal approach to teamwork. They invite different people to plan the liturgical times of the year: Advent/Christmas; Lent/Easter; Pentecost/Summer and Ordinary Times (including fall). These teams consider the nurture ministries of the season (ongoing and special) and make sure that they happen. Whatever form of organization you find useful, assessing and enhancing your nurture ministry is essential. Begin by asking the following questions:

• How does your church nurture its members to become disciples of Jesus Christ?
• What are the various nurture ministries taking place at the church? You may wish to categorize them as follows:
  1. Educational (learning for all ages; at the church or in the community)
     Best Examples:

   

  2. Fellowship (intergenerational or age-level community building)
     Best Examples:

   

  3. Physical and emotional support (wholistic care, accessibility awareness, homebound ministries, wellness support)
     Best Examples:

   

  4. Worship (spiritual life and renewal of community)
     Best Examples:

Review your list carefully. Star those nurturing ministries provided by your pastor.

• How do these ministries help people become and grow as disciples?
• What does the information in this section tell you about who is being nurtured? how? by whom?

Look Ahead to New Possibilities
Identify specific nurture needs (in both your congregation and wider community) that are not currently being met in the following areas:

• Education and Christian formation
• Fellowship
• Physical and emotional care and support for people of all ages, including the elderly
• Worship
• Pastoral ministry
• Development of disciples

Think about what God might be calling you to do so that each member or person associated with your congregation feels loved and supported to grow in faith. Dream a little!

What new nurture ministries could you add to the ones already being accomplished at your church?

Finally, think of one person who is new to your church, home/community, work place, and school. How will you be a part of nurturing him or her in the faith?

Copyright © 2004 The General Board of Discipleship. Permission is granted for use in local church training or study groups. No portion of this article may be reprinted or republished in any form for any other reason without written consent.

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