Ministry Resources
Practical articles from ACT International and MinistryHelp — covering generosity, fund management, accounting, marketing, and more. Everything a ministry leader needs to run a healthy, sustainable organization
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Technology and Innovation: Leveraging Technology to Improve Operations, Enhance Communication, and Support Program Delivery in Christian Nonprofits
In today’s digital age, technology is not just a tool but a transformative force that can significantly elevate the mission of Christian nonprofits. With the right strategies, technology can streamline operations, increase effective communication, and enhance program delivery, ultimately allowing ministries to serve communities more effectively and fulfill their mission more efficiently.
Strategic Planning: Developing and Implementing Long-term Strategies to Achieve Your Ministry’s Mission and Goals
Today, Christian nonprofits face both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Ensuring the long-term sustainability and impact of your ministry requires more than passion and commitment—it necessitates a strategic approach to planning and execution. Strategic planning is not merely a bureaucratic exercise; rather, it's a vital process that aligns your organization’s mission with actionable steps, stewarding resources effectively to amplify your impact.
Securing the Future: Strategic Planning for Sustainability and Growth in Christian Nonprofits
Increasingly Christian nonprofits are called to not only address immediate needs but also to ensure that their missions endure over time. Achieving sustainability and growth is essential for organizations that want to have a lasting impact. Key strategies for this include diversifying funding sources and investing in capacity building. By effectively planning for the long term, nonprofits can strengthen their foundations, increase their resilience, and expand their ministries.
Strengthening Your Mission: The Power of Partnerships and Collaboration
In today’s interconnected world, Christian nonprofits face both unprecedented opportunities and challenges in fulfilling their missions. Among the most effective strategies for amplifying your impact is the cultivation of strong partnerships and collaboration with other ministries, businesses, and community groups. By engaging in these partnerships, Christian nonprofits can enhance resource sharing, broaden their reach, and increase their ability to serve others in alignment with their core values.
A Tale of Two Fishermen
Did you realize that day wasn’t the first time Andrew and Peter had met Jesus? It’s true. According to John 1, they had both encountered Jesus much earlier while Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist far away from the Sea of Galilee.
Are You Reflecting or Directing?
Let me admit this right up front—I’m a child of the ‘60’s. Although I grew up in Waco, Texas, our family spent most summers in Boulder, Colorado where my Dad taught summer classes at Colorado University. Talk about a clash of cultures!
The Secret Place
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6
Psalm 139
Psalm 139 invites us into a profound exploration of the intimate relationship we share with our Creator. In its verses, we encounter the comforting truth that God knows us intimately, from the depths of our thoughts to the intricacies of our being. The psalmist marvels at the inescapable presence of God, acknowledging that no corner of existence is hidden from His Divine gaze.
The Historical, Biblical, and Spiritual Significance of the Advent Season
The Advent season, with its rich tapestry of traditions and symbols, has evolved over the centuries to become a cherished time of anticipation and reflection for Christians worldwide. Let’s explore the historical development of Advent, tracing its roots from the early Christian church to the diverse practices observed in contemporary times.
Relating Imagination to Worship
Worshiping the true and living Triune God, at its core, is participating in the mystery of reverentially approaching the morally beautiful, Supreme and Transcendent One through the work of Christ as energized by His Holy Spirit.
Embodying Grace
When it comes to personal evangelism, feelings of obligation, guilt, and duty have never been effective motivators for me. On the other hand, experiences of God’s provision, accessibility, love, and forgiveness naturally flow out of me in Gospel witness to others.
A Biblical Definition of an Artist
The first area of expertise for the “artist” involves craftsmanship. The term craftsman seems the best biblical expression for what people today think of as an artist. Certainly, there are numbers of different kinds of crafts, industries, and trades noted in the Scriptures. There are at least nineteen different artistic crafts mentioned in the Bible. But craftsman seems to be one of those wide-ranging terms, a class term, that serves as an umbrella under which exist many more specific craft areas.
The Importance of Public Worship
When people worship in public, their worship is more fully facilitated by their environment, the influences of worship leadership, their understanding of theology, and the cultural contexts surrounding them. People come together, in some sort of “environment,” to participate in human activities, that involve metaphors and symbols. When the experience is genuine, fused with reverence and faith focused on God, the worshiper often comes to a point where the “whole” of the experience is greater than the sum of its parts.
Foundational Habits All Disciples Practice
The four Gospels articulate four foundational habits the LORD Jesus Himself practiced and that He advocated for the first disciples. We’ve already discussed companioning in a previous blog post (The Importance of Companioning with God) but there are three more to consider:
1) Daily meeting God in His Scriptures (the Word);
2) Daily connecting with supportive relationships (fellowship) with fellow believers; and,
3) Daily serving others on God’s behalf (serving).
Ethnic Arts — A Key to Mission Strategy
Missionaries today stand increasingly aware of the need to acculturate as much as possible their message and work. Dr. Leonard Rascher of Moody Bible Institute has stated that “the overriding objective (of missionary training) . . . is to sensitize . . . (those) from the majority culture with regard to (the nuances of cross-cultural communications) as it relates to those in minority cultures.” Moreover, it is obvious that those in mission work must continually press toward increasing their sensitivity to the dynamics of culture. Only in this manner can we even attempt to avoid the mistakes of our past.
An Interview with Melodie Tunney
We are excited to introduce you to a new member of our ACT Intl staff. Meet Melodie Tunney (also known as “Mel”). Melodie has been involved in the Christian music industry in multiple ways – as a studio singer, songwriter, and artist touring with First Call and also with her husband Dick. Together, they have won 10 Dove Awards, and received 3 Grammy nominations. We are happy to now have her on our team! Our Founder and President, Byron Spradlin, recently spoke with Mel and here’s their conversation.
The Essence of Worship
While people may attempt to categorize worship as public or personal (corporate or private), all worship is personal. Musicians may lead a congregation in corporate praise but, that which goes on in the heart–communication between God and the worshiper–can only be experienced personally. And every person’s worship experience is different. This is because worship is experienced in the heart.
Sowing and Reaping is A Process
God created the sowing and reaping process (Genesis 1), and it is just that—a process. As with any process, there is a predictable and tangible outcome that comes from following the guidelines or principles that process requires.
Who is God?
If worship is to be central in all areas of our church life, then the question must be asked, “Who is God”? To answer this question, four major theological realities must be articulated: 1) God is supreme, 2) God is holy, 3) God is the Creator, and 4) God is hesed-love.
Evangelism, Imagination, and Artists — A Critical Mix for Modern
My life’s work and my passion are to motivate the Church toward thinking more deeply and seriously about the importance of creatives and artists who serve as “imaginative expression specialists.” And, toward these ends, my goal is for pastors and others in church leadership to treat singers, musicians, fine artists, dancers, and others as not just performers but as key strategists on their evangelism and outreach teams. Why? Because God has gifted artists with the ability to uniquely communicate his infinite, unfathomable transcendence.