V. NEXT STEPS
Were some bells going off as you reviewed the eight models? Are you seeing some real potential for your congregation to get involved in reentry ministry in a more focused and intentional way and in a way that fits who you are? If so, what are your next steps to turn that potential into actual ministry? If you already know what to do, congrats. You can skip what comes next and scroll down to the Resources section below. If, on the other hand, as a leader, you’re not quite sure how to take the next steps to get things moving, we have a couple of basic leadership approaches for you to consider that we’ve seen work in other congregations. Here’s a bare-bones process you might find helpful in your context. Again, you know your leaders and your congregation best. You undoubtedly have your own unique congregational culture with your own procedures and precedents for how ministry initiatives form and grow. Please take what’s suggested here and contextualize, contextualize, contextualize. Have a conversation with a mentor (or coach) who is very familiar with reentry. One of the first reviewers of this guide wrote that he thought a con- versation with a coach or mentor would be useful in helping him clarify his own thinking prior to sharing it with congregational leadership. Having a chance to talk through possibilities and practicalities with someone who’s ex- perienced and learned things along the way can help flesh out the pathways we’ve been charting. A how-to guide is good, and it’s even better when paired with a living guide. Share this guide with other leaders. Gather together with other ministry leaders for discernment and prayer. Use this how-to guide as food for thought. Analyze each of the eight models. Which seem to fit your congregation well? Which don’t? Which might? Make a list of possibilities. Think how you might adapt any of the models to fit your context, your available resources, and your current ministry bandwidth. Focus on “possibility thinking.” Consider using Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats. This is a remarkably effective group process that allows everyone to weigh in on what they like, dislike, think, and feel about a proposed new ministry. See if you can build a guiding coalition for starting a new reentry ministry. See the Appendix for a
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