May 5, 2007
I Want To Start A Church: How Do I Attract People To My Ministry?
The following is a somewhat modified version of a letter I received from a church leader who wants to start a ministry and humbly asked for some advice. I have modified it a bit (though the gist of the letter remains intact) and changed the name for privacy purposes. My response reflects what I have seen in working with many churches and ministers through the years.
Dear Mr. Hernandez
Joyful Greetings to you! My challenge has been attracting people to visit the ministry God has Called me to start… perhaps because I have worship in my home only every other Saturday… and also because my time is so limited. I only have a handful of people who are not necessarily members but enjoy the worship experience. Would you share with me some tips as to what would attract more people.
Pastor Smith
Dear Pastor Smith,
Thank you for your humble email. It takes courage and humility to ask for advice when you have been called to serve the Lord in the pastoral ministry. In response to your question about what may attract more people to the ministry you have started, here is my humble opinion:
People like to be inspired and follow a leader they feel they can trust and look up to. Someone who can lead them to the "Promised Land," so to speak. And of course, most people go by first impressions and are naturally very instinctive and intuitive with their assessment of a man. What all this means is that it's not what you say or do that will attract people to your ministry, it's who you are.
With that in mind, I would definitely come to your ministry and follow you (as you follow Christ) if you exhibited the following characteristics. (And remember that the basis of characteristics is Character.):
1. If you are a fully committed follower of Christ yourself. I know you are. But by having services only every other Saturday, that may not be enough for a thirsty soul. As people, we have a hard time making a commitment to someone or something we feel hasn't made a full commitment to us. I suggest you have worship services every single weekend, whether Saturday or Sunday, or both. Create a true fellowship of worship, love, compassion and good deeds. Treat everyone as though they are your dearly loved child (or parent). Make them feel that you will love, support and encourage them unconditionally while never judging them. Let God take care of the judging.
2. If you had the ability to make me feel like family. Make your ministry a family and call yourselves a family. Call others your brother and sister. Identify men whom you want to see raised up in the pastoral ministry. Tell them you want to be their father in the Lord and that you are committed to seeing them flourish in the ministry. Have your wife do the same with the women. You'll be surprised how many men and women out there are looking for someone to inspire them and take a spiritual "Walk" with them.
3. If you could help me focus where I need to focus. Teach everyone to focus first on the Lord, second on others, never on themselves. Focus on the Lord may mean also meeting less formally and perhaps just for a meal or a time of fellowship on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. After all, a family that loves each other doesn't just see their loved ones once a weekend. Make it a time of joy, singing, children all around, hugs and prayer. Focus on others means doing good things for others. It may involve prayers for victims of disasters or tragedies. Collecting used blankets or stuffed animals for young victims, and food cans and other useful nonperishables for all victims. It doesn't matter how much you collect or how much of a difference you think you're making. If you walked along the beach and saw that the tide had washed a thousand fish ashore, destined to die unless thrown back into the water. If you picked one up and threw it back into the water, you've saved a life and made a difference to that one. Every bit that your brothers and sisters do for others is a HUGE victory in their soul. And the people of God should always be at the Vanguard of responding to the needs of a lost and hurting world… particularly in the time of the greatest need.
4. If I saw the faith to "Go For It" and not delay. It takes much faith to start a church or ministry. It takes incredible faith to truly believe that God will bless and sustain you. But faith is inspiring and contagious, when you have it. As a visitor to your fellowship, I could tell in an instant if there was faith or fear in the fellowship. I say, walk out into deep waters. Start the church now. Take care of all the necessary legal, business and ecclesiastical (religious) issues that you must. Don't engage in paralysis by analysis. It's only when we step out in faith that we truly see and appreciate the blessings from God. He wants us to take that chance so we can see when He is truly working. Otherwise, we may be inclined to think our church's success was the result of our own ability and smart planning, and fail to give Him the glory.
By the way, have you seen my offer to give you a free copy of Building On Faith for a mere $29.95 contribution. Go to the following link and scroll almost all the way to the bottom. You will have to complete a sign up form. This offer will end in a day or two because an overwhelming number of church leaders, like yourself, have already requested and downloaded Building On Faith. I initially thought it would take much longer, but it only took less than two weeks for so many leaders to say they wanted my help to start a church.
www.start-your-own-church.com
This is my humble opinion, based on having worked very intimately with many ministry personnel and many churches. These are the differences I discerned between those that flourished and those that faded away. I pray this will help guide you in some measure. I will keep you and your ministry in my prayers. God bless all your efforts done in FAITH, and to Him be the glory!
Yours in Christ,
Abe Hernandez
Dear Mr. Hernandez
Joyful Greetings to you! My challenge has been attracting people to visit the ministry God has Called me to start… perhaps because I have worship in my home only every other Saturday… and also because my time is so limited. I only have a handful of people who are not necessarily members but enjoy the worship experience. Would you share with me some tips as to what would attract more people.
Pastor Smith
Dear Pastor Smith,
Thank you for your humble email. It takes courage and humility to ask for advice when you have been called to serve the Lord in the pastoral ministry. In response to your question about what may attract more people to the ministry you have started, here is my humble opinion:
People like to be inspired and follow a leader they feel they can trust and look up to. Someone who can lead them to the "Promised Land," so to speak. And of course, most people go by first impressions and are naturally very instinctive and intuitive with their assessment of a man. What all this means is that it's not what you say or do that will attract people to your ministry, it's who you are.
With that in mind, I would definitely come to your ministry and follow you (as you follow Christ) if you exhibited the following characteristics. (And remember that the basis of characteristics is Character.):
1. If you are a fully committed follower of Christ yourself. I know you are. But by having services only every other Saturday, that may not be enough for a thirsty soul. As people, we have a hard time making a commitment to someone or something we feel hasn't made a full commitment to us. I suggest you have worship services every single weekend, whether Saturday or Sunday, or both. Create a true fellowship of worship, love, compassion and good deeds. Treat everyone as though they are your dearly loved child (or parent). Make them feel that you will love, support and encourage them unconditionally while never judging them. Let God take care of the judging.
2. If you had the ability to make me feel like family. Make your ministry a family and call yourselves a family. Call others your brother and sister. Identify men whom you want to see raised up in the pastoral ministry. Tell them you want to be their father in the Lord and that you are committed to seeing them flourish in the ministry. Have your wife do the same with the women. You'll be surprised how many men and women out there are looking for someone to inspire them and take a spiritual "Walk" with them.
3. If you could help me focus where I need to focus. Teach everyone to focus first on the Lord, second on others, never on themselves. Focus on the Lord may mean also meeting less formally and perhaps just for a meal or a time of fellowship on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. After all, a family that loves each other doesn't just see their loved ones once a weekend. Make it a time of joy, singing, children all around, hugs and prayer. Focus on others means doing good things for others. It may involve prayers for victims of disasters or tragedies. Collecting used blankets or stuffed animals for young victims, and food cans and other useful nonperishables for all victims. It doesn't matter how much you collect or how much of a difference you think you're making. If you walked along the beach and saw that the tide had washed a thousand fish ashore, destined to die unless thrown back into the water. If you picked one up and threw it back into the water, you've saved a life and made a difference to that one. Every bit that your brothers and sisters do for others is a HUGE victory in their soul. And the people of God should always be at the Vanguard of responding to the needs of a lost and hurting world… particularly in the time of the greatest need.
4. If I saw the faith to "Go For It" and not delay. It takes much faith to start a church or ministry. It takes incredible faith to truly believe that God will bless and sustain you. But faith is inspiring and contagious, when you have it. As a visitor to your fellowship, I could tell in an instant if there was faith or fear in the fellowship. I say, walk out into deep waters. Start the church now. Take care of all the necessary legal, business and ecclesiastical (religious) issues that you must. Don't engage in paralysis by analysis. It's only when we step out in faith that we truly see and appreciate the blessings from God. He wants us to take that chance so we can see when He is truly working. Otherwise, we may be inclined to think our church's success was the result of our own ability and smart planning, and fail to give Him the glory.
By the way, have you seen my offer to give you a free copy of Building On Faith for a mere $29.95 contribution. Go to the following link and scroll almost all the way to the bottom. You will have to complete a sign up form. This offer will end in a day or two because an overwhelming number of church leaders, like yourself, have already requested and downloaded Building On Faith. I initially thought it would take much longer, but it only took less than two weeks for so many leaders to say they wanted my help to start a church.
www.start-your-own-church.com
This is my humble opinion, based on having worked very intimately with many ministry personnel and many churches. These are the differences I discerned between those that flourished and those that faded away. I pray this will help guide you in some measure. I will keep you and your ministry in my prayers. God bless all your efforts done in FAITH, and to Him be the glory!
Yours in Christ,
Abe Hernandez
Spread the word
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