Ministry Expansion

 

African national ministries works with African congregation working on expanding their mission and ministry in multiple ways. Once mission congregations select an entry way, mission model and intentional mission design they move forward with the work. However on the mission field they may encounter an actual fast or slow growth pace, new mission and ministry opportunity or challenge. In all of those mission encounters EOCM through its African national ministries office consults with the mission community, mission developers, mission directors and Synod leaders to find alternative routes of ministry expansion.

The most usual juncture where possibilities of expansion begin to be explored in and among African national ministries can be listed as follows:

· Ministry to second generation immigrants

· Transitioning from ethnic/language specific to multicultural and multilingual ministry

· Expanding mission and outreach to the neighborhood

· Joint ministry with host/companion congregation

· Social service and advocacy ministries

· Large African congregations starting new churches or satellite ministries

· One church multiple location where there are same communities in close geographical proximities

· Nation specific ministries becoming multi national ministries

The effort to expand our ministries is happening more and more around the country as mission developers and communities under development realize the missional possibilities. Furthermore the African national ministries office continues to partner with African national ministries and other organized ELCA congregations to help with mission and ministry revitalization or expansion.