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Mobilize the People in your Church by their Spiritual Gifts

By Richard Krejcir

Why are you doing church? What is your call? Why are you there?

Into Thy Word -

Mobilize the People in your Church by their Spiritual Gifts <o:p></o:p>

After the motivational pattern and abilities have been identified, ask, as we spoke about above (Seven Keys for Effective Pastoral Leadership), “Why are you doing church? What is your call? Why are you there?�?/B> (See the primer Preparing the Pastor and Church Leadership to Grow!) Then, organize the people to fulfill the call that Christ gave! How? The best way is by determining abilities and resources and matching them to the needs of the church and community. Then, get to it! This is using Spiritual gifts, which is very Biblical for each denomination and church that claims Jesus as Lord! <o:p></o:p>

(For a plan to discover spiritual gifts, see the article on, How to Determine Your Spiritual Gifts!) <o:p></o:p>

1.      Focus efforts according to gifts. People work and function best doing what they are called to and gifted in doing. So, if someone has the gifts of Helps, train and encourage them to be deacons or caregivers. The key is to identify their gifts, train them to use them, and place them where they can exercise them.  <o:p></o:p>

2.      Encourage those in leadership, the congregation, and yourself to spend at least 60% of the time spent in service be in the areas of your gift(s)! <o:p></o:p>

3.      Develop a team approach to ministry. Have people with the same gifts work together. Those with the gifts of helps could work together in care giving! This will complement, add mentorship, and fuel the ministry! <o:p></o:p>

4.      Group together those whose strengths and gifts complement each other. Do this for yourself, too. This will put a person who has a lot of experience with someone who is just learning. Also, group people together who are strong in their faith with people who are not. This will also help develop mentoring and discipleship.  <o:p></o:p>

5.      Develop job descriptions for each area of service--Prayer, Program Ministry gift needs, Worship, Care Giving, Teachers, etc.--so people will know what to expect and will have a guide they can work with later. Be flexible, as it will change and develop as the abilities, time, and needs of the people change and develop. Delegate appropriate responsibilities. The description should name the position, the basic responsibilities or mission theme, the supervisor’s name, the gifts and skills that are suggested, the time commitment, and the list of duties.  <o:p></o:p>

6.      Develop ministry assistants. For every leader in the church you should have an assistant. A small group leader will have an associate leader, a Sunday School teacher will have an assistant, the deacon will have an assistant, and so forth. As you grow, the assistant will be trained and can break off into the new leadership position or take over for the current one to take a break. Qualified people will be on standby who are already functioning and learning in that position. When they break off as growth comes, they will get an assistant, and so forth. This will solve many of the no-training and empty positions in the church.  <o:p></o:p>

7.      Make sure every leader has a prayer partner(s), someone to pray for them on a daily basis and who will keep a confidence. See our Prayer channel for more ideas. <o:p></o:p>

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What has God called you to do? A Spiritual Gift Evaluation<o:p></o:p>

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This Primer will help determine human resources and their gifts, so that they can be allocated to the appropriate team. After using our How to Determine your Spiritual Gifts, use this guide to help your leadership team and then your congregation to see the role they would best fit in the church. Use this for yourself, pastors, leaders, and the congregation. Make sure before you approach your congregation that you effectively teach them the Biblical precepts of Spiritual Gifts. (See our Online Bible Studies in Romans 12!) <o:p></o:p>

1. List your top three spiritual gifts (usually there is one main gift and one or more that are significant).<o:p></o:p>

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2. List the three or four ministry positions that you enjoy most, and feel most comfortable and effective in (such as discipling, leadership, teaching, evangelism, administration, etc.). <o:p></o:p>

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3. Decide which ministry team you would best fit and be the most effective in.<o:p></o:p>

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4. Decide which ministry in the church in which you participated that you got the most out of and can see yourself involved in. <o:p></o:p>

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5. Decide which ministries of the church you have seen success in by your contribution.<o:p></o:p>

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6. Decide which ministries of the church have you received approval and acceptance in.<o:p></o:p>

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7. Now compare the first two lists. They should agree, or be similar. The last four instructions will help you clarify. If not, spend time in prayer, seek someone who knows you well, and ask him. Make sure your desires are not fueled by political lust or selfish wishes. The church cannot function effectively with people in positions who are there for selfish and prideful reasons. You have to be in service with a surrendered heart (Gal. 2:20)! <o:p></o:p>

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8. With your spiritual gifts and ministry enjoyments in mind along with input from others, describe what you believe God has called you to do.<o:p></o:p>

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9. When can you be available for such a service?<o:p></o:p>

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10. What areas of training do you feel you need most?<o:p></o:p>

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11. What can the church leadership do to further equip you to be a better servant for the Lord? <o:p></o:p>

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12. What do you think the church leadership needs to be doing?<o:p></o:p>

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13. What do you think the biggest needs in the church are?<o:p></o:p>

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14. What do you think the biggest needs in the community are?<o:p></o:p>

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15. How long a commitment will you be able to make to serve in the church in your gifting category?<o:p></o:p>

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16. Are you willing to be instructed and then instruct and mentor someone else?<o:p></o:p>

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17. How can you bring yourself and others in the church deeper into the heart of God to worship and glorify Him? <o:p></o:p>

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18. How much time has been spent in prayer during the above process? <o:p></o:p>

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The church leadership can take these completed forms, compile them in the ministry categories, institute leadership and training, and unleash the laity to do the work we are all called to do!<o:p></o:p>

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You can make a list of the number of people involved in each ministry team, how many people are needed, what training has been done and what training needs have yet to be accomplished. <o:p></o:p>

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Suggested Categories for Gift Mobilization<o:p></o:p>

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This list is by no means definitive, nor dogmatic, it is just a guide to point you in the right direction. The gifts for the job may vary due to experience and education. <o:p></o:p>

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1. Teaching and discipling roles: The main gifts needed for Sunday School Teachers, Bible Study Leaders, and Small Group Leaders are teaching <o:p></o:p>

and/or knowledge.<o:p></o:p>

a. Sunday School Superintendent: teaching, administration, leadership<o:p></o:p>

b. Small Group Leaders: hospitality and/or pastor, teacher<o:p></o:p>

c. Children’s Sunday School Teachers can have a wider range of gifts, when they have a love for children and patience. <o:p></o:p>

2. Evangelism: the main gifts needed are evangelist, missions, and exhortation. (The gift of evangelist usually appears in combinations with other gifts) Here are sub teams that can go under the Main team of Evangelism that other gifts can participate in also: <o:p></o:p>

d. Visitation: mercy and administration<o:p></o:p>

e. Shut ins: pastor, mercy/helps<o:p></o:p>

f. Personal witnessing/ Door to Door: everyone should try this often, but the main gift is evangelist.<o:p></o:p>

g. Outreach: mercy, service, hospitality, helps<o:p></o:p>

e. Team leaders can have the gifts of leadership and/or administration <o:p></o:p>

3. Elders: Leadership, pastor, exhortation, administration; and also wisdom and faith. If there is to be an elder from each ministry team, try to have the one representing have these gifts too. <o:p></o:p>

4. Deacons: helps, service, mercy <o:p></o:p>

5. Missions: evangelist, missions, wisdom, service. <o:p></o:p>

6. Prayer: intercession, everyone. <o:p></o:p>

7. Youth and children’s Ministry: teacher, exhortation, pastor, hospitality, leadership. <o:p></o:p>

8. Counselor: counseling, exhortation, wisdom, intercession. <o:p></o:p>

9. Committee leader: administration, leadership, and gifting in the area of the committee. <o:p></o:p>

10. Treasurer / Finance: administration, wisdom, learned knowledge in finance.
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11. Usher: hospitality and service. <o:p></o:p>

12. Nursery Worker: service, mercy, helps. <o:p></o:p>

13. Church Secretary: helps, administration. <o:p></o:p>

For effective teamwork, these traits are necessary. They are not necessarily spiritual gifts, but they can be learned and developed: Character, honesty, enjoying working with people, knowledge, and the skills in the area of service or the willingness to learn them. Remember, people learn best when they can see a proper model, not just told how. In other words, how you are is as important, if not more important, than what you say! <o:p></o:p>

Remember this is merely a guide. People with other gifts can serve in positions temporarily out of their gift range, or perhaps to develop and strengthen a weaker gift that may not register on a gifts inventory. For example, almost any Gift can usher, but usually the person with the Gift of Hospitality will enjoy it and do it better. Anyone can research and prepare a sermon, but the person with the Gift of Teaching will enjoy it and be able to do it better.

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Make sure you see the other articles following this primer as they all converge and synergistically combine to help you grow your church to glorify our Lord! <o:p></o:p>

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Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
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