Ministry Focus & Equipping | Christian Ministry Training Blog

Breaking Through the Walls

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

People have built walls between them and the institutionalized church. We need to get beyond the idea that certain types of programs, technology, facilities, and other such efforts will break through the fears and disillusionment people have toward the church. Rather, we must break through those walls with the love of Christ.

Click to enlarge image on Pinterest & repin.
Remember, “perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18).

What might it look like for churches to break through the walls with the love of Christ?

To break through with the love of Christ, we must reach people where they are. When we consider what people want and need, we’re then able to discern the best approach.

restoring Jesus to His rightful place as Head of the church, our primary message and source of hope … people are spiritually-oriented, wanting to be in a relationship over religion
retooling programs and worship services to get away from an “us” and “them” approach … people are socially-oriented, wanting to learn from each other not merely a leader, teacher or pastor
relationally communicating so people can respond and not just listen … people are social media-oriented, wanting to collaborate
recognizing the contribution each person has to make … people are significance-oriented, wanting to be a part of something bigger
reaching out to our communities in tangible ways with the love of Christ … people are service-oriented, wanting to make a difference where they live

The Role of Church Leaders in Breaking Through

Church leaders have a critical role in guiding the church toward this objective. It will take more than telling people to do this. Leaders must model it in their own lives and align their leadership practices with it. Their own heart attitudes and motivations will significantly affect what the church does so “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov. 4:23).

Their leadership must be …

about people, not merely the administration of programs.
to minister, not merely complete tasks.
to advance God’s purposes, not merely church as usual.
motivated by love, not merely to accomplish their goals.

Staffing Principles Revisited

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

We’ve looked at staffing in light of the following:

the big picture
the church’s purpose
body life
shepherding
prayer

Staffing Principles We Need to Apply

Here are all the principles from the above series on staffing pulled together in one place. Take time to review these points and think about their application in your setting. How can you better implement them into your ministry?

View staffing as ministry and not mere administration.

Focus on cooperating with God and what He wants your church to do, not merely filling positions to keep your programs going.

Build into staffing an accountability to lining up with God and His purposes, to working together toward the big picture.

Make appreciation and affirmation of people an integral part of staffing.

View extending encouragement and support to people as essential.

Maintain proper motives, sincere concern, and honest communication in staffing.

Genuinely care about the people who are serving beyond the fulfillment of their duties.

Genuinely accept the people who are serving and don’t take a cookie cutter approach in equipping and supporting them.

Completely depend on the Lord.

Additional Resources to Help You with Church Staffing:

Staffing & Prayer

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

We’ve noted in previous posts that there is a big picture in staffing which includes the following:

the church’s purpose requiring cooperation and alignment with God
the exercise of Body Life principles requiring we value people over our programs and agendas
the promotion of a Christ-like expression of that which makes people unique

That is a tall order for anyone involved in staffing. We might be quick to attest to our agreement with these points but the practical outworking can present some challenges. We need wisdom. We need help. And, sometimes we need strength to go on, to keep at it.

Prayer Must Be a Vital Component of Staffing Ministry

Following God’s purposes and design for the Body requires discernment of God’s choices. Even Jesus prayed prior to choosing His disciples.

Treating people as they should be treated throughout the entire staffing process requires God’s heart. The Apostle Paul prayed that the Ephesians, “being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19)

Think comparatively. Which will make staffing more effective?

your limited knowledge versus God’s omniscience?
your skewed way of thinking versus God’s perfect ways?
your natural reactions versus God’s compassion?

With the answers being so obvious, Proverbs 3:5-6 must be guiding verses in any kind of staffing ministry.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

An effective staffing ministry that follows these big picture objectives not only needs much prayer but must view prayer as an essential big picture item.

And so, staffing requires complete dependence on the Lord.

Check Out this Resourc: Staffing Ministry Manual

Staffing & Shepherding

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

In previous posts we looked at the big picture in staffing. We noted that it involves alignment with the church’s purpose and the exercise of Body Life principles in order to help people understand how they and their contribution are valued as you pursue God’s purposes. But, that isn’t enough. People need to be equipped to do their part. They need training and support which includes pastoral care, not merely skill enrichment, which is best provided through shepherding.

Shepherding That Looks After the Sheep’s Total Welfare

When someone serves, they bring the whole of who they are with them … physical, emotional, mental, social, as well as spiritual. If you want them to be most productive, you must care about the parts you might not be as comfortable with or that might not directly be used in their ministry.

And so, staffing ministry requires that you genuinely care about the people who are serving beyond the fulfillment of their duties.

A Shepherd Who Cares About Each Individual Sheep

Ministry workers have different spiritual gifts, needs, personality traits, learning styles, etc. How can you work within each person’s bent? How can you encourage them to serve in their God-given unique ways rather than frustrate them by unnecessary constraints? What is the best way to build them up, free them up, spur them on? How can you tailor training to best fit the individual?

And so, staffing requires that you genuinely accept the people who are serving and don’t take a cookie cutter approach in equipping and supporting them.

The goal should not be making everyone conform but helping them serve with a Christ-like expression of that which makes them unique.

Church leaders, also read: Church Leadership Skill of Staffing

Staffing & Body Life

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

In a previous post we considered the big picture in staffing and determined that it demands the exercise of Body Life principles because people are important. Otherwise, it can be too easy to manipulate people into doing our bidding. Staffing can become about controlling or managing people rather than serving them. Taken to its extreme, it is possible to abuse people in the process.

How Body Life Helps Us in Staffing

Body Life moves us to value people, not neglect or abuse them. (1 Cor. 12:21-27; Rom. 12:10; 14:19; 15:7; Eph. 4:2)

And so, appreciation and affirmation become important in staffing.

Body Life moves us to love people, not use or misuse them. (Matt. 22:36-40; 1 Cor. 13)

And so, extending encouragement and support to people becomes important in staffing.

Body Life moves us to maintain integrity with people. (Matt. 22:39; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 5:21)

And so, proper motives, sincere concern, and honest communication become important in staffing.

Church leaders, think about your part in this. You’ll find additional thoughts about each of the above points in the Steering the Church Toward Body Life Leadership Guide.

Staffing & the Church’s Purpose

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

In a previous post we considered how there is a big picture that must be taken into consideration when it comes to staffing. Part of that picture pertains to God’s purposes for your church. Consequently, ministry assessments become vital to this work to determine where you are, where you should be, what it will take to get aligned with His purposes, and who God wants to use to get you there.

And so, staffing becomes about cooperating with God and what He wants your church to do, not merely filling positions to keep your programs going.

Alignment of Staffing with Our Church Purpose

Once you know your church’s purpose, you must be committed to pursuing it and must communicate it to others. You must build a culture in which all you do is measured against it. While you will still have distinct ministries to meet differing needs requiring specific people with particular spiritual gifts to accomplish them, everyone will all come under the umbrella of your church’s broad purpose. No program or individual will stand alone, isolated from the whole. That takes coordination on the part of leaders and a team mentality on the part of ministry workers. Ministry, or job, descriptions explain this connection. Evaluations look for this alignment. Feedback and support are given to help people understand and do their part in pursuing it.

And so, in staffing we build in an accountability to lining up with God and His purposes, to working together toward the big picture.