TEAMS Resources.

Please prayerfully consider the resources listed below or share a resource with Pastor Miller if you would like to have it considered for one of the categories listed below. You can also click on the picture to the right and access the Ministry Teams YouTube page that features many online video resources. 

S - Spirituality (Looks out of order compared to the acronym, but it is to be the first priority of a disciple of Christ)

CLICK on the hyperlinked title to access the respective resource or any hyperlink contained within the description. 

  • Featured Resource - Discipleship 101 is an excellent place to start when considering a relationship with Christ.  This document provides an outline of a process that can enhance the spirituality of a disciple of Christ and be used to disciple others.  
  • Communion with God - This downloadable devotional is packed full of inspirational Ellen G. White quotes answering questions regarding prayer. Some of the questions / topics include: What is real prayer, how do you find time for prayer, what is fervency in prayer, the early and the latter rain, prayer and reverence, why prayers are answered, and much more. We know this resource will be a blessing to you!
  • Walking with Jesus - Segment 1 focuses on the Biblical concept of discipleship.  Segment 2 focuses on faith and how to help a group internalize what faith is and what it isn't.  
  • Top Spiritual Resources for Revival and Reformation - From free pdf books on prayer/Bible study to apps that can aid your walk with the Lord, this is a very practical site.
  • Family Worship - Once your heart has Jesus as Your Savior, Lord and Friend, then establish family or couple worship.  Or establish a small group or find a prayer partner if you are single (see Member Care). See the first four articles after you click on this link.
  • Calls to Prayer - TBD
  • Theology - Find scholarly articles on theology and other church related topics from Creation to Revelation by searching the sidebar in this online archive. 
  • Ministry in Motion - How to have a meaningful devotional experience video.  You can also do a search for any of the other TEAMS areas and find topics that fit each category.

T - Teaching/Preaching

CLICK on the hyperlinked title to access the respective resource or any hyperlink contained within the description.
  • How to Study the Bible tools - Learn basic and in-depth ways to study the Word of God before you endeavor to present it.
  • Introduction to the Bible - Part of the Basics of Christianity series and a good introduction to How to Study the Bible or a refresher.  Click on the title for the first segment, and then view segment 2 to go deeper and apply How to Study the Bible principles. 
  • Northern California Conference Resources on preaching: 1.  Preaching Passages - Often the development of a sermon is slowed due to not knowing what to preach on.  Take this list of passages, read them and select the ones that best fit for your congregation / group.  Then use the next resources.  2. How to Preach the Word - An overview of the components needed in an effective sermon.  3.  Preaching Template - Use to help you craft your sermon outline/manuscript.  4.  Training videos - Dr. Del Dunavant explains parts of the aforementioned resources and gives tips on effectively crafting a sermon.  Here are the links to the two videos: video 1 (https://youtu.be/x9-X7KJQ-78) and video 2 (https://youtu.be/x9-X7KJQ-78).
  • Preaching and teaching overview course - This course had been adapted by a book by Dr. James Wibberding.  It is useful and yet in-depth at the same time.  A lay-preaching handout that synthesizes the content of the overview course has been developed by VLP Coordinator Murray Miller and is available here. 
  • Teaching Techniques - Four segments that together function as an advanced seminar for those wishing to use audio/visual, teaching styles and other techniques in presentations. Segment 1: Learning Styles, Segment 2: Storytelling, Segment 3: Teaching & Segment 4: Use of AVs.
  • Powerful Biblical Preaching - Find and adapt a manuscript/outline for use with your group/church.  You can also access the whole training seminar that Derek Morris does for pastors by clicking here.
  • Condensed Sermon Seminar by Derek Morris - take a semester long course in just 12 pages!  Great for a reminder or refresher.
  • HMS Richards Lectureship on Preaching - A full manuscript and 3 parts to this series on preaching. 
  • Elder's Digest sermon outlines - Each issue has sermon outlines that can be adapted for local contexts, group, etc. sharing.
  • Project ReFresh - A Young Adult media ministry with "as I AM" short video testimonies, and other online clips to use for ministry/education.
  • Live-Streaming options for you to choose from (or do a search on google and find one you like/want to use):
         1. Sacramento Central
        2. Carmichael
        3. Granite Bay
        4. Loma Linda
        5. College View Church (Lincoln, NE)
        6. Central California Conference - Find a list of churches providing online services/sermons along with online resources. 
  • Ministry In Motion - Good videos on a variety of ministry topics including preaching.
  • Daily Hymns - A YouTube channel with over 700 videos including most of the hymns from the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal.  Lyrics are on the screen, and includes well done vocals plus accompaniment!  This can help you choose hymns that compliment your sermonic calendar.
  • Lineage Discussion Guides - Access episodes for season 1 HERE (You can also purchase DVDs online HERE), and then utilize the discussion guides once per month (a suggestion) to supplement your sermons or as a small group discussion guide.  The season 1 discussion guides document has 4 episodes per session to discuss (they are usually about 5 minutes per episode), has suggested Scriptures to read before and after, application questions, and an answer key at the end of the document.  
  • Communion Process Analysis (order of service after the foot-washing): Most Communion services have Lord's Supper listed in the bulletin but some do not realize the steps that usually take place from the time of the foot-washing to the distribution of the emblems to the closing song.  This is a SAMPLE process analysis (order of service for leaders) of what happens after the the foot-washing in a typical Adventist church. You can get a pdf to review by clicking on the title above, or you can access an editable Word file and make changes by clicking HERE.  This is a handy reference to give to elders, platform participants, etc. or to use when doing a communion rehearsal.  If need be you can go over it last minute at the door before proceeding into the sanctuary.  
  • Sermonic Calendar (contact the VLP Coordinator).
  • Pulpit Exchange process (contact the VLP Coordinator)

E- Evangelism/Engagement

  • Featured Resources - Access the process to secure evangelism subsidy funds or apply to plant a church by clicking HERE.  Dr. Del Dunavant has provided several tools that can be utilized when doing evangelism: 1. How to Help Others Fall in Love with Jesus; 2.  A Discipleship 101 handout that is helpful, and 3.  Handouts on serving according to your spiritual gifts and ministry passions.   
  • Sample Evangelism Cycle and Tips: Click on the hyperlink to the left to access a document that gives a general overview of an evangelism process.  Included are sample calendars and a simple community survey that can be used to engage your community leaders prior to doing evangelism.    
  • Friendship Evangelism - learn how to be a friend, then share Your Friend!  You can also click here for a Ministry InMotion video on this topic.
  • GLOWING - Read a piece of literature, pray and ask God to guide you to someone who may need it, and share it! This resource requires purchase.
  • Establishing a missionary group - How to get started with your group and prayerfully consider its mission. 
  • Understanding your community (Engagement): Learn about your community, develop a profile and conduct a needs assessment before launching ministries.  If the link is not working, then the segments are here: Segment 1, Segment 2, Segment 3, Segment 4, Segment 5, Segment 6.
  • Personal Evangelism - from readiness for Bible studies to preparing a person for baptism. If the link is not working, then try accessing the file here: Segment 1, Segment 2, Segment 3, and Segment 4. 
  • Evangelism Impact video training - From small group tips, to church revitalization and planting, there are many insights to be gleaned from these videos.
  • KS-NE Conference Personal Witnessing and Evangelism - Virgil Covel has provided 7 sessions / trainings on personal witnessing and evangelism.  
  • Recovery Ministry - How to have a ministry to those struggling with addictions of various kinds.  An overview document was also presented a NCC Elder's Training and can be accessed HERE.   The training segments of the i-Follow curriculum are here and begin with an introduction followed by 12 steps: Segment 1 Introduction, Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4, Steps 5-7, Step 8, Step 9, Step 10, Step 11, Step 12. 
  • Witnessing - Videos and practical tips on sharing your faith in Jesus.
  • Dan Serns Evangelism Blog - Learn VERY practical tips on how to do personal and public evangelism.  Check out the various topics or do a search.
  • Community Assessment Tool - This is geared towards establishing Urban Centers of Influence, yet can be applied in a variety of settings.  Read the article before the Community Assessment Tool to learn more.
  • Winsome Witnessing - Revised and expanded, the new version of Winsome Witnessing includes the bonus CD book Winsome Studies in Prophecy, Dynamic Bible Studies You Can Give! Together, this is the ultimate soul-winning kit to help you lead people to Christ, revitalize your church, give successful Bible studies, and more. Plus, the bonus book gives you word-for-word scripts for 29 powerful Bible studies you can immediately use. Known for his practical instruction, Gary Gibbs will help you become a successful soul winner through this useful book.
  • Total Member Involvement (TMI) - An initiative of the General Conference that includes a sample harvest cycle using traditional evangelism and engagement ministries.  Click on the Total Member Involvement (TMI) title to access the website.  Click HERE to access a sample harvest cycle calendar. 

A - Administration

  • Featured Resources: A very helpful presentation by Elder Walter Groff on Leading the Local Church and an overview of how to conduct Platform Duties by Dr. Del Dunavant.  Dr. Dunavant also developed a document describing the life-cycle of churches that is available HERE. 
  • Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual - The principles and guidelines for church ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 
  • Budgeting and Planning - Basic practices and tips on the Administration of a local church.  If the NAD link is not working, then the materials are available here:  Segment 1 (Budgeting) and Segment 2 (Planning).
  • Stewardship - A helpful resource on how to help your group/ministry focus on the abundance of God and BE cheerful givers. Segment 1 (The Cheerful Giver), Segment 2 (Scarcity VS Abundance), Segment 3 (Offerings). 
  • Andrews University Digital Commons - Search for articles, dissertations, book reviews and more on various subjects including Administration / Leadership. 
  • Ministry Magazine - With an online archive decades in the making, you are sure to find something to help with any TEAMS proficiency areas. 
  • Elder's Digest - Leadership training for elders, pastors and more.
  • Church Visioning and Revitalization - Use a collaborative method to refocus your local church on God's mission.  Authored by Murray Miller. 
  • Steps to a Vibrant Church - A very practical and, arguably, one of the best how-to-manuals on church revitalization.  Purchase this book and utilize the prayerful process to prepare your church for revitalization!
  • The Empowered Church Program - A very prayerful and practical process with an assessment tool alternative to Natural Church Development.  From Amazing Facts.
  • Strategic Planning for Mission Driven Churches - Create a login and then select this course to learn ways others are utilizing the Mission Driven Churches curriculum in their churches/conferences.
  • Steering the Ship - An article that gives tips on how to administrate multiple congregations in such a way that they assist each other and the Pastor is freed up to do evangelism.  Written by Murray Miller. 
  • Board agenda FORM - Print and use this form or follow the suggested steps if you have not chaired a Board Meeting before.  Click on the title to the left for a pdf or if you want an editable Word file that you can type the information into, then click HERE. 
  • Official Letter TEMPLATE - Please contact the Coordinator for this document once VLP status is official. 
  • Ministry Assistance Plan (MAP) for small churches - Contact Murray Miller if your church / group is struggling due to a loss of members or needs help organizing itself for revitalization.  

M - Member Care

  • Featured Resources: Del Dunavant has authored two documents with sessions on the formation of small groups (click here for: session 1 and session 2) and PowerPoint presentations to accompany them (click here for session 1 and session 2).  A practical equipping resource for helping members (both long-time and new) discover and minister according to how the Lord has gifted them is available HERE. This resource is especially helpful in getting new believers involved in ministry.
  • Member Care - Training on listening skills, visitation, reconnecting, etc.  Segment 1 (Listening), Segment 2 (Reconnecting), and Segment 3 (Visiting).
  • Two Northern California Conference resources are authored by Kris Widmer: 1.  Visiting Active Members and 2. Visiting Inactive Members.  A visitation instruction sheet with report log that you can use, or have elders/deacons use when they are visiting, is available HERE.  
  • Small Group Leadership - From understanding group dynamics, dealing with problem people to making your group missionally focused, this is a helpful set of presentations.   Segment 1 (Agendas), Segment 2 (Consensus), Segment 3 (Discussions), Segment 4 (Group Dynamics), Segment 5 (Mission), Segment 6 (Problem People).  One helpful pre-requisite to having small group meetings is to learn listening skills.  That training is available HERE. 
  • Family of Hope - Start a group that is focused on family from its inception. This site has four insightful video clips on how to begin this kind of group (though the website referred to in the videos was not active as of this writing).
  • Small Group resources - A book list from NADEI (the North American Division Evangelism Institute) website.  
  • Simple Church - For a church wishing to do member care in small groups or a church that is a small group, this site has online training videos (and it would be good to go through the content on the "About" page too), and practical tips on how to have a faith gathering in a home setting.
  • Hospital Visitation - Whether it is someone in your group, from your church, or a friend of your ministry; learn tips on how to minister in this specialized context. A resource hospital visitation that was presented at a Northern California Conference Elder's training is available HERE.   Click on the title above for a general article and click here for another article.
  • Ministering to the Grieving / Conducting Funerals (click this title for a search inquiry list of items) - Several articles can be helpful.  One is how to minister to those whose family members are terminally ill (click here), another is on how to conduct a funeral (click here), and last, here is one that deals with bringing parishioners through grief part 1 and part 2. 
  • Grief and Funerals COURSE - Create an account for the Adventist Learning Community and enroll/complete this course by Pastor Travis Forde to be better equipped to conduct a funeral.  A great course for all leaders!
  • Memorial Service Planning half-sheet - Print and use this form to draft an order of service when you first visit the family.  Click on the title to the left for a pdf copy that you can print off OR click HERE for a Word file that you can edit.   Even if there is a printed program from a funeral home, this half-sheet can be printed, inserted in the back of your Bible or copied and given to the family. 
  • Memorial Service with Graveside - Click on the title to the left for a pdf copy or click HERE for a Word file that you can edit.  This form is used with the family to help plan the memorial with a graveside that follows.  Gravesides vary, so utilize the Word file and type in the specifics before printing the half-sheet off.  *NOTE: The committal prayer can be used to conclude the Memorial service without at graveside or even a hospital visit where someone has died.  
  • Pastoral Counseling - When to refer.  This article highlights an important practice that every ministry leader would benefit from knowing.
  • Help a Struggling Marriage - An informative article on how to help a struggling marriage.
  • Prepare-Enrich - Training (with a cost) on premarital preparation and marriage enrichment resources.
  • Suicide prevention - See this website for a lifeline phone number you can refer people to, and find tips on helping both young and old through an intense time of struggle/pain in their lives. For a quick reference with tips/questions that can be asked see this document here.  When in doubt call 911.
  • Domestic Violence and Child Abuse - A resource list from the NAD Family Ministries website.  
  • Divorce and other topics - Find helpful ideas for various areas that you may face in ministry.

Pastoral Families

  • Ministerial Spouses - Resources and ideas for the leaders' spouse 
  • Prepare Enrich - Couple resource group that you can join and gain access to resources for your relationship.
  • Pastor's Kids - Click on the "Resources" tab on the upper right.
  • The Family and the Pastor - Special issue of Ministry that focuses on helpful ideas for the pastoral family.  You can also access many articles on this subject here.
  • Family worship - This component to the ministry household is crucial to effective ministry outside of the home.  Read this informative and practical article on ways to make the time as a family interesting.  Of course, the length of family worship depends on the age of those involved. 
  • Family Ministry in the local church - How to lead a family emphasis for your ministry, church or community.  This has in mind the pre-requisite that your family is taking time together for spirituality, vacation, etc. 
  • Parenting resources and ideas - From the NAD Family Ministries department
  • Directory of Counselors - Contact the Coordinator for more localized options if this search tool is not helpful.