People Spots Online
Produced by James W. Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants
Provided as a service by New Life Ministries

Back to the Basics

by James W. Moss, Sr.

Years ago there was a time when the 3 R’s were considered the basics. They were readin’, ’ritin’, and ’rithmatic. They were critical to any child’s education.

There are four basic ministry issues for any church. Every church must deal creatively with these issues if meaningful ministry in the local church. Whether a church does what I suggest or takes a totally different tact is immaterial.

Basic #1: A ministry of affirmation

Many things must be done to affirm individuals in the body of believers. So many people have been beat up. They were beat up in the home as children. They were beat up in the educational system. They are beat up in their adult relationships. They are beat up in the work place. People need to find a haven where they can come and be affirmed. Every affirmation must be the truth. False affirmation is manipulation. That is unacceptable.

Have a minimum of two people for each average of 50 in your church send two thank you notes a week to someone in the church who has done something well.

Also, affirmations must be provided for the body of faith as well. People will only invite others to their church when they are comfortable with what is happening there. Affirmation generates a positive spirit and reproduces itself in the lives of people and in the church.

Basic #2: Absentee care

Frankly, there is nothing available in the market place today that effectively brings back long-term absentees. Anyone who has not been to church in a year or more is a long-term absentee.

Absentee care has to begin early. The people who missed last Sunday are absentees. Careful records of attendance each week has to be recorded. You can’t do absentee care unless you know who is absent.

The bulletin ministry is still an effective first touch. Send a bulletin with a positive, handwritten, signed note to anyone whose whole family missed the Sunday before. Is that work? Absolutely. Does it cost money? Yes, but there is some money you can’t afford not to spend.

Basic #3: A welcoming atmosphere

You have to prepare for visitors before they arrive. This is critical. I know there are some that teach anonymity. However, except for the super churches and some very unique cultural settings, most people are not seeking anonymity.

You have to secure names and addresses to do adequate follow-up for visitors. Some have been very good at just politely walking up and asking for names and addresses. On either Sunday or Monday evening, someone goes to the home with a gift. The gift could be a nice porcelain cup filled with candy kisses or teas. Make sure a contact number is on the cup. Please take the gift to the home. We have to work harder to get people to walk through the door. We need to work harder to get them to return.

Basic #4: Identifying and pursuing prospects

Prospects are people the church is cultivating to share the gospel and involve them in the life of the church. I define outreach as the things a church does to walk new people through the door of the church once. Evangelism is a one-on-one sharing of our faith with another person.

People assume that the community knows the church exists. That is a fallacy. A congregation needs to do a variety of things to communicate to the community that the church exists. We lift up Jesus so that people will be drawn to him. A local church needs to develop several methods to build a prospect list of people who don’t go to church anywhere and have the potential to attend your church. Then you design methods to pursue those persons on a regular basis.

Every congregation must address these four basic areas in a positive way. Find ways that work for your church and community.

_____________________

Read about Jim's seminars and books.