Completing this chapter tonight.
Provide on-the-job training.
This is in many respects better than pre-service training, because before a person is doing the ministry they don't even know which questions to ask.
Also, a long pre-service training course loses peoples' enthusiasm. On-the-job training gets them to the coalface faster.
(Note: The SALT program at Saddleback is interesting in that it appears to be one program for all ministries rather than providing specific training. They do, however, have other programs for training in specific ministries.)
Never start a ministry without a minister.
Don't create a ministry position and then try to fill it. Without the right leader, a ministry will stumble along and may do more harm than good.
Trust God's timing and let ideas percolate until God provides the right person to do the job. Also never push people into ministry. If you do the person will have a motivation problem.
Don't worry if there isn't a person for a particular ministry. Take a long-term perspective as a leader. Solid growth takes time.
Acts: organising always followed the Spirit's action.
Establish minimum standards and guidelines.
Best intentions are not enough when working with human beings. Job descriptions are needed which outline issues like time commitment, resources, restrictions, lines of authority and expected results.
Keep these standards clear and brief. e.g. Saddleback: Any member who has completed Class 301 and a SHAPE interviewmay begin a new ministry as long as they follow 3 guidelines:
1) Don't expect the staff to run your ministry - "The church should do something"; You are the church!
2) The ministry must be compatible with the church's beliefs, values and philosophy of ministry. -Be careful of any ministry that does not. Especially careful of events co-sponsored by other organisations.
3) No fund-raising is allowed. A unified budget is essential for a unified church - it avoids fights over limited dollars!
Allow people to quit or change ministry gracefully.
People need to be allowed to take sabbaticals or change ministries without feeling guilty. They may become stale or need a change of pace. If someone doesn't enjoy or fit a particular ministry, they are encouraged to change to another without shame or embarrassment.
Experimenting is the best way to discover your gifts. During lay ministry month, everyone is encouraged to try a new ministry if currently unsatisfied.
Trust people: Delegate authority with responsibility.
The secret of motivating people over an extended period of time is building ownership. People in a particular ministry need to make their own decisions without interference from a board or committee. People respond to responsibility. If you treat them like babies, you have to change nappies and feed them for the rest of their lives.
Expect the best of your people and trust them with ministry. Rick did everything for a while, but got burnt out and made a deal with the church -"If you agree to do the ministry of the church, I'll make sure you're well fed!" The church was never meant to be a one-man superstar show.
If a ministry is built around a prominent person it is personality driven, not purpose driven, and if that person leaves or dies the ministry dies with them.
Provide the necessary support.
Provide material support - Space, paper, copy machines, telephones etc.
Provide communication support -Develop ways to stay in touch with lay ministers.
Provide promotional support - Keep ministries visible to the congregation.
Provide moral support - Express appreciation in both private and public ways.
Renew the vision regularly.
Don't use guilt or pressure. It is VISION that motivates. Help people see that there's no greater cause than the Kingdom of God.
"Imagine dying, and fifty years from now somebody in heaven comes to you and says 'I want to thank you.' You reply 'I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you.' They explain 'You were a minister at Sanctuary. You served and sacrificed and built the church that reached me for Christ after you died. I'm here because of you.' Do you think your effort is worth that?"
Showing posts with label Lay Ministry process. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lay Ministry process. Show all posts
19 March 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch19a - Turning Members into Ministers
It's been a long time since I have blogged. Those at Sanctuary know well that this hasn't been a time of inactivity, however - on the contrary, we've been enacting some of the stuff we've been learning here from this book!
Nevertheless, it's time to knock over the last couple of chapters. My apologies, dear reader, if you have been frustrated by the long wait for them . . .
Anyway, let's get started.
The analogy of a Sleeping Giant (spoken of Napoleon about China, and often quoted of Admiral Yamamoto regarding the United States) is an apt one. The Church IS a sleeping giant. But in many cases the only things required of us are attendance and financial support.
(This is generally not the case of a small church - we're much more prone to the equally dangerous problem of running around, doing everything and eventually collapsing in a heap because you're completely out of energy! However . . . )
Apparently in America only 10% of church members have some kind of personal ministry; 50% have no interest in ministry at all. Sad, but believable (and I'd guess similar figures would be found in Australian churches). But turn this around - that means 40% of church members ARE interested in ministry, and of those only 10% are mobilised - so imagine what would happen if the church mobilised the remaining 30% who are already interested!
In large churches talent can hide in the crowd. Your church will never be stronger than the core of lay ministers who carry out the various ministries of the church.
The biblical basis for Every-Member Ministry:
This forms four pillars.
Pillar 1: Every believer is a minister. Many verses, but see especially Eph 2:10. In God's army there are no volunteers - we've all been drafted!
Pillar 2: Every ministry is significant (See the "Body passage" in 2 Cor 12: 18 - 22). "Small" ministries often make the biggest difference.
Pillar 3: We are dependent on each other. When one part malfunctions, the whole body suffers.
Pillar 4: Ministry is the expression of my SHAPE (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience). We are each uniquely gifted by God for specific ministries.
Spiritual gifts: Some churches say "Discover your spiritual gift, then you'll know your ministry". Warren says "Experiment with ministries and you'll discover your spiritual gifts." Many surveys of gifts are arbitrary and reflect a denominational bias.
Heart: You are passionate about certain causes and people groups. This is given by God.
Abilities: You have natural talents (apart from Spiritual gifts) which are part of your makeup. People have all kinds of abilities, and it's surprising what can be used.
Personality: God uses all kinds of personalities, but certain personalities are better suited to particular jobs and particular methods. This is why mimicking someone else's ministry never works.
Experience: Educational, vocational, spiritual, ministry and painful experiences all have a role in making us who we are. Use them!
Streamline your organisational structure.
Many churches have so many meetings that their members are too busy to minister to friends and neighbours. We need people to know the difference between "maintenance" and "ministry". Many churches take their best and brightest and turn them into bureaucrats.
Committees discuss ministry. Ministries do it.
Paid staff should do maintenance work. Members should do ministry. This is the opposite to the normal approach!
For a church to grow, both the leadership and the members must give up control - the leadership must give up control of the ministry, and the members must give up control of the leadership.
A church is happiest when its members are ministering, not sitting on committees.
Never vote on lay ministry positions.
* You avoid popularity contests.
* New ministries often need to develop slowly.
* New members can get involved more quickly.
* You avoid attracting people who are interested primarily in prestige and power.
* If people fail, it makes removal easier.
* You can respond more quickly to the Holy Spirit's leading.
Establish a ministry placement process.
Saddleback's process:
* A class (301 - discovering my ministry)
* A placement program
* Staff to administer the process.
There's a little more for tomorrow evening. This, however, is plenty for now!
Nevertheless, it's time to knock over the last couple of chapters. My apologies, dear reader, if you have been frustrated by the long wait for them . . .
Anyway, let's get started.
The analogy of a Sleeping Giant (spoken of Napoleon about China, and often quoted of Admiral Yamamoto regarding the United States) is an apt one. The Church IS a sleeping giant. But in many cases the only things required of us are attendance and financial support.
(This is generally not the case of a small church - we're much more prone to the equally dangerous problem of running around, doing everything and eventually collapsing in a heap because you're completely out of energy! However . . . )
Apparently in America only 10% of church members have some kind of personal ministry; 50% have no interest in ministry at all. Sad, but believable (and I'd guess similar figures would be found in Australian churches). But turn this around - that means 40% of church members ARE interested in ministry, and of those only 10% are mobilised - so imagine what would happen if the church mobilised the remaining 30% who are already interested!
In large churches talent can hide in the crowd. Your church will never be stronger than the core of lay ministers who carry out the various ministries of the church.
The biblical basis for Every-Member Ministry:
This forms four pillars.
Pillar 1: Every believer is a minister. Many verses, but see especially Eph 2:10. In God's army there are no volunteers - we've all been drafted!
Pillar 2: Every ministry is significant (See the "Body passage" in 2 Cor 12: 18 - 22). "Small" ministries often make the biggest difference.
Pillar 3: We are dependent on each other. When one part malfunctions, the whole body suffers.
Pillar 4: Ministry is the expression of my SHAPE (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience). We are each uniquely gifted by God for specific ministries.
Spiritual gifts: Some churches say "Discover your spiritual gift, then you'll know your ministry". Warren says "Experiment with ministries and you'll discover your spiritual gifts." Many surveys of gifts are arbitrary and reflect a denominational bias.
Heart: You are passionate about certain causes and people groups. This is given by God.
Abilities: You have natural talents (apart from Spiritual gifts) which are part of your makeup. People have all kinds of abilities, and it's surprising what can be used.
Personality: God uses all kinds of personalities, but certain personalities are better suited to particular jobs and particular methods. This is why mimicking someone else's ministry never works.
Experience: Educational, vocational, spiritual, ministry and painful experiences all have a role in making us who we are. Use them!
Streamline your organisational structure.
Many churches have so many meetings that their members are too busy to minister to friends and neighbours. We need people to know the difference between "maintenance" and "ministry". Many churches take their best and brightest and turn them into bureaucrats.
Committees discuss ministry. Ministries do it.
Paid staff should do maintenance work. Members should do ministry. This is the opposite to the normal approach!
For a church to grow, both the leadership and the members must give up control - the leadership must give up control of the ministry, and the members must give up control of the leadership.
A church is happiest when its members are ministering, not sitting on committees.
Never vote on lay ministry positions.
* You avoid popularity contests.
* New ministries often need to develop slowly.
* New members can get involved more quickly.
* You avoid attracting people who are interested primarily in prestige and power.
* If people fail, it makes removal easier.
* You can respond more quickly to the Holy Spirit's leading.
Establish a ministry placement process.
Saddleback's process:
* A class (301 - discovering my ministry)
* A placement program
* Staff to administer the process.
There's a little more for tomorrow evening. This, however, is plenty for now!
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