Pilot Ministries

Creating a Pilot Ministry

Each pilot ministry will need a couple of interested volunteers and the blessing of church leadership. Churches help grow new ministries by providing the gifts, wisdom, facilities, community connections, volunteer muscle, and funds that allow new expressions of discipleship to emerge.

Structured experimentation is the key. Each ministry should have a definition of success and know when to wind down. The funding mechanism should be clear. Churches that review “failed” ministries without blame in order to help tweak the next offering are on the right track. Each experiment should be celebrated!

Pilot Ministry Proposal Worksheet

One way to get new pilot ministries off to a solid start is by having laity complete this worksheet for approval by church leadership. Completing the worksheet ensures that key thinking has already been completed and the ministry has a clear “Success Definition.”