10 Advantages of Doing Ministry Without a Ministry Strategy

Some frown on strategy... it's a term that's used in business much more than the church. But strategy is nothing more than a plan... a plan as to how you are best going to accomplish the mission God has for your church. A good plan and strategy for your ministry will make the difference as you communicate truth!

Tony Morgan got to thinking about lack of vision, or a vision of nothing, and that got him in a particularly fiesty mood and he began to list some of the advantages of doing ministry without a ministry strategy. Since his last Top 10 list was so well-received, let's see how this one does. Here are Tony's top 10 advantages of doing ministry without a ministry strategy.

Put Yourself in a Growth Environment

"Put yourself in a growth environment. Certain fish grow according to the size of the environment. Put them in a small aquarium and they remain small. It is said that if you put a baby shark in a small aquarium of 6 inches the shark will grow to that size only. Release it into the ocean and it will grow to their intended size. And you are the same! If you spend your time with the wrong crowd in the wrong place doing the wrong things, you will never experience growth.

I do not criticize other servants of God. So I do not associate with those who criticize others. I believe in success and so I do not sit with those who always talk about failure, attacks and persecution. I associate with people who talk about opportunity, success, result, victory, peace, growth and mega churches. And I let these qualities rub off onto me as I also try to do this to them." - P G Vargis, India missions leader

10 Easy Ways to Keep Me from Visiting Your Church Because I Visited Your Website

10 EASY WAYS to Keep Me from Visiting Your Church Because I Visited Your Website" - Tony Morgan of Grainger Community Church offers some vital insights. Church webmasters should check this out.

How the Telegraph Changed the Church

Click on http://www.cnn.com/ or http://www.foxnews.com/ and take a sampling of the news items. Ask yourself this question: How many of these items have ‘action value?’ By ‘action value,’ I mean information of such value action must be taken. In Neil Postman’s perceptive article, “The Peek-a-Boo World,” he asks the question like this: “How often does it occur that information provided you on morning radio or television, or in the morning newspaper, causes you to alter your plans for the day, or to take some action you would not otherwise have taken, or provides insight into some problem you are required to solve?”

The Internet now gives us access to information around the globe in moments. At times, we have the possibility of ‘scooping’ the powerful news conglomerates; we were in the right chat room at the right time. We have gigabytes of useless information lying at our fingertips.

A new article at The Ooze takes a fascinating look at the ways that the telegraph and changing ideas about the purpose of news broadcasts have radically affected the Church itself. The article offers some interesting suggestions about how you and your church can communicate not only to give information, but to inspire the reader or listener to actively respond to it.

Read "How the Telegraph Changed the Church."

Study Questions Whether Short-Term Missions Make a Difference

DO SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS WORK?

Missionaries don't keep giving after they return; hosts prefer money to guests, Calvin sociologist finds.

Many American church goers are familiar with the concept of short-term mission trips--brief group missionary journeys to bring aid and assistance to people and places in need of help. But do these trips--a staple of church youth groups around the country--really work? A recent study by a Calvin College professor of sociology and third-world development, Kurt Ver Beek, indicates that the trips don't have a lasting impact on either the missionaries or the people they're helping. It would be rash to stop doing mission trips on the basis of a single study--the study's author admits that others may disagree with his findings--but the report does raise some tough but necessary questions about how would-be missionaries can put their time and money to the most effective use.

For those looking for more information on typical mission trips, this Guide to Short-term Missions has a great deal of information about such projects, and the many considerations that go into planning one.

Dancing With God

A Good Sermon or Bible Study Illustration!

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.

When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

I Hope You Dance!

Source unknown.

Three steps to making your small group dream come true for your church

So many of us have been there -- you wake up in the middle of the night feeling pulled toward starting a small group ministry at your church. But by morning you still have no clue how to go about it.

I'll tell you this: If you're a pastor wondering how to go about launching a small group ministry, start by asking yourself, "Is a small group ministry something I truly value and can excite others with?" This is crucial because values manifest themselves not in your belief system but in your behavior. If your hands and feet are not sitting somewhere where you are sharing, it will be difficult for you to have conviction about the ministry from the pulpit, in your Sunday school class or in your own small group.

If you truly believe that life change and spiritual formation happen best in small settings, you can launch a small group ministry quite easily because of systems already in place. While it may seem overwhelming, there's not a lot of labor involved.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Preach on it and ask people during the service if they would be willing to host a small group Bible study in their home.

2. Gather those people in your home the next week, and you have your volunteer team.

3. Be willing to lead from weakness.

Small groups are the spiritual family system of the future. I know this, because as we see throughout Scripture, this was God's idea first. Read more here.

Give Your Church Away

by Dan Reiland

A few weeks ago I spoke at the Harvest Point Conference in Columbus, Ohio. My good friend Rev. Paul Cook, pastor of TurnPoint Apostolic Church, hosts this great training event every year. After I finished speaking on my assigned topic, 'Leading by Sight or Leading by System,' my mind began to drift to airports, airplanes, and going home. Then the next speaker stepped up to the plate, and I was hooked in seconds. Bishop Timothy Clarke, pastor of the First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio, was the speaker. Not only is he a man of God and a motivator, Bishop Clarke is a great leader who has grown his church from 12 to 5,000 in attendance.

The topic and content were so intriguing and relevant that I asked Bishop Clarke if I could share his outline with you. He quickly agreed. The three big thoughts in the main outline are from his message and reflect his personal leadership journey. I have taken the liberty to toss in a few thoughts of my own. Thanks Bishop, and keep on leading!

I had to release the church from myself and give it back to God.

Breaking though the 100 barrier is the toughest of all barriers. Churches ranging from a handful of people to 70-80 people know how true this is. It is a place where resources and energy are never equal to the vision. The good news is that for the leaders that are able to tough it out, vision and good leadership will eventually prevail. When this happens, there is always the possibility that perspective can become distorted and your thinking might become faulty. Even though the church is still considered a small church, the success is so strong that it is easy to begin to believe that you actually pulled it off yourself.

This doesn't mean that ego is out of control (it can be-- but that isn't the assumption). Hard work and accomplishment deserve recognition. That's a good thing. However, it's still all too easy to become impressed with yourself. The variable to manage is the fine line between being grateful for your gifts and abilities and forgetting where they came from.

Moses (Exodus 18) was not a young leader, but a relatively new leader. You remember how he sat to judge all the issues from morning 'til night. He continued this until his father-in-law, Jethro, explained the folly of attempting to do it all himself. Jethro said that Moses would literally wear himself out if he continued in this manner. Moses needed to give the leadership away into the hands of capable leaders if he wanted to serve the people well and with wisdom.

This is the principle behind giving your church away. It is the only way to ensure that you serve the people well and keep moving forward. Intellectually, we all know that the church doesn't belong to us. You are the leader, but it isn't your church - that is easy to embrace emotionally. But it is more difficult to embrace in terms of our actions. When you attempt to control what you cannot control as a leader and thereby hold the church 'captive' to yourself and your limitations, you can unintentionally lead as if the church belongs to you.

If you do not intentionally give the church back to God, you will greatly limit its future health and growth.

"If you want to keep it together, you must give it away!" --Bishop Clarke

I had to release the church from my style and give it to my staff.

Call it 1,000 but somewhere between 800 and 1,200 you must give your church to your staff. I've personally seen this 'give it away' point as early as 400-600 in attendance and as late as 1,800. So the point is not to be hung up on a particular number like a formula, but rather to know what it means to give your church to your staff and how to do it.

When you have grown your church through major growth levels, it is natural to want things to be done according to your style and preferences. After all, your way is what got the church where it is. However, you will not make the next big jump without releasing the church from your style and allowing other staff members to rise up, take major areas of responsibility, and do it their way.

It's tough when we genuinely empower the staff and they do it better than us! Then to add insult to injury, they get all the attention! But you know that's the price tag of continued growth. It's the right thing.

I remember when John Maxwell and I served at Skyline Church in San Diego and the time came for John to once again 'give it away.' John said that the last two things that he gave away were the most difficult because they were his favorites. They were the Membership Class and the New Christians Class, and John liked how he did them (of course, he did them extremely well.). When the church was around 1,800 in attendance he gave me the Membership Class, and he gave Sheryl Fleisher the New Christians Class. This allowed John to focus on his priorities. Sheryl and I led and taught the classes, respectively, with our own styles - differently from John's - and we did well. All of this resulted in the church continuing to grow.

This can be tough on the senior pastor. It's like giving your kid away. You raised him and now give him away, like when your son or daughter goes off to college. Now you must trust his professors and friends to continue to make a positive impact.

You can feel like a stranger in the church you built, and many (if not most) of the people are closer to staff members than to you. This is hard on any pastor, but necessary to continue to grow your church.

I had to release the church from my staff and give it back to the saints.

Bishop Clarke shared that at the time his church was averaging approximately 3,000 in attendance, he had to take the church back from his staff and give it to the congregation. He didn't fire his staff! But Bishop Clarke began to reshape their approach to ministry and leadership.

Again, this is a natural phase of church and staff development. Frankly, it is a key insight that I'm wrestling down in my own leadership for Crossroads, where I serve. A staff that can lead a church of 3,000-plus in attendance is a top notch staff. They are part of team-leading one of the largest churches in the country. They are good at what they do. And because they are good at what they do, they can tend to lean into doing much of it themselves.

One of the interesting issues related to staff is that due to a number of factors - from the need for quality to daily demands and pressures of ministry - the staff members of large churches want to solve many of their problems by hiring more staff rather than raising up more leaders. Sometimes hiring is the right answer. But isn't always the first or only answer. It takes massive energy (and leadership talent) to raise up volunteer leaders who can get the job done in a church of that size. We must all be willing to rise to that challenge.

Lay ministry and lay leadership are not new concepts. But I do believe that we must take them to new levels to achieve all that God has for us in each of our churches. There are people sitting in your 'pews' who can and will lead more (and better) than you think! For us at Crossroads, it means less doing and more equipping and developing. How about you?

So now that you've finished these thoughts, in what way might you need to give your church away?

"This article is used by permission from Dr. Dan Reiland's free monthly e-newsletter 'The Pastor's Coach' available at www.INJOY.com."

Dr. Kenneth Taylor, Creator of 'The Living Bible' Dies

Ken Taylor, creator of "The Living Bible," which sought to make scriptures more accessible to a broader audience by paraphrasing the King James Version of the Bible, has died. Taylor, 88, the founder of Tyndale House Publishers, a leading Christian publishing house, died last Friday at his Wheaton, Ill., home, a statement from the company said, the Associated Press (AP) reported. No cause of death was announced.

"The Living Bible" (TLB) was born out of Taylor's desire for his 10 children to understand God's Word, so he began to reword specific passages of the King James Version in simple, easy-to-understand English, Assist News Service (ANS) reported. In 1962, Taylor finished his paraphrase of the New Testament epistles, which he called "Living Letters."

However, he published the book privately when he could not interest publishers in it. The complete TLB was published in 1972, became a best seller after evangelist Billy Graham offered it as a premium on his TV broadcasts and has sold more than 40 million copies to date, the AP reported. Profits from TLB go to a foundation that supports mission work, Tyndale House said.

"Making Scripture accessible for all people was my father's passion," said his son and current Tyndale House president Mark Taylor in a news release, ANS reported. "Many, many people have told him, 'I became a Christian when I read "The Living Bible,"' or 'My first Bible was the green padded 'Living Bible.'' Even at 88 years old, his enthusiasm and fervor for his work never waned."

Taylor founded Tyndale House in 1962, naming the company after the 16th-century Christian reformer William Tyndale, who was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English.

Taylor was president of Tyndale House until 1984, when he turned the operation of the company over to Mark. He was chairman of the board from 1984 until his death. Tyndale House publishes the popular "Left Behind" apocalyptic novels.

Relationships: The Glue That Holds Your Church Together

One of the most important keys to retaining and energizing members of your congregation is something many of us take for granted. Did you know that the more friendships a person has in a congregation, the less likely he is to become inactive or leave? The importance of helping members develop friendships within your church cannot be overemphasized -- and is too crucial to leave to chance. You must encourage relationship development, plan for it, structure for it, and facilitate it ... Read Rick Warren's complete article.

The coming multi-site church revolution

By Josh Hunt

There is a revolution brewing that will change church life as much as franchises have changed business life in the past 30 years.

When I was growing up, the business world, from restaurants to motels was dominated by mom and pops. My, how things have changed. We don't shop at J.R.'s Hardware. We shop at Home Depot. We don't eat and Bob's diner. We go to Chili's. We don't get our hair cut at Jim's Barbershop. We go to Mastercuts. We don't stay at the local motel. We stay at Holiday Inn. Franchises have radically changed the way we shop, eat, and cut our hair. In a similar way, Multi-site churches will change the way America goes to church.

(Note: I am neither advocating, nor denouncing. I am reporting and predicting.)

I attended a multi-site church for the first time a couple of years ago and reported on it in the the article, I have seen the future. At the time I saw an incredible future for this model. Consider this article an update on that article.

I got an email this week from Warren Bird. He is working on a new book on multi-site churches and asked for my help. This got me curious as to the status of this movement. I knew Fellowship Church was doing new sites and Northpoint was planning another one. I had no idea how many churches are experimenting with this model.

Warren Bird estimates the number to be 1000 churches that are experimenting with the multi-site concept. This number does not surprise me. I have been in several churches myself that are experimenting with this concept.

Here are a few observations about the multi-site concept

My prediction is that multi-site churches will exist alongside single-site churches in the foreseeable future.

Multi-site churches will not put single-site churches out of business. They will offer either another level of competition, or an additional partner in ministry, depending on your perspective.

Good live preaching will always be preferred.

There is something about seeing the presenter live. It is why I have a job. You can get my seminar on video and I will say pretty much the same thing. But, there is something about a live presentation.

Good live preaching is better than good taped preaching. But, good taped preaching is better than bad live preaching. If you had heard as much bad preaching as I have, you might see more potential for this idea.

The projector and TIVO make this possible.

Why is this happening today? If you attend a large church that has an IMAG (Image magnification system--meaning, the preacher is on the big screen) you will find your eye naturally drifting from the stage to the 4X image of the person on the stage. Unless you are on the front few rows, you will tend to watch the screen anyway. Big screens and bright projectors make this possible.

Also, the TIVO technology makes it a lot simpler. One of the challenges with multi-site is timing. Normally, they have a live band in both locations, but pipe in the preaching from one site to the multiple site. Sometimes this is done by bringing in a tape from, say, the Saturday night service. Sometimes it is done live. If it is done live, there is a problem--getting the band in the alternative hall to wind down at the same time the band winds down in the main hall.

Solution: enter TIVO. Yes, TIVO. The glorified VCR that you use to tape the latest edition of Law and Order. Using TIVO, the video hall can be recording what is happening in the main hall. When the band winds down in the main hall, the technician hits pause on the TIVO. Then, when the band finishes up in the video hall, the technician hits the play button. The TIVO records and plays simultaneously, playing what is happening in the main hall with about a five minute delay.

You still need local leadership

Just because you watch the preaching on a big screen doesn't mean you don't need local pastors. You still need pastoral care. You still need small groups. You still need to make calls, contacts, and visits. Someone still needs to give Friday nights to Jesus. Someone still needs to cast a vision. You still need someone to talk to, someone to hug you, someone to cry with. Multi-site churches will not eliminate the need for pastors, they will redefine the roll of pastors.

Multi-site churches ensure predictable, high-quality preaching

For years we have been going to growing churches and coming home to try to implement the methods learned there. One problem. We didn't have Bill Hybels for a preacher. We couldn't duplicate the preaching of Rick Warren.

Can I let you in on a dirty little secret? The success of Willowcreek does not have all that much to do with their methodology or programs. it has to do with the preaching ability of Bill Hybels and the rest of the preaching team. Willowcreek has grown because people like to come to Willowcreek to hear Bill Hybels preach.

I was listening to an old tape by Rick Warren where he referred to the "four purposes of the church." Four purposes. Doesn't he know there are five purposes? Hasn't he read Purpose Driven Church? Oh, no he hadn't, because he hadn't written it yet. Rick would like to tell you he grew his church because he balanced the five purposes of the church. Well, in the early days, he left one out completely. But, guess what. was a fast growing church back then too. You know why? Saddleback grew because people like to come and hear Rick Warren speak.

Problem: we don't have Rick Warren.

Solution: you can't get Rick or Bill on DVD, but you can get Andy Stanly, Ed Young Jr. or a host of other high quality presenters.

There are a million question still to be answered and we will only figure it out by experimenting

There are numerous models out there and some still to be imagined. I imagine somewhere along the line a church will use an Andy Stanley DVD as a fill in between pastors and then say, "Hey, this isn't so bad."

I imagine small groups trying this where they watch Ed Young on their big screen and discuss it.
I imagine both tightly controlled models and loosey goosey models. Some will be multiple campuses of a single church. Others will be independent churches using the preaching of another church's pastor through DVD and a big screen.

I imagine single site, multi-venue models as well as multi-site models.

It is likely the most successful players at this will be built from the ground up with this in mind and will not come from the existing pool of mega-churches. They will be churches you have never heard of.

Some smaller, weaker churches will be hurt by this trend, in the same way that Wal-mart has hurt a few mom and pop convenience stores.

Lots of mistakes will be made along the way.

We don't even know all the questions yet, much less all the answers.

You learn by doing. Dive in.

I thought about providing a list of some of the churches that are doing this, but it is easy enough to find them yourself. This world is changing rapidly so if I made a list today, it would need to be updated next week. Do a search on Google for multi-site churches and see where your nose takes you.

Christians Say They Do Best At Relationships, Worst In Bible Knowledge

Nine out of ten adults contend that their faith is very important in their life. Our most recent survey explores the areas of their spiritual life that people most want to improve, and how mature they feel they are in seven dimensions of spiritual practice. Think about your spiritual needs, strengths and weaknesses, and compare your life to that of your fellow Americans. To find out how you compare, and what’s going on in the spiritual lives of other people, read my free report on this survey in the newest edition of The Barna Update. Click on this link to read the complete article.

Digging Deeper into Discipleship.

Three out of every four adults who consider themselves to be Christian identified ways in which they want to mature in their faith. How do people grow deeper in their spiritual journey? Discover what George Barna's national research into the process revealed, in Growing True Disciples.

Most Christian churches try to have a positive impact upon society and individuals. The big question is whether what they are doing is working. If the conclusion is that their efforts are not producing the desired outcomes, then the big challenge is whether they are willing to change their strategies to maximize their potential.

Click here to read the Excerpt From Growing True Disciples .

10 ways to recognize fake (spoof) emails

A fraudulent (spoof) email pretends to be from a well-known company, such as PayPal or eBay, in an attempt to get personal information from you. People who send spoof emails hope to use your information - such as credit and debit card numbers or account passwords - to commit identity theft.

You can prevent spoof from affecting you.

Spoof, or "phishing," emails - and the spoof websites often associated with them - are deceptive in appearance. However, they contain content that reveals they're fake. The most important thing to do to protect yourself is be able to spot this misleading content.

10 ways to recognize fake (spoof) emails

1. Generic greetings. Many spoof emails begin with a general greeting, such as: "Dear PayPal member." If you do not see your first and last name, be suspicious and do not click on any links or button.

2. A fake sender's address. A spoof email may include a forged email address in the "From" field. This field is easily altered.

3. A false sense of urgency. Many spoof emails try to deceive you with the threat that your account is in jeopardy if you don't update it ASAP. They may also state that an unauthorized transaction has recently occurred on your account, or claim PayPal is updating its accounts and needs information fast.

4. Fake links. Always check where a link is going before you click. Move your mouse over it and look at the URL in your browser or email status bar. A fraudulent link is dangerous. If you click on one, it could:

- Direct you to a spoof website that tries to collect your personal data.

- Install spyware on your system. Spyware is an application that can enable a hacker to monitor your actions and steal any passwords or credit card numbers you type online.

- Cause you to download a virus that could disable your computer.

5. Emails that appear to be websites. Some emails will look like a website in order to get you to enter personal information. PayPal never asks for personal information in an email.

6. Deceptive URLs. Only enter your PayPal password on PayPal pages. These begin with https://www.paypal.com/

- If you see an @ sign in the middle of a URL, there's a good chance this is a spoof. Legitimate companies use a domain name (e.g. https://www.company.com).

- Even if a URL contains the word "PayPal," it may not be a PayPal site. Examples of deceptive URLs include: www.paypalsecure.com, www.paypa1.com, www.secure-paypal.com, and www.paypalnet.com.

- Always log in to PayPal by opening a new web browser and typing in the following: https://www.paypal.com/

- Never log in to PayPal from a link in an email

7. Misspellings and bad grammar. Spoof emails often contain misspellings, incorrect grammar, missing words, and gaps in logic. Mistakes also help fraudsters avoid spam filters.

8. Unsafe sites. The term "https" should always precede any website address where you enter personal information. The "s" stands for secure. If you don't see "https," you're not in a secure web session, and you should not enter data.

9. Pop-up boxes. PayPal will never use a pop-up box in an email as pop-ups are not secure.

10. Attachments. Like fake links, attachments are frequently used in spoof emails and are dangerous. Never click on an attachment. It could cause you to download spyware or a virus.
PayPal will never email you an attachment or a software update to install on your computer.

To learn more follow this link.

Church Web Sites That Reach Out Effectively

What happens when a church creates a Web site with just its members in mind? Only the members read it! But what is the result when a church has a site specifically designed to reach outsiders, in user-friendly language that connects with their lives? One church webmaster who uses these principles says that, week in and week out, more visitors turn up at his church on a Sunday because of the Web site than anything else. Review these 70+ tips for effective church sites.

“A church is the only organization that exists primarily for the benefit of non-members”

– William Temple

“Week in, week out, more visitors turn up at our church on a Sunday because of the website, than anything else” – King’s Church, Kingston UK: a site using these principles

View the Web Evangelism Guide which focuses on: news, ideas and strategies about online evangelism, other issues relating to effective evangelism, understanding the world and culture around us, promoting Christian web pages and webmaster tips.

The Ragamuffin Group believes that the Web is no longer just a Western toy. It has become a medium for outreach to unreached people around the world, including the 10-40 Window. There is a big need to create evangelistic sites to target these people in an effective and contextualized way, in both English and other languages. This is an opportunity for individual Christians and Christian organizations to reach people in our world though the Web and email contacts.

Please pray for The Ragamuffin Group that we can be effective in Web outreach.

Church Could Save Your Life!

Do NOT ride in automobiles: they cause 20% of all fatal accidents.

Do NOT stay home: 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

Do NOT walk on the streets or sidewalks: 14% of all accidents happen to pedestrians.

Do NOT travel by air, rail, or water: 16% of all accidents happen on these.

However, only .001% of all deaths occur in church worship services, and all of these deaths are related to previous physical disorders.

THEREFORE, the safest place for you to be at any time is in church. (Bible study is safe, too. The percentage there is even less.)

Go to church! IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! - Pcom Pete

- + - + - + - + - + - + - + -

"Like the process of finding a mate, building a relationship with Jesus involves more than one big decision. It takes lots of tiny experiences that build a foundation of trust and inspire people to hope that perhaps the God of the universe may cherish them and care about their individual feelings, hopes, and dreams." - Irresistible Evangelism by Steven Sjogren, Dave Ping, and Doug Pollock (Group, 2004)

The Equipping Church - Is It Time To Celebrate?

by Charlene Armitage

Everyone loves a good party. We all love to celebrate our accomplishments and enjoy our successes - not to mention relishing the flattery of our peers. Relish... That reminds me, we're going to need almost a dozen grills and we'll probably have dessert catered by that ice cream shop down the street. Let's see, we'll need the hospitality team and the kitchen crew. I need to form a leadership team to delegate the responsibilities to the team captains of lay leadership...

I've often been there. Have you? The times where even celebrations - times of worship, relaxation, and enjoying one another - seem like too much work to be worth it. Here's the tension: It's too much work without volunteers, and equipping volunteers is too much work. The process of equipping others to serve and lead in the local church is challenging, but it should also be rewarding for everyone involved.

I serve in volunteer leadership as the Director of Equipping at my local church, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri. Over the past several years, God has moved within our people to create a culture of service that we would not have dreamed possible.

We celebrate the fact that each person has a special God-given purpose in life, and we as a church body have the awesome privilege of supporting, encouraging, training, and equipping each person to fulfill that purpose. This celebration results from much more than just a nominal belief that each person is special.

We passionately believe that:

• Equipping and developing people is biblical.
  
• Each person is made in a special way.
  
• Each person deserves special attention.
  
• We must commit to each volunteer that they will have training, be affirmed, receive feedback, know expectations, have an opportunity to help evaluate ministries, and experience the joy of recognition and reflection.
• Hundreds of volunteers would love to be asked to serve.

With each belief comes a challenge that causes us to ask the question, "Are we just mentally on board with the principles of biblical equipping, or does our belief cross the line of conviction that results in action?" My passion is so strong that I left my position in the secular marketplace to give my life to equipping the people in the local church. I have never been so fulfilled, rewarded, or challenged - all coupled with the sense that I am doing exactly what I was made to do. I believe you can help your volunteers tap into that same belief and passion.

The intrinsic motivation for inviting people into ministry must be pure. It would help to be clairvoyant! But fortunately, God blesses leaders in the local church with the spiritual gift of discernment, guiding us when inviting someone to a specific ministry. You can be certain that you will be successful in matching each individual with his/her specific design if you truly have the other person's best interest at heart and desire that the Kingdom of God is glorified. I find myself experiencing great remorse when my attitude falls to what I can get from an individual rather than what I want for the individual. One of our favorite statements is, "We are not about inviting people to fill roles, but roles to fulfill people!"

Culture of Doing or Equipping?

How do things get done? Is the staff paid for doing tasks or equipping people? What if we measured our success by how often and how well we equipped people? What if, rather than adding volunteers, we were multiplying leaders?

Before I could answer any of the above questions, it was crucial for me to ask myself: Do I want this person to help me accomplish a task, OR do I have an intense desire to help them reach their God-given potential? How can I serve them and help them realize their purpose?

When I crossed the line of genuinely being more interested in the person rather than using them to accomplish a task, our church began to experience fulfilled volunteers who could not wait for the question... where are you connected in serving? We then saw a shift in our culture toward being one of equipping rather than doing.

From a practical perspective, it is challenging to move from a "doing culture" to an "equipping culture." As you make the change in your belief system, there are sequential pieces that must be in place to facilitate the change from a doing culture to an equipping culture.

You must have:

• Strong top-level advocacy and embodiment of the vision and values of equipping ministry
  
• A point person who is passionate about equipping coupled with a tenacious willingness to nurture others through the equipping process
  
• Intentional steps to take each ministry from the 'doing mentality' to the 'equipping practice' (discovery class, ministry connectors)
  
• Comprehensive systems that serve the people and connect everyone to meaningful ministry
  
• An environment that rewards equipping people for ministry rather than doing ministry (hire leaders, not doers)
  
• Consistent teaching/refinement in all areas of training, affirmation, feedback, evaluation, recognition, and reflection.

Phases of Equipping

You can spend countless hours reading books, attending seminars, conducting training, and mobilizing people - and you should. Our development as trainers and leaders should never stop. As I heard Dr. Howard Hendrix once say, "I don't want to die until I'm dead!" And he's right on. There is never a time we will grow out of development. God's work in us (thankfully!) is never finished. It is for this same reason that equipping should never be viewed as just an event or class, but rather a powerful and pure beginning to a life-long process of developing people. As elementary as this sounds, creating or enhancing a culture of equipping must begin with what you have. I know...duh. But stick with me, we're talking fundamentals.

Beliefs

Question to Self #1: What is the culture of my church when it comes to developing/equipping others?

We won't have much of a celebration if we don't have volunteers to equip or resources in place. So, what is in play? Who's already on the field? Exactly how many volunteers do you have and what are they doing? Our first step was to clearly delineate what the equipping terminology meant. I met with each department leader and made sure everyone was on the same page. Then we made some solid progress.

When you have made an honest assessment of how your leaders think/work - which I might add can be painful - you are in position to meet them where they are. You must be ready to articulate your passion and the reason you believe equipping God's people is nonnegotiable. As indicated above, a key component in relaying this passion and creating buy-in and culture change is active championing from the senior and (if applicable) executive pastors. This is more than just agreeing with the mission and passively acknowledging the purpose. The senior leadership must engage in meaningful equipping of those they expect to go and equip others.

Adapting the principles that Paul gives in Ephesians 4 and having these principles modeled by my senior leadership is a mandatory foundation for building a culture of God-honoring service to others. If this process takes longer than you expect, encourage your people, but let it take no more or no less time than it needs. This process also taught me that there was no substitute for a compassionate attitude toward the progress of each staff member or key leader. After assessing our leaders' their previous thinking...I was then able to take the next step.

Matching

Question to Self #2: Who goes where and why? And when they get there, what do they do?

Once the fuse is lit and God begins to work, you will see the leadership equipping other equippers and positive synergies emerging. Your people will get excited. The needs of a church and the gifts of the people are spiritual waters that require prayerful and precise navigation. This is exactly the reason for our discovery class, Finding Your Niche. Each person who completes the four-week class is honored with a personal interview by a trained consultant who then refers them to a ministry connector to ensure a meaningful ministry engagement.

Ironically enough, this is where God's model of equipping gets really exciting. These are the times you will look back on with goose bumps as you share with others the awesome work of God's hand. You will see sparks in people that you thought were quite possibly made of asbestos. These sparks will catch fire with dozens of others or remain a small blue flame of service and encouragement for others. After years of equipping, studying, and working in this area I am still joyfully amazed at the work God can do in the lives of anyone who will let him. Everyone is a piece in God's jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes we have to smooth a few edges, but every person does have a place.

Commitment

Question to Self #3: Is my organization ready to follow through, in the short- and long-term, with a culture of equipping?

The plan is in place. The people are serving. Under the pressures and weekly demands of ministry, it is easy to enlist and forget rather than follow through on equipping. Here is where the work of equipping can get tricky (or trickier). Today's successful program is tomorrow's plan for mediocrity. Encouragement wears off. Wisdom can be forgotten. Needs and people change.

Herein lies the deep need for a commitment to equipping. What you do at the beginning stages of equipping used to meet the need, but now you have equippers who are equipping others to equip. Mind- numbing, I know. Fortunately, most organizations don't go from zero to a well-oiled machine of 500 volunteers overnight. We at Pleasant Valley have been so blessed to experience God's providence to challenge us enough to learn, inspire us enough to vision-cast, and energize us enough to connect people with God daily through meaningful service in His Kingdom. Currently, we have a care chart tracking system in place that allows us to know the name of each person in each ministry who joins or leaves the ministry each month. The care charts allow us to personally stay in touch with our nearly 1800 volunteers.

Pre-launch Checklist

A simple, sequential scenario must be in place not only to establish an equipping culture but also to retain the vibrant sense of a new beginning. I wouldn't pretend that I could put together a list of detailed steps that would be the perfect recipe to equip any church. However, the questions below will help serve as a reference for the fundamentals of the equipping process. When you begin equipping others to serve, there are two things you can count on: First, with diligent work your fundamental needs will harmonize, but not in the first week! Second, there will be joy in the process!

1. Do our staff and key leaders embody the authentic principle of Ephesians 4?
   
2. Do we have the philosophy of "whatever it takes, we will equip all saints" according to Ephesians 4?
   
3. Does our senior leadership lead the charge in equipping others?
   
4. Do we have systems in place that will ensure each believer the opportunity to discover how God has made them and exactly where they can connect in meaningful service?
   
5. Have we designed meaningful feedback guidelines for each service/ministry opportunity?
   
6. Do our volunteers discover who they are in Christ and become empowered to engage in meaningful ministry?
   
7. Do we train all of our volunteers?
   
8. Do we affirm and celebrate all of our volunteers?
   
9. Do we recognize each volunteer for who he/she is and what he/she does?

I trust that these thoughts will not only challenge you to live out the equipping principles in Ephesians 4 but also encourage you to know that you and your church can actually experience the joys of equipping. As you begin the process, you will be challenged. As you continue through each step, you will experience incomparable joy watching each believer discover their purpose and connect in meaningful ministry. This is great cause to celebrate!

"This article is used by permission from Dr. Dan Reiland's free monthly e-newsletter 'The Pastor's Coach' available at www.INJOY.com."

Addiction Proof Your Ministry, Family, and Congregation

The pace of life for a minister can lead to ensnaring addictions: workaholism, pornography, alcoholism, eating disorders, and more. Discover how to protect yourself and your congregation from these addictions in this live, interactive satellite seminar -- Thursday, July 28, 2005. Check here for more information.

HELP FOR PASTORS STRUGGLING WITH PORNOGRAPHY

The temptation of online pornography is huge for Christians -- pastors included. This Web site offers practical help, including free accountability software, which tracks your Internet usage and periodically e-mails a list of suspect sites to two accountability partners you select. Download your free accountablity software here.

Pastors are people too--and that means pornography is as dangerous a temptation for them as it is for the "rest of us." But when a pastor or church leader falls into the trap of pornography, the resulting pain and hurt is often made more damaging by their leadership position. Pastors can also have an especially difficult time finding people with whom to discuss incredibly personal struggles like this. An excellent article at XXXChurch.com speaks directly to church leaders about the issue, pointing out specific areas in which even the most dedicated minister or youth pastor is vulnerable. If you're in aleadership position at your church, it's worth arming yourself with these words of advice, whether or not you think pornography is a problem for you. Read Staying Above Reproach by Mike Woodruff.

Prepare the soil for ministry

Understanding the people you intend to minister to is a critical first step in planning any outreach. Demographic research can be a key way to know the needs in your community. Meeting those needs can be a first step for evangelism. Read more.

Is It Depression?

It's important to know when you have the "blues" and when you are truly depressed and need help. Talking with a qualified Christian counselor can help you work through your depression and grow in other ways as well. Here are a few signs to help determine when it's time to seek help.

Read this article by Dr. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist and the co-founder of Cloud-Townsend Communications in Southern California.