What are Ministry Shares?
Ministry shares are a system where congregations pool their financial resources to support shared ministries and denominational programs that one church could not afford on its own. This allows them to fund a wide range of activities, such as supporting missionaries, training church leaders, providing resources for congregations, and supporting specialized ministries like chaplaincy and disability concerns. This "crowdfunding" model works by combining contributions from many individuals and congregations to achieve a greater, more impactful outcome, and solicited without cost.
Greater than this, the ministry share system flows out of CRCNA's ecclesiology: the understanding of local congregations being one (covenanting) with the regional church and bi-national church. The exercise of stewardship has worldwide dimensions where believers function as members of the church at home and of the church 'universal'. (Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary, H. deMoore, pg.343-346).
Greater than this, the ministry share system flows out of CRCNA's ecclesiology: the understanding of local congregations being one (covenanting) with the regional church and bi-national church. The exercise of stewardship has worldwide dimensions where believers function as members of the church at home and of the church 'universal'. (Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary, H. deMoore, pg.343-346).
How do Ministry Shares work?
Pooling resources: Individual congregations contribute to a central fund, creating a larger pool of money.
- Funding shared initiatives: This fund is then used to support ministries and programs that benefit the entire denomination, both locally and globally.
- Stewardship and cost-effectiveness: The system is considered a cost-effective way to fund necessary programs, as it allows for larger-scale impact than individual congregations could achieve alone.
- Undesignated gifts: In many cases, "ministry shares" are undesignated gifts, meaning they are used where the need is greatest across the denomination's various ministries.
What do Ministry Shares Support?
- Church planting and development: Starting new churches and providing grants to help them grow. For example, local church plants like the nearby Fort Saskatchewan church, The Bridge, is supported by these programs.
- Leader training: Funding seminaries, training for pastors and deacons, and other leadership development programs. For example, Generation Spark, and Thrive Supports (safe church, disability concerns, pastor church relations etc) which are available to all CRC's in North America.
- Missionary work: Supporting missionaries around the world who are involved in evangelism, education, and translation. For our church, we have been specifically supporting Adrianna and Raul Herrrera, as well as Dr. Selena Headley. Resonate has missionaries in over 40 countries. Check them out here: www.resonateglobalmission.org/support/our-missionaries
- Specialized ministries: Providing resources for chaplains, disability advocates, racial reconciliation efforts, and safe church initiatives.
- Ministry support: Funding regional teams, administrative staff, and developing resources like Sunday school materials. For example, the Dwell Curriculum that we use in our CovKids and CovYouth programs.
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