Some attend church faithfully every Sunday, but they are not actively involved in a ministry through their church. Others view them as a committed member, simply; because they are here every Sunday morning, and no one would dare question their faithfulness.

 

1.  Pray for Laborers

Jesus gave us clear guidelines for securing workers: pray for God to provide them (Luke 10:2).  The fields, He said, “Are ready, but the workers are few”.

My experience is that churches look for laborers, and they begin praying earnestly only after they’ve not been able to secure workers through their established processes. Is it possible, that we would have less difficulty enlisting workers, if we started praying before recruiting?

I encourage the church to build praying for laborers into our culture. The staff and church should pray not only for current workers, but also for potential workers. Prayer meetings should include a time of focused prayer for more workers, even when, all the current positions are filled. God will provide the laborers, if our church will follow His command to pray.

2.  State Expectations Up Front

Here’s the primary reason church members don’t get involved: churches expect very little.  One of the best ways to correct this problem is to state expectations in a membership class.  Through membership classes, Mount Carmel Baptist Church stress five expectations of members:

• Identifying with the church (e.g., through public baptism)
• Attending worship services and small groups
• Serving in the ministry of the church
• Giving financially toward the church’s work
• Promoting unity in the church

3.  Have a Ministry Placement Process in Place

These processes are built upon the assumption, that God works through our life experiences, desires, spiritual gifts, personalities, and abilities to prepare us to serve in His church.

4.  Recruit Face-to-Face 

Why do laypersons chose to get involved in their church’s ministry. Leaders in the church do not recruit church workers through bulletin board sign-ups or pulpit announcements.  Rather, we must seek workers by challenging members face-to-face, the way Jesus recruited His disciples. In most cases, a personal challenge and invitation will make the difference.

5.  Offer Entry-level Ministry Positions

Not every member is ready now to be a teacher, a trustee, or a deacon.  All members might, however, be ready to take on the challenge of “entry level” positions, that allow them to get involved in the church.

Entry-level positions include kitchen and other committees, choir members, and any position that does not demand significant training.  The goal is to help everyone get involved at some level, as quickly as possible, so new members feel needed and wanted.  Moreover, entry-level positions help to evaluate potential leaders, as a person unwilling to serve in an entry level position probably won’t make a good servant leader later.

6.  Recognize and Affirm Workers

Too often, we take for granted dependable church members, who serve week after week. To be fair, most of these workers would not want any recognition, but their unwillingness to be recognized does not let us off the hook.  We honor God by affirming His work in the lives of those, who give their best for His church.

7.  Don’t Give Up Easily

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul taught that God puts His church together as He wishes (12:1-11). Our task is to help members find their role, challenge them to serve, equip them, and hold them accountable.  This work is not easy though and sometimes it’s tempting just to give up and overwork the current workers.  Rather than taking that wrong step, the answer is to return to principle #1 and start the process again.