The Relay Race Called “The Ministry Year”

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In the fastest growing ministries and churches…everything is connected.  Everything is a step in the direction of the preferred future.  Everything.

There are no one offs.  There is no sideways energy.  Everything is connected.

Here’s what I mean.

Step One: Easter at Saddleback, North Point, Woodlands Church, Bayside, etc. will include an opportunity to make a commitment to Christ.  Might be filling out a card.  Might be stopping at the “I Raised My Hand” table right after the service.  Doesn’t matter.  It will be easy, obvious and strategic.

Step Two: Everyone in the Easter service will hear “If you want to find out why we do what we do, we want to invite you to join us for 101 (or Starting Point, Belong 101, etc.).”  Note: the invitation is not to “our membership class.”  It’s to find out more or to take the next step.  And it will be two to four weeks away.

Step Three: At 101 they’ll hear the “plan of salvation” and be given an opportunity to respond (usually by indicating on a form).  There will also be a section of the class that covers the importance of baptism.  And they’ll be given an opportunity to indicate on the form that they’d like to be baptized (or that they’ve already been baptized).  In addition, a large baptism will be on the calendar in the next 30 to 60 days.

Step Four: Two to three weeks prior to the baptism event, a weekend message will include an opportunity to sign up to be baptized.

How close does that sound to your church or your ministry?  The degree to which everything is a clear handoff to a next step determines ministry effectiveness.

What do you think?  Does your church or ministry operate this way?  Want to argue? You can click here to jump into the conversation.

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