Schedule : Sketching Floor

initial info

Outlines for each session can be granted upon request. Below are the introductory statistics and resources to assist teams in getting started.

Session 1: Meet the Need

This introductory session will present a global view of modern day orphans with compelling statistics and...

Session 1: Meet the Need

This introductory session will present a global view of modern day orphans with compelling statistics and personal testimonies. We will examine God's call to care for orphans, a brief historical view of orphan care, and the struggles faced by "the fatherless" today both in American foster care and international settings. Church teams will be challenged to prayerfully consider leading an orphan care ministry at their church and sent with tools and resources to learn more about orphan care ministry. Each team will receive a packet of information for their specific county and each church represented will receive a copy of Launching an Orphan Care Ministry at Your Church by Hope for Orphans' Jason Weber.
Session 2: Exploring Channels

After the welcome, your church team will work through five (5) twenty minute mini-sessions that address various...

Session 2: Exploring Channels

After the welcome, your church team will work through five (5) twenty minute mini-sessions that address various channels of orphan care. Teams will begin to build a binder of resources and information regarding these different areas as they continue processing the direction for their particular church and ministry. The North Texas Heart Gallery (a display of children's portraits who are currently awaiting adoption from the North Texas region) may be on display, and teams will be encouraged to schedule a time to have the display at their church to begin looking towards a launch date for the ministry. The Gallery is an excellent way to raise awareness and bring the faces of these kids before your church as you move forward in launching an orphan care ministry.
Session 3: Breakout for Focus

As your church team will have decided upon a channel or channels (dependent upon the size of the team or church...

Session 3: Breakout for Focus

As your church team will have decided upon a channel or channels (dependent upon the size of the team or church), you will breakout into small groups to discuss potential programming with other leaders interested in the same focus area (this would only apply if you were selecting multiple channels and is only recommended for larger groups). Discussion groups will be led by leaders from orphan care ministries that have had success and longevity in the specific channel of ministry. These leaders will share successful programs they have led and help church team members cultivate fresh and impactful ideas for future programs at their local churches. After groups have had time to discuss ideas, teams will come together and discuss the next steps they need to take in order to move forward with formulating programming with their church staff, volunteers and local resources.
Session 4: Propose a Plan

Now that your team has chosen a direction for future programming, you can begin formalizing your ministry...

Session 4: Propose a Plan

Now that your team has chosen a direction for future programming, you can begin formalizing your ministry plans to propose to church leadership or congregation. Teams will listen and discuss presentations on financial administration, fundraising, marketing, and delegation of leadership. Each presentation will be covered allowing 5 minutes for Q&A immediately following. This session is created to help leaders organize the structure and foundation of the ministry in order to sustain and improve upon success.
Session 5: Launch the Vision

Your ministry will have developed a plan to propose to your church by now. In this session we will specifically...

Session 5: Launch the Vision

Your ministry will have developed a plan to propose to your church by now. In this session we will specifically focus on details before, during and after your launch. Teams will meet to summarize the overarching topics that need to be addressed such as pre-launch marketing, post-launch opportunities and launch day ideas and details. Following this discussion, teams will brainstorm together in order to start planning their launch as well as wrapping up loose ends from previous sessions.
Session 6: Gain Momentum

In following along the lines of post-launch opportunities from the previous session, teams will continue discussing...

Session 6: Gain Momentum

In following along the lines of post-launch opportunities from the previous session, teams will continue discussing ways to build momentum in their ministries. Many ministries launch and following their initial surge of enthusiasm and progress then stagnate or revert back to just the one or two people who started the ministry initially. To prevent stunting the ministry, teams will focus on ways they can build their leadership, strengthen community involvement and incorporate a progression of programming. This allows individuals and families to experience the vision of your ministry by increasing commitment from projects to programs to a culture of praying and caring for orphans.
Session 7: Grow and Invest

As you have now been through six sessions of Sketching Floor, teams should have established their leadership...

Session 7: Grow and Invest

As you have now been through six sessions of Sketching Floor, teams should have established their leadership and accountability structure. While ministries are gaining momentum, they will need to think about how to grow their programming, outlets for raising awareness and inlets for incorporating more volunteers. Ministries need to prevent stagnating by growing the scope of their programming, investing in other areas that apply to their mission and improving the quality of the work they're already doing. We will discuss how teams can grow and invest in a roundtable format with constructive criticism and encouragement from your group and anyone who has been impacted or volunteered with your ministry.
Session 8: Assess the Situation

Ministries may be at the point that they have launched, started regular programming, and even grown in the...

Session 8: Assess the Situation

Ministries may be at the point that they have launched, started regular programming, and even grown in the scope of their efforts by this time. As the launch and growth are taking place, it may have been almost a year since leadership has stepped back to look at the ministry from a distance to assess and measure the impact that they have made. This session will allow leaders to look at their ministries from a bird's eye view and critique themselves for areas they need to focus more in or possible changes in direction.

initial info

Session 1: Meet the Need

Session 2: Exploring Channels

Session 3: Breakout for Focus

Session 4: Propose a Plan

Session 5: Launch the Vision

Session 6: Gain Momentum

Session 7: Grow and Invest

Session 8: Assess the Situation