dco

I hear we’re getting a DCO intern. What’s a "DCO"?

The letters "DCO" stand for "Director of Christian Outreach." Concordia University in St. Paul is the only LC-MS university that currently offers a DCO program. New Life Lutheran received one of only six interns in the program for 2002-2003. And Shepherd of the Hills is privileged to share the intern as part of our partnership with New Life. Our intern’s name is Shawn Urban (he’s included his resume and a short letter of introduction elsewhere in the Newsletter).

Here’s a bit of background from "the DCO Handbook" on what a typical job description includes:

"The Director of Christian Outreach is a servant of the gospel who is a professionally trained outreach specialist working in team ministry with the pastor and lay leaders of a congregation. As a professional outreach specialist, the DCO may be responsible to:

1. stimulate awareness of, interest in, and excitement about outreach ministry.

2. help other Christians become more comfortable and effective in sharing Jesus with others.

3.mobilize a team of trained volunteers who are able to discover the unchurched in the community, invite them to know Jesus and guide them into the fellowship of the church.

4. design new and innovative strategies to bring the message of Jesus to the unchurched and/or new believers.

5. help inactive members reconnect with the church

6. serve as the spokesperson of the unchurched to the congregation, informing church members of the needs of the community and urging appropriate actions of service and witness.

7. teach courses on evangelism for all ages

8. make evangelism calls and train others to do the same

9. assist members to discover, develop and utilize their spiritual gifts

10. develop programs to help new members feel a part of the congregation and involve them in meaningful ministry appropriate to their gifts and interests.

11. guide congregations to recognize that every component of their varied ministries are evangelistic in nature.

12. assist with the church’s prayer ministries so that there is a solid foundation to uphold the outreach of the church.

13. perform other duties as assigned by the congregation. In our situation these will include youth ministry and assisting with music ministry.

14. serve the Circuit as an outreach training resource.

Since a large part of Shawn’s responsibilities will be youth ministry, we asked the Confirmation students to suggest some things they’d like to include in his job description. Here’s their list:

Organize a Choir
Karaoke Night
Wednesday after-school activities - that tie-in with confirmation
Sonshine - Go to concerts - A Play
Fundraisers to help others
shopping
Community service activities
Lock-ins (like 6-11pm) where you can invite a friend
Parties and Dances
Collect clothes, food and toys for needy children
Help out at the pet shelter. (Take dogs for a walk, etc...)
Help out at Daycare places - take kids on field trips
Going out for supper once in awhile (or after school to A & W)
Biking + Ice Skating/Roller blading
Camp - out (maybe at L.I.C.)
Field Trips to fun places - like Mall of America and Valley Fair
Go to the beach!
More times to work at the Women's Shelter (and other places where we are helping out)

So, as you can see, we are very blessed to have been assigned a DCO intern. Shawn will start with us on June 3. He wants to spend a good share of the month of June getting to know people. Please keep Shawn in your prayers

Thanks for asking,
Pastor Dave

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