See also: Minister of religion

Ministry, in Christianity, is the activity carried out by members of the church in fulfilment of the church's mission. It can signify this activity as a whole, or specific activities, or organizations within a church dedicated to specific activities. Some ministries are identified formally as such, and some are not; some ministry is directed towards members of the church, and some towards non-members. For other types of minister, see Minister In Christian churches, a minister is a man or woman who serves a congregation or participates in a role in a parachurch ministry; such persons can minister as a Pastor, Preacher, Bishop, Chaplain, Deacon or Elder. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Age-specific Ministry

As churches attempt to meet the needs of their congregations, they often separate their members into groups according to age categories. Age-specific groups meet for religious study including Sunday school programs, fellowship, and other activities. These age divisions may include: A congregation is the group of members who make up a local Christian church, Jewish synagogue, Mosque or other religious assembly. ... Sunday school, Indians and whites. ... A fellow in its broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. ...

• Nursery
• Pre-school
• Children, generally elementary age students
• Youth, generally middle and high school students
• College and career, designed for university-age students
• Adults, which is often broken up into single adults, couples ministry, men's and women's ministries, and senior adults.

Nursery can refer to: Nursery (children), a place for the temporary care of children in the absence of their parents Nursery (horticulture), a place where young plants or trees are raised Nursery, a place where immature stages of insects are reared Nursery school, a daycare facility for preschool-age children... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Day care. ... Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ... Youth ministry is an age-specific religious ministry and is the way in which a faith group, or other religious organisation, engages with the young people who attend its place of worship, or live in its community. ... Middle school (also known as intermediate school or junior high school) covers a period of education that straddles primary education and secondary education, serving as a bridge between the two. ... Main article: Secondary education High school is a name used in some parts of the world, and particularly in North America, to describe the last segment of compulsory education, which is otherwise known as secondary education. ... Alternate uses: Student (disambiguation) Etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stŭdērĕ, which means to study, a student is one who studies. ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... Alternate uses: Student (disambiguation) Etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stŭdērĕ, which means to study, a student is one who studies. ... In relationships, a single person is one that is not married, or, more broadly, that they are not in an exclusive romantic relationship. ... Old age consists of ages nearing the average lifespan of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. ...

Advantages and disadvantages

There are several advantages to the concept of age-specific ministries.

• Many parents / caregivers are glad to allow the church to be in charge of the spiritual enrichment of their children. Similarly, they are used to using programs for the development of their children such as weekday childcare, preschool, and grade school and enjoy the ability to continue a similar format in church.
• These ministries allow churches to provide 'age-appropriate' activities and content to maximize spiritual education and growth as well as peer group fellowship.
• Ministries often provide fellowship activities outside of the church service that encourage the involvement of non-church going friends and relatives.

Age-specific ministry does have certain disadvantages, mostly stemming from the separation of children from the primary church functions.

• In terms of religious education, the 'socialisation' of children into the faith community is one important approach that requires connecting the children and family with the wider congregation.
• These ministries may increase the possibility of child abuse within the church as it does increase the amount of time children spend without the supervision of their particular parent or caretaker or the presence of the congregation at large. It is worth noting, however, that many churches hire certified teachers to fill these positions and most perform background checks on anyone that may come into supervisory contact with children.
• Certain forms of these ministries reduce the role that "family life" plays in the development of children, because of the separation of differing age groups into differently facilitated programs. In some ministries, the children are also placed separate from the rest of the congregation, such as during Sunday school and youth programs. Many of these programs, however, take place at different times from the primary church service, and in many churches, only children of elementary school age and younger are separated from the main service to provide more relevant material to their age group.

An alternative to age-specific ministry gaining ground is the concept of inter-generational ministry, which seeks to include all age and peer groups in primary church functions. Sunday school, Indians and whites. ... Inter-generational or intergenerational ministry is a model of Christian ministry which emphasizes relationships between age groups and encourages mixed age activities. ...

Creative and performing arts

Nearly all churches feature some form of worship music, whether from a choir, orchestra, or worship band, whether accompanied or a cappella. Religious organizations also incorporate other forms of creative and performance arts into their services or programs. These may include: This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A modern Western worship band leading a contemporary worship session. ... In music accompaniment is the art of playing along with a soloist or ensemble, often known as the lead, in a supporting manner as well as the music thus played. ... A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ...

• automotive ministry, a large and growing form of ministry in which local Christian automotive enthusiasts use their cars as a tool of ministry and show them at car shows. The largest Christian Automotive Ministry is Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (Holy rollerz).
• Cowboy ministries such as Thousand Hills Cowboy Church in Kerrville, Texas, have sprung up around the country and feature informal services held in barns or arenas. They offer rodeo events which are free to the public throughout the week such as bullriding, roping, ranch sorting and equestrian events as a tool of ministry.
• Worship ministry, with the most common forms being choir, orchestra, and contemporary praise and worship.
• Drama and theatre ministry, which often comes in the form of both small scenes and skits performed for the congregation, and larger works such as Passion plays and Christmas dramas.
• Creative movement, which generally incorporates pantomime and American Sign Language
• Puppetry, including traditional and black light forms

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3) is a Christian car club started by Brian Wood and Gus Torres in Kennesaw, Georgia. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A modern Western worship band leading a contemporary worship session. ... Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... A Passion play is a dramatic presentation depicting the suffering and death of Jesus. ... Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... A Mime artist on the Ponte SantAngelo A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art. ... It has been suggested that ASL Grammar be merged into this article or section. ... A puppeteer is a person who manipulates a puppet or marionette, either by the use of strings, wires or their hands, for a stage production or film. ... Spectrum of a fluorescent black light source. ...

Community Service and outreach

Many churches sponsor ministries designed to reach out others on a local and global scale, usually grouped under the heading of missions. There are many organizations which perform missions on a fully-funded and organized level, such as North American Mission Board, operated by the Southern Baptist Convention and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee ((UUSC). This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a United States-based cooperative ministry agency serving Baptist churches around the world. ... The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a United States-based cooperative ministry agency serving Baptist churches around the world. ... The flaming chalice is the universally recognized symbol for Unitarian Universalism. ...

Community service ministries may include a "soup kitchen", crisis center, food pantry, unplanned pregnancy center, senior visitation program, new parent support, Animal Chaplains, or a number of other specialized ministries.

See also

• Christianity
• Christian theology
• Fellowship Of Vocation
• Minister of religion
• Sermon

Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Christian theology is reasoned... In the Church of Ireland, individuals who feel called to ministry in its widest sense are asked to meet together regularly in what is known as a Fellowship of Vocation in order to: 1. ... For other types of minister, see Minister In Christian churches, a minister is a man or woman who serves a congregation or participates in a role in a parachurch ministry; such persons can minister as a Pastor, Preacher, Bishop, Chaplain, Deacon or Elder. ... A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ...

References