Our staff are anxious to help you start one of the most exciting ministries your church, school or organization can have.

Information:

If you are interested in previewing the resources available for use in ministering to the various groups in your local church, we have Links & Resources & Join the team! &  Partnerships & Covenant Relationships available that will help you. These links include information about the specific groups we operate i.e. Charters, Chapters, Schools, Ministries, Missions, Ambassadors for Christ (youth), Prison Ministries, Loaves and Fishes, Counseling Services and Fellowship Houses all designed to support the efforts of the church and its outreach in local communities throughout the globe and how to get started. Most of the information is located in this web site, however the site is extensive as we are one of the fast growing missions and outreaches in existence today. 

The reason for this is clear; We care about each one of you that God has sent us. We have learned at ODB the more we give the more we receive, in order to help others. In order to serve you better, we have created a Welcome Page for updates, and new resources added. Thank you and God Bless. Together we can make a Difference. We, our members, affiliates, ministries, associations, churches, schools, teachers and ministers at ODB, live by: We are responsible .... When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, We want our hand always to be there. For that We are responsible. As a result of our commitment to others through Him, we are becoming one of the largest outreach missions globally. We are responsible both to God and each other!  Partnerships & Covenant Relationships:

There are basic steps that need to be taken :

1. Set your Goals

2. Appoint a Coordinator

3. Sign a Working Agreement

4. Recruit and Train Staff

5. Start the Ministry

The rest of this page describes in detail those steps. You might want to print the entire contents Do it now.

SET YOUR GOALS

It is great that you want to start a ministry outreach with your church, school or organization to serve those in your church or community. A helpful place to start is to determine your goals for the ministry.

• What results are you looking for?

• Are you concerned for those in your church or school, or

• Do you want to reach those throughout your neighborhood?

• Do you want to give adults, children and youth a place where they can receive help and a fun place to come to every week, or

• Do you want them to grow in Christ and develop leadership skills?

• Determine your purpose in organizing. Once you have determined the purpose resources can be gathered either inside ODB or outside ODB in order to assist you, (this includes financing).

Once you have determined your purpose and got some goals, you can organize your program and recruit the appropriate leaders. Discuss your goals with the people you recruit. Help them understand where you are headed. Build a common vision together.

What can you expect from ODB, Missions? We will provide tools to help you reach five objectives:

1. Once leaders are chosen, we offer training and support services to your leaders. We give your leaders a place where they can get the help and the support they need to run a successful outreach.

2. Provide materials and training information and support systems to those in your chapter or charter that will help them in that tasks they are asked to do.  Help your chapter or charter develop a positive  image of charter and group in your local community. 

3. Provide ways to raise resources and help finance your outreach to those in your local community through our Matching Funds Program.

4. Strengthen each participants relationship to your church

5. Offer participants opportunities for leadership training experience.

All of our programs place a high priority on godly men and women discipling adults, children and youth.

The Lord Jesus Christ requires much of His disciples. As you prepare to start a ministry with ODB, Chapter, emphasize that same kind of dedication to the leaders of your church. What they put into this ministry is what they will get out of it.

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1. APPOINT A ODB COORDINATOR

The COORDINATOR'S role is similar to that of a Sunday School Superintendent. The Coordinator's duties tend to be more administrative, casting the vision for reaching adults, children and youth and shares it with the leaders and the congregation. The COORDINATOR serves the leadership team through encouragement and support. The COORDINATOR's primary responsibilities are

• recruiting and training leaders,

• keeping the church and the Christian Education Committee informed of the ministry,

• ordering supplies and training materials from the ODB, Ministries office, and

• maintaining contact with their field representative.

The Coordinator should be a motivator of leaders, helping them be successful and faithful in ministry.

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2. SIGN A WORKING AGREEMENT

Each church which wishes to operate a ODB, Charter group must first complete and submit to our office in Redmond, Or. the Working Agreement Application which sets out the respective responsibilities and expectations of the local church and ODB Ministries. As the mission of ODB is to help local churches win and develop adults, children and youth to be leaders for Christ. We do this by providing materials and literature and by having experienced ODB representatives ready to help local church. The ministry itself belongs to the local church and needs to be "owned and operated by your congregation". Such an arrangement calls for cooperation and mutual support between the local church and the nation-wide ODB movement. The Working agreement expresses this relationship in a simple, effective manner.

ODB Ministries is eager to help each church by providing program tools, training resources, personal consultation by field representatives, and a dedication to quality and faithfulness to scriptural principles in all its services. The local church agrees to recruit qualified leaders for leadership, conduct the ministry in keeping with the purposes outlined in the materials, and to accept financial responsibility for sustaining an outreach ministry.

A dedicated staff carry on the ministry globally. Office staff prepare program and training materials, process orders, and provide assistance to churches operating groups. Field representatives give helpful counsel through annual conferences, training sessions and personal interaction

The local church investment in manpower, prayer, and financial support is a vital link in reaching adults, children and youth for Christ. As a missionary service organization, ODB Missions is supported by the gifts of churches and individuals. Operating expenses are carefully controlled by a budget, with a major share used for direct field and program services.

Churches may contribute through two opportunities.

1. Share in the work of individual staff members, since all missionary staff must deputize for support.

2. Contribute to ODB's general expenses, including administration, communication, and program development.

3. Make purchases through supporting merchants links provided on the Matching Funds page. This money comes back to your ministry outreach in the form of Matching Funds. It is a way to double your efforts and your funds in order to have a successful outreach.

On the basis of the partnership in reaching adults, children and youth Christ, each church is encouraged to determine a share of financial support for ODB. Because churches vary in size, vision and resources, it is unrealistic to recommend a fixed share for all churches. However, an "average Church share" to meet ODB expenses would be about $75 per month once a program is running and successful, however until that time chapter dues of $36 annually is sufficient. What happens is that we sow time effort, training and even finances into the local chapter and we reap long term rewards from productivity either God and donations. These amounts contributed from churches are sent to our office in Redmond, OR. 

In sharing the vision of ODB, we invite each church to realistically share in supporting the ministry financially. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, mutual needs will be met in our partnership of winning and developing children and youth to be leaders for Christ.

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3. RECRUIT AND TRAIN LEADERS

Sometimes churches are excited to get started with their ODB, chapter meetings immediately. However, many have found that it is much wiser to train its leaders first. ODB and the efforts of the local church, school or organization succeed when leaders take time to study and prepare to conduct the program. The Coordinator has several important tasks to perform:

1. Find leaders in the church who are interested in the ministry with adults, children and youth.

2.  Contact Us to arrange for a ODB Orientation session for your leaders. By attending this course, new leaders will receive a certificate indicating they have completed this course.

3. If a ODB Orientation session cannot be arranged because of time and distance the leaders should can read through the studies and complete the self study guide at the end of the books. They can then notify the ODB office and receive official recognition as certified leaders.

What kind of leaders are needed? A Christian leader has a large responsibility because he is both a personal counselor and a living example.

When thinking of prospective workers, leaders might ask themselves, "Which believers in our church are the ones that have a desire to serve and care for the needs of others?" This will help you identify qualified believers to serve as leaders.

While there is no human measure that can adequately determine the quality of these leaders, the Word of God gives clear guidance. The Scriptures suggest checkpoints both as a measure and aspiration for a leader:

Exhibit love for Christ, the body and those in need. Because of a leader's love for Christ, he or she can display a deep and genuine love regardless of their background, attractiveness, interests or spiritual condition.

Communicate the Word of God

Because our Father's Book is the guide and principal resource for spiritual growth, each leader must be personally capable of making the Scriptures attractive to those in need and applicable to their lives.

Demonstrate faithfulness in responsibilities

Respect for others, loving thy neighbor as themselves. A leader's leadership among adults, children and youth grows as it is demonstrated in other areas of his life and activity.

Recognize the potential for ministry

A leader must see the importance of their position as a model and understand the responsibilities which rest upon them for their spiritual development.

Dedicate time and ability to Christ

A leader's time and abilities in working with others must be dedicated to serving the Master, wanting to bring glory to Him.

Demonstrate Christ's power in daily life

The leader's life must provide a positive example for others in order to have the maximum effect upon them for Christ. Each leader needs to continually evaluate his or her personal conduct according to Scripture.

Leadership characteristics Effective leaders demonstrate certain characteristics which help them in meaningful service. They are alert to the pressures and needs of others. They are sensitive to the up and down mood swings often people experience.  They identify with others and maintain their respect. They're mature, while possessing a godly outlook.

When seeking to identify leaders who are best suited for serving, the following characteristics are significant. Leaders need patience. They need a sense of humor. They need creativity and imagination to keep up to the short attention spans.

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4. LAUNCH YOUR MINISTRY

Get set

Once your leaders have been selected and completed the ODB Orientation program (or the self study guides) their first task is to organize their leadership team and plan the first meeting. Each leader should know what his role will be. At the same time the Coordinator should begin recruiting chapter members for the program. 

Get Going

The time, place and date for the first meeting will be influenced by other church, school and community activities. Begin announcing your program several weeks in advance. 

Get registered

Joining a ODB group means belonging to an international fellowship who serve Christ together. We are all very much in the same boat and the boat stays afloat as when we all participate in faith. We need each other in the body and our strength comes in unity. 

New members may register at any time. Complete the membership forms as soon as possible after your meetings begin.

Thank you for your interest in the ODB Missions. We are standing with you in winning and developing your outreach program for Christ.

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Copyright 2003 ODB Missions Organization
Most recent revision April 2, 2003