The ministry of i-61 is a highway to do the ministry of Isaiah 61, fulfilling this commission to care for the broken, the oppressed, the captive and the extreme poor under the promised anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is an organized effort to train and send authentic disciples to those Jesus referred to as “the least of these.”

Luke chapter four records the beginning of Jesus public ministry. It tells the story of Jesus entering his home town of Nazareth and being handed the scroll of Isaiah to be read before the people.  He opened it to what we know today as Isaiah 61.

Luke 4:16-21

The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Isaiah 61 goes on to say that it is God’s intent is to reconcile and restore. It tells us that God’s heart is to turn ashes to beauty and to rebuild and restore that which has been devastated, turning mourning and despair into praise. In verse eight Isaiah then clearly states that the Lord is a God of Justice.

Jesus proclaimed Isaiah 61 to be his job description and if it is his job description then as his disciples it must be ours as well. The ministry of i-61is an attempt to rally many like-hearted Christians and church organizations to address this very clear cause of Christ in greater unity.    i-61 recognizes that the world today is facing escalating crises which increasingly impacts the extreme poor. It is our dream to unite the efforts of many for the purpose of equipping and empowering a greater workforce towards the ministry endeavors of justice and service.

i-61 focuses on seven areas of world crises that are most responsible for human oppression. In brief they are:

  1. World hunger – Ministries that address issues which concern agriculture and food production as well as short term aid.
  2. Environmental decline – Ministries that endeavor to address such issues as clean available water systems, sustainable energy sources, restored forestation and  reclaimed soil conditions.
  3. Poor health & disease – Ministries that deal with basic medical care in the wake of natural disaster and among the poor.
  4. Illiteracy & lack of education – Ministries that educate people in communication, trades and simple life skills.
  5. Human injustice – Ministries that address such issues as human trafficking, modern day slave trade, child soldiering and other areas of extreme abuse.
  6. Spiritual bondage & internal chaos – Dealing with the proclamation of the Gospel in its power for salvation, healing and deliverance from debilitating addictions.
  7. Corrupt & immoral leaderships – Constitutes ministries which endeavor to build significant leadership relationships, through servant-hood and Godly influence.

The following are five arenas of ministry being developed by i-61 over the past five years:

  1. 1. A strong local church model:

Build a strong local church model which is actively addressing these seven areas of crises both on a local and international level. This has been our goal as we develop i-61 ministries at the Vineyard of Boise. We are doing this not only because we believe it is the viable part of the ministry of Jesus, but also because it is our heart to resource and equip other churches that desire to do the same.

A table of collaboration:

Work towards building relationships and working partnerships between local missional churches across the country that share a common heart for ministries of justice. These are churches that are working internationally or in their own local communities in one or more of these seven areas of crises.

Build bridges between the local Christian church, Christian EGOs as well as secular and governmental humanitarian organizations. It is our desire to break down walls of resistance between these groups so that there might be greater collaboration of expertise, ideas and resources.

To organize and providing collaborative meetings and conferences for the purpose of collaboration and cross pollination.

Training agencies:

Developing agencies of training to equip Christian disciples who desire the expertise essential for these specialized of ministries. (See VCOM or Vineyard College of Mission). Schools currently in operation are Mission Medics, Children in Crises and the School of Biblical Action. A school for Environmental and Social Action is now in its developmental stages.

  1. A united voice:

We endeavor to become a voice that communicates both the extent of the crises and the proactive solutions needed through the publication of videos, blogs, articles, websites and books.

  1. National and international missional opportunity for outreach:

Seek to provide and coordinate shared projects locally and abroad for groups desiring to join efforts addressing areas of world crises.

Organize response teams to serve in natural and human caused disasters such as devastating earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.

Develop international bases of operation with fulltime competent workers.

Work in conjunction with other missional groups and organizations to develop partnerships for those who desire to join efforts around the world.