When you think of growing church, you are probably are thinking of a large church. Yet, in most cases existent large churches are not really growing, but maintaining their size through a “turnaround” of people. In most cases people are the “feed” for the system, instead of being the “product” of the system.
The key distinction of a truly healthy church that grows is in a LEADERSHIP that is EMPOWERING, where leaders do not use lay workers as “helpers” to attain their own goals and to fulfill their own vision. EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP means that the pyramid of authority is inverted and the Servant Leadership model is practiced, where leadership assists Christians to attain the spiritual potential God has for them. Instead of handling the bulk of church responsibilities on their own – they invest their time in discipling, delegating, training. The energy they invest in others is multiplied many times.
Apostle Paul challenged his protégé Timothy to train and empower others (2 Timothy 2:2). Paul outlined the whole purpose of pastors and leaders as empowering people for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4: 11-12).
Every church should be a training school for Christian workers… (Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 149)
Ministers should not do the work which belongs to the church, wearying themselves and preventing others from performing their duty. They should teach the members how to. (Ellen G. White, an Appeal in Review & Herald, October 12, 1886)
Every believer is a full-time minister. Everything we do in life should be done for God and be our ministry. Our church leaders are leaders only if they enable and empower every member to live life of ministry.
Members need to be equipped for their ministries based on the bestowal of spiritual gifts. This concept of GIFT-ORIENTED MINISTRY has always been upheld in our Church. We even framed it as one of our 27 fundamental beliefs. The outpouring of the Latter Rain will come in a manner of the Early Rain. Just as spiritual gifts were given on the day of Pentecost, more spiritual gifts are given in these days, when the Latter Rain is imminent. The importance of this doctrine was always urgent: “the greatest cause of our spiritual feebleness as a people, is the lack of real faith in Spiritual Gifts.” (Ellen G. White, an Appeal in Review & Herald, January 14, 1868) The members have depended upon pulpit declamations instead of on the Holy Spirit. Uncalled for and unused, the spiritual gifts bestowed on them have dwindled into feebleness. (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages. Vol.1. 127)
When Christians serve in their area of giftedness, they function less in their own strength and more in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual gifts are not an option but a vital necessity in Adventist Churches. The area of concern is not in identifying people’s gifts, but placing people in ministry that is in harmony with their spiritual giftedness, finding the niche, the right place for right people. A system must be developed to support people in their areas of giftedness, and to connect every ministry to the mission of the church. Becoming the Church of Ministers we are living up to the Reformation call, restoring Biblical teaching of the Priesthood of ALL believers (1st Peter 2:9).
Let’s grow together into disciples of Jesus, because this is the way He designed His work to be accomplished.
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