Church ministry is important. Spiritual lives are at stakes. Does what we do make a difference for the Lord? Here is a church health check up, which asks some hard questions, but will stretch us to look deep into our church ministries.
These are questions for any healthy ministry—whether it’s your music ministry, greeters, small group leaders or any other ministry team.
1. Why are you here?
Every ministry in your church should have a clear idea of what it’s all about.
2. What purpose of the church does your ministry fulfill?
Every ministry in your church should be tied to at least one of the five purposes of the church. Is this ministry designed to exalt Christ (worship)? Is it designed to reach out to the community (evangelism)? Is it designed to deepen relationships within the church (fellowship)? Is it designed to build people into Christian maturity (discipleship)? Is it designed to serve the needs of the church family (ministry)?
3. Who are you trying to reach?
Who your ministry is trying to reach—the Community, the Crowd, the Congregation, the Committed, the Core or the Commissioned.
Ministries trying to reach the Community are evangelistic in nature.
Ministries that serve those during weekend services are focused on the Crowd.
Ministries focused on church members will work with the Congregation.
Ministries that help people grow spiritually will center on the Committed.
Ministries that meet the needs of people within the church or try to get people involved in the ministry of the church will focus on the Core.
Ministries that help those who’ve committed to be involved in missions will need to focus on the Commissioned.
You need to know who your ministry is trying to reach. The Community has different needs than the Committed. The Congregation has different needs than the Core. Knowing who your ministry is trying to serve will influence how the ministry operates.
4. Where do you believe God is calling your ministry to be in six months?
This is the stage where your ministry leaders dream. Where would they like to see the ministry six months from now? Ask your ministry leaders to get away with God and talk to Him about the ministry’s future.
5. How does your ministry do what it has been called to do?
Did you know that your body has nine systems in it? When any one of those systems gets out of order, it’s called an illness or disease. The church (the body of Christ) has systems in it as well. And for us to be healthy our systems have to work properly. How do your ministries do what they’ve been called to do? Ask your ministry leaders to think and pray about how to do ministry more effectively.
6. Whom can you partner with to do what God has called you to do?
Your ministry leaders need to constantly be on the watch for people who can join them in ministry. Ask your ministry leaders to begin praying for at least one person who should be joining their ministry team.
Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Pray for laborers.” Ask your ministry leaders to begin praying for more laborers.
7. In what way do you serve people?
Your ministries should serve the people in your community. Are you meeting physical, emotional, mental or spiritual needs (or a combination thereof)? All of those needs are valid. Part of understanding the identity of your ministries is to know how each of them serves people. Then look for ways you can add value to the services those ministries provide. May we look for ways each of your ministries can do a better job providing for the physical, emotional, mental or spiritual needs of the community.
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