discipleship1

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. –Hebrews 5:13-14 (NIV)

Villages

The Village Ministry Program of CCUPC began in 1995 to help our church respond more quickly in times of special need within the congregation – especially when there is a death in the family, a hospitalization, the birth of a child or other similar situation.

In a church as large and complex as ours, often the office and Pastoral staff do not hear about such special needs until after the time when a response is most needed.  By involving the entire congregation, through their villages, in the care-giving process, the level of care not only increases dramatically, but also allows us to multiply the amount of care our church is able to offer in  these times of need.

The Village Ministry Program falls under the general oversight of our Board of Deacons with one Deacon assigned the task of Village Deacon Coordinator for the whole program.  It is the Village Deacon Coordinator’s task, along with the church staff, to make sure everything is functioning smoothly in the Village Ministry Program.

In each of the villages, there is also a Village Deacon, a member of the Board of Deacons, who has certain responsibilities for a particular village.  There is also a Village Chair, an individual or couple, who are members of that village and who have agreed to serve to assist the Village Deacon with the oversight of that village.

Each village is a group of about 10-20 families, located generally in the same geographic area.  Some villages will be more widespread than others.  Each family in the village receives a village listing with some directions on what to do and who to call in specific situations.

Generally speaking, villages will be asked to respond in a time of need (as noted above), and to provide cookies and host one of the Coffee Socials following worship approximately twice a year. 

We believe this Village Ministry Program does much to help provide ministry to the members of our Church family.