In case you missed the last meeting...

1. Vision and Process:
Below is an overview of where most all of our ministry leadership fits into the vision/process at Central Church. It is arranged with the assumption that every ministry and person in the body of Christ at Central is to have a clear and intentional place where they support or build the body. Any ministry or person without a clear place or purpose in the vision and process of Central’s body is in need of going through the necessary process of determining such and not be allowed to simply ‘be’, but rather be encouraged and held accountable through teaching and mentoring to grow into maturity and service.

The ministries, the people and the body as a whole aren’t static – meaning that there is to be regular and continual growth in maturity and in fruit produced as each is faithful with the gifts God has graced them with. There will be & there is to be regular growth, change and progression through the vision/process toward being more like Christ as indicators of health and increasing maturity. Comfort with status quo, stagnation and complacency are not to be ignored, enabled or tolerated but instead seen as, revealed as and dealt with as needs for healing, growth and leadership.

Each stage in the process, each action in our vision is not a place ‘to arrive at’ and remain. Instead they are ‘graces’ or characteristics to grow in continually. Each stage in the process and action in our vision is to be taught about and held up in front of the body, groups, etc regularly so that no one group or individual can define on their own the stages/processes in a way that would allow for division, disunity and lack of growth. Specifically, we will need to take time to plainly say on a regular basis and with increasing clarity what it means to intimately worship God, to be irrevocably committed to one another, and to intentionally serve people.

There is overlap and continuity between each stage and within and between our different specialized ministries. It is important to remember that each stage builds on and benefits from the other stages, progressively.

Central Church honors God by…

• intimately worshipping Him
• irrevocably committing to one another
• intentionally dedicating ourselves to serving others

2. Life Stage Groups:
Life Stage Group Ministry provides the primary place for shepherding, fellowship, accountability, education, outreach/evangelism and service among our adult members/families. Below is a new alignment of Life Stage Group leadership based on the discussion and consent from the Leadership Retreat @ Lake Nixon earlier this year. Two shepherds are partnered with a Life Stage Group to meet with the leaders/teachers of that group monthly, at minimum to:

Talk about ‘where’ each group member/family ‘is’ in our ministry process, in their walk with God/discipleship, and to discuss how to better shepherd our fellow brothers and sisters in our groups. Basically, walking through your group’s members/families, one at a time & discussing/praying for them.

Talk about what activities, events, etc the group has planned to grow in our irrevocable commitment to one another and to serve people in and outside our congregation and/or God’s Kingdom.

Talk about the smaller, unplanned and/or not-including-the-whole group activities that individuals are doing as outreach, service, etc.

For this new alignment, each shepherd pair is partnered with the entire Life Stage Group (LSG), especially if there are multiple groups (i.e. 1A, 1B, 1C) within. Remember that you are there to guide them in shepherding their group members at their life stage. Let them plan and carry out activities, etc that relate to where they are in life. Focus your time with them on listening; asking them what they believe the best route is for their group, etc.


LSG1 – Gerst, Keesling
LSG2 – Ramsey, Jackson
LSG3 – Wallis, Collins
LSG4 – Brown, McFadden

3. Specialty Ministries:
Specialty ministries provide key services or support which individuals or Life Stage Groups cannot effectively provide for on their own without impairing the purposes of Life Stage Groups or overwhelming individuals beyond their capacity. Below is a new alignment of our Specialty Ministry leadership based on the discussion & consent from the Leadership Retreat @ Lake Nixon. Two shepherds are partnered with a Specialty Ministry (each having two specialized ministries total) and both are to meet with the leaders/deacons of those ministries monthly/every two months, at minimum to:

Talk about what is going on in their area for that month. Encourage them in their work, ask them if they need resources, etc, remind them of how important their work is and of where it fits into our overall ministry process/work at Central.

Talk about what their goals are for the next month/quarter/six month, what they are doing at the time to make it happen and who they are working with.

As with the Life Stage Group leaders, encourage their growth, leadership and abilities and avoid doing their work for them &/or letting them come to you for each decision – ask them things like “how do you think that would be handled best?” Let them know you’re behind them and that you’re confident in their ability and judgment. If they obviously need guidance, offer it judiciously.

Finance/Budget – Ramsey, Brown
Worship – Wallis, Keesling
Visitation – Jackson, McFadden
Missions – Keesling, Ramsey
Building/Grounds – McFadden, Gerst
Benevolence – Collins, Wallis
Youth – Gerst, Collins
Children – Brown, Jackson

Central Church Leadership Among Vision/Process:

1. Worshipper:

Worship leading team – Michael Cooper**, Jason Burt**, Jim Wallis, Leon Barnes, Wade Poe, Kenny Collins, David Gaminde, Darrin Williams & many others

Greeters – Anthony* & Lena Wilson, Ralph & Margaret Henderson

Parking lot/security – Charles Harrison*

Public worship coordination – Jackie McRoberts**, Lyn Poinsett*, Anthony Wilson*, Kenny Collins*,

Vans/transportation – Kevin Johnston*

Nursery – Shelby Lillard

2. Group member:

Life Stage Groups

i. 4B – Bruce McFadden, Roy Brown (“Forerunners”Community development)
ii. 4A – John Philips, Eric Holifield (“Forerunners”Community development)
iii. 3 – Leon Barnes, Jim Wallis, David Gaminde, Billy McLain, Bill Lamb
iv. 2B – Brian Beck*, Lyn* & Daphne Poinsett, AJ Gilbert*, Tim Browner*
v. 2A – Wade Poe, Steven Dearin*, Anthony* & Lena Wilson
vi. 1C – Jason Parker*, David Gay*, Ben** & Julie Hammit
vii. 1B – Shannon Cooper, Randall Archer, Mac* & Amy Bell, Michael Cooper
viii. 1A – Rob Gerst, Adam Harrell, Jason Burt

Education/discipleship
i. New members class – Chuck Ramsey, Bill Keesling
ii. Adult education – Wade Poe**, Leon Barnes, David Gaminde, John Phillips, Lyn Poinsett, Darrin Williams and others.
iii. Library – Mary DePriest** and staff

Special events – Mack Hutchison*

Mentoring – Shannon Cooper, Bobby Perry*, Leon Barnes

Children*** – Michael Cooper, Ben Hammit, Tammy Beck, Ranell Poe, Freda Ramsey, Tricia Parker, Carolyn Barger, and others.

Youth*** – Shannon Cooper, Jarod Lillard, Dan Griswold, Tom & Sydney Hess, Mike & Jan Kingrey, Brian Beck, Todd Ferguson, Hannah Sawyer, David Gaminde, and others.

3. Servant:

Missions Team – Billy McLain**, Keith Wade, Jerrad & Ami Powell

Website – Tim Browner*, Angela Sanchez

Rivercity Ministry – Crystal Hogg

Nursing Homes – Reid Landes*

Visitation*** – John Phillips**, Jackie McRoberts, Bruce McFadden, Charles Jackson & others
Benevolence: ***

Immediate needs/Interfaith ministry - Stephen Thompson*

Children’s Homes – Jerry Heckman, David Gruber* & Bill Lamb*

Widows and orphans – Bobby Perry* and Terry Shaw*

Finance/budgeting resources*** – Will Hogg**, Lyn Poinsett, Jerrad Powell, Wade Poe**, Shannon Cooper, Debby Caudle, Lora Ballinger and others who help count money, etc

Building/Grounds***

Long range planning/project implementation – shepherds, staff, and appointed teams

Ongoing projects/maintenance – Derrell Cox**, Mike Moran*, Jim Harmon*, Mike Kingrey*, Tom Hess*

Building safety – Todd Ferguson*

Building usage/scheduling – office staff

Creativity/arts (a new ministry in development) – Ben Hammit, Dan Griswold, Mac Bell, Tracy & Angela Sanchez, Stephanie Bryant, Stephen Spears and others.