23Mar 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 10 – Monitoring the Logframe

Administrative Skills, Christian ministry, Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1854" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] So far we have seen the importance of clearly defining goals at different levels and the associated assumptions we are making if they are to be achieved. These columns are the first and fourth columns in a 4x4 matrix. To complete the matrix we must separate these two columns and insert two more. These additional columns allow us to specify how we shall monitor performance. How and What? When planning a ministry it is important to put in place 'good practice' for carrying it out. Frequently, good protocols are in place for handling such issues as client confidentiality, finances and so on. However, less attention may be given to how performance will be monitored. From time to time a qualitative assessment may…
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18Mar 2011 by Nigel Ring

Memory boxes/books

Ministry Report, News, Poor
Recently I had the privilege of staying with Ray and Jo Partridge in Zimbabwe. Jo shared with me about the powerful benefits Memory Boxes can provide for a child after his or her parent has died. She and Ray kindly agreed to write about this for my blog. We all love to look back on our lives, remembering moments that made an impression on us, experiences that we went through that helped us form ideas, opinions, even where we feel God is leading us in the future. Our lives are like a jigsaw puzzle, made up of many pieces that form the whole. For children who grow up with missing pieces (positive or negative) the feeling of some things missing feels like gaping holes in their lives. Coming alongside an…
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11Mar 2011 by Nigel Ring

Kenya Crisis – update

Kenya, News, Poor, Relief and Development
The Crisis Fund has now topped £40,000! Thank you so much. Yesterday and today these encouraging text messages were received from Edward Buria. March 10th My heart leaps with unspeakable joy as I see the joy displayed by our friends from receiving water. We brought around 5000 litres. I admire the order as they all know that they will go home with around 10 litres of water and 2kg of sugar. It is awesome and so fulfilling. March 11th Hi Nigel. We returned back to Meru late last night with such a great feeling of touching and giving hope to a people 4goten and trapped by many things that are against them. We have 2 more trips next week in different places in Samburu. Then from next week we will begin to issue families…
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09Mar 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 9 – Logframe Assumptions pt 2

Administrative Skills, Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1810" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] Having seen the importance of recognising the assumptions we are making in planning a specific ministry we will now return to the example we have been using to illustrate how to use the Logframe, the ministry among homeless people in Brighton. We will consider some of the assumptions that must apply for success at each level. Positive Statements Assumptions should be expressed as positive statements to show how each level of the Logframe will contribute to the successful accomplishment of the next level up, particularly Outcomes > Purpose and Purpose > Goal. Assumptions relate to adverse situations that could arise or conditions that cannot be met due to external circumstances. They may or may not be included on the Logframe at the…
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28Feb 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 8 – Logframe Assumptions pt 1

Equipping, Good Practice, Planning, Poor
[caption id="attachment_1805" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] Assumptions and Risk In order to carry out specific activities and to reach certain goals there are, inevitably, assumptions that have to be made. Indeed, not only is it important to be aware of these assumptions as the one leading the ministry but any potential donor is also interested as they represent the level of risk to his money. Let me illustrate. One ministry I am aware of in a particular nation has sought to help women over several years who have been caught up in the sex industry. This included those who had been trafficked into that country from other nations under false pretences. The church concerned worked closely with the police who gave the team security as they visited brothels…
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22Feb 2011 by Nigel Ring

Planning for Ministry Pt 7 – Identifying specific Goals and Activities + Kenya crisis update

Equipping, Good Practice, Kenya, Planning, Poor, Relief and Development
[caption id="attachment_1794" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Equipping Oaks of Righteousness"][/caption] Continuing to consider the Logframe as a planning tool we shall now look at the left hand column of the Logical Framework Matrix: Goals Purpose Outcomes Activities Goals In the development world the Goal may arise out of a national or sectoral policy e.g. HIV in sub Saharan Africa. However, it need not be this far-reaching. A city may have the goal ‘to halve the number of those who have multiple deprivation in the city within five years'. So the church's ministry should fit into this Goal. Purpose The Purpose, which contributes to the fulfilment of the Goal, could then be focussed, say, on those who are homeless, one category of those who are multiply deprived. This is the case in Brighton.…
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