A Division of Dramatic Difference Ministries, Inc.
Adopted by the Board of Directors
On April 17, 2002
PURPOSE: To be able to serve in public schools and other secular settings, such as state and county fair grounds, city-wide festivals and community theaters. The term "ministry" closes doors in many secular settings where DDM, Inc. could offer a variety of programs which would benefit students and the general public.
Educating and equipping children, youth and college students with practical skills for successful living, benefits society, and is acknowledged by many religious organizations as a Christian value, as demonstrated by those churches that offer food banks and day care services, for the sake of touching the community with the love of Christ.
We are planning to develop programs which encourage character development in students, which is recognized as a significant need in contemporary culture, and clearly benefits society in general. Character development is also a Christian value.
As part of the research for his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Alan Niquette established the fact that one of the significant benefit of bivocational ministry is that it places pastors in the secular community, opening many opportunities for building good will and a positive testimony for the sake of the gospel. This same benefit is pursued by many mission organizations that send missionaries to foreign countries as school teachers, in order to place them in positions to present the gospel where missionaries might otherwise be rejected.
BENEFITS: In addition to Christian witness and the benefits to students, developing programs for the secular community also expands opportunities to secure grants and special contributions for the purchase of equipment, general operating expenses and the research and development of new programs.
There are many more foundations offering grants for arts and education than there are for religious and evangelistic purposes. Equipment purchased for use in churches is already being used in public school settings. Conversely, equipment purchased in the future for used in public school venues can also be used in churches and private schools, as long as we are careful to document the use of that equipment for its stated academic purpose. Examples: audio equipment, lighting equipment, a larger trailer for the purpose of transporting this equipment.
Grants secured for the development and production of educational and arts programs will make it possible to serve schools in communities that lack the financial resources for such alternate programs.
CURRENT EXAMPLES: The fact is, we are already offering educational programs to public schools for the purposes stated above under "Justification." Current examples include:
Public Schools: Amity Elementary School, Amity Middle School, Amity Summer Kids Program and Western Oregon University in Monmouth. Future possibilities already being considered: Alturas, CA, Chehalis, WA, Grants Pass, OR, and Independence, OR.
Fair Grounds and City-Wide Events: Skamania County Fairgrounds (6 events), Josephine County Fairgrounds (Pavilion), Vernonia Friendship Days (annual festival), Mt. Angel Theater. Future possibilities: Polk County Fair.
Academic Programs: Oral Communication Skill Development, Drama Seminars, Character Development Programs and "Use of a Computer in a Small Home Business."
STRATEGY: In the development and promotion of academic events, there are several strategic factors worthy of consideration.
As far as scheduling is concerned, we already know pastors who are prepared to contact public schools in their areas, when we come to present a Sunday drama ministry. Several local church pastors have indicated to us that they have personal relationships with public school principles, and they have confirmed a real need in their school districts for the kind of programs we are prepared to offer.
Our "Target Area Promo" experience has demonstrated the fact that churches are much more likely to book an event when they discover DDM will already be in their area on a given weekend. We are convinced the same will hold true for public schools. When school administrators discover we will be available for a Friday, or Monday event while in their area, they are likely to take advantage of the opportunity.
If we can determine the actual monetary value of a given mentoring program (what schools might customarily expect to pay for a special training event), we may be able to secure grants, or special contributions sufficient to finance a number of such events in school districts where funds are limited. For example, if DDM were able to secure a grant of $12,000 to present Theater Appreciation and/or Oral Communication programs, and if we were able to established a value for such programs to be $600, we could present these programs 24 times in schools across the Northwest, carefully documenting to donors and foundations how those funds were used.
Finally, equipment such as lighting and audio purchased through either religious, or academic grants, could be used in the presentation of both types of programs.