EP 10: How Parachurch Ministries Can Help Your Church Flourish

Do parachurch ministries help or hurt the work of the local church? Today we speak with Sarah Carabetta, Director of ACTS4 on how parachurch organizations can form strategic partnerships to broaden the impact of your local congregation. You can get more information about ACTS4 here. Here is the free download, 5 Tips To Help Choose A Parachurch Partner Transcript of Today's Podcast A para church ministry by definition is an outreach that shares Christ via a specific service or benefit. They are distinct from churches, in that there is not typically a pastor, weekly services or an identifiable congregation. Parachurch ministries can be small, medium or large. A Christian radio station for example is a parachurch ministry. Other examples include a Christ-centered Drug rehabilitation program, a Christian school, a soup kitchen, conferences on family or a particular focus, even Bible school or seminary are para church organizations. …the list is quite extensive. Not a week goes by when I do not get contacted by a para church organization either inviting my presence at an event, or more boldly, inviting me to give an offering towards whatever need they are fulfilling. Pastors are inundated with requests for these type of needs and after a while, they don’t even get opened. Their particular need may be great, but the average church already operates with limited resources. Through the years, I have seen a lot of parachurch ministries come and go, so I’d like to share with you a few thoughts to help you make good choices for your church. This may seem like I’m preaching to the choir, but para church ministries only have value to the exact degree that they assist local churches in fulfilling their mission. That may sound obvious, but I can tell you that often I encounter para church ministries that are all about self-perpetuation. Recently, I was invited along with several other pastors to the unveiling of a new national para church ministry. I won’t mention names, but it is large and well-known. During the presentation, we were told that they had several pastors on staff to address those who contacted them and a variety of resources available for non-Christians. During the question and answer, I asked how this ministry would assist local churches. The sound of crickets could be heard in the room. They explained that they did not come to talk about a partnership with the local church, but to just make us aware of what they were doing. I took exception and exited as soon as the presentation concluded. Para church ministries only have value to the exact degree they assist local churches in fulfilling their mission. When a parachurch ministry is created to go around the local church, it is a failure. That is a pretty outrageous thing to say, but I am happy to support that with scripture. The church is the apple of God’s eye. Frankly, it does not matter how many mistakes she makes or even how dysfunctional she is, the local church has God’s full endorsement. When a para church ministry is formed to compete with or replace a local church, it never ends well. I have witnessed national parachurch ministries that appeared successful for a few years and then disappeared. Ultimately they produce no lasting fruit. Why? The church is tasked with maturing the saints. That means the full interface of biblical leadership, gifts, teaching…etc., is required. A para-church ministry is not tasked or graced to accomplish that purpose. On the other hand, para-church ministries can be a tremendous partner when everyone understands their respective roles. For example, perhaps your congregation really has a heart to serve the poor, but