Ministry of the Pew Last week we started looking at Ministry of the Pew and looked at the topic of Membership. We considered what the Bible said and considered what was important as members of 5pm Church. We recognised a tension. Church is a family of believers who are called out by God according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. People belong because they believe in Jesus. Yet, we also want to be a family who welcomes the stranger without letting them bring a voice into the family which is louder than the voice or God. So how do we welcome the unbeliever, when the only way they will truly belong is when they also believe the gospel? This week we consider what it means to welcome people to 5pm Church. Welcoming People from Every Nation (and Demographic!). An early issue for the first Christian Church Jew and Gentile together. The Jew descendants of Israel the chosen people of God. The Christian Jew descendant of Israel know redeemed in Christ. The Gentile those from the other nations the unclean! Read Acts 10:1-47 What was the issue facing Peter? What did Peter come to realise about God (vv34ff.) Does this passage say that God accepts everyone? On what grounds? What was Peter s message? And what was the outcome? Core Issues > Secondary Issues > Incidental Issues Seminar -.doc 1 Ken D Noakes
Welcoming at 5pm Church Let s think about how we as the 5pm Church family welcome the stranger among us. Two traps: 1) Thinking that Welcoming is ONLY the Ministers role 2) Thinking that Welcoming is everyone s job Who has come to 5pm Church? 5pm Church has newcomers every week (somewhere from 1 to 10 newcomers each week assume 5). That means we have had around 390 newcomers over the last 18 months! There are approximately 140 people turning up each week (so assuming 5 visitors) that is a 5/135 ratio. That does not mean the person stays and becomes part of 5pm Church. 5pm Church in the last 18 months has had 75 new people join. So 75/390 (Ratio 5/10) If first time guests become regular members you have church growth but only at certain ratios (according to Nelson Stearcy in Fusion (California: Regal, 2007)): 3/100 = a church in maintenance mode (3%) 5/100 = steady growing church (5%) 7 to 10/100 = a rapidly growing church (7%) These figures accommodated the normal attrition rate of members who may be departing (moving, joining other churches, dying). But is 5pm Church normal? (of course not! it is just unique!!) In the last 18 months - 61 people move on. 170 remained. If 75 have joined, that is growth of 14 people a slow way to grow church! (I think you need a new minister!) We need to be a church that: a. Welcomes and connects in newcomers. b. Retains members within reason. c. Trains in order to both grow and send people. Seminar -.doc 2 Ken D Noakes
Who comes to church each week? Individuals. Everyone is different and unique in their own way, thanks be to God. We are created to care for people and who they are with all the wonderful differences that might bring. That said and valued, it is possible to recognise that people to fall into groupings which may be helpful to recognise when trying to work out how to care for each person. In caring, there are two good questions to ask: 1. What is this persons greatest need? This is most likely a spiritual need (e.g. Are they saved in Jesus?) rather than a presenting need (e.g. I want food/friends etc. 2. What can we do to serve them? Often depending on who the person is, what we can do will look different (e.g. Helping the tourist into a JesusWORKS Course when they are only around for a couple of days may not be as helpful as pointing them to the website where they can download resources). [Note] It might be worth hearing and acknowledging reason why welcoming can be hard. Seminar -.doc 3 Ken D Noakes
Who Tourist (This is the person who lives elsewhere and is visiting) Core Member (This is the person who is Christian, makes 5pm their church by attendance, service and giving) Seeker (This is the person who is checking out Jesus and church) Guest (This is the person who comes by the invitation of a core member) Shopper (This is the person (possibly Christian) who is checking out 5pm Church either as a new church or looking for a relationship or something else) Work/Student Arrival (This is the person who has moved to Adelaide, either for work or study) and is looking for a church family. Note cold be short or long term) Feeder (This is the person who serves at another church (usually in the morning) and comes to 5pm Church to be feed. Often not looking to serve at 5pm as they have given much at their own church) Crisis (This is the person who is in crisis and looking for help in someway (e.g. diagnosis, addition, loss etc.) Where the world fails, the church might be able to help) What do we need to know to best love/care for this person spiritually? What can we do? Seminar -.doc 4 Ken D Noakes
What (formally) happens when someone comes to 5pm Church? Meeting a member/s Invite to Supper/Dinner Fill out a Welcome Card Friend on Facebook [STAFF Mud Map and look out for Newcomers] Welcome Card Trinity City Welcome letter 5pm Church Welcome letter With invite to: Facebook Group JesusWORKS /Home Group God, Church and Me TIBS/ES 5pm Church calendar Hopefully a return to 5pm Church What could be done? (A Wish List!!) 1. Be there before them! Newcomers arrive on time regulars don t have the same pressure. Sit in the same block (be intentional about knowing those in your block) 2. Pray 3. Look for the person you know least Challenge: Speak to the person you know least at Church? 4. Look for the person who is alone 5. Acknowledge them 6. Get to know them - Try and work out the greatest need? > Jesus - Serve them (what is said, what is given) Seminar -.doc 5 Ken D Noakes
- Welcome Card 7. Connect them - to others (similar demographic age, profession, suburb etc.) - invite them to supper/dinner/ social/ next Church event. - Facebook friend them > 5pm Church Facebook Group - JesusWORKS vs Home Group. - don t leave them alone. 8. Remember them - Look for them next week. 9. Be yourself and have some fun. Seminar -.doc 6 Ken D Noakes