Our Ministries

Find your place to grow, serve, and connect at Norwood Baptist Church.

The pastor/s and others who have the gift of preaching and teaching are to instruct God’s people in the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). They provide God’s people with the spiritual nourishment they need to “grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18);. They equip the saints “for the work of the ministry”; and build up the body of Christ, so that God's people “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:7-16). They also educate members about NBC doctrine, engaging in fellowship, commemorating the ordinances, praying together, caring for one another, worshiping God, and actively evangelizing the community (Acts 2:42-47).

Prov. 22: 6, Matt 19: 14

The purpose of children’s ministry is to help children develop a deep and personal relationship with Jesus. It aims to guide children to know Jesus as their King and to become committed citizens of His kingdom. This ministry is not just about teaching Bible stories or moral lessons; it’s about connecting children’s hearts with Jesus and His story.

Children’s ministry also focuses on creating a supportive and nurturing environment where children can grow spiritually, emotionally, and socially. It helps them understand their faith, build a strong foundation in Christian values, and learn to live out these values in their daily lives.

Prov. 11: 14, Prov. 19:20-21

NBC believes: God never meant for Christians to live alone. Through the church on earth; He created a place where Christians could gather for corporate worship, accountability, fellowship, instruction, and godly exhortation. The fullest expression of our faith cannot occur apart from a loving communion with other believers in a local church. Christians are often scared to reveal their problems to people they know, they commonly seek out counsellors who work in private practices outside of their church. Church-based counselling means submitting to leaders who already have watch over your soul.

At NBC counsellors counsel, pastors pastor. Pastors are constantly in your life, so if the problem comes back they will already be walking alongside you. The counsellor will help, care, and love. But the pastor will help, care, love, and will exercise authority over you through the ministry of the Word.

Church-based counselling reaffirms our commitment to build one another up in the faith. Church-based counselling is a natural extension of our covenant to one another as members of the same church. Church-based counselling provides the potential for greater accountability of shared problems, as well as the opportunity to know who else in the church can share the care-giving load. When there is a church member who struggling with a problem, a pastor of counselling can serve the individual by connecting him or her with someone else who has already worked through the same problem.

  1. Holistic Support: Pastoral care and counselling address the spiritual, emotional, and practical needs of congregants, fostering a sense of belonging and growth of our faith.
  2. Spiritual Enrichment: Christian counselling strengthens one’s relationship with God and helps overcome mental health issues.
  3. Accountability and Community: Church-based counselling provides accountability and allows pastors to hear and address people's struggles.
  4. Biblical Perspective: Counselling aligns with the Bible's concern for understanding and resolving human problems.

Our understanding is discipleship is a journey of intentional decisions leading to maturity in your relationship with Jesus so that you become more like Him in your attitudes, focus and behaviour. It’s not something that happens by accident or overnight, and it can’t be completed in a six-week class. This is a lifelong commitment to follow God with your whole self and to both learn from and eventually teach others about how to follow Him.

Paul explains that God has equipped His people, the church, with specific gifts and skills. These gifts “equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12–13, New Living Translation).

The process of maturing in your faith and becoming more like Christ is discipleship. Paul’s point is that discipleship happens as you are connected to other followers of Jesus. He says: Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Discipleship happens as the members of the church serve and encourage one another as well as other people.

Matt. 28: 19 - 20, 1 Cor.1:23

NBC considers soul-winning important for several reasons:

  1. Divine Command: Jesus Christ’s Great Commission instructs believers to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). This command is seen as a direct mandate from God.
  2. Reconciliation with God: Soul-winning is viewed as a way to reconcile people back to God, restoring the relationship that was broken by sin.
  3. Salvation and Protection: Accepting Jesus Christ is believed to bring salvation and protection from evil, offering a complete package of redemption that includes spiritual, physical, and emotional healing.
  4. Expression of Love: It demonstrates love for God and fellow humans. By sharing the message of salvation, believers show their desire to fulfil God’s will and help others avoid eternal separation from God.
  5. Joy in Heaven: The Bible mentions that there is great joy in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:10), highlighting the significance of each soul won for Christ.
  6. Answered Prayers: Some believe that being active in soul-winning can lead to more answered prayers, as it aligns with God’s heart and purposes.

1 Thess. 5: 17, Eph. 6: 18

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy 2: 1- 4

Prayer must be broad in its scope—it must plead for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer. Prayer is the soul of a man stirred to plead with God for men. A Christian who prays only for himself is not only self-focused, but he is self-limiting. At his disposal is the incredible opportunity for prayer to impact the lives of others, yet he is using prayer only for his own needs. We need Christians who will pray beyond the confines of their home, their family, their job, and their health. The night before His death on the cross, Jesus certainly spent time praying for His own strength and the coming trial. But first He prayed, not just for His disciples, but for us as well. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” (John 17:20). The Apostle Paul, likewise, prayed regularly and fervently for others.

Psalm 32: 2, Matt 22: 37

NBC believes that music holds significant importance for several reasons:

  1. Spiritual Connection: Music in worship helps people connect with God on a deeper level. It provides a structure and language for expressing praise, adoration, and emotions that words alone might not capture.
  2. Biblical Tradition: The use of music in worship is deeply rooted in biblical tradition. From the songs of Moses and Miriam after crossing the Red Sea to the Psalms of David, music has always been a way for God’s people to express their faith and experiences
  3. Community and Unity: Singing together fosters a sense of community and unity among congregants. It brings people together, creating a shared experience that strengthens the bonds within the church.
  4. Expression of Faith: Music gives voice to the beliefs and values of the church. It is important that the texts sung are scripturally accurate and reflect the truths about God.
  5. Emotional Resonance: Music has the power to communicate emotions and messages that words alone cannot. It can uplift, comfort, and inspire, making it a powerful tool in worship.

Matt 22: 39, Acts 2: 42- 47

The Bible tells us that the thousands who were converted as a result of the Apostles’ preaching were added to the church. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. Acts 6:2-5

These seven men got to the task of caring for the needs of the widows, and their service immediately helped the church: NBC believes in the appointing of men to care for the practical needs of the church. The growing church needs a ministry to care for the practical needs of its members. These men were servants of the church, meeting the practical needs of the people, so as to help those who were ministering the word to not be distracted from their primary calling. This is the purpose and biblical basis for a member care ministry.

Social care is not only a ministry of compassion but also a ministry of action. Connecting with people and letting them know they are cared for is the heart of the ministry. However, it doesn’t stop there. Helping to meet the need is the goal, because we are Concerned About Reaching Everyone (CARE). The Social Care Ministry lets people know they matter. This can be through telephone calls from the Care Callers or Home Visits from the Visitation Ministry. CARE connects with church members. In the midst of our high-technology society, CARE recognizes the importance of personal contact; meeting their day to day needs. By these contacts, the church is made aware of needs that may otherwise go unnoticed.

1 Cor. 14: 40, 2 Tim. 2:15

The goals of NBC Sound Media and Literature (SML) ministry are to effectively communicate the church’s message to its members and the community. SML ministry provide a visual and auditory experience that enhances the worship service, and create an environment that is welcoming and conducive to learning. In this fast-changing world of faith and technology, we stand at the beginning of something incredibly significant. NBC doesn’t want to fall into the trap of missing on opportunities because is tied to existing methods. This ministry seeks the world of online services, ministries, and technology to serve, reach people and spread the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world. It’s a new era where digital connections and ministries can change lives and communities like never before. The reality is that in today’s culture, churches need to be ‘online’ as well as ‘offline’. We need more than just analogue churches. We need digital churches too. Everyone, including NBC, now has the direct opportunity to have a voice through the internet, social media, and apps. Digital ministries allow the church a platform to influence those they may not otherwise come into contact with. In today’s world, video content has become a powerful tool for communication and engagement. Social media can be a great way to promote NBC through media ministry and reach out to new people. Capturing the attention of our church members but also attract new attendees is key for this ministry. Regularly updating media with new and engaging content that appeals to our audience and addresses current issues and topics.

Psalm 84:10, Eph.6:7

Ushers in NBC aren’t just door holders and plate-passers. They serve in a spiritual role and therefore should exhibit some spiritual characteristics. A good usher comes prepared mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. This is not to be seen as a duty, but a privilege to connect with God as part of your preparation. We believe that God is far more interested in the commitment of the heart than the amount of time. Ushers are to take a few moments at home to connect with God and ask Him to use you as a representative of his love and an agent of His redemptive plan. This is huge. Ushers are to not pay attention. At all times watch what is going on in their section and jump in to handle it. If they aren’t sure what to do, ask their ministry leader. The only wrong choice is to do nothing and assume someone else is taking care of the need. Ushers in the tabernacle and temple were called doorkeepers. The psalmist understood the importance of ushers when he said, “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! Blessed are they that dwell in thy house. They will be still praising thee. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalms 84:1, Psalms 84:4, Psalms 84:10). Preachers, teachers and musicians minister to people in groups while ushers minister to people as individuals. A word of encouragement or kindness may be the most significant ministry some people receive. Only a few people get to meet the pastor, ask questions, or talk with musicians, but everyone can have an encounter with a good usher.

John 13:35, Matt 18:10-13

In NBC the pastor is the shepherd of the flock, the local congregation. In the Bible, particularly the pastoral epistles, the pastor is called to “lead” and “feed” his flock; we often think of this role as an under shepherd to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. The inspiration for that biblical figure was a shepherd who quite literally lived with his flock during certain seasons of the year.

As Jesus noted, a good shepherd would personally guard the gate to the sheepfold. He knew the physical condition of each member of his flock because he observed them consistently and carefully. He knew the flock well enough to know who was struggling or who wasn’t eating well. A “virtual shepherd” today might be able to use drone technology to move a flock from one location to another, but he would be able to make all of the other observations an ancient shepherd could.

Like a shepherd, a pastor can only truly know the condition of members of the church by being with them. Every pastor of whatever title in NBC should be a part of the church’s visitation ministry.