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Equipping local churches to meet community needs.

What We Do

At Good Samaritan Ministries, we can help churches do what they do best:  building life-changing relationships with neighbors in need.  To help churches build those relationships, we offer opportunities for ministry by:  1) partnering together, 2) providing training opportunities, and 3) offering congregational coaching to help churches who are thinking about intentionally reaching out to their neighbors and would like help gauging their own readiness as a church and how to engage their neighbors effectively.  

Our Services

Partner Churches

Churches are partnering with Good Samaritan Ministries.  We work under the premise that serving our community in the name of Christ can better be done together than alone. The needs of any community are diverse and great enough that no one organization can fulfill all those needs on their own.  It is as we work together as the Body of Christ that all things become possible.  What one lacks another can provide.  In working together we avoid duplication of services and we help insure that no need goes unanswered. 

To learn more about becoming a Partner Church contact Mike VandenBerg and consult the resources listed.

Partner Church-Background

Partner Church-FAQs

Partner Church-Covenant

Partner Church-Current Partners

Training Opportunities

Churches are performing more and more outreach into their communities; therefore, GSM is equipping them by offering training opportunities and learning events. For a complete list of training opportunities, see Training & Events.

Bridges Out of Poverty. Many of us are reaching out into our community and all over the globe to help families in need. It is helpful to prepare ourselves ahead of time so that we can effectively understand, appreciate, and make a true connection with families in poverty. Good Samaritan Ministries certified trainers are available to teach small groups, congregations, and church leadership to understand communicate, teach, and motivate individuals in poverty so that they can achieve a more stable, safe, and healthy environment for themselves and their families. Training can be customized to fit your church needs and is helpful for pastors, church leadership, individuals committed to mission trips, small groups, and individuals who mentor.

Relational Ministries. Relational Ministries can be called mentoring, coaching, or simply being an encourager.  Is your church trying to bring more people to God?  Do you want to discover the life changing power of relationships?  Is your church offering programs for adults and children?  Are you reaching out to individuals in poverty?  Based both on scriptural principles and research studies, GSM’s belief is that mentors from churches who walk along side individuals provide the positive role models and emotional support necessary for individuals to turn their lives around. Good Samaritan Ministries experienced trainers are available to certify an individual in your church to teach others how to purposely and supportively walk alongside others in need. IF you do not have the capacity to have an in-house training, Good Sam can train individuals to become coaches or mentors.

Team Leader Training.  The key role played by a ministry team is to serve as a bridge, assisting the family back to self reliance and self respect.  The ministry team’s friendship, informal counseling, problem solving, and encouragement are pivotal to the family in need.  With the love, care, and support they receive, the family will experience first hand God’s love through the relationship built with the ministry team.  Like any venture, in order to be effective, the team should be organized and supported by a Team Leader. Good Samaritan Ministries experienced trainers and staff members provide team leader training to equip individuals to begin this important ministry.

Financial Counseling.  Your church may feel that one of your ministries should be financial counseling so you can equip your congregation to help when families in trouble come through your door. It may be before you provide financial assistance, you ask them to attend a financial counseling program. Good Samaritan Ministries offers a financial counseling program that is designed to help individuals one-on-one because each family is different. Through this training financial counselors are also introduced to economic diversity training. This helps the counselor better understand and communicate with families in poverty. If you do not have the capacity to have an in-house trainer, Good Sam can train individuals to financial counselors.

Volunteer Management.  Working with volunteers in a church ministry capacity is critical to accomplishing the church mission. There are organizational tools which make this process easier to accomplish. An extensive curriculum is available through Good Samaritan Ministries trainers and staff members. If you do not have the capacity to have an in-house trainer, Good Sam can train individuals to manage volunteers effectively.

Case Management. This type of training is designed for lay leaders who manage multiple clients and their progress. This is helpful for non-profit organizations and churches who offer programs that track progress such as social service programs, GED programs, Basic Reading Readiness, financial counseling, etc. The content is considered basic Case Management. Topics covered include:

• What is case management?
• What are the goals?
• What is the case management process?

If you do not have the capacity to have an in-house trainer, Good Sam can train individuals to perform case management for your church or organization.

Contact Person Training.  When a church becomes a Partner Church, a Contact Person(s) is assigned by the church.  This person(s) will be the liaison between Good Sam and the church.  This training provides orientation of Contact Person responsibilities, Good Sam’s philosophy, mission, and programs, and Clearinghouse information. 

Learning Events.  Throughout the year, we offer community wide events appropriate for churches and non-profit organizations.   As the host, Good Samaritan Ministries brings in local and national speakers who are accomplished in their field.  Look on the website for the latest learning events. 

Congregational Coaching

Is your church thinking about intentionally reaching out to your neighbors?  You may be thinking, “Should we respond to individual needs as they arise?  Should we explore possible ministries that could have impact on our entire neighborhood?  Can we do both?  How do we even begin exploring the possibilities?   How do we get to know our community and the people in our neighborhood?  How do we engage our neighbors?” GSM can provide process and tools on how you gauge your own readiness as a church. 

Once you have decided to reach out to your neighbors, you may not know where to begin.  You may be asking, “How do we do reach out effectively?  How do we gather information about the assets in our neighborhood (people, organizations, and buildings)?  How do we discern the challenges and opportunities?  How do we build relationships with our neighbors?  How do we start to enter into the life of our neighborhood?  How do our neighbors become a part of this community visioning?  Good Samaritan Ministries can help answer these questions.