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Greetings! 
When I first started in ministry in the black church almost 20 years ago, I heard several great African-American preachers say that God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable!
That sent chills up and down my spine; I knew I had experienced both aspects of God's TLC.
Churches too can have a dual focus.
It comes from offering two kinds of ministries: those that comfort and those that challenge.
Comfort ministries improve the lot in life of individuals who are facing challenges. Challenge ministries address systemic problems or underlying obstacles that consistently distort and impoverish people's experience of life.
Do you operate a food pantry or soup kitchen? That's likely a comfort ministry. You probably help individuals who have lost their jobs or can't make ends meet. Maybe they're homeless and/or chronically mentally ill, or are fleeing violent situations. This ministry is incredibly important. Don't stop!
But don't forget that getting at underlying causes and conditions is also very important. And very Wesleyan.
That's where challenge ministries come in. You might advocate with the city for certain protections for the vulnerable. You might protest unjust policies that keep people in poverty.
Not exactly a warm fuzzy experience, but more people are helped by changing the system itself when you address root causes of a floundering economy, homelessness, addiction, the vulnerability of the mentally ill, or domestic violence.
It takes both kinds of ministry to truly help people. And to keep would-be disciples engaged.
You can know what kind of disciples your church is geared toward by mapping your ministries.
Map Your Ministries
1. Take a sheet of paper. Make three columns: Comfort. Challenge. New Possibilities.
2. Consider each ministry of your church. Ask yourself: Is its purpose is to offer comfort to people who face challenges? Or does it address root causes of the challenges they face? Put each ministry in the appropriate column(s).
3. Tally your results. Is your congregation geared toward comfort or challenge? Both? Neither?
4. Ask yourself: Who is most likely to be engaged by your ministry offerings? Or bored? Some people need constructive challenge, and a lot of it, to stay engaged. If they don't find it in your church, they'll go elsewhere. Others would rather offer behind the scenes support. To figure out who's who, look at the sidebar.
5. Go back to your ministry map. Consider the third column: New Possibilities. Brainstorm how your current ministries can be expanded to include more comfort or more challenge. Share your ideas with others.
6. Give thanks! You have taken an important step in developing a more balanced culture in your congregation--one that can engage more disciples and more generations than before.
7. Learn how to take the next step
in understanding the culture of your congregation by checking out the
This newly upgraded 9-month group meets online to walk you through a step-by-step process for deeply understanding and expanding the culture of your congregation. In addition to the group process, you get an e-Workbook, follow up mentoring calls, support and accountability.  | | DiSC and Discipleship A Step by Step Program Introduction |
If you've already taken this step and learned to READ the culture of your congregation, then it's time learn how to effectively LEAD in the culture of your congregation! Check out:
These are not easy times in the life of the church. I get it. That's why I've put together these coaching groups. To help your church be stronger than ever. And to support you--the church leader--in bringing good news to all creation!
At your service,
RebekahRev. Rebekah Simon-Peter
Director of BridgeWorks | 
