1)
Phase 1 Acclimatization – Began January 15,
1999--Completed March 2000
a) Get to know the brethren
b) Identify integrity and commitment amongst key members
c) Assimilate cultural identity and challenges
d) Lay groundwork and framework for different ministries
i) University
ii) Music
iii) Marriage and Family
iv) Youth
v)
Neighborhood Watch--Evangelism
vi) Radio Ministry
vii) Internet & Postal Ministry
2)
Phase 2 Organization – Began April 2000
a) Dedicating the Leadership to the work
i) Prayer & Personal Counseling Meetings—Gentle guidance—Discussion, planning, selecting and committing
ii)
Fellowships—Motivationals, Revivals
iii) Cultivating Accountability (Mentoring)-Trust and Respect
b) Implementing Care Groups-Neighborhood Watch
i) Personal Evangelism
ii) Personal Accountability
iii) Personal Counseling
iv) These will reflect the preparedness of the leadership
c)
Establish Ministry leaders—those who are able to teach
i) Those who are self-Motivated
ii) Consistent
iii) Possess character--conviction
iv) Filled with the Holy Spirit
d) Formalizing our Curriculum (Bible Classes)
i) For newcomers
ii) For adults
iii) For youth
iv)
For children
v) For special cases
e) Adopting Policies
i) Children’s Ministry
ii) Pre-marriage Counseling
iii) Marriage Counseling
iv) Fellowships
3)
Phase 3 –Cultivating Growth
a) Relationship Counseling initiative
b) Leadership Training
c) Deacon & Elder Watch
d) Developing various ministries and cultivating spiritual gifts
I’m
always welcoming ideas to add to this Plan.
5/10/2000
San Juan, PR
Greetings dear brethren!
It is an honor to be able to share these words with you by way of e-mail.
As some of you have been following our work in Puerto Rico from the newsletters we send
(http://www.licoc.org/newsletter/newsindex.htm) , you know that it has been a challenge for us to lay down the only foundation that can be laid, Jesus Christ. Many accept the name, but not the lifestyle nor the confession that makes the name-wearing worthy before the eyes of our Lord. Nevertheless, we are
hopeful in prayer, patient in affliction and filled with the Holy Spirit to continue bearing the Good News to the people of Puerto Rico and being a source of encouragement and edification for the church in San Juan.
Since my arrival in January 15th, 1999, the church membership has increased by 15 through baptisms, placement of membership from other congregations on the island and restorations. We fluctuated between 35 and 45 in attendance on Sunday morning the first couple of months I was here and now we are fluctuating between 55 and 60 in Sunday attendance.
We are searching the talents our membership has to organize ourselves into a more efficient body of service and
edification for those who want to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Some of the presently active ministries are:
College Ministry-sharing the Gospel on-campus and developing Bible Talk discussion groups with current church members and their friends.
Internet Ministry-sharing the Gospel online locally and conducting studies through the e-mail locally.
Teen Ministry
Children's Ministry
Mail ministry-same as Internet ministry but doing the Bible studies through the Postal mail system.
Personal Evangelism-organizing groups that go out weekly to different locations such as plazas, malls, parks and beaches to do surveys with community residents or just speak to them about the Gospel.
Community Involvement-this is an extension of personal evangelism, but requiring the whole commitment of the church since it needs financial backing. Good Samaritan road service; food and clothing collections; free medical, social welfare, family, educational , financial, and spiritual counseling; religious plays and family sports programs are some of the things we've tried to attract the community and show it that we care. We are blessed with members who are recognized by the state in many of these services they offer.
Counseling (Marital, Family & Pre-marital)-This is a much needed service for Puerto Rico, and one that is very popular in our community.
Order of Services- This involves teaching and training members who are willing to participate in the collective encouragement and edification of the body during the times we assemble together. This program includes training for preaching, public praying, song service, Scripture reading and overall public appearance during our services for maximum efficiency and organization.
Mentoring- A much
maligned, but needed way of getting involved in each other's lives for the
purpose of spurring one another on towards love and good deeds and teaching
each other all that Jesus commanded.
All the ones that are bolded in Green I have helped develop during the last year.
Part of the curriculum I've developed for the congregation is as follows:
Teaching the Gospel (First Steps)
Sermon on the Mount (In His Footsteps)
Standing Firm on God's Word (Armor of God)
Learning how to love in dating and intimate relationships (KOINONIA Workshop)
PREPARE/ENRICH (Marital Counseling)
Debt Free Living (Financial Counseling)
What Happens When We Die?
Our Partnership with the Holy Spirit
Denominational Doctrines
Learning Styles Inventory (How to teach and how to learn effectively)
10 Steps to Great Counseling Talk Tools (How to improve your communication)
Wisdom's Way (A study of Wisdom in the Scriptures)
Most of these studies were developed at the Long Island Church of Christ and are being translated into Spanish as I share them in Puerto Rico.
May God continue to bless you richly and powerfully as you let His Spirit work mightily in you,
Love in Christ,
Pedro & Claribel Gelabert
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pedro G. Gelabert <///><
Evangelist
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Pedro-Gelabert@usa.net
http://www.licoc.org/gelabert.htm
If Jesus were to come today, would you be ready to go to Heaven to be with Him forever?
Find out! ---> http://www.licoc/Gospel/Gospel.htm