Basic Training for Helping Ministries

Changes to the Basic Training Schedule: There will be a followup meeting for the first group that took the Basic Training Workshop on April 29, 2010 at 6:30 pm. Contact Pastor Doug at doug@countryoaks.org  for more information.

The Basic Training Workshop for the Helping Ministries scheduled April 23-24, 2010 has been cancelled.  There is a total of 8 hours of training in this workshop which is for those who would like to be a part of our leadership teams for our Helping Ministries including: GriefShare, DivorceCare, DivorceCare for Kids, or our new Home and Hospital Visitation Teams. Successful completion of this training workshop and the preceding homework assignments are required. Further specific training may be required by each specific ministry.

Helping Ministry Opportunity!

Home and Hospital Visitation Team

As the name states, these ministry teams will visit those who are in the hospital or those who have been discharged from the hospital and are recovering at home. These team members will have the opportunity to minister to both the hospital patient and to their family members as well. The ministry will be under the direction of Pastor Doug, who will be relying greatly on the leadership of Judy Huebner to make this all work successfully. Ministry teams will also be connecting with the Deacons through Hank Huebner and with our food ministry through Janice Jones.

These teams will have the opportunity to connect and care for those in difficult situations in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a good way to “be church” to one another. Face to face visits, phone calls, notes of encouragement, meals, and more are all a part of what a team may provide or arrange for through existing ministries at COBC.

We will hold Orientation Meetings throughout the year.  Watch the church calendar and bulletin for the dates of these Orientations.  In addition to the orientation meeting, every team member will need to attend (or already have attended) our “Helping Ministries”  Basic Training classes (see below). Basic Training classes will be offered periodically throughout the year. 

If God has been leading you into a helping ministry such as this, then please make plans to attend an orientation meeting to learn more about these ministry teams. For more information, please give me a call at the church office: 822-1379.

Until then, may God richly bless you. 

On Becoming a Team Member - Helping Ministries Teams

The process for taking a leadership role in Divorce Care, Divorce Care for Kids, Grief Share, or the Home and Hospital Visitation Team is outlined below:

1. Church Membership: Because ministry leaders and team members are always representing our Lord Jesus Christ, Country Oaks Baptist Church, and the Pastors of COBC, leaders and team members must be members of Country Oaks Baptist Church. The process of membership simply involves (a) application to the Elders Board for members; (b) your personal testimony of your faith and trust in Christ for salvation, and your personal walk with Christ today; (c) testimony that you have been baptized as a believer in Christ; and (d) reading and agreeing with the Church’s Constitution and Church By-Laws (available in the Church office). That’s it!
2. Get an application from the ministry’s leader (or click on link), fill it out and give it back to the ministry leader. They will pass it on to Pastor Doug, our Pastor of Family Ministries and supervisor for all of our Helping Ministries. He will contact you to set up an interview.
3. If you will be working with children or teens, such as in Divorce Care for Kids, you will have to go through the Church’s screening process. This involves picking up an application from the Church office, or from Pastor Brent, getting some references, and a background check. There is a fee, but the Church will pay the fee for you.
4. Successful completion of the BASIC TRAINING for Helping Ministries workshop. The workshops are offered three to four times per year, usually in a Friday night, Saturday afternoon format – about 8 hours of “basic” training. Pastor Doug leads these workshops.
5. Apprenticeship – Once you have completed the steps above you may begin an apprenticeship with the ministry that you desire to serve in. The apprenticeship will be at least one 13 week “cycle” in Grief Share, Divorce Care, or DC4Kids. The apprenticeship will be for four months in the Home and Hospital Visitation Team. These apprenticeships are simply times of more specific training for your specific ministry.
6. Final evaluation – At the completion of the apprenticeship you will once again meet with Pastor Doug to review the process and consider the input from your supervisors or trainers. If all agree that you are called to serve in that particular ministry, then its time for you to join the leadership team of that ministry!