"EQUIPPING THE SAINTS FOR MINISTRY"

Organizing For Service In The Body

INTRODUCTION
  1. In "Equipping The Saints For Ministry", the problem is not one of having enough things for people to do
  2. We saw in our last lesson that there are many different things to be done, many different ways to serve as members of the body...
    1. In the area of public worship
    2. In the area of edification, evangelism and benevolence
    3. In areas of individual service, in roles that are not the work of the local congregation per se
  3. Even in large churches, the problem is not a lack of roles for the members, as Flavil Yeakley wrote in his book ("WHY CHURCHES GROW") in reference to large churches:
    "Actually, the real problem was not always the ACTUAL roles-to-members ratio, but was sometimes the PERCEIVED roles-to-member ratio. In other words, a larger congregation might actually have more than enough specific task assignments to go around, but the members might not be aware of the many ways in which they could get involved." (p. 43)
  4. As further suggested by Flavil Yeakley, the problem is one of communication and organization...
    1. "If a congregation has a good actual roles-to-member ratio but a low perceived roles-to-members ratio, the problem is one of communication..."
    2. "A congregation can have a high involvement level no matter how large it becomes--if..."
      1. "...that congregation will do the necessary organizational work so as to have a high actual roles-to-member ratio..."
      2. "...the congregation's leaders will communicate in the right way so as to have a high perceived roles-to-members ratio." (p. 44, 45)
  5. Somehow, therefore, there needs to be in any congregation that desires to equip its saints for ministry...
    1. A means of communicating to the members what roles are available
    2. An organized method of encouraging the members to offer their service and coordinating their efforts
  6. One tool that can help accomplish this goal is the "Member Involvement Survey"...

[Please note: I am simply offering suggestions for communicating with the members and organizing efforts to involve all who desire to serve. These suggestions are not "set in stone" and should be implemented only with the approval of the congregation and it's leaders...]

  1. THE "MEMBER INVOLVEMENT SURVEY"
    1. A FORM FOR MEMBERS TO FILL IN...
      1. With space for their name, address, phone number
      2. With a list of roles available to members of the congregation
      3. With an option to indicate...
        1. What they are willing to do now
        2. What they think they would like to do in the future
        -- See sample "Member Involvement Survey"
    2. MEMBERS COULD FILL IN THIS FORM...
      1. When they first place membership, or when converted to Christ
      2. On an annual basis, so as to...
        1. Keep the members apprised as to the work that is available to be done (available roles may change in the course of a year)
        2. Keep the elders apprised as to the work that the members are willing to do (people may be willing to try new roles as time goes on)
    3. THE BENEFITS OF A "MEMBER INVOLVEMENT SURVEY"...
      1. It lets the members know what different things are available for them to do
      2. It lets the elders or leaders of the congregation know what people are willing to do
      3. It provides the preacher with some input that may help him focus his efforts
        1. E.g., if there is an area in which no one is willing to offer their service, perhaps some teaching or preaching on that need may be in order
        2. E.g., if several have indicated a desire to serve in a particular role in the present or future, then a special class for training might accommodate those desires

        [Even if nothing else is done with a "Member Involvement Survey", I know that it would help me in my efforts as an evangelist to do what I can to stimulate others to love and good works.

        But with the information taken from the survey, a little organization can go a long way to provide many opportunities for service. For example, consider another form...]

  2. THE "LIST OF ROLES AND AVAILABLE VOLUNTEERS"
    1. A FORM FOR EACH AREA OF SERVICE AND ITS ROLES...
      1. Different forms for the areas of public worship, edification, evangelism benevolence, etc.
      2. Each form listing the various roles available in that area of service
      3. With a place for names of those who indicated their willingness to serve in the "Member Involvement Survey"
      -- See the following samples:
    2. WITH THESE FORMS...
      1. Those charged with coordinating efforts in a particular area of service would know who is willing to do what
      2. Some examples...
        1. The person(s) preparing the schedule for public worship could use it to plan the services
        2. The person(s) preparing the class curriculum would know who was available for teaching different classes
        3. If a need for benevolence arose, the person(s) coordinating efforts in that area could know who to call on for help

        [By taking information gathered from the "Member Involvement Survey" and using it to complete the "List Of Roles And Available Volunteers" for each area of service, a congregation can be a step closer to involving all its members.

        But collecting this information alone is not going to get the work done. There is a need for those to coordinate efforts in the different areas, and to report the progress of such efforts to those with the proper oversight. To aid in this, there is yet one more form...]

  3. THE "MEMBER INVOLVEMENT REPORT"
    1. THIS "REPORT" IS BASED UPON AN IMPORTANT ASSUMPTION...
      1. That the responsibility of coordinating member involvement in a particular area has been delegated; for example...
        1. That someone is responsible for coordinating those involved in the area of public worship
        2. That similar responsibilities have been given to other people in other areas
      2. In a congregation with elders and deacons...
        1. This responsibility might be given to deacons
        2. Who in turn might enlist the help of responsible men and women, in those activities deemed appropriate
      3. In a congregation without elders, responsible individuals might be appointed to help coordinate efforts in various areas
    2. WITH THIS "REPORT"...
      1. Information can be given on progress in fulfilling roles, accomplishing their functions, etc.
      2. Problems encountered in finding volunteers, accomplishing tasks, etc., can be reported to the leaders of the church
      -- See sample "Member Involvement Report"
CONCLUSION
  1. With such information provided by...
    1. The "Member Involvement Survey"
    2. The "List Of Roles And Available Volunteers"
    3. The "Member Involvement Report" ...the congregation can be kept apprised of the involvement of any member
  2. Indeed, the use of such forms can tell a lot about the members of a congregation...
    1. Their desire (via the "survey")
    2. Their potential (via the "list")
    3. The opportunities they had to serve (via the "report")
  3. Again, let me stress that these are simply suggestions on how a congregation might...
    1. Communicate with its members who desire to serve
    2. Provide some sort of systematic method of seeing that those who desire to serve are given their opportunities
  4. However one chooses to do it, let each congregation meet its design and purpose in some way by working toward having every member do their part in the body of Christ!

I hope that I have stimulated your thinking in this area with these lessons...