Oklahoma Family Policy Council encourages all Oklahoma churches to establish Community Impact Committees within their local congregations, specifically for the purpose of fostering positive community impact.

About Community Impact Committees

A Community Impact Impact Committee (CIC) can serve a wide variety of important purposes within your congregation or parish.

First, it can become a research and information source for the whole church body. Its members can attend meetings of your local city council, school board, library board, etc. They can gather pertinent information related to relevant social and community issues and make it available to anyone in the church with a passion to make a difference in the community.

Second, the committee itself can take action on behalf of the congregation. The CIC members can make telephone calls and visits to significant players in the community who help shape public-policy matters. They can formulate lists of names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of those whose opinions should be influenced by public opinion and need to be contacted with your church's position. They can write letters on behalf of the church, with the pastor's permission, and organize others to do so. They can, perhaps most importantly, stimulate the congregation's interest and involvement in public issues that affect the church, its families, its local community or state, and its nation.

Third, and quite significantly, the CIC can serve the pastor and be of great help to him in the public arena. Members can provide the pastor(s) with accurate and comprehensive material that can be used in Sunday sermons, Wednesday-night special series, church newsletters, newspaper op-eds and letters to the editor, radio or TV broadcasts (if applicable), and other forms of communication. CIC members can gather information the pastor(s) could never collect personally, due to limited time and focus. They can question the sources and verify the integrity of the facts for the pastor. The CIC members can support the pastor in his leadership, encourage him when he gets discouraged, strengthen him when he gets weary, and defend him when he is attacked or criticized. And, of course, as fellow believers, they can pray for him.

_____________________________________________________________

Starting A Community Impact Committee

There are five steps necessary to starting a Community Impact ministry in your local church:

1. Pray

2. Seek the affirmation and approval of church leadership.

3. Recruit other church members who share your vision and calling.

4. Develop a CIC mission statement and organize for action.

5. Begin the flow of information.

Oklahoma Family Policy Council stands ready to assist your church in the development of its Community Impact Committee. Additional, more-detailed information is available from OFPC and Focus on the Family regarding the five steps explained briefly above.

As you begin the flow of information, we also invite you to partner with OFPC in Oklahoma as a key contact and source of legislative and cultural information for your church's CIC. Some of OFPC's current initiatives just might be a perfect fit for the need's of your pastor and congregation.

_____________________________________________________________

Making An Impact

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
—Proverbs 14:34

"Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good."
—Romans 12:21

Your CIC's mission will augment and support the comprehensive ministry of your church by helping to teach the congregation about the Christian's role in society. In this manner, you will contribute to the overall effort of making disciples.

Take a long-term perspective. Don't become easily discouraged by minor setbacks, either in the development of your church's CIC or in the good work your CIC seeks to accomplish in your local community, state, and nation.

Take heart! History is filled with examples of Christian men and women called by God to social and political involvement, but who faced incredible obstacles—from William Wilberforce's decades-long efforts to abolish slavery in the British Empire to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s tireless crusade for racial equality in the United States. They, and many others, persevered, and their efforts changed the course of history.

Be assured: your church's CIC can make a significant—and in some cases, even life-changing or life-saving—difference in the lives of men, women, boys, and girls in your community, state, and nation. May the Lord bless your efforts!

For more information about starting a Community Impact Committee in your local church and/or for technical assistance, please contact OFPC at (405) 787-7744 or toll-free 1-(888)-381-0044, or via e-mail to: info@okfamilypc.org.

_____________________________________________________________