I’ll admit, I have noticed at times a tendency in my own life to just get it done… on my own.
There can be a lot of resistance to incorporating other people. Sometimes it’s the personality of the leader – we may feel bad asking others for something. Sometimes it’s the lack of understanding of the role of a church member. It’s not a club there to let preferences be known and to only soak it all in as long as things are good by you. Church members need to be equipped and trained to know that membership in the church means sacrifice and servanthood. It means responsibility, not privileges. If we aren’t inviting people to serve, we’re not helping the church grow to it’s fullest. It’s an act of good leadership to invite others into ministry. It’s not always easy, but the rewards are worth it.
Here are some random thoughts to encourage you, the leader, to invite, ask, and otherwise pull people into serving in ministry with you! These thoughts are in random order:
ASKING OTHERS TO SERVE
- Don’t say “no” for others before asking.
- Don’t rob people of the joy of using their gifts.
- Don’t think you’re supposed to do all the ministry.
- Work at getting over your perfectionist tendencies to allow others to begin, learn and grow into it.
- Set up a small advisory board to work toward (and give you confidence) to ask others to serve.
- There may some frontloaded time investment, but make a plan and get it rolling knowing of the time you’ll save in the future (and the way others will grow in it)!
WHAT DO WE ASK
- Ask people to join you?
- Ask people to take on responsibility.
- Ask people to assist you in roles in which you are weak. Someone is gifted for the role. Too often, we think if we don’t like doing something, no one would, so we just buckle down doing things we don’t enjoy while someone else who would love to do it is missing out. I think about putting furniture together, creating certain chord charts, setting up the stage, etc. Don’t begrudgingly take on the burden; pray about the right person who may find it fulfilling and rewarding. Ask them to do it or join you in learning to do it.
- Invite people to use their gifts in one time projects – like season stage design, painting, a video, sending thank you notes, writing music, etc. I have found that when people can see the light at the end of the tunnel for a project it’s much easier to be a part of it and jump in.
- Ask your team to respond to the kinds of things they would love to do. But most often, it’s the personal invitation that will make a difference in how a person responds. You ask a specific person to consider taking on a role of some kind, etc.
- Ask people to join you in thinking of new ideas. Incorporating people into leadership is more fun, more effective and more clearly accomplishes your mission of equipping the saints.
EXAMPLES OF ASKING
We recently reset the stage a couple different times. In both cases, the ideas started out in conversation, which led to a little planning with a small group, which then led to two or more people making it happen. As the worship leader, I was part of the process but I wasn’t directly involved in the end product – and it happened better than I could have done on my own! Not only that, it’s building leaders, giving people an opportunity to use their gifts, and creating an ownership in the ministry.
Another example may be the times when I meet new people. I almost always ask, “Are you a musician?” That single questions has often opened the door to great connections and invitations for people to serve.
Again, I write this post feeling like a bit of an imposter. It’s taken me a while to figure some of this out and there’s still lots of room for improvement. But, in general, I try to incorporate teams to:
- put all the lyrics and graphics into the computer, operate it for rehearsals and services in each of our worship spaces and in many of our traveling events.
- operate the sound board for services, as well as set all the stuff up in advance
- lead some of the songs and lead the whole service at times
- take care of loading all the tracks, clicks and pads into the workstation
- help come up with new songs for worship
- take care of welcoming, greeting, prayers, etc.
- welcome people into worship as a guest service team
- take care of all the coffee and other hospitality details on Sundays
- edit blog posts
- send blog posts, emails and more
This happens both in my local church ministry where I serve on staff and in our non-for-profit ministry, Harvest. Without the small army of people who join me in these endeavors, it would never happen. All glory to God.