Today I share some thoughts from “Introduction to Ministry” class.
Churches of different sizes have different needs. Churches of different sizes organize themselves differently, with different centers and different challenges. Miinisters must recognize the dynamics of the churches with which they minister. Some smaller churches are organized like bigger churches, often because the church has diminished in size but has not changed its operational structures. Some larger churches are still organized and operate like small churches.
The minister must recognize the dynamics of the church and help the church do the things that matter. If the church is going to grow, the minister must either have or develop the skill sets for the next size of church. One skill set that is essential in every church is the minister’s commitment to evangelism.
Some ministers quit the ministry because they are unable to fulfill the dream that first called them to ministry–bringing the lost to Christ. Churches often develop expectations concerning internal ministry that make it almost impossible for the minister to serve and evangelize those outside the church. We are losing to ministry some who are most likely to help the church grow.
Some ministers are not committed to evangelism. It it easy to preach and teach and interact with church members without hearing or heeding the words of Jesus about white harvest fields and the urgent need for workers. Churches are retaining in ministry some who are least likely to help the church grow.
Almost 20 years ago, John Ellas’s research (Clear Choices, 1994) showed that the difference between a stagnated church and a numerically growing church was 3 baptisms of unchurched contacts per year per 100 members. In a world where the majority of churches have 200 or less in attendance, one minister intenseliy committed to evangelism can be the difference between a plateaued church and a growing church.
A recent book (Bill Easum and Bill Tenny-Brittian, Effective Staffing for Vital Churches) says that in a church of less than 200 members, the minister should spend 70-80% of his time contacting and following up with the unchurched and first time guests. (At the 200-500 member level, it is 40-50%, still nearly half of the minister’s time.) This means the minister must be present in the community, meeting people, making contacts, visits and phone calls. Of course, the effective minister does not do all of this himself, he equips others in these activities. But make no mistake about it, the minister’s example and commitment are the catalyst necessary to ignite the involvement of the church members in evangelism and contacts with non-members.
How is it at your church? How would the members describe you as a minister? Would the members describe the church as evangelistic and outward-looking? Is there a culture that seeks the lost, shares the good news, brings people to Christ and welcomes them into the church? Or is the culture inwardly turned? The attitude, example, and work of the minister can turn the church into a growing, vibrant body of Christ. Let’s pray about it!