parachurch
Ministry beyond denominations
Parachurch describes Christian organizations that operate outside or alongside traditional church denominations—ministries, nonprofits, and service groups that pursue religious goals without being formally part of a church structure.
Campus ministries, missionary organizations, and faith-based charities are typical examples: She worked for a parachurch organization that distributed Bibles overseas.
The prefix para- signals "beside" rather than "within."
Mutual goodwill among companions
- believersThose having faith
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- small groupLimited gathering of people
- Bible studyExamination of Christian scripture
accountability · discipleship · prayer group · youth group · campus ministry · women's ministry · support group · cell group
Church program for teenagers
- campus ministryFaith services at universities
- prison ministryFaith-based inmate support
- homeless ministryReligious aid for unsheltered people
- addiction recoveryOvercoming substance dependence
counseling · literacy · medical mission · disaster relief · orphan care · anti-trafficking · Bible translation · broadcasting
Promoting beliefs to others
- outreachProactive community assistance
- crusadeZealous effort for change
- revivalReturn after decline
- gospelSacred choral tradition
preaching · conversion · witnessing · missionary · unreached · humanitarian aid · relief work · social justice
Nonprofit tax classification
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- fundraisingSoliciting money for organizations
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- grantBestow or award money
endowment · sponsorship · charitable · tax-exempt · donor · stewardship · giving · foundation
fellowship
Mutual goodwill among companions
- believersThose having faith
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- small groupLimited gathering of people
Bible study · accountability · discipleship · prayer group · youth group · campus ministry · women's ministry · support group · cell group · mentorship
youth ministry
Church program for teenagers
- campus ministryFaith services at universities
- prison ministryFaith-based inmate support
- homeless ministryReligious aid for unsheltered people
addiction recovery · counseling · literacy · medical mission · disaster relief · orphan care · anti-trafficking · Bible translation · broadcasting · publishing
evangelism
Promoting beliefs to others
gospel · preaching · conversion · witnessing · missionary · unreached · humanitarian aid · relief work · social justice · mobilization
501(c)(3)
Nonprofit tax classification
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- fundraisingSoliciting money for organizations
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
grant · endowment · sponsorship · charitable · tax-exempt · donor · stewardship · giving · foundation · board
parachurchchurch
Place of Christian worship
congregation · local church · parish · denomination · established church
para, church, churches, churched, churchly, churchman, churchmen, churchwoman, churchwomen