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Ministries
Small Groups
Youth Group
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Ministry Philosophy
At Vineyard Church of Delaware County, God has led us into a unique ministry model. Here at VCDC,
we are investing in an integrated, holistic, organic model of ministry that places Jesus in the center
of small group community, small group community at the center of the life of the church, and small group
life as the vehicle for a broad range of ministry activity both inward to the church body and outward to
the community.
In many church models, ministries are launched to meet specific "felt needs" in the congregation or
community. People with a common passion subsequently gather around these worthy causes, so that Jesus'
activity in this specific ministry becomes the common bond of the group. Though this is a completely valid
model of ministry with powerful and effective ministry outcomes, it has been our experience that this "ministry
specialization model" can unintentionally foster a compartmentalization in the church. Often, it becomes
increasingly difficult for one ministry in the church to be conscious of and connected to the other ministries
in the church. Inadvertently, followers of Christ can become specialists in one dimension of the Christian life
to the detriment of growth in a broader experience of Jesus' Kingdom life.
Equipping followers of Jesus for Kingdom usefulness involves engagement in a discovery process that
helps each believer understand how to walk intimately with God. As we walk close to God and engage in
Kingdom service, the Holy Spirit reveals how each person uniquely fits into His body as active participants.
What does this look like practically here at Vineyard Church of Delaware County? Each of our small groups is
committed to growing into a loving community of believers, who- through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and
through diversity of gifts- worship God, pray for one another, care for one another in practical ways, and
disciple together in the scriptures.
This working model is taking shape through our active training of small group members to fulfill vital
ministry needs in their own group. Soon, specialized help will be available in every group; marriage help through trained
marriage mentors, free counseling through trained peer counselors, financial discipleship through trained Crown Financial leaders, and
new believer discipleship available through Alpha Course trainees. In all of these places
of felt need, the trained believer will come alongside the group member, journey through the ministry
experience together (at times taking a multi-week course), and then return to the small group together.
Not only is there this growing ministry to each small group by the small group members, but the group
members also are growing in their ministry as a group to the larger community. This is done
as small groups every month participate in a variety of community outreaches, including but not limited to
community service projects, servant evangelism, feeding the poor, visiting those in prison, praying for
and caring for the sick, random acts of kindness, etc.
By having each group function holistically, the benefits have been significant to creating an "organic"
much more than an "organizational" feel to the church. Greater shared communication and understanding of
the church's mission is accomplished as each believer is integrated in body life as a multifaceted follower
of Christ.
All that to say, the best way to minister and be ministered to within the Vineyard Church of Delaware
County is to become involved in a Small Group.
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