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.
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” — 2 Timothy 2:2
1. SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND DISCIPLESHIP.
We need people who can help believers grow from simply attending meetings to becoming mature disciples of Christ.
Roles and duties:
• Teach and facilitate Bible study and practical discipleship.
• Help believers understand how God's Word applies to everyday life.
• Encourage personal prayer, Bible reading, obedience and spiritual growth.
• Help new believers understand the foundations of Christian faith.
• Establish discipleship pathways for children, youth and adults.
• Identify believers who are ready to serve and help them develop their gifts.
• Mentor emerging leaders.
• Encourage believers to become both learners and teachers.
• Help members move from receiving ministry to participating in ministry.
Desired outcome:
• Members should progressively become spiritually mature, responsible, dependable and capable of helping others grow.
2. WELCOMING AND MEMBER-INTEGRATION MINISTRY.
A fellowship grows when people not only come, but also feel known, valued and connected.
Roles and duties:
• Welcome first-time visitors warmly without overwhelming them.
• Follow up appropriately with visitors and new members.
• Introduce new people to other members.
• Help newcomers discover where they can participate.
• Watch for people who regularly attend but remain isolated.
• Create opportunities for members to develop genuine friendships.
• Ensure that no individual or small group controls access to the fellowship.
• Reduce cliques and unnecessary divisions.
• Help members feel that they belong without creating unhealthy dependence.
Desired outcome:
• A person should not remain a stranger indefinitely.
3. PEACE, UNITY AND CONFLICT-RESOLUTION MINISTRY.
- We need people who can help maintain a fellowship where gossip, cliques, unnecessary arguments, bitterness and divisions are reduced as close to zero as realistically possible.
Roles and duties:
• Teach members how to resolve disagreements biblically and respectfully.
• Discourage gossip, character assassination and spreading unverified allegations.
• Encourage people to speak directly to the person concerned.
Where necessary, encourage the biblical process of involving another mature person.
• Refer unresolved or serious matters to appropriate church leadership.
• Help people distinguish between genuine wrongdoing and personal differences.
• Facilitate reconciliation where appropriate.
• Protect people from bullying, intimidation and retaliation.
•Help in dealing with serious misconduct fairly rather than hiding it in the name of peace.
• Encourage forgiveness while recognizing that forgiveness does not eliminate the need for accountability.
A useful principle is, help people to:
- Go to the person, not around the person.
- Seek restoration, not humiliation.
- Seek truth, not victory.
Matthew 18:15–17 provides an important framework for addressing personal offenses.
4. ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT HYPOCRISY HUNTING.
Members sometimes become discouraged when they believe other believers do not live according to what they profess.
Roles and duties:
• Teach believers to avoid generalized accusations such as, “People here are all hypocrites.”
• Encourage specific concerns to be addressed responsibly.
• Help members distinguish between genuine hypocrisy, human weakness, immaturity and legitimate differences of conscience.
• Encourage people to raise concerns with evidence rather than assumptions.
• Teach leaders to receive correction without defensiveness.
• Encourage leaders and members alike to acknowledge mistakes and apologize.
• Establish a culture where accountability is accompanied by grace.
- The objective is not to create people who monitor everyone else.
- It is to create a community where everyone is willing to examine himself or herself.
5. CARE, COUNSELLING AND RESTORATION
Some people arrive in a fellowship carrying wounds from family, previous churches, relationships, workplaces or other experiences.
Roles and duties:
• Listen carefully to members experiencing emotional or relational difficulties.
• Provide appropriate pastoral care.
• Help people process legitimate hurts without allowing bitterness to become their identity.
• Assist members who feel offended, rejected, mistreated or misunderstood.
- There is room for appropriate referral to qualified professionals where an issue exceeds the fellowship's competence.
• Establish confidentiality and safeguarding practices.
• Pay particular attention to vulnerable people.
• Help restore relationships where restoration is safe and appropriate.
• Never pressure victims to remain in unsafe situations simply to preserve appearances.
Desired outcome:
- People should find a place where they can heal, grow and regain healthy Relationships.
Elijah Mutua Kirima.
Pastor.
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD.
