Growth Points with Dr. Mc

Promote Personal Ministry

On Your Mark — The health of a church is directly proportional to the degree its people are active in ministry. Research completed over the last half century indicates growing churches have 55% or more of their worshipers involved in some type of personal ministry. Churches experiencing a long-term plateau find around 43% of their people serving, while declining churches see 27% or fewer people actively involved in personal ministry.

This principle has significant implications for a local church. Among other things, it means the heartbeat of a local church is the training of its people.

Get Set — Healthy churches point their people to active ministry by . . . 1) training people to know their spiritual gifts; 2) equipping people to use their gifts, abilities, and skills; 3) placing people into entry levels of ministry as soon as possible; 4) coaching people who are serving; 5) evaluating those already in ministry; 6) building community around people’s natural gifts and passions; and 7) expressing thanks to those who are serving.

Go — How well is your church involving and supporting people in personal ministry? What can you do to get better this next week? Is there someone you need to thank? Someone you need to coach? Someone you need to train? Do one tangible things this week to encourage others to get involved in serving others.

-Gary L. McIntosh, Ph.D.
Author of The Ten Key Roles of a Pastor

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