Every ministry philosophy has a beginning.

Church Ministry By Design is the foundational Legacy Volume that first introduced many of the principles that would eventually grow into Ministry By Design: The Series. Although later volumes explore individual ministry areas in greater depth, this book remains an important introduction to the philosophy of intentional ministry that continues to shape the entire Series.

Written to help pastors, church leaders, and ministry teams think more intentionally about the life of the local church, this volume examines the biblical purposes, organizational principles, and ministry foundations that contribute to healthy and effective church leadership. It was developed to help churches move beyond simply maintaining ministries toward intentionally designing ministries that faithfully fulfill Christ's mission.

Among the topics explored are:

• The Goals of the Church
• The Purposes of the Church
• The Functions of the Church
• Organizing the Church for Effective Ministry
• Growing the Church
• Structuring Church Associations and Denominations
• Beginning New Ministries

One distinguishing feature of this Legacy Volume is its overview of more than eighty individual church ministries. Each ministry includes a brief description, suggested leadership structure, organizational placement, and practical guidance for involving both staff members and volunteers. Although later Ministry By Design: The Series volumes examine many of these ministry areas in much greater depth, this overview still provides a valuable introduction to the breadth and diversity of ministry within the local church.

Today, Church Ministry By Design stands as both a practical ministry resource and a historical milestone in the continuing development of the Ministry By Design philosophy. It represents the beginning of a vision that has since expanded into a growing library of resources dedicated to strengthening churches through biblical principles, intentional leadership, and thoughtful ministry design.

Availability

This Legacy Volume is currently out of print, and only a limited number of copies remain available. It is expected to become available in digital format through Faithlife's Logos platform. Until then, direct inquiries about remaining print copies to Ministry By Design.