Target Ministries - Good or Bad?

[M]

Are target ministries good or bad?   What I mean by target ministries is a ministry within a church or not that is targetted at a specific group of people such as: youth, singles, people who are divorced, various ethnic groups and not just neighbourhoods or geographical areas.

What are the advantages or disadvantages to splitting up the church into various groups according to interests, special needs, age groups, culture etc.  Does this make a church stronger or weaker?  

What are your experiences?

 What do you think is the Biblical model of a church and what scriptures do we have to support that model?  How does your ministry or church compare to that model?

[jamindavey]

Target ministries are good and biblical. Paul led a specifically gentile focussed church. Even Jesus specifically focussed on reaching out to Jews. Even the twelve had the fishing group and the tax collector group. In each of those examples however, there were exceptions.

Reaching out to certain people in certain ways is strategic and sensable. Singles may be more likely to come to an event where they can meet other singles. Any oppotunity to set up a sinner with the saint who will eventually lead them to Christ should not be missed.

A youth group can be more vibrant and exciting with lighter, interactive teachings. Working groups can deal with issues like reaching out to people in the workplace. Student groups can offer Godly advice for a person's studies. Undoubtably, a combination of small groups with a specific focus in combination with Sunday services involving the larger church community and allowing interaction between people who may not normall sociallise is a good way to meet both specific needs and general needs.

[Rhys]

  The church has always had target ministries. Missions is a target ministry. Paul was specifically directed by God to target the Macedonians. Philip was taken away from a productive ministry to target one Ethiopian!

The problem is when a target ministry becomes so inwardly focused the people lose their relationship to the whole body of Christ. Small Groups are great target ministries in a church, but the whole body still should come together once a week so that everyone gets to know others who aren't part of their little group. Otherwise things tend to fly apart after awhile.

[Yoyostick]

I’m thinking about starting up a target ministry to minister to target ministries

 

You do that.