Feeling Overwhelmed? Get some help!
Church life is busy! It doesn't take much eye strain to notice the ministry needs of the church: people are sick and hospitalized; visitors and new members long for assimilation into the body of Christ; ideas for outreach outnumber the actual hands-on-count; marital counselling is desperately needed; spiritual counselling too is at a premium; special body-building activities to help strengthen fellowship are always welcomed; worship needs a jolt, a kick, a spice, something or someone to get it out of the rut. The list goes on and on. Face it. You need help!
The church is a volunteer army and most of your active, serving members already have full time jobs and families and the burden to produce fruit at church is taxing, often exhausting. Let's face it, it's like having a second job that you're not being paid for. People's time and loyalties get divided by default. You want to serve. You need to serve. But the demands of the church outweigh the supply. Granted, there are certain ministries that receive ample attention - preaching, teaching, curriculum, children's programs, LIFE Groups, church finances, and administrative areas. These ministries are flowing rather smoothly. If it ain't broke don't fix it. But there are more opportunities ....
Perhaps what the church needs is another hired servant. A servant committed to the spiritual and relational health of the family. The ministry burden is too great for any one minister to carry. Stated more positively, ministry opportunities may and must be shared. Two hands are better than one. The church needs a cheerleader like Barnabas who is known as an encourager (Acts 4:36); a helper like John Mark who simply serves (Acts 13:5). It needs someone intent on strengthening the bonds of fellowship that mysteriously unite us in Christ. A servant is needed who is a true lover of people, and there are so many to be loved.
You've heard the titles: Associate minister, Involvement minister, Family Life minister, Spiritual Formation minister, Fellowship minister, Outreach minister, etc. Whatever name you choose reflects the task at hand. Sound strange? Many of us grew up in a fellowship with one preaching minister ("pulpit minister") who functioned much like a CEO - handled business and office affairs, visited the sick and hospitalized (all of them), wrote weekly bulletin articles, drafted sermons, Bible classes (Sundays and Wednesdays), wrote educational curriculum, led small groups, went to all the fellowships, all the activities, chaperoned youth outings, counseled, performed weddings, unlocked the building, locked the building, lived next to the building, etc. Again, the list goes on. We should ask the questions, Is this biblical? Is this practical? Is this realistic? Is this working?
The New Testament does not tell us exactly how to "do" church. It doesn't tell us how to set up a ministerial infrastructure that supports the needs of the church in the 21st century. But it does describe the church as a family composed of many Spiritually-gifted men and women who combine their gifts for the common good (Rom 12:3-8; Eph 4:11-13). Outside of Jesus Christ, the NT never leaves the task of ministry to just one person, and even he had twelve helpers. Simply put, the ministry model of one minister pulling the majority of the ministry load is unbiblical and unhealthy. The 21st century church calls for a united front to address its multifaceted needs. Two ministers are better than one.
How shall the church proceed?
7 comments:
I don't understand why we're searching. It seems like our attendance has significantly dropped. What would a new minister bring to KOP that hasn't already been done? I think we need to do something about our song service before looking for an additional minister. Fletch-you rock. Keep preaching the word with the fire from God and the knowledge/wisdom of Solomon.
There are some significant ministry areas not being covered at the moment: visitation, member involvement, new member assimilation, fellowship activities, etc. In general, it helps to have more consistency, at least as an attraction for visitors. My fear is that many visitors walk out the doors because they sense a lack of ministerial consistency. But the key is having the right kind of consistency. It should never be centered on a minister, whatever stripe. But then again, perception is reality for visitors.
The needs of the body -- that's why I see the need to search. Other congregations pay a full time shepherd -- elder -- to help with the family's needs. Mike Anglin was a pulpit minister that served the needs of the flock -- visiting the sick, bible studies, involvement in community ministry groups, etc. Ministers like him are a dying breed. We have the pulpit NAILED -- I agree -- FLETCH, You ROCK! And you actually do so much more than just bring us excellent, challenging, thought-provoking classes and messages from the Word, and I (WE) thank you for that.
The fact is -- you're still a student and have a bit to go with a heavy load. We need more -- goodness knows we have a very needy body, and considering meeting needs is part of our mission -- that's a good thing! We need someone that can help manage our efforts -- tee up (if you will) opportunities for bible studies, go visit some folks, re-acquaint our congregation to those in our community of KoP. This is not about competing with what Fletch does -- this is about enhancing what's shared from the pulpit and helping engage our congregation in activities that will help us GROW after we've heard a great message Sunday and Wednesday evenings.
I'm excited about what a full time "shepherd-like" person could do to help focus our efforts. We're not looking for a "super-minister" -- they don't exist, and we've seen what happens time and again when we expect too much. Clear, realistic, achievable objectives mutually agreed upon by a minister AND the congregation is the key to success. We gotta want it as much as they do -- and that's loving folks and reaching the lost.
Let's enhance what Daniel does by putting our faith into action, led by someone that has the knowledge and talent to get us there.
HI Daniel, I'm not a member of KOP but I have enjoyed reading this thought-provoking blog. The first place to proceed, in my small opinion, is with each member of the body (finger is pointing right at me, too). It's easy to sit back and read or hear the Word ... the next part, which is letting it take hold of my heart, is hard. Why? Because I've done that before and paid a very high cost. I'm scared of trying again. I'm scared of failing ... of not being able to maintain something and then looking (and feeling) like a failure. Is that an excuse? No ... that is wrong thinking but it freezes my heart. The way to proceed is to thaw out our hearts, get up off the chairs (or pews) we sit (or are asleep) in and move in the name of Jesus. The membership needs leadership but, more importantly, it needs functioning body parts. If everyone in the family took an oar and made one small stroke ... the boat would be in a totally new place. So ... the way to proceed is for each body part to start doing something ... anything. Small participation is good (we live very busy lives). Start with daily prayer ... a united front. God answers desperate prayers ... pray for what is needed in the KOP body. Daniel or any other leader can't row the boat ... it requires all hands on deck. Whatever that means in the 21st century ... there is an answer and that answer is going to come not from Daniel but will issue and speak from the total body. Each body member has a voice and has something they each can do (not just give money). Start on the inside ... clear up the clutter ... so the movement and thinking will be clear and purposeful. Again, and with humility, I write these things pointing to myself first. I may live in a different place than you but my place in the Lord is the same as you -- so your question is as directed to me as it is to the people of KOP. Thank you, KOP, for your boldness, desire, and example. Keep fanning your desire (through prayer) for a willing and united heart.
I am curious to know how a visitor would sense "ministerial consistency" after several visits.
What is "the right kind of consistency"?
Are we going to expect too much from one person?
Do we really know what the root cause is for our attendance dropping? What about the song service should be changed?
The commment posted by the "non-member"...offers a suggestion and never mentions a ministry leader.
Start from within... have we tried that yet?
Excellent points all around! There is a danger of simply hiring someone so that the rest can sit back and relax. We certainly don't want to promote lazy Christianity by hiring someone else to do the "work" of ministry.
Perhaps we haven't appealed enough to the inner workings to meet our needs. We have untapped resources: potential teachers, song leaders, worship servants, chaperones, cooks, visitation, web experts, accountants, financial planners, etc). Maybe a solution should emphasize more heart-felt service among members. Really emphasize the needs, and often! We tend to overemphasize what to know to the exclusion of what to do. Theology/doctrine is meant to be dynamic not static. We can talk about the right things but if that talk doesn't translate into action it is, well, what did James say (2:17)?
Additionally, visitors should be attracted to a church b/c it is centered around Christ, not a minister. This is an issue of spiritual maturity.
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