Church pastors are concerned about people. If persons become inactive, a pastor prays for healing. Pastors and active laypersons desire for inactive members to return to Christian service. There are ways of ushering inactive members back to active ministry. Yet, too many ideas pale in desirable outcomes. Yes, I mean pale and not fail.
The late Rev. Dr. Bryan Crenshaw instructed me to minister from my heart. He said: "The only failure we have is not to try." I love the Church and the opportunities of ministry presented in the local church. Deep in me is a desire for all people to know Christ, attend church, commit to daily prayer, join in Christian service, return tithes to the ministry of God, and witness to the love of Jesus. If there are persons inactive in a local church, we should invite them back into service. What do you think?
Recently, I re-read a book from the Stephen Ministry Series, a lay caregiving training in ministries, which addresses "ministry to inactives. It is a good reading from a very outstanding ministry. Not familiar with it? Well, allow me to wet your appetite. You may like it, and decide to delve for more. The book speaks of 17 keys to effective ministry to inactive members. It defines inactive ministry as "Christian love: caring through Christian loving - its a process." You are encouraged to engage in the process, while leaving the results to the control of God. What are the keys? Check them out below.
- Fulfill the needs of persons. Show inactive members that we care about their needs.
- Genuinely care for people. Do not visit inactive members with your own agenda. Find out how the household is doing, because you care.
- Demolish communication by letter. Send them newsletters, bulletins, and other mailings of the church given to active members. However, do not single them out with an inactive member notation.
- Contact people personally. Allow them to feel the love and care.
- Listen. Do not lecture.
- Enjoy!
- Avoid Defensiveness.
- Accept anger.
- Don't ask for money.
- Keep an open mind.
- Look for recurrent themes.
- Bring Back feedback.
- Make changes, because God has not completed our congregation.
- Let your presence be an invitation.
- Educate everyone in many ways of hospitality.
- Train a few to visit, and more than church staff, include laity.
- Focus on process, not results. What are your desirable outcomes? Process compassion, so as listen with empathy, caring, and respect.
Pray over the above and take to FRANS (visiting friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and significant others) with the compassion of God.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy and bring back each ONE. Amen.
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