Five Year Ministry Plan
November, 2006
Defined: Through The Roof is a special needs ministry for individuals and families affected by disability as a result of physical, developmental, sensory, and cognitive challenges.
Basis: This ministry is founded upon the ministry of Jesus Christ, especially as portrayed in the Gospels. It’s apparent Jesus had compassion for those with a variety of challenges, and it’s the goal of this ministry to emulate Christ in all we do.
Vision:
1. Bayside will be recognized in the region as the church which welcomes and accepts all those affected by disability.
2. Every individual and family in our region affected by disability will have the opportunity for a meaningful relationship with Christ.
Long-term Vision:
1. Attract: Reach out with the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those affected by disability throughout our region.
2. Attach: Minister to the spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and practical needs of those affected by disability within the Bayside Family of Churches.
3. Accelerate: Provide opportunities for those affected by disability to pursue personal growth--spiritual, emotional, and character.
4. Activate: Provide opportunities for those affected by disability to discover, develop, and use their God-given gifts to minister to others.
Goals:
1. Attract:
a. Conduct regularly scheduled outreach
i. The Bayside disAbility Faire to be held annually, typically in the fall.
ii. The Disability Awareness Weekend to be held the same weekend of the disAbility Faire featuring a high profile guest speaker, or testimonies of a few Baysiders.
iii. FridayNite KidzKlub will be on the first Friday of each month except in December.
iv. Thrive disability ministry workshops will be in April.
v. A fee-based disability ministry training session will be offered each summer to individuals and other churches.
b. Other means of reaching out to the community.
i. Develop an accessible transportation ministry in order to fulfill the mandate in Luke 14.
ii Develop teen and adult developmentally-delayed ministries (True Treasures).
iii. Target the disability community via various print media.
iv. Meet with individuals and families as opportunities present themselves.
c. Develop and manage website.
i. The Bayside website special needs page and the Through The Roof website will be continually enhanced to be user-friendly, informative, and seeker-attracting.
2. Attach:
a. Plug people in to various programs.
i. Continue to offer a monthly short-term respite for families with special needs children so parents can enjoy a three hour time-out (FridayNite KidzKlub).
ii. Continue to offer a special needs room during the weekend services so parents can attend a church service (Rainbow Room).
iii. Further develop the inclusion program so higher functioning special needs children can attend a typical Sunday school class with a one-on-one mentor (Include Me Klub).
iv. Develop a parent supportnetwork for moms, dads and couples.
v. Organize various social events for families to attend, such as Christmas parties, summer picnics, and family camps
b. Offer opportunities to connect.
i. Encourage people utilizing our programs to attend Bayside services.
ii. Encourage new believers and attendees to attend the 101 class to become members.
3. Accelerate
a. Conduct Bible studies
i. Offer When God Weeps, a study designed by Joni Eareckson Tada, to help understand God’s view and purpose for suffering.
ii. Offer typical small groups and Bible studies which are fully accessible.
iii.Encourage underdeveloped believers to participate in aBayside discipleship group.
b. Assign reading materials.
i. Offer Christian reading materials which line up with Bayside’s core values in order to promote spiritual growth and a clear understanding of Christian values.
c. Offer prayer opportunities.
i. Because an active prayer life promotes faith and maturity, opportunities to pray for each other and others will be offered as needs arise.
4. Activate
a. Offer appropriate opportunities to every person to serve regardless of their physical or mental ability.
i. Offer Hearts in Motion, a study designed by Joni Eareckson Tada, to provide the Biblical basis for disability ministry and help prepare the hearts of those wishing to serve.
ii. Identify those capable of leadership roles.
iii. Plug others into suitable positions within the ministry.
iv. Encourage all to serve in other Bayside ministries as well.
Action Items outline
2007:
· Develop a quarterly newsletter beginning in January.
· Host a Joni and Friends Sacramento Area Disability Ministry Network Meeting on January 9.
· Develop a promotion team for Joni and Friends’ Family Retreats beginning in February.
· Develop a quarterly Parent Resource Group beginning in March.
· Form a Wheels for the World team for the VBS Missions Project, collection events, and missions in May.
· Host a disAbility ministry training sessiong in June.
· Develop a developmentally-delayed teen social group and Sunday school class beginning in September (subject to room availability).
· Plan and host the Community Care Faire and the disAbility Awareness Weekend at Bayside in October.
· Develop an accessible transportation ministry beginning in November.
· Host the 2nd Annual TTR Christmas Celebration on December.
2008:
· Implement a ministry for developmentally-delayed adults, which is to include a Sunday school class and monthly social activity group (True Treasures).
· Develop a resource booklet for families affected by disability.
· Develop a ministry for mothers of special needs children (Mom’s Night Out).
· Plan and present an annual, fee-based, disability ministry conference in order to equip other churches throughout northern
· Develop or partner with a construction company to make accessibility modifications to single family homes (Barn Raisers).
2009:
· Hire a deaf pastor and plant a church for the deaf, hard of hearing and their families. (possibly use a church plant location when not in use)
· Formulate a long range plan to develop a special needs day care center.
· Formulate a long range plan and partner with a home investor (Maury Kroth) to develop a special needs group home for young adults.
2010:
· Formulate a long range plan to develop an accessible family camp (to be used for weekend respites also).
· Partner with an investor or raise funds to purchase a facility for the day care center.
· Grand opening of the accessible special needs group home for young adults.
2011:
· Grand opening of special needs day care facility with inclusive therapy center.
· Complete planning and begin construction and/or renovation of a fully accessible family camp center.
Vital Statistics: Disability organizations estimate 90% of the disabled are unchurched, and 80% of families affected with disability end in divorce. According to the 2000 Census Bureau 12%, or 1 in 8.5, Placer County residents are disabled (ages 5+ with a long-lasting sensory, physical, mental or self-care disability). When children under 5 are factored in, the number greatly increases.
Guiding Passage: In the parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus instructs us to:
”Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.”…”Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be full.” Luke 14:21b, 23
Note: It is not an objective of this ministry to promote physical healing. Rather, it will encourage all to attain spiritual healing.
