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Watchcare Ministry

You can download a PDF version of our Watchcare Ministry Overview here.

Watchcare Ministry Overview

Appendix A — Philosophy & Goals

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

OVERVIEW

The Watchcare Ministry of Jubilee City Church is the foundational expression of how this church fulfills its call to shepherd, disciple, and care for the people God brings to us. It reflects our conviction that the church is not primarily a building or an institution — it is a family, called to walk together in covenant relationship under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Rather than adopting a traditional formal membership model, Jubilee City has established Watchcare as the means by which individuals and families are intentionally connected to the life, leadership, and community of the church. This approach is rooted in the biblical pattern of shepherding — where leaders actively pursue the people in their care, rather than placing the full burden of connection on the individual.

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

The Watchcare Ministry is grounded in the New Testament pattern of pastoral care and communal life. Scripture describes the relationship between church leaders and those they serve as one of active, loving oversight:

  • “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly — not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.” (1 Peter 5:2)
  • “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock — his church, purchased with his own blood — over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.” (Acts 20:28)
  • “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow.” (Hebrews 13:17)

These passages make clear that the responsibility of shepherding belongs first to the leadership. Jubilee City’s Watchcare model puts this principle into practice — the Elders and Deacons take the initiative to pursue, care for, and walk alongside every person and family connected to this church.

PHILOSOPHY

Inclusive, Not Exclusive

Traditional church membership can create a two-tier dynamic — those who are “in” and those who are not. Jubilee City’s Watchcare model is intentionally inclusive. Every person who regularly attends Jubilee City is placed under Watchcare. There is no waiting period, no membership class required for belonging, and no barrier between a person and the pastoral care of this church.

Relationship, Not Registration

Watchcare is not a form to fill out — it is a relationship to enter into. The goal is not to add names to a list but to ensure that every person connected to Jubilee City is known, cared for, prayed over, and walked with in the journey of faith. We believe that discipleship happens best in the context of genuine, ongoing relationship.

Shepherding, Not Oversight

The Elder and Deacon leadership of Jubilee City view their role not as managers of an organization but as shepherds of a flock. This means they are committed to knowing those in their care — their needs, their struggles, their growth, and their gifts — and to actively ministering to the whole person, not just the spiritual dimension.

Community, Not Attendance

Jubilee City exists to build genuine community, not to count Sunday attendance. The Watchcare Ministry is one of the primary means by which this community is built. By connecting people to Elder care and to Life Groups, we seek to move every person from the experience of attending a church service to the experience of belonging to a church family.

GOALS OF THE WATCHCARE MINISTRY

The Watchcare Ministry pursues the following specific goals on behalf of every individual and family connected to Jubilee City Church:

  1. Ensure that every regular attendee is personally known by at least one Elder or Deacon and is being actively prayed for by church leadership.
  2. Identify and respond to the spiritual, emotional, physical, and practical needs of those under Watchcare, connecting them to appropriate resources, care, and support within the body.
  3. Facilitate the connection of every person under Watchcare to a Life Group, where deeper discipleship and community can be cultivated.
  4. Provide a consistent point of pastoral contact so that no one in the congregation feels invisible, unknown, or uncared for.
  5. Walk alongside individuals and families through seasons of crisis, transition, grief, and celebration — reflecting the love of Christ in tangible ways.
  6. Support and strengthen families — particularly marriages and the raising of the next generation — through intentional pastoral investment.
  7. Guard the congregation against harmful doctrine, spiritual deception, and unhealthy patterns by maintaining close and caring pastoral relationships.
  8. Create a culture of belonging where every person — regardless of background, stage of life, or spiritual maturity — experiences the warmth and welcome of a true church family.

HOW WATCHCARE WORKS

Assignment

Each individual or family who attends Jubilee City on a regular basis will be assigned to one or more Elders. That Elder, along with assisting Deacons, enters into a covenant of care with the person or family — committing to know them, pray for them, and minister to them.

Connection

The assigned Elder(s) or Deacon(s) will make regular contact with those in their care — through personal conversation, phone calls, visits, or other appropriate means — to ensure ongoing connection and to identify any needs that may arise.

Life Groups

All those under Watchcare are strongly encouraged to join a Jubilee City Life Group. Life Groups are the primary context for ongoing discipleship, community, and mutual care within the body. The Watchcare assignment and the Life Group together form the relational foundation of every person’s connection to Jubilee City Church.

Responsiveness

When a need arises — whether spiritual, emotional, physical, or practical — the Watchcare structure ensures there is a known pastoral contact who can respond. The Elders and Deacons are committed to being accessible and responsive to those in their care, and to mobilizing the resources of the church body when needed.

The Watchcare Ministry is reviewed and overseen by the Elder Board of Jubilee City Church. Questions about Watchcare assignments or pastoral care should be directed to the Elders.