C.A.R.E. What?
What would a member do on a typical night of C.A.R.E.?
Agenda
An agenda gives us a plan. It has been said that when we fail to plan we plan to fail. It is important that our C.A.R.E. night flow from the beginning to end. To accomplish this we need to understand the segments that go into an effective night and the times in which to start and stop them. An example Thursday night agenda for team members would be as follows:
6:00pm Set Up & Supper
Team members arrive and help with last minute set up and sit down to have a meal together. This segment of the agenda fosters fellowship among C.A.R.E. members and creates a healthy working environment. This segment should be communicated as optional because some members may choose not to participate in supper.
6:30pm Sign In & Sign Up
All team members should arrive in the next fifteen minutes. They should be greeted and encouraged to sign in. It is healthy if every member has been given a nametag. Nametags will help leaders and members get to know each other on a first hand basis. The team member then signs up by choosing an avenue and assignment in which they would like to participate in.
6:45pm Welcome & Work
At this point in the evening the C.A.R.E. captain will give a welcome, pray and explain any specific instructions for the night. The team member will then pick up their assignments and begin to work.
7:30pm Celebration & Clean Up
The last segment of the C.A.R.E. agenda is to celebrate what happened that night. This gives leadership the opportunity to share a little about what went on in their avenue of C.A.R.E. Take a moment and pray to the Lord of the harvest and thank Him for what He did and is going to do as a result of C.A.R.E.
Avenues
These avenues answer the question, Where can I C.A.R.E.? The answers are the broad scope of ministry that should be done by every church.
Church Inreach
This avenue of C.A.R.E. is ministering and meeting needs within your church. We must not reach out at the expense of our own people. Your people need to know that a giant push is taking place to impact the community but their needs will not be sacrificed. This avenue of C.A.R.E. will increase the health of your church. In history every great nation has fallen from within. You cannot allow this to happen to your church. The following eight assignments will be given in this avenue and answer the question, What do I do to C.A.R.E.?
Community Outreach
The next, and probably most recognizable avenue of the C.A.R.E. ministry is community outreach. One of our most important functions as a church body is to transport our C.A.R.E. outside of the four walls of the sanctuary. Refer once again to the great commission found in Matthew 28:19. We should be about the business of going out. The C.A.R.E. ministry embraces this New Testament command in several ways. The C.A.R.E. ministry effectively covers a wide span of outreach needs. From the weekly prospect to a divine appointment, the outreach ministry of C.A.R.E. is a vital, and active agent of this ministry. The following assignments answer the question, What do I do to C.A.R.E.?
Hand Reach
This avenue of C.A.R.E. is important and essential. It applies to the people gifted with administration, craftsmanship and creativity. The tasks that seem tedious to most are tremendous opportunities for others to truly C.A.R.E. for the church and community. The following assignments answer the question, What do I do to C.A.R.E.?
Heart Reach
Hospitality is an exciting, necessary avenue of the C.A.R.E. ministry. Hospitality is the springboard which frees other team members to exercise their gifts. This is not busy work. Each and every facet of the C.A.R.E. ministry is important. There are no unneeded jobs and unnecessary people. The person who participates in the avenue of hospitality has just as much a part in the salvation of an evangelistic prospect as the person who actually led them to Christ. In fact, not having hospitality in your C.A.R.E. ministry will keep many of your people from having the opportunity to C.A.R.E.. The following assignments answer the question, What do I do to C.A.R.E.?
Up Reach
The next, and most vital avenue of the C.A.R.E. ministry is prayer. How many times have our best laid efforts failed as a result of not bringing them before the throne of God? Prayer is the grease that keeps the C.A.R.E. ministry on the move. You will find that by praying for your C.A.R.E. ministry, you will empower the efforts of your ministry team. Prayer is an area in which each and every born again member of your church is qualified to participate. Prayer is our power source. A light cannot shine unless it is plugged into an outlet of power. Without its source of power it is little more than a stumbling block in a dark room. In the same sense, your C.A.R.E. ministry is utterly dependant upon prayer. It is the difference between being a good ministry and a C.A.R.E. ministry.
Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known unto God.”
Philippians 4:6
God desires our prayers. He is concerned and conscientious about your needs and the needs of your community. The following assignments answer the question, What do I do to C.A.R.E.? With these facts in mind, let us pray!
