About Church Initiative
Church Initiative is a nondenominational, nonprofit ministry, equipping thousands of churches in all 50 states, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Australia and several other countries. The ministry produces and publishes a variety of video-based curriculums, focusing on the small group format.
Core Values
Church Initiative is committed to producing small group resources and materials that are
- Christ-centered
- Biblically based
- Designed for ministry conducted through the local church
We are a “church-equipping” ministry. The core of the concept of church-equipping is the idea that everyone in a church is a minister, and the gifts and talents needed to accomplish a ministry are found in the people of the church. No pastor can do it alone. A pastor and church staff cannot bear the weight of ministry by themselves; they must have help and support from laypeople in the church.
Our job is to produce materials to help you effectively minister to people in your community through your church. We believe that the members of a local church should be on the front line of the gospel ministry, and our materials have been designed to help you do that job.
Ministry Strategies
Church Initiative provides churches with the tools to provide three key areas of ministry and evangelism to work within the context of your community.
Point of pain
People are most often open to spiritual solutions for their lives when they face a major life crisis. Events such as divorce, loss of a loved one, substance abuse, addiction, financial crisis and health emergencies are often used by the Lord to open people to a relationship with Him. Effective ministry by your church in such areas can serve as a gateway to those without a faith. Church Initiative is called to provide tools and training to help your church be a source of hope and help in troubling times.
Point of need
Even if they are not facing a major life crisis, most unchurched people in your community will admit to having significant needs in their lives. For some, it is financial security or independence. For others, it is a stronger marriage. Parents often have a strong desire to develop better parenting skills. Most people want a clear purpose for living. Church Initiative can help your church build from these “perceived needs” to point people to their true need for a foundational relationship with Christ.
Intra-evangelism
Recent research reveals that as many as half of all people who regularly attend church do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Church Initiative is committed to helping your church reach those people and lead them to a true faith in Jesus.History
Church Initiative was founded in 1993 as DivorceCare. The ministry’s original purpose was to equip churches with resources to help people recover from the pain of separation and divorce, also to help couples remain together or reconcile whenever possible. Church-sponsored DivorceCare support groups have helped people focus on the healing that can only come from the Lord.
Church Initiative was founded by Steve and Cheryl Grissom. Before founding the ministry, Steve was a businessman who founded satellite communications and technology companies. He also has experience in managing television news organizations. Cheryl is trained as a pharmacist. They have three daughters: Carrie-Christina, Shannon and Heather.
Following the DivorceCare curriculum, Church Initiative has continued to serve churches by offering additional video-based materials, including Choosing Wisely Before You Divorce: a ministry strategy to help save failing marriages; DivorceCare for Kids: a divorce recovery program for children; GriefShare: a resource to offer ongoing ministry to those grieving the loss of a loved one; Facing Forever: an innovative, evangelical program exploring the issues of life, death and eternity; and Chance to Change: a Christ-centered ministry for people struggling with gambling addictions.
Church Initiative is growing rapidly and now equips thousands of churches in all 50 states, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Australia and several other countries.
Church Initiative is a nondenominational, nonprofit 501(c)(3) ministry, based in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
