The purpose of this series is to offer some basic “entry points” for beginning to explore your Minimum Factor graph.
This post is for those whose Minimum Factor is Gift-based Ministry.
Two initial points need to be made.
First, all the questions relate to the degree to which people’s contributions to the life of the church are in accordance with their God-given gifts and skills. The higher a question’s result, the greater its contribution to ministry being gift-based.
Secondly, the questions are included in the survey because it has been shown to high degree of accuracy in international statistical terms that they distinguish healthy growing churches from those in decline. In effect, churches attracting higher scores for these questions are more likely to be growing, and vice versa. Not liking the questions, or thinking other questions would be better, in no way detracts from the 11 appearing on the graph.
As Christian Schwarz once said to me (I paraphrase): “The essence of Gift-based Ministry is not matching people’s gifts to tasks already established in church life. It is about flexibility in shaping tasks around people’s gifts so that they grow to maturity in the use of their gifts.” It is both an individual and a corporate, team-oriented endeavour. My oft-repeated mantra is: “To grow your church you have to grow your people.” Gift-based ministry is fundamental to this endeavour.
1. Church is proactive in helping people discover their gifts
Q46 – I know my gifts
Q37 – Our church regularly offers help for people to discover their gifts
This is the starting point. If the gifts are given for building up the body, then no one should be put in the position of having to guess or assume, for themselves or others.
I may sound biased but I do like Christian Schwarz’s The 3 Colors of Ministry because it’s gift test does two things. First, results are based not just on self-assessment but the assessment of others. Secondly, it considers both ‘manifest’ and ‘latent’ gifts. Many church leaders are satisfied with people doing tasks that match their gifts. The default focus is ‘getting the job done’ not the ongoing spiritual growth of those exercising their gifts. Knowing your ‘latent’ gifts offers new avenues for exploration.
2. Church is proactive in helping people use their gifts effectively
Q58 – The volunteers of our church are trained for their ministries
Q79 – I understand clearly what is expected from me when fulfilling my task in our church
Q26 – I feel that my church supports me in my ministry
A gifts discovery course is important but insufficient on its own. Experience suggests very few people will know how to engage their gift within the life of the church unless helped. The church must train individuals to use their gifts, provide clear boundaries, set expectations and provide ongoing support. Simply encouraging people to “have a go…it’s OK to make mistakes” is insufficient.
3. Perceived value of contribution to the overall church body
Q8 – It is my experience that God obviously uses my work for building the church
Q16 – I know what value my work has in the overall work of the church
Q62 – I enjoy the tasks I do in our church
Gifts are given primarily for building up the church body. Leaders cannot assume people will always have a vantage point which allows them to see how they are contributing to the growth of the whole body. Leaders not only need to check with each person regularly that they are indeed experiencing God at work through them in their contribution to church life but should affirm the value of that contribution.
People who feel that they are using their gifts to best effect in church life tend to have the greatest degree of ministry enjoyment.
To adapt an old saying: “Everyone has a place; a place for everyone.”
4. Matching task to gift; matching gift to gift
Q9 – The tasks I perform in our church match my gifts
Q66 – I experience the benefits of working on a team in our church
I’ve separated out these two questions from the above categories because they go to the heart of Gift-based Ministry. Matching task to gift is not the same as matching gift to task. One places primary focus on growing people, the other focuses primarily on getting the church functioning smoothly.
Further, as the gifts are given for the purpose of building up the body, it is crucial as a leader to consider how people with different gifts can be brought together for ministry within the context of the body as a whole. Is there a place for believing in “more than the sum of the parts” when it comes to using spiritual gifts?
5. Using spiritual gifts contributes to personal spiritual growth
Q7 – I feel my task in our church is a positive challenge that stretches my faith
What if people are using their spiritual gifts but not growing in faith? What place does ongoing growth in the use of gifts have in growing as disciples of Christ? How can church leaders use the avenue of spiritual gifts to ensure everyone in their church keeps growing?