Latitude

What Is a Ministry Team? And Why Your Church Needs One

Tired of serving solo? Discover how ministry teams are reshaping mission at Christ Methodist—building deeper relationships, growing spiritual passion, and answering God's call to serve with, not for.

At Christ Methodist, ministry is shifting from isolated volunteerism to team-based mission rooted in Scripture and shaped by shared passion. Inspired by Jesus sending disciples two-by-two, ministry teams are forming around ten key focus areas—from refugee care to church planting—inviting members to pray, learn, and serve together. These teams foster spiritual growth, build real community, and move people from availability-based serving to heart-level commitment. Whether your passion is global or local, there's a place for you to lead or follow—and it starts with simply showing up.

In this episode, we dive into God's mission through history, as revealed in the Bible. What was God’s original plan through Abraham, and how does the mission unfold in Revelation? How are we called to participate in this global mission today? 

We explore the challenges and opportunities of reaching unreached people groups and how each of us can play a part in fulfilling God's promise for all nations. 

Ready to make an impact? Let’s take a step of intentionality together.

In this episode, Nathan Cook discusses his book "Storm the Gates," focusing on engaging medical students with their divine calling through Matthew 16. He highlights Peter's confession of faith as the foundation of the Church and encourages a proactive stance against darkness, reframing "the gates of hell" as a challenge for believers. Cook emphasizes the importance of confronting adversity and suffering in the Christian journey, urging listeners to reflect on their calling and engage with societal issues. The episode serves as a call to action for believers to actively participate in God's redemptive work.

What if church wasn’t a place you go, but a community you build around your calling? In this episode, Lucas Pulley of Tampa Underground shares how microchurches are reshaping mission, leadership, and discipleship—and why the future of the church might be small, local, and wildly transformative.

When ordinary people step out in faith, God does extraordinary things. In this episode, we talk with Christ Methodist member Zach about a life-changing trip to Southeast Asia—a trip marked by simple obedience, hundreds of gospel conversations, and an outpouring of spiritual hunger. Hear how the power of testimony, house churches, and God’s Spirit is transforming unreached communities—and how it just might transform you, too.

We speak with Memphis Teacher Residency Executive Director David Montague about the call to serve students in high-need schools, how Christ-centered education transforms lives, and why faith, not self-interest, must shape our vision for the future.

Resources: 

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"Refugees are ordinary people who've experienced extraordinary circumstances, and they want the same thing as fellow image-bearers."

What does it look like to respond biblically to immigration and refugee care in today’s polarized world? In this episode, we speak with World Relief leaders, PJ Moore, Executive Director, and Wayne Denny, Church and Community Engagement Director, about the spiritual, relational, and political dimensions of welcoming the stranger—and why the church must lead the way.

Resources:

Saved by Faith and Hospitality by Joshua Jipp

A Journey through the World of Leviticus by Mark Scarlata

Evangelical Immigration Table

"I Was a Stranger" 40-Day Challenge

Volunteer Opportunities

Advocate

What if you had never heard the name of Jesus? 

Christ Methodist Church has partnered with the Fulani people, a nomadic and largely unreached Muslim group in North Africa, through the work of a missionary church planter. Despite facing persecution, a growing Fulani church is now being discipled and equipped for ministry. Locally, members of Christ Methodist are also engaging with the Fulani population in Memphis through English language classes, providing an opportunity to build relationships and share the gospel. 

Bob and Laura Whitsitt share how Christ Methodist Church is supporting gospel outreach in North Africa and engaging Fulani families right here in Memphis.

Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia, founded by Dr. Chris Hena, provides critical medical care and evangelism in Liberia, where access to healthcare is scarce. The ministry addresses physical and spiritual needs with a medical clinic, maternity ward, and community health outreach in 96 villages. Christ Methodist Church has long supported this mission, and there is a growing need for medical professionals, missionaries, and volunteers to assist in training, surgeries, and health education. As the ministry expands, opportunities for church planting and discipleship emerge. A medical mission trip is being planned, and medical and non-medical volunteers are encouraged to participate.

Ruth and Gladys are advocates for refugees who share their powerful stories and experiences. Ruth, a refugee from Sudan, discusses her work founding the Refugee Empowerment Program in Memphis and Ebenezer Global in Uganda’s Bidi Bidi camp, which houses over 200,000 people facing dire needs. We explore initiatives that provide vocational training to empower refugees with skills for sustainable livelihoods, as well as the critical role of community and church involvement in supporting these efforts. Their conversation emphasizes the impact of small acts of kindness in transforming lives, encouraging listeners to contribute to positive change for those in need.