Something I've been saying lately...

Recently, I've found myself saying this phrase to people...

"I don't want to have a bunch of ministries at the church that we have to plug people into. Instead, I want to see people in ministry."

At first when I started saying this phrase I didn't know what it truly meant, but now I'm starting to get an idea. One of my frustrations in ministry has been trying to find people to volunteer in various ministries in the church. Sometimes, it seems like I'm pulling teeth to get people to sign up. However, there is the situation that happens once in a while where someone signs up because it's their passion, and they are excited to volunteer. It's moments like these that get me really excited. This got me thinking...

What if people were free to pursue what they were passionate in the church?
What do we do with people who share similar passions in the church?
How do we connect these people?
What does it look like when we connect these people?

This led me to think and declare -- I'm tired of starting new ministries in the church. Instead, I want to...

1. Understand what people are passionate about. What makes them tick? What burdens do they have in their heart that they can't get rid of? What gets them really excited?
2. Connect people with similar passions within the church.
3. Give them space and time to dream about "what could and should be." (Thanks Andy Stanely for that quote.)
   
4. Release them to do what God has put on their heart.
   
5. Resource the snot out of them.

Right now, that's what I think that quote means. Who knows, my thoughts on that quote might change over time. But that's what I'm thinking of right now.

If I were a senior pastor, I would begin a bunch of ministries. Instead, I would encourage people to be in ministry -- in their neighborhood, at work, in the community, at the coffee shop they frequent, in the grocery store, etc.