Growing Your Church Through Training and Motivation

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Life experiences can open doors to dynamic ministry.
—Ron Oertli

During college, I took a physical education course in boxing. The instructor matched each student with someone of approximately the same height, weight, and reach. But my assigned partner kept missing class, so I frequently ended up boxing a fellow twenty pounds heavier. (I had loose teeth the whole quarter!)

Three one-minute rounds seemed to take forever, especially when the opponent danced around the ring and I connected only once every several punches. Fatigue set in quickly.

I learned a lesson that quarter that has stuck with me ever since: You're drained of more energy by swinging and missing than by landing a solid punch.

Now that I am in church ministry, I see a number of people who are worn out in their ministries while others put in a lot more time yet remain refreshed. I suspect that the differences rest not in their commitment level or energy level as much as how well their ministry job fits. When expended energies "connect," people last longer.

You may have heard comments similar to those I sometimes hear: "I'm not sure I belong here anymore. I've been involved in different things, but I don't feel like I fit anywhere. Maybe I should move on."

This kind of comment makes any pastor feel like the spouse who returns home to discover his or her mate has left, leaving a note on the table saying, "We just don't seem meant for each other anymore."

Or perhaps a newcomer to the congregation confesses: "I want to do something, but I'm not sure what I have to offer."

These comments are common in ministry. I recognize them as expressions of a basic Christian need: to be useful and to find a ministry niche.

The church's traditional pattern of fitting available people ...

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