In 30 years of ministry, I have observed that many churches really do not know the make-up of their church membership. Who have the skills, talents, and abilities that are needed to engage your local community and provide ministry to others?
Jesus knew his disciples and called them by name. He personally called them to join him, in his ministry. He promised that if they would follow him, he would make them successful in the work they would be undertaking. “I will make you fishers of men. “
Jesus did not equivocate he was completely direct. “I will make you … “
Can we as Church Leaders do the same?
In any given church, there are dozens of Leadership roles and many more Ministry Opportunities that need to be staffed with competent people. From visitation team to teachers, from outreach teams to hospital visitation teams and many more, do you feel confident to ask your church members to take on a difficult task and know that they will be successful?
Have you taken the time to get to know each person in your membership well enough to assign them or ask them, to volunteer for sensitive and delicate ministry tasks?
Church Leaders must get to know their membership before they enlist them for work in the local church ministry.
9 things you should know about the people that join your church:
- What Leadership roles have your members undertaken in their church life?
Knowing is the first step. Did they serve on committees, boards, in educational programs etc.? You still do not how well they performed but you at least have a starting point. - What Ministry activities have they undertaken? Knowing if they have previously been a paid staff person or a volunteer leader will help in your leadership enlistment efforts. Deacons, Elders, Trustees, Denominational Leadership, associational leader or conference leadership are just a few of the volunteer positions that may guide you in integrating this person into your Leadership Team or Ministry efforts.
- Do they have any vocal talents they can share with your church?
Many people do not come out and say “Hey I can sing”, instead they wait until someone asks them or they get noticed in a worship service and recommended to the music program. An assessment that identifies they ability, vocal range and willingness to participate can assist your music program in assimilating new people and talents. - Do they play any instruments that would benefit your music program? Do your new member play any instrument in High School or College and has left their instrument in the closet or under the bed? This might be a good time to find out what secret talents exist in your new members and current membership as well.
- Do they speak any other languages that might allow you to minister to different ethnic groups in your community? As our communities continue to evolve, we will face an ever-changing population and the languages in which we need to provide ministry. Most churches will find that several of your folks took a language in High School or College but may not use it. Some refresher courses might open many new opportunities to present the gospel and do ministry.
- Do they have any Professional Licenses that might be used to help your membership or prospects? Committees need people that have knowledge but many times we fill these roles with anyone that will take the job. Although we do not want our professionals to give away their livelihood they might a good resource person for a specific project, Classes we offer or individual counseling or assistance in certain situations.
- What Skills do they have and what do they know how to do?
As a Christian Educator, I have struggled to fill certain positions because I needed people with certain skills that were not necessarily “Church skills”. Who can build graphics, wire a house, cook for a large group, and hundreds of other common business skills? - Do they have any Passions that might lead new members in the direction of a particular ministry? New members bring not only skills and talents but their own unique passions. Could you use these passions in your current ministries or would you be able to add new ministries? If a millennial couple joins the church and is passionate about YouTube or Facebook would you want to involve them in starting or help maintain your church’s Social Media? Many opportunities simply pass us by because we do not know what are people are most passionate about and use these in ministry.
- Do they have Spiritual Gifts? If so, what are they and how can they prepare a person for ministry?
I have lead groups in every church where I have served to discover their Spiritual Gifts but have never found a tool that will actually guide them to a ministry where that gift would be important.
If you could learn all this about your new members and begin a process of discovery with your current membership would you be interested? A new online tool will provide churches with 9 tools that give you more information on which to act when involving people in ministry.