The W-Care Ministry*

Metro Baptist Church 2005

1.   Watchcare

            The watchcare ministry is the deacon ministry.  This ministry watches over the entire membership of the church.  The deacons contact their watchcare list every month for needs and prayer requests.  The primary purpose of the deacons meeting is to represent every member of the congregation in thought and prayer. 

            In the interim (until we have a full compliment of deacons), the discipleship ministry will be expanded to be available to all members for spiritual discipleship.

2.   Wallcare

            The wallcare ministry is the trustee ministry of the church.  These men are primarily responsible for the care and upkeep of the facilities and grounds.  They will know the gifts and talents of the people of the church and make service available to them in helping with the work around the church.

            In the interim (until we have a full compliment of trustees), the building cleaning chairman will organize people for this purpose.

3.   Wordcare

            The wordcare is the teaching ministry of the church.  By its very nature it becomes the largest church ministries.  It includes the Sunday School, Awana and Junior Church.

4.   Worldcare

            The worldcare is the missions committee.  They keep in contact with our missionaries and keep prayer letters and needs before our people.  They will help organize the missions conference each year and the pastor will consult them in evaluating prospective missionaries.

5.   Walletcare

            The walletcare is the finance ministry of the church.  The treasurer is the chairman of this ministry and works with ushers, counters, bookkeepers, and anyone who handles the money of the church on its way from the offering plates to the bank. 

6.   Worshipcare

            The worshipcare ministry works primarily with the Sunday church services.  This involves musicians, sound people, and all who participate in the church services. 

7.   Welcomecare

            The welcomecare ministry involves the greeting of people, ushering during the services, and being on call during the service for specific needs. 

*The Leadership Committee of Metro Baptist Church consists of these seven leaders.

These leaders will serve for the current year or longer.

The Watchcare Ministry

Chairman:  Chairman of Deacons

Meetings:  Monthly

1. The watchcare lists

            Each deacon will have a watchcare list consisting of about 8 to 10 church families or individuals.  They will keep a notebook containing the pertinent information of each family, including the names and ages, dates of salvation and baptism. 

            Primarily the deacon will keep a running account of the needs and prayer requests of each family.

2. The Prayer Chain

            When a prayer request is given that concerns a person in the church, that request will be phoned from deacon to deacon as well as to staff, so that we may all pray immediately for that request.  An individual deacon will have a prayer list among his own families and may pass the request to them.

3. Special helps

            When a family or individual in the church needs assistance, the deacon (of the person who needs help) and his wife will be the primary person responsible for organizing and getting help for that need.  This may include meals while a mother is in the hospital; home maintenance for the elderly; making special contact with new members or recurring visitors; or fulfilling special requests from the families on the deacon’s watchcare list. 

4. Fellowship

            The deacon should organize a special time of fellowship for all the members on his list at least once a year.  This may be a picnic, an outing, or just a potluck at someone’s home.  This may be done as often as is practical.

5. Deacon Retreat

            At the beginning of each year, the deacons and their wives will have a retreat where they can organize the watchcare ministry for the coming year.  The pastor will meet with the deacons and organize the watchcare lists.  The pastor’s wife will meet with the ladies to organize a “helps” ministry.

The Wallcare Ministry

Chairman:  The Trustee Chairman

Meetings:  Monthly

1. The structure

            The wallcare ministry will be divided into areas of responsibility as dictated by the current facilities.  This may include the outside of the building; the interior of the building; the major appliances within the building; the vehicles of the church; church work days.  Each trustee should have a list of members who have interests and expertise in these areas and should involve them in the maintenance of his area.

2. The budget

            Since a large part of the church budget goes towards maintaining the facilities (maintenance, repairs, improvements), the trustees will review this portion of the budget each month to make sure expenditures are within budgeted limits.

3. Work days.

            As often as needed, and usually twice a year, the trustees will organize an all-church work day for general cleaning and/or building improvements.  When a special project is scheduled, a work day may be planned to accomplish the work in a short amount of time.

The Wordcare Ministry

Chairman:  Sunday School Superintendent

Meeting:  Weekly

1. The Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting

            The S.S. Superintendent will have a weekly teachers’ meeting for all of the Sunday School class teachers.  He will review the lessons for the following Sunday and will offer assistance for the needs of the teachers.

2. The Awana Program (leader:  Awana Commander)

            Since the Awana program has its own director, the S. S. Superintendent should correspond with the Awana commander to make sure the Awana program has everything it needs to operate smoothly.  A periodic meeting with the pastor is requested.*

3. The Nursery (leader:  Nursery Director)

            There should be a woman who directs the church nursery.  She should be able to come to the S.S. Superintendent for suggestions for nursery space and staff.  A periodic meeting with the pastor is requested.*

4. The Junior Church (leader:  Junior Church Director)

            The junior church staff should have access to the S.S. Superintendent for help with rooms and staffing.  A periodic meeting with the pastor is requested.*

5. The Youth Program (leader:  The Youth Pastor)

            The Junior High and Senior High classes should be part of the teachers’ meeting and should have access to the S.S. Superintendent for any Sunday School needs. A periodic meeting with the pastor is requested.*

* These meetings may be separately or as a group every three to six months. 

The Worldcare Ministry

Chairman:  The Missions Director

Meetings:  As needed

1. Missionary Needs and Correspondence

            The missions director should know all of the church’s missionaries and keep the church informed of their needs through letters and reports.

2. Selection and Support

            The missions director will work with the pastor in determining the scope and need of the missions program.  This includes missions fields; amount of needed support; background, qualifications and philosophy of missionaries.

3. Missions Conference

            The missions director will work with the pastor and the mission conference committee in planning the yearly mission conference.

The Walletcare Ministry

Chairman:  The church treasurer

Meetings:  At each deacon meeting

1. The church budget

            The treasurer will assist the pastor in preparing the annual budget.  They will consult each W-Care leader as to the financial needs of each ministry.  The leadership committee will proof the budget before it is taken to the congregation for a vote.

2. Offerings, counting and deposits

            The treasurer will direct the ushers in collecting the offerings, any persons needed in counting the money, and will make sure the money is protected and deposited in a timely fashion.

3. Bookkeeping and records

            The treasurer will keep the financial ledgers of the church as well as the giving records of the members.  Any other persons involved in this process should be approved with the pastor’s consent.

4. Business meetings and reports

            A monthly report should be ready at each month’s leadership (finance committee) meeting.  A quarterly report will be given to the church at each quarterly business meeting.  A yearly report will be given in conjunction with the annual budget.

Worshipcare Ministry

Chairman:  The music director 

Meetings:  As needed

1. Structure and order of service

            The music director will prepare an order of service for each Sunday service.  Anyone participating in the church service should contact the music director for his/her place in the service.

2. Audio/visual

            The music director is responsible for the equipment needed for each service (sound board & mics; tape recording; instruments used) and for the people running the equipment.  This may require training of new people as needed.

3. Special music

            All special music, whether vocal or instrumental, must be approved by the music director.  Special groups must be scheduled and must practice in conjunction with the music program. 

4. Philosophy

            The music director and the pastor will determine music policy.  This may include the types of music sung; the instruments used in the church services; guests who are invited to sing or play instruments; and the general planning of church music.

5. Platform decorum

            All people participating in the services of the church will be expected to dress in an appropriate way for leading in worship.  This will be determined by the music director and the pastor. 

The Welcomecare Ministry

Chairman:  The Head Usher

Meetings:  As needed

1. Greeters

            The head usher should organize men or women as needed to stand at the doors and greet people.  This doesn’t have to be too formal, but visitors should be greeted and directed to the right place as they come into the building.

2. Ushers

            The head usher should make sure there are enough men to usher during any service where an offering is taken.  The money should be handled discretely and delivered to the church treasurer promptly. 

3. Standby

            The head usher should be ready at any time during the service in case the pastor or music director needs something from the platform.  When material is passed out, he will help distribute the material.

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