As a church founded in one of the most unchurched states in the nation, Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin, Ore., has not allowed that potentially intimidating fact to become a hindrance to how the staff and members carry out ministry. In fact, it is Rolling Hills’ philosophy to be change agents of their community, making the church’s efforts to take ministry beyond their own Body of believers even more invaluable and significant.

Faith Carter, the director of ministry at Rolling Hills, believes that it is by God’s design that we as Christians be servants in the world as testimonies of Jesus Christ. Carter realizes that there may not always be enough areas of ministry within the church to tap into each individual’s very specific gifts, personality, passions. An example of this service to the community is what the small groups within Rolling Hills are committing to: Many of the groups have decided to adopt service projects that would challenge those in the group to continue to be involved in that project for the community throughout the year. They call this “Making an Impact.”

Carter says that Rolling Hills’ ministry class is based on that of Saddleback Church’s C.L.A.S.S. 301 and the entire S.H.A.P.E. premise, although the structure differs. At Rolling Hills, the S.H.A.P.E. class is divided into two parts, the first being the introduction to S.H.A.P.E. It is during this section of the class that the members begin a spiritual gifts inventory, similar to the S.H.A.P.E. profile used in Saddleback’s C.L.A.S.S 301 with the difference being that a little bit is filled out at a time during the course of the two sessions instead of all at once. The aspect of experiences is taught, focusing on the life of Joseph and the pathway that God took him on and how his experiences along that path were used by God. The members are then led to create their own “pathway.” Carter points out that during this first section, the importance of attitude is mentioned and its bearing on the member understanding that God has a unique ministry spot for everyone and it is a journey to get to that place of understanding. Finally, the daily guide (a devotional centered on service) is begun and completed by the time of the next class section.

In the second and final section of the class, the emphasis is placed on individual ministries and how essential it is for the members to begin serving. Carter explains that all of the S.H.A.P.E. guides (also volunteers) come to the class and help members sign up for the ministries. This is then followed with a one-on-one S.H.A.P.E. Discovery session between the guide and the member. A vital part of the ministry involvement process is what Carter calls the ministry connector. This person represents a ministry and makes certain that the member gets plugged into that ministry if he or she expressed interest in serving there. Ministry promotion is also done by way of occasional ministry connections, similar to Saddleback’s Ministry Fairs.

One observation that Carter has picked up on during her years as the director of Equip (the name of Rolling Hills’ ministry program) is that corporate appreciation of volunteers, although beneficial and still necessary, just is not as meaningful as individual ministries appreciating the individual members who are serving. One example of volunteer appreciation at Rolling Hills is what they call “Living Stones,” based on the passage in 1 Peter. A volunteer who is actively serving is featured in the church bulletin with a picture and a small write-up about their service to a particular ministry.

Based on Don Simmons’ method, Carter explains their way of caring for volunteers: train, appreciate, recognize, evaluate, build into, and reflect. Those working with volunteers are encouraged to ask the volunteers, “What did God do in you, and what did God do through you?” More important than numbers, for Rolling Hills, is taking the time to consider whether or not they are raising up leaders among the members. “Are they fulfilled? Are they being shepherded? Are their hearts growing in compassion?” Carter asks. Rolling Hills is an inspiring example of a church desiring to be progressive and to grow in service, giving frequent feedback to those serving. “It is not, ‘once an usher always an usher,’” Carter says. Rolling Hills Community Church encourages constant evaluation and change from their members in service, and because of that, Rolling Hills manages to be a living, breathing, changing organism in simple submission to God’s plans for them.

Rolling Hills’ Life Development 301 Participant Guide