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People Spots
Online Reading Peopleby James W. Moss, Sr. In the Bible, how do you think the good shepherd knew a sheep was missing? He counted them. The Bible also comments that a good shepherd knows the sheep by name. You thought all the sheep looked alike. Obviously they don’t. The good shepherd knew them well enough to know them by name. Let’s say Jacob was that missing sheep. The shepherd knew that every time they came up through that craggy ravine, Jacob turned right. Because he knew which sheep was missing, he knew where to look for him. What a pastor must knowA good pastor knows the people by name. I know there are limits to how many people a person can know by name. But I will never forget standing beside Pastor K. Hull Byers at his two churches that averaged over 900 between them at the time. It was a special Sunday. There were well over 1,000 in attendance. I was amazed as he called nearly every person by name. I then traveled with Pastor Byers and a key family to go for lunch. Again, I was amazed. They didn’t discuss the great attendance. They were identifying people who weren’t there. Though that event occurred over 20 years ago it is fresh in my mind. A good pastor knows the people by name. Not only can the pastor connect a name and a face, but good pastors must know the core of their fellowship by personality and spirit. What behavior is consistent with their personality? What is their body language communicating to you? When do you need to perk up your ears and give some extra attention? When are they acting out of character? What is that recent resignation communicating? What did those three absences mean? Why have their offerings dropped by 75%? There are two sure keys to spiritual change. The first is a change in attendance patterns. The second is a change in giving patterns. Either a positive or negative change is cause for conversation. The ministry of a healthy church always has two prongs. One is the care of people already in attendance. The second is reaching out to introduce new people to Christ and the church. It can never be one or the other. It must be both caring for our existing people and reaching out to new people. Assessment and actionHas anyone ever said to you, “I can read you like an open book!” That person may well be able to do that. People watchers have the God-given capacity to read what is going on in the hearts and minds of people. Others may have to develop this skill. For pastors, this is an important characteristic. Some are given this gift and others must cultivate it. Again, this is a two-edged sword. I may have the capacity to read people, but do I do anything about it? The first edge of the sword is the capacity to read that Mary is hurting. The second capacity is the energy and wisdom to take that information and either provide ministry to Mary or see that someone else provides help in her pain. Assessment is one skill. Taking that information and putting it into action is a second. The first skill is of little value unless it is connected to the second. I was working with a church. They proudly showed me a 20-year record of individual attendance at their church. I was impressed. My immediate reaction was, “Wow!” I then asked, “What have you done with this information?” They bowed their heads as they responded, “Nothing!” Assessment without action has little value. _____________________ Read about Jim's seminars and books. _____________________ July 7, 2005. Volume 8, Issue
11.
People Spots Online
is prepared by James W. Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants. It is provided as a service by New Life
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