The M!X

By Millie Lungren

I don’t know about you, but I’m often inspired to try new things when I hear what others are doing in ministry. Even if I don’t use an idea “as is,” it might prompt an adaptation or spark another idea that I’d never considered.

I want to hear what others are doing, because I learn from their creativity. I hear how one church is ministering to a special needs child and his/her family, and I wonder if there are similar needs in my church that have gone unnoticed. I see children in my church actively participating in a worship service, and I wonder how I can share those ideas with other churches. I discover a “Service Sunday,” provided by one church in their community, and I think “What a great idea! I wonder how we could adapt that idea for our area?”

The Ministry Idea Exchange (m!x) is a great place to share, as well as receive, resources and ideas for ministry. A new and growing section of the Covenant web site, the m!x provides an opportunity for individuals to share original material (e.g., music, prayers, litanies, small group sessions, seasonal resources, curriculum, brochure templates…), as well as ministry ideas with others. We also want to know how each idea/resource has made a difference.

Here are just a few of the resources and ideas that have been shared on the m!x:

SOS – Summer of Service (Carol Friar – Oakdale Covenant Church, Chicago, IL)

Be Hospitable to People with Disabilities (Disability Ministries Committee, ECC)

Tell Me a Story, Pastor! (Jim Gaderlund – Mountain View, CA)

Spiritual Formation Groups – Brochure Template (Matt Kronberg – Bend, OR)

Mark Twain Arts Camp (Matt Nightingale – Redeemer Covenant Church, Tulsa, OK)

Scripts for Church Dramas (David Wellman – Mercer Island Covenant Church, Mercer Island, WA)

God is Faithful – hymn (Bob Bergquist – Grace Covenant Church, Iron River, MI)

Volunteer Consecration Service (Department of Christian Formation, ECC)

Don’t stop with these! Explore the m!x for a growing compendium of resources and ideas that might impact your church and community. We invite you to contribute your original resources and ministry ideas to the mix. As we continue to learn from and share with each other, we all benefit.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 13th, 2011 and is filed under Adult Ministry, Children's Ministry, Intergenerational Ministry, Resources, Youth Ministry.