Assisting our churches to be healthy, growing and multiplying ministries is the primary purpose of the UMR. We exist to partner with you and to help you partner with other churches as we seek to increase our impact within our local communities, across our region, and ultimately to maximize our ability to populate heaven for eternity. As your Regional Minister, much of my training as been specifically to add value to you in this process. I personally desire to walk along side of you as you respond to God's call on your life and ministry. I am also including a list of resources that you may find helpful.

Many executives of secular companies have found that having a coach significantly increases their ability to succeed at their job. As a trained coach, I offer this resource to church leaders at three different levels.

• Ministry Dialog-typically a 30 minute regularly scheduled phone call to discuss ongoing ministry issues you may be facing.
• Ministry Coaching-this monthly hour long formal coaching process uses the online Coaching tool of CoachNet and requires a CoachNet subscription ($60/yr). This relationship is re-evaluated every 6 months to determine if continued sessions would be beneficial.
• Church Enrichment Coaching-this relationship uses the same Ministry Coaching format but is specifically focused on issues related to a church working through the Natural Church Development process. (see below) This relationship is normally set up for 12 sessions the first time a church does the NCD process and for later cycles may be modified down to 6 sessions.

Ministry partnership contact is not limited to these more formal arrangements, as I am available via phone (630-495-2000 x 286) or email (TBlackburn@nabconf.org) to any UMR pastor or leader. As the Coach Trainer for our NAB Conference, we are also planning to train other UMR leaders as certified coaches to multiply this ministry across our region.

Listed below you will find a number of resources that many of our church leaders have found helpful. If you are aware of other significant value added resources, tell me about them and we will consider adding them to this list. See also a number of Women's Ministry Resources at end of page.

• Color Your World with Natural Church Development by Christian Schwarz, , (ChurchSmart). 8 qualities needed for a church to be healthy (see below for related survey and process tools for implementation)


• ABC's of Natural Church Development by Christian Schwarz (ChurchSmart) A Short booklet overview of NCD


• Growing a Healthy Church by Dann Spader , (Moody). This book gives a great overview of Jesus strategy in ministry and helps us to have a ministry balance based on the life of Christ that is transferable to any community or culture. A self-study workbook of the Harmony of the Gospels by Dann Spader, (SonLife) is a great in-depth personal study tool to learn church health principles.


• Becoming a Healthy Church by Stephan Macchia, (Baker). This book gives 10 characteristics of a healthy church that further breaks down the 5 key areas from Rick Warren.


• Simple Church by Thom Rainer , (B&H). Returning to God's process for making disciples.


• Essential Church by Thom Rainer , (B&H). Reclaiming a generation of dropouts


• unChristian by Kinnaman (Baker) Barna research on Mosaic and Buster generations leaving the church


• Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis (Zondervan) Bridge building to reach your community


• Breaking the Missional Code by Stetzer (B&H) your church a missionary to your community


• The Present Future by Reggie McNeal (JoseyBass) rediscover your church's mission today


• Lost in America by Tom Clegg (Group) how to impact the world next door


• Missing in America by Tom Clegg (Group) additional material to the book above


• 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (Multnomah) 7 steps in your ministry game plan


• The Praying Church Sourcebook by Alvin J. VanderGriend (Church Development Resources) Guide for churches to focuse on prayer

Discipleship

• Knowing Him by Dann Spader and Mark Edwards, (Sonlife Classic). 50 day devotional on the life of Christ.

• Harmony Self Study by Dann Spader, (Sonlife Classic). Discovering Jesus strategy for Making Disciples.

• Becoming a Healthy Disciple by Stephan Macchia, (Baker). 10 characteristics to follow Christ effectively.

• Cultivating a Life for God by Neil Cole, (ChurchSmart). assisting people in internalizing God's Word

• Search and Rescue by Neil Cole(Baker) an updated and expanded version of book above

• Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden (IVP) 24 session discipleship study guide

• Transforming Discipleship by Greg Odgen (IVP) Discipleship philosophy of ministry

• Breaking the Discipleship Code by David Putman (B&H) becoming a missional follower of Jesus

Leadership Development

• Leadership Essentials by Greg Ogden

• Dallas Seminary Center for Christian Leadership resource:

• iEquip training resources Based on leadership resources by John Maxwell

• Live 2:6 (Sonlife Classic) Based on leadership principles from the life of Christ, by Dann Spader

• Spiritual Leadership by Henry & Richard Blackaby, (Broadman). Beyond a CEO to leading like Jesus led.

• Making of a Leader by Robert Clinton, (NavPress). the development of a leader in finding Gods plan

• Three Dimensions of Leadership by Olan Hendricks, (ChurchSmart) managing finances and boards

• E3 by Rick Thompson, (ChurchSmart) what makes an effective empowering elder

Leading Churches through Change

• Leading Through Change by Wells, Giese, Klassen (ChurchSmart) for the town and country church

• Leading Turnaround Churches by Gene Wood (ChurchSmart) Being a turn around leader

• Leading Turnaround Teams by Gene Wood(ChurchSmart) developing a turn around team

• Transitioning by Dan Southerland, (Serendipity House). aligning a church with God's preferred future

Church Planting

• Organic Church by Neil Cole(Wiley) growing faith where life happens

• Church Planting Landmines by Nebel/Rohrmayer (ChurchSmart) mistakes to avoid in years 2-10

• The Kingdom Quest by Johnsston & Perkinson (ChurchSmart) Preparing to church plant in the post-christian west

• Church Planters Toolkit by Bob Logan(ChurchSmart) resources for church planters

Staffing and Placement

• Staffing your Church for Growth by McIntosh(Baker) making the best hire for your future

• One Size Doesn't Fit All by McIntoch(Revell) Finding/Being the right pastor for your church

Conflict Resolution

• Healing the Heart of Your Church by Kenneth Quick(ChurchSmart) How leaders can break the pattern of historic dysfunction


• Making Peace by Jim VanYperen(Moody) book and training resources on resolving conflict within the church. Intervention teams also available through Metanoia Ministries


• Authentic Community by Jim VanYperen(ChurchSmart) small group study guide to practice "one another" commands

OTHER RESOURCES

SonLife Classic - training resources for your leaders and for the person in the pew

• GHC Strategy-leading a church based on a Jesus model of ministry
• GHC Balance-evaluating church programs from a Jesus ministry grid
• Everyday Commandment-believer level personal outreach training
• Everyday Commission-believer level personal outreach training
• Mobilizing Ministry for Outreach-leader level outreach planning workshop

(Tim Blackburn is a certified trainer for each of these SonLife Classic seminars)

Natural Church Development

• Natural Church Development by Christian Schwarz, (ChurchSmart). This is a statistical-driven research that looks at 8 qualities and six principles needed for a church to be healthy and thrive in ministry. An survey tool is available to assist a church to measure current health in each of the eight areas. The NCD process begins with a survey to determine current strengths and weaknesses and a debriefing of results by Tim Blackburn. This begins a 12-18 month process of guided strategic development and implementation of ministry initiatives to increase church health and ministry effectiveness. This process is facilitated by a NCD coach working with the pastor and leadership team.




• There are many opportunities and resources available through SonLife Classic, ChurchSmart Resources, CoachNet and Church Resource Ministries (CRM). Contact Tim Blackburn for a list of resource people who are able to provide training and consultation in the local church.

WOMENS MINISTRY RESOURCES

BOOKS

• "Leading Women's Ministries" - By Pamela Hoover Heim

• "Building an Effective Women's Ministry in the 21st Century" - Group Pub

• "Apples of Gold" - By Betty Huizenga

• "Shepherding a Women's Heart" - By Beverly White Hislop

• "Designing Effective Women's Ministries" - By Jill Briscoe

• "After the Boxes are Unpacked" - By Susan Miller

• "Free to Soar" - Global Pastors Wives Network

• "Married for Life" - By Jill and Stuart Briscoe

WEB SITES

• www.nabconference.org Womens link
  
• www.womensministry.net
  
• www.buildingchurchleaders.com Topics include Ministry to Women, Help for the Pastor's Spouse, Mentoring
  
• www.ChristianityToday.com Bible Study courses
  
• www.justmoved.org ministry ideas for those who have just moved
  
• www.Justbetweenus.org Magazine for women in leadership
  
• www.lifeway.com Bible study ideas
  
• www.livingproofministries.com
  
• www.creativeladiesministry.com
  
• www.grouppublishing.com Retreat ideas - Chocolate Boutique, Heart Spa
  
• www.pathwaytopurposeministry.com
  
• www.candidly-speaking.com
  
• www.gospellight.com/focusonthefamily/index.html
  
• www.christianwomentoday.com/training/bookclub.html Book club
  
• www.parsonage.org
  
• www.mentoring moments.net
  

NOTE: These resources are not officially endorsed by the UMR. However, they contain many excellent women's ministry ideas that you may wish to consider for use in your local church. If you have WM resource ideas or want more info on these, contact Jodi Blackburn at tpbsonlife@juno.com