I know a guy…
This post was originally published on MinistryPlace.net.
When the snow piles up, community shows up
Last weekend brought a snowstorm like I have never seen before. We had temps of -12 and spent approximately two days straight with subzero temps, plus a foot of snow blowing around in 30 mile-per-hour gusts.
Our church had a scheduled guest speaker who is a friend of my family. It was getting them home that would be the problem. There was no way to get out of the driveway.
“I know a guy”
My wife and I talked about who we could call to get the driveway plowed. Just a few minutes earlier, I got an email from our leadership team at the church that the son of one of our members is out plowing. That is it. I know a guy.
I got in touch with him and he was out within a couple hours with an old one-ton dually four-by-four Dodge diesel and plow. Within 30 minutes, we were no longer snowbound. He was good at plowing snow, and he went out and did it. He blessed at least three families in his act of obedience.
Finding your sweet spot
That is the lesson God wants us to hear. You may think you have to be something that God has not gifted you to do. Stop struggling so hard to do what someone else does well if that is not where you are gifted.
Every person in the body of Christ has a role. Not everyone is the preacher. Some people plow driveways. Some people cook meals. The church needs all of it.
The theology of “I know a guy”
The church is not an organization that hires people to meet needs. It is a body where members serve one another with whatever gifts, skills, and resources they have. Sometimes the most important thing you can know is not a Bible verse. It is a guy with a plow truck.
Pastors, take note: one of the most important things you can do as a leader is help people see that their everyday skills are ministry.
Practical ways to mobilize your congregation
- Identify the skills in your congregation. Create an informal inventory of who can do what.
- Make it easy to ask for help. Create a simple system where needs can be shared and met.
- Celebrate ordinary service. When someone uses their skills to help another member, recognize it.
- Connect needs to gifts. When you learn of a need, think about who in the congregation has the ability to meet it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I help my church move from a “pay someone” mentality to a “we serve each other” mentality?
Start by modeling it. When you have a need, ask the church before you hire someone.
What if my church is too small for a formal gift-matching program?
You do not need a program. You need relationships. In a small church, people already know each other’s skills and needs.
How do I encourage someone who feels their skills are not “spiritual” enough for ministry?
Remind them that the body of Christ has many parts. Every skill, from plumbing to programming, can serve the kingdom when offered in faith.