Your church or ministry's basis in service should be not only part of obeying Jesus in being salt and light in the world, but also a way to attract qualified members to the church.

1. Develop service project guidelines to further church goals.

2. Identify the steps necessary to plan a successful service project.

3. Recognize the importance of continuity in carrying out service projects.

4. Understand the importance of carrying out service projects

5. Select team members who will enable the church to pursue service goals effectively.

• Inspire and motivate members to increase their service activities
• Attract potential members by demonstrating that church membership is a worthwhile use of time and resources
• Improve the public image of our church while helping people and meeting needs
• Involve all church members and allow family members to participate, as appropriate.

• Needs assessment
• Planning
• Implementation
• Evaluation

Responsibilities

• Follow the four steps of a successful service project.
• Ensure that the church is developing projects that are interesting and relevant.
• Know the resources available

– in our church

– in the community, from non church members, businesses, etc

– other sources

• A needs assessment identifies a community’s most pressing needs and concerns.
• By conducting a needs assessment before starting a project, a church can ensure that their efforts will focus on an actual need rather than a perceived one.
• Needs assessments can also be used to evaluate whether current church service efforts continue to address genuine community needs or need to be
• modified or ended.
• If the needs assessment identifies a need that requires more than one church, work with the Pastor to link arms with another church or Lifestyles or some other local non profit to develop a cooperative service project.

• Evaluate the church’s strengths, weaknesses, and interests to determine which project activities best suit the church’s abilities.
• Identify the community’s greatest needs.
• Match community needs with church interests and abilities.

Needs Assessment Factors

Church Factors:

– Church membership (number, diversity, level of involvement, etc.)

– Success of past projects

– Interests of church members

– Skills and talents of church members

– Financial resources

– Human resources, including:

– Family members

Community factors:

– Strengths and assets of the community

– Short-term and long-term community needs

– Current services offered by governmental or community organizations

– Opportunities for projects

– Challenges to proposed projects

– Financial resources

– Human resources

The community resources that help identify project needs may also have a vested interest in participating in and supporting the project.

• Planning and Implementation
• Set well-defined, measurable goals.
• Determine what can realistically be achieved and divide the project into smaller segments, if necessary.
• Establish a realistic time frame to plan and carry out the project
• Develop a step-by-step strategy.
• Assign responsibilities for each task.
• Identify and use all available resources.

Service Projects: Roles and Responsibilities

• Set well-defined, measurable goals.
• Determine what can realistically be achieved.
• Establish a time frame.
• Develop a step-by-step strategy.
• Assign responsibilities.
• Identify all available resources.
• Develop a budget.
• Promote the project.
• Communicate regularly with everyone involved.
• Planning and Implementation
• Develop a budget.
• Work with church public relations leaders to promote the project and the church’s role in the project.
• Communicate regularly with Members, community members, and those benefiting from the project.

• Sponsor a major community service project each year.
• Actively seek to inform the public about the service projects provided by the church.
• Overcome possible negative attitudes regarding the church by creating service projects that meet real community needs.
• Undertake annual and ongoing projects that make the church visible in the community and that will be clearly identified with the church.

• Share relevant project information including contacts, correspondence, and project materials with incoming church officers

• Did the project meet the community’s needs as envisioned?
• Were most, if not all, church members involved?
• Was there a balance between financial and hands-on assistance?
• Did the project meet community’s needs as envisioned?
• Were most church members involved?
• Was there a balance between financial and hands-on assistance?
• Was there adequate media coverage?
• Was the church able to meet financial demands?
• Was there adequate media coverage of the project?
• Was the church able to meet the financial demands of the project?

• Strong knowledge of/interest in socioeconomic conditions in the community
• A profession related to service, such as:

– Medicine

– Education

– Law enforcement

– Ministry

– Nonprofit organization management

– Social or Civil service

• Experience working with youth or senior citizens
• International study or travel experience, if applicable
• Extensive community volunteer experience
• Enthusiasm
• Heart for people in need