THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD Seeks people (who themselves become members) who are willing to use their gifts, professional skills, experience, wisdom, time and caring hearts to help build a mature, healthy, welcoming, stable, growing and multiplying fellowship.
Our goal is not merely to increase attendance. We want to develop believers who know Christ, understand God's Word, live it, care for one another, serve others, contribute to the community, develop other believers and eventually help establish new fellowships.
21. COMMUNICATION AND MEMBER FEEDBACK.
Healthy organizations listen.
Roles and duties:
• Establish appropriate channels for members to express concerns.
• Encourage constructive criticism.
• Distinguish genuine concerns from destructive complaints.
• Communicate important decisions clearly.
• Explain changes before implementing them where reasonably possible.
• Conduct periodic assessments of member experience.
• Ask simple questions such as:
Do you feel welcomed?
Are you growing spiritually?
Do you know where you can serve?
Do you feel safe raising a concern?
Do you have someone you can talk to?
Are there barriers preventing your participation?
What can we improve?
22. SAFEGUARDING, INTEGRITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.
A mature fellowship must protect people as well as preach to them.
Roles and duties:
• Establish appropriate safeguarding procedures.
• Protect children and vulnerable adults.
• Establish responsible financial procedures.
• Maintain appropriate records.
• Ensure leaders are accountable.
• Handle allegations responsibly.
• Never use spiritual authority to silence legitimate concerns.
• Respect confidentiality while recognizing situations where disclosure is necessary for safety or lawful reporting.
• Ensure that ministry decisions are guided by Scripture, integrity, wisdom and appropriate governance.
23. PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT.
All these activities must remain connected to dependence upon God.
Roles and duties:
• Pray for members, leaders and the community.
• Organize appropriate prayer opportunities.
• Pray for people experiencing difficulties.
• Encourage members to develop personal prayer lives.
• Pray for new leaders and fellowship planters.
• Seek God's wisdom before major decisions.
• Combine prayer with responsible action.
• Prayer should not become an excuse for avoiding action, and action should not become an excuse for neglecting prayer.
24. MEASURING WHETHER THE FELLOWSHIP IS ACTUALLY MATURING.
We should periodically ask whether we are becoming the kind of fellowship we claim to be.
Indicators of healthy growth include:
- Spiritual maturity
Members increasingly understand and practice God's Word.
- New believers are being discipled.
- Members are helping other members grow.
- Relational health
Gossip and unnecessary conflict are decreasing.
- Reconciliation is occurring.
- Members feel valued and connected.
Member retention:
- People who become irregular are appropriately followed up.
- Preventable causes of departure are identified and addressed.
Leadership development:
- New leaders are continually emerging.
- Responsibilities are increasingly shared.
- Leaders are mentoring others.
Community impact:
- The fellowship is serving genuine community needs.
- Members are becoming a blessing beyond the church building.
Multiplication:
- Small groups are developing.
- New fellowships are being planted.
- New leaders are being sent out rather than merely retained.
Financial health:
- Giving remains voluntary and responsible.
- Resources are managed transparently and wisely.
- The fellowship is developing sustainable ways to support ministry.
25. THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
You do not have to be a pastor to make a significant contribution.
We can make use of your:
Talent, Professional skill, Ministry gift, Wisdom, Life experience, Teaching ability, Counselling ability, Leadership ability, Administrative ability, Technology skills, Communication skills, Financial/resource-mobilization ability, Entrepreneurial ability, Social-work skills, Hospitality, Ability to organize, Ability to mentor, Ability to listen, Ability to reconcile people, Caring heart, Time, Prayer, Willingness to serve.
OUR VISION:
We want to build a fellowship where people can say:
•“I am growing here.”
•“I am known here.”
•“I am accepted here.”
•“I can serve here.”
•“I can raise a concern here without fear.”
•“I can find help here.”
• “I am learning to help others here.”
•“I can mature here.”
• “I can be sent from here to serve elsewhere.”
And eventually:
• “What I have received here, I can help reproduce somewhere else.”
The ultimate objective is therefore not simply to attract crowds, but to:
• make disciples,
• build healthy relationships,
• develop servant leaders,
• serve the community,
• retain people through genuine belonging and spiritual growth,
and
• multiply healthy fellowships.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” — Ephesians 4:15
“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” — Acts 2:47
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD.
Elijah Mutua Kirima.
Pastor
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD.
