[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n less than two weeks Ministry Grid from LifeWay Christian Resources will launch. Billed as “Training Made Simple” Ministry Grid is a customizable platform designed to help churches develop all their leaders, no matter the leader’s area of service. Ministry Grid makes training leaders simple. Content is available to leaders anytime, anywhere, while giving pastors and other leaders unprecedented insight into how their people learn. Launching with more than 1,500 training videos for pastors, staff, volunteer leaders, and every-day church goers, Ministry Grid covers, or will cover, every topic a church needs to effectively train those who minister from the parking lot to the pulpit.
Late disclaimer: I am employed by LifeWay Christian Resources
Ministry Grid is, in short, a revolution in ministry training for the local church.
The entire vision of Ministry Grid is based on Ephesians 4:11-13:
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
Ministry Grid does not supplant the growth of disciples; it complements that growth. Indeed, it may serve as a catalyst for it.
The President and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, Thom Rainer, said, “Ministry Grid was developed in conjunction with the leaders who will be using it. We assembled an effective training model we believe is applicable to any church. It utilizes three main components: skillful training, godly facilitators, and easy accessibility for users.” Vice-president of LifeWay’s Church Resources, Eric Geiger, also noted, “The Church wins when ministry is handed back to the people. I am excited about Ministry Grid and how it will help churches more intentionally invest in leaders.”
How Does Ministry Grid Work?
Ministry Grid’s Learning Management System enables your church to customize training to match the unique needs and goals of your people. Select built-in tracks, choose from Ministry Grid’s 1,500+ video sessions, or add videos to create your own customized training. With tracking and administrative tools, Ministry Grid allows leaders to assess an individual or group’s skill level, assign training content, and view progress. It is accessible from computers, tablets, and smartphones with a native app that allows offline training, so users can train anywhere, at any time.
Who Can Use Ministry Grid?
Ministry Grid is for the entire church, with pricing based on your church’s average weekly attendance. Content is organized into four areas of development—pastoral, church staff, lay leader/volunteer, and personal development—with a wide range of topics videos averaging 15 minutes in length. Ministry Grid works with churches of any size and because you can upload your own content there’s no limit to how you can utilize the platform. Ministry Grid is also perfect for organizations and non-profits that are developing Christian leaders on matters relevant to their ministry.
What Makes The Ministry Grid Platform So Significant?
Ministry Grid is unprecedented in terms of the quantity, quality, and range of training content available. Every aspect is customizable according to your church’s needs, including the ability to skin the site with your own colors, drop in your logo and church branding, and upload your own content. You may also choose to disable access to content not relevant to your assigned users. No other training platform comes close in its ability to perfectly fit your specific needs.
Can I Use Ministry Grid On My Mobile Device?
Yes. Ministry Grid features apps for iOS devices and Kindle Fire. The mobile app allows people to watch training content on the go. You can even download content to your device to watch when offline, and connect your mobile device to a project—perfect for churches that do not have wi-fi access readily available. The Ministry Grid app is a free download, but requires a Ministry Grid subscription to use.
The official launch is less than two weeks away, but you can still sign up for the Ministry Grid Pre-release here.
