When training is effective, people are equipped and encouraged to do their part. As God’s ways for ministry are explained to them their understanding is expanded, their hearts are enlightened, and they are able to envision what God can and wants to do through them. Hence, their life of service is enhanced. As a result, they become more excited and enthused about serving. They are energized and emboldened to do their part.

When training is e-e-e-e-e-effective, a lot happens within the people being trained that will spill over onto those to whom and with whom they serve.

So, what is effective training? — Training that seeks to line ministry up with the character and ways of a holy, righteous, loving, gracious, just, sovereign, merciful, all-powerful, creative, faithful, and wise God.

He is the authority.  — He knows the best way to do ministry.

He is the source.  — He provides what we need to do ministry.

He is the standard.  — He sets the bar for how to do ministry.

How e-e-e-e-effectively are you training people in your church?  How e-e-e-e-effectively have you been trained?  The wonderful thing about our God is that He is also a forgiving God and a God of  new beginnings!

position (how high or how low)

tasks (how minor or how major)

experience (how long or how short)

training (how prepared or how unprepared)

Regardless … we all have something to learn.  None of us have arrived … in our personal walks or in our ministry service.

“Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”  –the Apostle Paul (Phil. 3:12)

Perhaps we resist training everyone because of past reactions.  People don’t seem interested.  They don’t attend.  They don’t need one more thing to do.

Not interested?  Perhaps they aren’t finding it relevant and therefore lack a reason to be interested.  When we use a one-size-fits-all approach, meeting the needs of ministry workers is hit or miss.

Don’t attend?  Perhaps the time doesn’t suit.  Perhaps they find it hard to sit through a meeting.  When we fail to provide alternative means of training, gaining their participation is an uphill battle.

Too busy?  Perhaps the real issue is that they don’t view it as a priority.  We tend to find the time to do what we view as important.  When we make training simply about doing a better job, getting people on board might be all the harder if they feel they are doing a good enough job.  When we make serving more about lining up with the Almighty God and working in cooperation with Him, people just may find themselves thinking twice about equipping.

At minimum, we should be giving everyone in ministry a big picture perspective of the area of ministry in which they are engaged.  What does God want to do through that kind of ministry?  How can we line up with Him and work in cooperation with Him?

The Ministry Manuals published by Ministry Tools Resource Center can help you with that.  They are available individually for eleven different ministry areas as downloads or books or as a download bundle deal.

If you haven’t been training everyone for ministry, think and pray about it.  It may seem a bit overwhelming, but what are some first steps that can be taken toward that objective?