Many churches will extol the virtues of serving and giving back this festive season. But how can a church transition from one that sits to one that serves? (And yes, I know the first answer is: preach about it. How many churches have done this with no success?)
If you’re a pastor or leader of any kind in your church, how can you help move the dial from sitting to serving?
To start with, I believe every church needs an identity, something that moves the church as a whole. What vision of impact does your church own? Is it homeless ministry, High school and university ministry, inner city, justice issues, church planting, missions, etc.
This is critical to moving a congregation from sitting to serving, and yet many churches battle here. One of your greatest tasks as a leader is to create meaningful (not mindless) opportunities for people to serve.
Open opportunities become a conduit for people to plug in and use their gifts, if leadership works to give ownership, respect, freedom and other proper support.
I see churches failing here as the Sunday service gets all the attention. How many pastors and elders know the gifts and interests of their people and how to really help them succeed?
Getting people involved is a continual, on-going process which can be more challenging than preparing a sermon and planning music.
I don’t see many in leadership who accept this as primary, and when it is relegated to secondary, it just won’t happen. The faithful few will do most of the work and the rest will consume, complain or just sit there and daydream.
My plea to leadership on this issue is – move! Just go in a direction inspired by God and people will follow.
Help them while on the way, train them while on the move, get to know them by being beside them (work with them), encourage and exhort them as you work together, let them take the lead but don’t leave them alone. Start with a few and watch others follow.
By John Kyeyune.
