Podcast Episode 06 - Getting New People Involved in Ministry ASAP

In 200churches, we have the opportunity to get to know new people the first Sunday that they walk into our church. Chances are, your church has fewer than 300 members, and new faces stand out to you a mile away. That’s great! But how do we turn those new attenders into new volunteers? How long does it take us to get people involved in ministry?

We believe that 200churches should get people involved ASAP. For us, that means either the first or second week that somebody starts to attend our church. But a lot of times, pastors and leaders hesitate to move that quickly? What’s standing in our way?

Fear: (What are we afraid of?)    

• Of the unknowns – what are the gifts of the new people in our church? Can we trust them with a ministry?
• Of theological difference – what if we’re reformed in our theology but the person we’re asking to hand out bulletins isn’t?
• Of asking – even for pastors, sometimes just asking somebody to serve can be difficult. Are you a people person?
• That we don’t know where to put them – we often perceive that all of the ministry “slots” in our church are filled.
• Of current volunteers – it can be hard to move people around to places that are better suited for their gifts and talents. Especially if they’ve been serving in the same area for years.
  

We define ministry poorly

• We often limit our understanding of ministry to that which happens within the four walls of our church building.
• We limit our thinking to only those ministries we currently have in our church, and sometimes worse – to only those ministries in our church that have open slots.
• We think about ministry only in terms of programs.
• We think of ministry only in terms of the church corporate, and not in terms of the church as individuals with unique gifts and abilities.
  

So we know there’s a problem. What’s the solution? How do we get new people involved more quickly?

First, we need to define ministry properly.

Ministry looks like God’s people using the gifts and abilities he’s given them, to serve him and others. Most of the ministry that God will do through the people in our church will happen outside of the four walls of our building.

(So even though we’re talking specifically about how to get people involved in our local fellowship or gathering – we can’t forget that the big picture is about equipping our people to be ministers and to be serving God at their workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and homes.)

Second, we have to be committed to trying to only do what only we can do.

Andy Stanley really has stressed this over the years. It is very hard to do, certainly impossible to do all the time, but it is a great target to shoot for.

Third, when it comes to ministry, together is always better. 

We need to take people with us, and invite people to join us as we do ministry together. A couple weeks ago we wrote a blog called “The Importance of Delegation – Don’t be a Hero”. In it we talked about delegating to others, and multiplying our efforts.

Fourth, we need to change what we're afraid of:

• Be afraid of not involving people! 
  
• Be afraid of people leaving your church because there is nothing for them to do!  
  
• Be afraid of people leaving because they don’t sense that they have anything to offer your church! 
  
• Be afraid of people not growing because they are not involved in serving! 
  
• Be afraid of church members missing out on receiving ministry and love from each other!
  
• Be afraid of lost people in your community never being loved and ministered to because your people are not equipped for ministry!

Finally, when someone shows the slightest inkling of interest in serving in a ministry – get them involved the same day or the same week! Don’t wait!

Local church ministry can be the beginning of understanding that “ministry” is much larger than what happens on Sunday mornings. What are other ways you have used to get people serving sooner rather than later?

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