Organic is the Program at Immanuel

By God's grace, most of the ministry that takes place at Immanuel takes place organically. Organic ministry is ministry that happens naturally, without force, without prodding, and without coercion. Sure, we have a few structures (programs) that assist us in living the gospel together. Those programs include corporate worship services each Lord's Day, Sunday School, care group ministry, some programmed evangelism, Somali Ministry, Wednesday evening prayer meeting, and a few other things that could be considered programs. Our programs exist to create times and places for the church to gather to accomplish specific tasks. While these programs are helpful, they do not guarantee that any real ministry will take place. They merely provide opportunity for Christians to gather, receive teaching from God's Word, encourage one another, pray together, and share the hope of the Gospel with others.

At Immanuel, it is common to find members hanging around, talking, and visiting with one another for hours after our public gatherings. Whether discussing the sermon, praying for one another, or simply sharing life together, it is in these kinds of settings that lots of ministry (one anothering) takes place. There's no “program” that makes people stick around after our services. The body simply does this organically. In fact, most of the mercy, discipleship, and counseling needs in our church are met organically. Organic ministry happens every time a Brother notices a need in another and meets it without having to be told or asked. Immanuel has no “program” that encourages young women to offer babysitting for a married couple that is frazzled and stretched thin. We do not have a formal ministry encouraging our people to help one another with financial needs when we come across them. We have no formal ministry that helps our people invite others out for coffee to share struggles and prayers together. Yet, these things happen all the time, organically.

Immanuel is by no means a perfect church. There's only One perfect Being—the Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives are intentionally organized around the One who has re-created us in His image, and granted us the joy of serving others the way that we've been served by Christ. Immanuel is light on programs, but by God's grace, we are strong in the area of life-on-life organic ministry.