INCLUDER Strength & Ministry Ideas

People with the "Includer" strength from the CliftonStrengths assessment have an innate ability to accept others and are intent on ensuring no one is left out. In the context of church ministry, there are various ways in which someone with this strength can be an asset:

1. Welcoming Team: Serving on or leading the welcoming team, ensuring that each person who comes through the church doors feels accepted and valued.
   
2. Outreach Programs: Facilitating outreach programs that aim to reach marginalized or underrepresented groups within the community, ensuring they are included in church life.
   
3. Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: Championing diversity within the church and creating programs that encourage inclusivity and cultural awareness.
   
4. Small Groups Coordination: Helping to ensure that everyone in the church has an opportunity to join a small group, where they can find community and connection.
   
5. Integration Ministry: Assisting newcomers in becoming integrated into the life of the church, connecting them with others and introducing them to church activities.
   
6. Youth Ministry: Ensuring that all youth feel included and have a place, particularly focusing on those who may feel like outsiders.
   
7. Special Needs Ministry: Creating or supporting ministries that are inclusive of individuals with special needs, both in worship services and in church activities.
   
8. Language Services: If applicable, helping to provide language translation services during services or events to include members who may not speak the dominant language.
   
9. Event Planning: When planning church events, making sure they are accessible and engaging for the entire church body, regardless of age, background, or ability.
   
10. Worship Team: Promoting diverse forms of worship that include different music styles or cultural expressions to ensure various church members can connect.
    
11. Communications: Working on church communications to ensure that messages are clear, welcoming, and inclusive to all demographics within the church.
    
12. Mission Trips: Organizing mission trips that are inclusive, offering various levels of participation for people with different abilities and backgrounds.
    
13. Prayer Ministries: Leading or participating in prayer ministries that focus on the needs of all church members, ensuring no one's concerns are overlooked.
    
14. Community Service Initiatives: Ensuring that community service activities are open for wide participation and serve a broad spectrum of needs.
    
15. Support Groups: Helping to facilitate or support groups that cater to people from various walks of life, making sure that everyone has access to community support.
    
16. Elderly and Shut-in Outreach: Making efforts to include those who are often forgotten, like the elderly and shut-ins, through regular visits and engagement.
    

People with the Includer strength are crucial in creating a church environment where diversity is embraced and everyone feels they belong. Their innate ability to foster an inclusive atmosphere is beneficial for building a strong, united, and diverse community that reflects the universal love and acceptance taught in the Christian faith.
Individuals with the "Relator" theme from the CliftonStrengths assessment enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal. Relators are drawn to people they already know and are comfortable with deepening existing relationships rather than forming new ones. In a church ministry context, someone with the Relator strength might serve in the following ways:

1. Small Group Leadership: Facilitating small groups or Bible studies, creating a safe and intimate environment where deep relationships can be formed and nurtured.
   
2. Discipleship: Engaging in one-on-one mentoring or discipleship relationships, investing deeply in a few individuals at a time.
   
3. Pastoral Care: Offering in-depth pastoral care and counseling, where building trust and understanding is essential.
   
4. Youth Mentorship: Serving as a youth mentor, focusing on building strong, supportive relationships with young church members.
   
5. Volunteer Teams: Leading a team of volunteers, focusing on team cohesion and relational depth, which can lead to a more fulfilling service experience.
   
6. Member Integration: Helping new church members find their place within the community, forging connections and helping them to weave into the social fabric of the church.
   
7. Marriage Counseling: Providing marriage counseling or leading marriage enrichment courses where building a strong relational foundation is key.
   
8. Community Outreach: Engaging in community outreach with a focus on relationship-building, rather than one-off events.
   
9. Hospital Visitation: Participating in ministries that involve visiting members in hospitals or homebound individuals, often building ongoing relationships.
   
10. Prayer Groups: Organizing and leading prayer groups where members share deeply with one another and support each other on a spiritual level.
    
11. Bereavement Support: Offering support to those who are grieving, often developing deep and lasting bonds through the process of healing.
    
12. Church Events: Planning and executing church events with a focus on fostering relationships among attendees rather than simply managing logistics.
    
13. Elderly Care: Engaging with the elderly in the church, whether through visitation, leading Bible studies, or just sharing in fellowship.
    
14. Parenting Classes: Leading parenting classes or family-oriented ministries, helping to create strong family units within the church community.
    
15. Conflict Resolution: Assisting in resolving conflicts within the church by understanding the relational dynamics at play.
    
16. Team Development: Focusing on team development for various ministry areas, ensuring that team members build trust and work well together.
    

People with the Relator strength are excellent at fostering environments where deep, genuine relationships can be formed, which are often the backbone of a strong and supportive church community. Their natural ability to connect deeply with others and create a sense of closeness and family is invaluable in ministry settings.