Coptic Orthodox Church Mission Vision Mission Strategy Building

Coptic Orthodox Church Mission Vision, Mission, & Strategy Building a Healthy Church From Member to Missionary

To become a Healthy Church New Member Mature Member Bring In Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Loving Church • Lively Worship • Catechism Course • Dynamic Teaching • Family Counseling • Discipleship programs • Theological School Send Out • Evangelism Programs

New Member – Bring In New Member Mature Member Bring In • • Loving Church • Accepting/Welcoming Others • Visitations of New Members • Agape Church Events Catechism Course • Basic Church Beliefs • Christian Principles (Prayer, Bible) • Understanding Church goals & mission • Evaluation for Baptism Missionary

New Member – Loving Church New Member Mature Member Missionary

New Member – Loving Church Accepting/Welcoming Church • Welcoming Committee Members • At least 3 members in the committee based on size of the church • Members need to arrive at the church on time before the Service • Need a welcoming attitude • Social Responsibilities for the Welcoming Committee • At the door to give new members liturgy books • Show them to their seats • Publicly welcome the new person after the Liturgy- Announce their name and where they are from • Sit with new members and do the following • Talk about the church • Share church schedule • Give small icons with stories • Provide pamphlet on the Coptic Church • Retain contact information in a sign up book to follow up by SMS or other means • Update a notice board located next to the church door with the upcoming week’s activities and schedule

New Member – Loving Church Accepting/Welcoming Church • Welcoming Committee - Spiritual Responsibilities • Meet once a week • Share together in the bible • Prepare for the following week program in church • Following up with the new members and visitors • Resources • Each church must have enough liturgy books for all literate members of the congregation • Pictures of icons and church pamphlets should be obtained from a designated resources office. The committee will be responsible for making sure there is always enough. • Each church will have a book of records to record names, contact info, date of first visit to the church

New Member – Loving Church Visitations • • • • • Purpose of Visitations To know and discover members more intimately To have a presence in the community To link the church and the home Church members have requested to be visited Comfort the sick To show the church loves and cares To monitor members The following groups of people will be visited: Sunday School Youth New members Compound people Visitation Committee Members Have a heart of service Responsible for recruiting a team to go for visitations Team should be aware of local culture before visitation

New Member – Loving Church Visitations • Visitations will be conducted in the following manner • • • Should open with a prayer Speaker(s) should be prepared in advance A general curriculum should be set based on one of the 5 pillars of a good church (put here) Get feedback on visitation from servant Get a record of which areas are being visited Take cards on church celebrations (e. g. Christmas, Easter, New Years) Always carry pamphlets on the church for new members who attend Remind or let people know about schedules of church services Start a new focus on compound people (Doctors and local missionaries) Transport challenges need to be addressed

New Member – Loving Church Visitations • Visitations Committee Responsibilities • • • Meet weekly Prayer meeting and bible sharing Prepare for the week Ensure all resources are available Follow up Resources • Pictures of icons, crosses, and church pamphlets should be obtained from a designated resources office. The committee will be responsible for making sure there is always enough.

New Member – Loving Church Agape & Church Events • Agape Committee Members • Agape meal for all people after liturgy. Love & Fellowship together. Every 3 months, each parish should organize a spiritual day (1 day). A committee needs to be in charge of this and should always be new servants. The day will feature: • • • Must have good communication skills Must be creative people • • • Drama Competition Games Teaching liturgy Agape Choir

New Member – Loving Church Agape & Church Events – Move to Evangelism • • • Every 6 months, each parish / church should organize an open house to (1 day): Explain the church (etc) Teaching Liturgy Support church members in selling their talents Yearly national church gathering of leaders (3 days) Teaching Liturgy Choir competition Drama competitions with a focus on a pre-defined virtue Focus on a character in the bible Resources Coordinate with the different classes / ministries (e. g. choir, Sunday school, etc. ) Each parish should collect from the congregation to be able to put on these spiritual days with help with mother church.

New Member – Loving Church Recommendations • All Committees should be chosen based on the following criteria: • Commitment & punctuality • Leaders of committees should have completed or currently attending the pre-servants course • All members of the committees should have completed the catechism course • Once a month, the committee leader will provide the priest with an update on their activities At Yearly conference committees from the different church to discuss achievements and challenges • At each event discussed above there should be a sign up book for follow up • Each Church or Parish will be required to fill out a report on all Church events for evaluation. •

New Member-Catechism Course New Member • Mature Member Missionary The Basis of the course: • … You are a member of God’s very own family and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian (Ephesians 2: 19) • The goal of this course: • … that I will commit myself to our lord and savior Jesus Christ and the Church family. • Who will be responsible to conduct the Catechism course? • Priest or trained deacon • Duration of the Catechism Course • Meeting once per week for a total of 4 weeks at 1 hr per week • Week 5 a test to be given

New Member- Catechism Course Cont…. . • What will the Catechism Course Cover? • “what is the meaning of life” or “Purpose”? • Why Am I Here: • God made me to love me • Created to enjoy a personal relationship with God • What is the Coptic Orthodox Church? • Church of Apostles • Church History • Church Belief & Doctrine • 7 Sacraments • Salvation • Saints • Christian Principles and Practice • Ten Commandments • Sermon on the Mountain • Daily reading of Holy Bible • Life of Prayer • Tithing • Evangelism • Fasting

New Member-Catechism • Criteria for Baptism • Duration • • Completed Catechism course Follow up on daily Christian life by the Father or Servant conducting course One must deny the world and accept the Lord He must be committed as evidence of his conversion and able to show signs of repentance • The time of baptism will depend on the evaluation of the presiding priest • Children should obtain the written consent from the guardians or parents before baptism • Orphans and vulnerable children who have no guardians should be given Godfather or Godmother • Names of the Catechumen should written down and be announce in the church before baptism • We recommend that a person should be baptized after 6 months to 1 year.

Mature Member – Daily Life New Member Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Lively Worship • • Liturgy, Praise, & Overnight Prayer Dynamic Teaching • Family Counseling • Discipleship programs • Pre-Servant/Servant Curriculum • Spiritual Retreats • Reading Programs • Transform Servant to Image of Christ • Preaching Techniques • Small groups to disciple church • Bible Studies • Theological School

Mature Member – Lively Worship New Member Mature Member Daily Life in the Church • Lively Worship • Liturgy • Praise & Worship • Prayer (Overnight) Missionary

Mature Member- Lively Church Liturgy • • Liturgy Books • A uniform Liturgy book that can be used by all Churches. They will be translated into the preferred language for each Church. They will include explanations of what is happening in the Liturgy, pictures of the journey of Christ through the Liturgy, when to sit, bow and stand, etc. Explanation of the Liturgy • The Priest will provide a short explanation of a specific part of the Liturgy Priest Preparation for Liturgy • Priests will prepare their hearts the night before the Liturgy by spending time alone with God, studying the readings deeply, and praying for the hearts of the people in the Church Deacon Training & Preparation for Liturgy • Deacons will prepare their hearts the night before the Liturgy by reading the Bible readings, songs and prayer for an open heart. Priests will teach the deacons the true spirit and beauty of praising God through the Liturgy

Mature Member- Lively Church Liturgy Cont… • • • Teach the People the True Meaning of Praising God • Teach the people that every single person is needed to participate in the Liturgy with their whole hearts. Also, teach the true spirit and beauty of praising God through the Liturgy. Include the People in the Bible Readings • List the Bible readings on a blackboard outside and inside the Church. Invite the people to follow along in their Bibles or read their Bibles when they get home Add Music to the Liturgy Responses • Add lively tunes and instruments to the responses in the Liturgy Explanation of the Connection between the Liturgy Reading • During the Sermon, the Priest will include the common theme in all the Liturgy readings Teach the Symbolism of the Liturgy • In the meetings after the Liturgy, the Priest will visit each meeting and explain the symbolism of a specific part of the Liturgy

Mature Member- Lively Church Praise & Fellowship • Praise & Worship Team • This team is the first to arrive at the Liturgy and all Church events. They warm up the Church and the people with music and song • Spiritual Sundays • Have special Sundays where after the Liturgy, the people come together in fellowship to have food, participate in activities & share testimonies. This invitation will be extended to non-Church members

Mature Member- Lively Church Prayer Praise & Prayer Day • An open invitation to come and sing songs with drums, pray together for the things we need, pray for the sick, hear a 15 minute sharing and listen to testimonies • Tasbeha (Midnight Praises) • This is a night of Vesper Prayers and Doxologies in the local languages, a short Bible study and contemplation • Overnight Prayer Meeting • A theme will be chosen (eg repentance, God’s will, the mission). The Church will pray for theme. A movie that reflects theme will be shown. The Church will share a tea and bread. The meeting will end in a Liturgy. • Servants Prayer Meeting • The servants will come together to hear a teaching, allocate duties, review past and coming weeks, pray and share testimonies. •

Mature Member - Dynamic Teaching New Member Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Dynamic Teaching • Reading Programs (Hosea 4: 6) • We need every church to have a library equipped with books and reading materials. • Reading system must be set up (summarizing a book once a month by the reader) • Magazines and the Newsletter of the church should be printed • Reading & study of the Bible should be encouraged in the church • The reader should be updated with the news of the days • The reader should make his own personal library. (The best reader should be rewarded and the careless should be punished to encourage seriousness)

Mature Member - Dynamic Teaching New Member • Dynamic Teaching • Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church Preaching • Preparation: a. Prayer (Seeking The message from God) b. Allocate time to sit and research from different books c. Giving of the message in a summarized manner d. Learning personally the message before giving it to the people • Content of message a. Focus on Church Calendar year b. Know your Audience c. Be Creative d. Have good presentation e. Application should be relevant

Mature Member - Family New Member Mature Member Daily Life in the Church • Family Counseling • Pre-marital program to prepare couple before marriage • Marriage Counseling to strengthen relationship • Training parents to raise their child in the Lord • Seminar on helping parents to understand their children • Understanding the teenager and youth issues • How to handle alcohol and drug abuse in the families Missionary

Mature Member - Discipleship New Member Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Discipleship Program • Pre-Servant Curriculum a. 2 year program to prepare potential servants to be servants b. Meeting once/week for 2 hours to prepare • Spiritual Retreats a. Goal is to retreat for a weekend to spark spiritual life of believer b. Retreats for all ages including servants • Servant Meetings – Curriculum to keep servant growing weekly • Servant Evaluation – Tracking servant spirituality on monthly basis to help keep them on track to be Image of Christ • Small Groups – Mechanism in which 6 -8 people meet together to be discipled

Mature Member – Discipleship Image of a servant-servant evaluation New Member Mature Member Missionary Image of a Servant Daily Life in the Church • Spirituality of servant • Daily Prayer and Quite time • Daily Bible reading • Reading spiritual books • Attending weekly Liturgies early • Should make every effort to attend at least one liturgy during the week • Visitations at least once every two weeks • Examine himself • Living Gods word in your daily life • Daily Repentance • Confession at least every 6 -8 weeks • Evaluation from the priest • Commitment in the above mentioned topics • Through the servants obedience to the service and to the fathers • Servants flexibility to serve where needed

Mature Member – Discipleship through Small Groups New Member Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Small Groups • What is small groups? a. A small family of between 6 -8 people with one leader b. Should be the same gender and age or married couples c. A small group leader will meet the group weekly d. Goal = To disciple the members of the group e. Format = Prayer, Bible Sharing, Book about topic related to group f. The groups stays accountable for each other through prayer and visitation g. Leader is a guide and friend, not strict teacher

Mature Member – Discipleship through Small Groups New Member Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Small Groups • Why small groups? (Benefits) a. Through this discipleship group we create devoted followers of Jesus b. Church members begin to feel accepted in the church community as a family c. Members offer confidentiality and support while transformation is happening d. Members can encourage each other to make decisions through prayer

Mature Member – Discipleship through Small Groups New Member Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Small Groups • How to Start Small groups as a church? a. Announce to leaders (servants, deacons) and explain small groups b. Announce for 3 weeks about small groups in the church and have sign up cards c. Youth age and below should have parent/guardian approval d. The church will organize the people signed up into groups and assign leader e. Leaders should be trained and receive curriculum for group f. Once Leader gets his group names, he/she will contact them and organize weekly meeting g. Meet at various members home to make it more personal h. Leader will evaluate the meeting every month and make any changes necessary i. As new members come into the church, they can placed into an existing group

Mature Member – Theological School New Member Mature Member Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Theological School • 2 year program (Boarding) • Theology, Bible, & Mission Training • Practical Application • Preparing future leaders and missionaries to lead areas or projects • Transform life of leader

Missionary – Send Out New Member Mature Member Missionary Send Out • Evangelism Programs

Missionary – Send Out New Member Mature Member Missionary Send Out • Evangelism Programs • What is Evangelism? • It means reach out to men and women even children and the youth who do not have a relation with the lord to bring them to have that personal relationship. • Thereby fulfilling the great Commission according Matthew 28: 19.

Missionary – Send Out New Member Mature Member Missionary Send Out Evangelism Programs How to Start? • Every local Church should identify Servants/deacons who will • • • be trained to be on the evangelism team and reporting to the priests And every local church should report to the Evangelism Steering Committee monthly Ushers should be well trained to follow up with people who from evangelism events Organize literature material such as pamphlets All members of the church have to support to Evangelism events Invite International guest speakers who are orthodox priests Target areas

What every member needs to do New Member Bring In Mature Member Daily Life in the Church 1. Complete Catechism Course 2. Weekly Worship Services 3. Sign up for Small group 4. Attend Spiritual Retreats 5. Pre-Servant Course 6. Servant Meetings 7. Theological School Missionary Send Out 8. Evangelism Team

Steering Committee Leader New Member Mature Member Bring In • • Loving Church • • Fr Timothy Mena Attwa Catechism Course • Fr Mark Missionary Daily Life in the Church • Lively Worship • • Fr Joshua Grace Attwa • Fr Thomas • Fr Abraham • • Pre-Servant -Fr Joseph Servant-Father Jacob Small Group-Dalia Fam Retreats – Fr. Elisha • Fr Elisha • Dynamic Teaching • Family Counseling • Discipleship programs • Theological School Send Out • Evangelism Programs • Fr Bishoy