Does your church have a plan for evangelism and discipleship? How do you move new members into ministry?
People who join churches need to experience nurturing relationships with existing members and be able to see how they can fit into the ministry of the church they have just joined, church assimilation experts say.
“The BodyLife Journey: Guiding Believers into Ministry,” a study developed and written by John S. Powers, guides churches in a process that connects new believers to ministry through discipleship.
Powers shared about the study during this year’s Alabama Baptist State Evangelism Conference held at Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, in Mobile Baptist Association.
Although many churches hold membership classes to communicate membership expectations, once they join, members need additional information or guidance to find their place in ministry, he said.
“The BodyLife Journey” is the next step in strengthening church membership. “When milk has longer shelf life than many church members, we need to take a serious look at our system,” Powers said. Some become “inactive members” while others may join another church. In either event, it is obvious that many churches need an effective method of handling new church members so they are not lost, he said.
“All churches have a ‘system’ or a way they handle (or fail to handle) new church members,” Powers said. “They also have an evangelism system, a spiritual growth system and many others.
“‘The BodyLife Journey’ proactively addresses many of these systems. It assists your church in promoting discipleship in your church by involving every member in a simple process.”
He noted that the study has been tested nationally — focusing on churches that have about 75 in Sunday School. “The goal is to see all people in ministry,” Powers explained. “Some churches who implemented ‘The BodyLife Journey’ began to see waiting lists for people who wanted to work in children’s ministry.”
The backbone of this program is its use of people as encouragers. Trained encouragers go into the homes of potential members, share basic materials related to salvation and encourage them to write their testimony and take a spiritual gifts inventory.
During the visits, potential members can begin to see where God has gifted them to serve in the church.
“The BodyLife Journey” helps everyone involved be assured of his salvation, prepare his personal testimony, discover his spiritual gifts and learn how he can utilize those gifts in ministry in the church. “Expect God to move through this experience,” Powers added.
Richard Parker, associate pastor of Lord of the Harvest Baptist Church, Northport, in Tuscaloosa Baptist Association, said the church has used “The BodyLife Journey” for three years.
“One-third of our church has gone through it, beginning with our staff, deacons and their spouses,” he said. “As the people go through the study (and) learn their spiritual gift, they see how God can use them.”
Parker noted that the pastor is key to the study. “If he is behind it and promotes it from the pulpit, it works.”
He said several new ministries were started at the church as a result of the study. One is a ministry called Fresh Start that is composed of eight women who minister to girls at the local juvenile detention center. Two other ministries are Widow to Widow and Elder Care. All these ministries are led by laypeople.
Parker said the church’s audio-visual team and ministries such as First Impressions and Building and Grounds have grown as members found ways to use their skills at church.
The final aspect of “The BodyLife Journey” is the completion of a personal action plan. Participants are challenged to make a decision to serve in a particular ministry of the church. “When you call for commitment correctly, you never fail to get the correct commitment,” Powers said.
He emphasized that “The BodyLife Journey” “is not a cure all.” It assists in solving church health issues, promotes discipleship and connects members to a ministry, he said.
More information is available from the office of discipleship and family ministries at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions by calling 1-800-264-1225.
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