NETWORKS

 Partnering With a Purpose 

"Connecting leaders for personal growth, church health and multiplication"

What is a Network?

A network is a small group of ministry peers in which...

• relationships of mutual support and accountability are nurtured;
• personal leadership skills are sharpened;
• progress toward increased church health, growth and multiplication is stimulated.

 Why Invest in Networks?

All of us are better than any one of us.  Together we can accomplish more than we ever could individually.  We learn best through active participation and interactive dialogue.  Rather than focus on experts dispensing advise, we want to facilitate peer learning.  Like small groups in a local church, networks in our larger family of churches, break our district into smaller units.  Networks will serve as our primary delivery system for advancing our mission of becoming a growing network of healthy, reproducing churches.

How are Members of Network  Grouped Together?

The key factor is affinity rather than geography.  To maximize the value of a network, participants need to share common ministry challenges which often relate to the size of a church.  Leaders of ethnic churches are often grouped together because of the unique issues they share.  Pastoral staff members are linked on the basis of common ministry focus: adult, youth, children, worship, etc.

How Often Do Networks Meet?

It is suggested that 6 days a year be allotted for network meetings.  The optimal arrangement would be 4 meetings a year, 1½ days each.  At times networks may choose to go on field trips, visiting model ministries or attend a training event together.  Flexibility and creativity are high values.

What is Expected of Network Participants?

·         Attend faithfully and participate actively.

·         Commit to completing action items.

·         Develop and share a personal growth plan.

·         Develop and share a strategic plan to lead their church toward increased health, evangelistic effectiveness and multiplication.

·         Connect with a coach/growth partner between network meetings.

What does a Network Meeting Look Like?

A balanced, holistic network meeting includes the following 7 elements.  The first 3 combine to build a solid relational foundation of trust, support and caring accountability.

1.  Listen Actively

2.  Celebrate Wins

3.  Care Personally

4.  Strategize Plans

5.  Train Skills

6.  Develop Character

7.  Commit Specifically

A commitment to complete concrete "next step" assignments are made in the form of a Big M.A.C.

M = Main Idea

A = Application

• Listen Actively
• Celebrate Wins
• Care Personally
• Strategize Plans
• Train Skills
• Develop Character
• Commit Specifically
• Alliance Family Talk

• new services targeted at under-reached people
• new house churches
• multi-site satellite ministries
• planting new congregations locally and globally.

This represent one means we will use to shift from a "district office" planting churches approach to a "churches planting churches" approach.

"Two are better than one...Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4: 9 & 12