Following are some suggestions for helping congregations develop opportunities for members to connect with, or help, each other while at the same time fostering growth.
Suggestions for Promoting Growth and Biblical Fellowship in Congregations
- Find an app that lets a congregation develop a social network just for members so that members can learn about each other and build friendships. Members could post personal information, occupation, hobbies, services they would offer to other members, financial needs, employment needs or opportunities, other assorted life needs, prayer requests, updates on the progress they are making with issues in their lives, and blessings that God has given to them.
- A ministry to help people break habits. Instead of being a “recovery” ministry, this ministry could teach people how to break all bad habits in their lives. The openness should also help improve bonding between members.
- Provide an economical way for members to have a thorough professional personality assessment so that they become aware of issues that God may want to address and then give members suggestions for finding assistance whether inside or outside the congregation. The MMPI is a good example of a thorough assessment.
- Provide a spiritual assessment for members that will help them pinpoint weaknesses. This could even be done annually so members can track their progress. Pastors could also connect members with others who are working on the same weaknesses.
- Provide a regular way for members to let pastors know what areas they want to develop in their spiritual life.
- Develop discipling ministry curriculum for more mature believers. This will help them find relationships with believers at their maturity level and possibly act as a catalyst for them to start other ministries in the congregation. This will contribute to “full-spectrum discipleship” in congregations; in other words, the congregation provides curriculum for believers at different levels of maturity from new believers to longtime believers.
- Hire an evangelist, even if part-time. Very few congregations have an evangelist on staff, which is a neglect of a gift that God offers to congregations. An evangelist would bring new followers into the congregation and teach others to do the same. This fulfills the Great Commission and energizes congregations, creating new networks of edifying relationships.
Take a chance and try some of these ideas.
