What is transformational ministry?

Jesus taught us that we are to “go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:19-20). Later in Colossians, Paul said that “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” (Col. 1:28)

Integrated ministry is ultimately about presenting mature and obedient disciples before Christ.

Our question to you is, “What is a mature, obedient disciple?” Is it just someone who attends church, can recite scripture, and follow certain moral and behavioral codes that is considered acceptable among Christians? Or did Jesus have something bigger in mind when He called us to be and to “make disciples” and teach them “to obey everything” He commanded? What does the Bible command us to live and teach?

We believe the Bible commands us to:

• Worship God (Isa. 43:21)

• Love and care for other people (Mt. 22:39, Mt. 25:31-46)

• Rule over the earth as caretakers (Gen. 1:26-31, Gen. 2:15, Eph. 2:10)

• Care for ourselves (1 Cor. 6:19, Mt 11:28-30, Mk 6:31)

Since the Garden of Eden, the devil has worked tirelessly to plant lies that destroy the four primary relationships God intended that every human should have: our relationship with God, other people, creation, and ourselves. Those lies have brought destruction that has led to brokenness throughout the world. We see it in wars, broken marriages, sickness, child-abuse, pollution and in the lives of people who never live up to their God-given potential. Yet God has given every one of us a measure of wisdom, resources, and the ability to work towards the restoration of life as God intended it.

Integrated ministry aims to teach truth and thereby help believers and churches unlock God-given potential, first in themselves and their families, and secondly in their neighbors and friends. As people begin to believe and act on the truth they learn, they often see wide-ranging changes in their lives; Broken families are restored; people live healthier; the community becomes cleaner; farms yield more crops; incomes go up; education is prioritized, and churches are planted. Most importantly, as people experience the joy of walking in truth and wholeness, God is glorified in their lives and communities.

 

Why We Equip Churches

Just before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8b). On the day of Pentecost, the grassroots movement that started with 120 believers began a ripple effect that spread from Jerusalem further and further away, eventually reaching towards the ends of the earth.

We believe the Holy Spirit still works through such ripples. Starting within the local church, the ripples gradually expand from within the safety of the church walls to the community, nearby communities, regionally and beyond.

Today, many churches struggle to start such ripples effectively, being stuck in paradigms that sometimes alienate or create unhealthy dependencies. We propose a different way for churches to influence their communities - a process where the local church serves its community through practical programs that transform people’s lives, both spiritually and physically.

 

Why We Focus on the Vulnerable

We focus on ministering to the poor and marginalized because we believe that God has “chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him” (James 2:5).

Our ministry begins at the root of belief and worldview, recognizing that poverty often is a symptom of deeper issues that stem from satanic lies. Such lies can manifest themselves in inferiority complexes, family feuds, violence, dangerous health practices, dishonesty, or fear of the spirit-world. Since poverty is a multi-faceted problem that impact all spheres of life, we recognize God’s desire to bring all things back into right relationship.

Jesus taught us to pray that His Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven (Mt. 6:10). What does it look like when Jesus begins to reverse the effects of sin and “destroys the work of the devil” in a vulnerable community? People are set free from bondages that have crippled them for generations, allowing them the opportunity to grow and develop in all spheres of life.