WHAT IS A MINISTRY INCUBATORS PARTNER?

 

You, your congregation, or your ministry team can formally invite Ministry Incubators into a long-term relationship in which we commit to help you at every stage in translating your ministry idea into action, helping you launch your missional enterprise while keeping your spiritual integrity in tact. In a Ministry Incubators Partnership, we invest our social capital in you and your vision for ministry--our time, availability, networks, counsel, experience, friendship, prayers.

 

You'll get the picture if you remember two TV ads. The first is the old Verizon ad where the whole Verizon community walks around with you everywhere you go. That community is us, combined with all of the networks we have developed over 60 years of combined ministry. If we can't help you, we know someone who will. The second ad is the State Farm commercial where somebody gets in a pickle, sings the State Farm jingle, and *poof!*--the insurance rep magically materializes. While we haven't mastered the *poof!* part yet (and alas, we don't have a jingle), we're just a phone call away. And if it's an issue that can't be solved immediately, we will walk you through a process that gets the job done. 

 

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARTNERSHIP?

 

Partners receive training in basic strategies of missional entrepreneurship, have access to discounted expert counsel, and receive on-going coaching from Ministry Incubators staff for the first 10 years of the ministry. We get you connected to the support systems you need, and help you create a theological framework, a ministry plan, a funding strategy, a sustainable business model, a communication and marketing toolbox. We give you tools to successfully navigate each stage of your ministry venture, whether you're just dreaming it up, getting it ready to launch, or need to get to stability and scale. 

 

Every coaching schedule is different, and it is controlled by you. We won't pester you with deadlines you don't set. Our goal is to help churches and communities say "yes" to ministry in all sorts of unexpected ways, so we want you and your missional venture to thrive, in in every possible way.

 

 

10 YEARS--ARE YOU SERIOUS?

 

Yep. We are in this for the long-haul, so we assume 10-year partnerships. You can dissolve the relationship sooner if your venture goes belly-up (we're gambling that this is unlikely if Ministry Incubators is involved), or you can end the relationship early with a buy-out fee. 

 

 

HOW DO I BECOME A MINISTRY INCUBATORS PARTNER?

 

Normally, you take part in an “incubator event” or arrange an initial consultation, and then request a partnership with Ministry Incubators. Then we have a conversation, and if you want to go forward, we'll send you the paperwork you need to make it official. 

 

 

I HEARD THAT YOU LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH—TRUE?

 

Because we invest heavily in each ministry partner, we do limit the number of partners we take on. In general, we sign about 4 Ministry Incubators Partners a year. If you want to be one of them, please tell us.

 

Of course, anybody can come to an incubator or accelerator event.  We keep them intentionally small, but we've been known to add additional events to the calendar on an as-needed basis. 

 

 

SO HOW DO I PAY FOR ALL THIS? 

 

Apart from the registration fee for Hatchathons and Accelerator events, you pay nothing up front.  

 

During our 10-year partnership, 2% of your revenues go to Ministry Incubators. We only get paid if the partnership actually helps you build a sustainable enterprise.  

 

We tithe 10% of that to the Fund for the Future, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fund supported "by youth ministers for youth ministers," which provides grants to innovative Christian ministries with and for young people. At the end of 10 years, you can opt out or re-up at a discounted rate. You can end the relationship sooner if your venture dissolves, or by paying an early buy-out fee.

 

CLICK HERE to request a conversation about becoming a Ministry Incubators Partner.