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.
16. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SOCIAL MINISTRY.
A mature fellowship should not exist only for its members.
Roles and duties:
• Identify genuine needs within the surrounding community.
• Develop feeding and basic-needs initiatives where resources permit.
• Support vulnerable children, families, widows, older persons and others in need.
• Promote education and skills development.
• Support employment and livelihood initiatives.
• Provide appropriate counseling and referrals.
• Participate in community development.
• Advocate for dignity, justice and the rights of vulnerable people.
• Partner with qualified professionals and organizations.
The fellowship should become a blessing to the community in which God has placed it.
17. EVANGELISM AND RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.
Growth should come through genuine Christian witness rather than manipulation or pressure.
Roles and duties:
• Equip members to share their faith respectfully.
• Welcome people from different backgrounds.
• Create opportunities for people to ask honest questions.
• Avoid condemning people who are still exploring Christianity.
• Follow up new believers appropriately.
• Integrate converts into discipleship and fellowship.
• Measure growth not only by numbers but also by spiritual maturity and transformed lives.
18. RELOCATION AND CONTINUITY OF FELLOWSHIP.
People move because of employment, education, marriage and family responsibilities.
Roles and duties:
• Maintain healthy contact with members who relocate.
• Help them find suitable Christian fellowship where appropriate.
• Where practical, help them connect with believers in their new location.
• Use virtual fellowship to maintain relationships when physical meetings are impossible.
• Where there is sufficient maturity and leadership, help relocated members establish new fellowships.
Relocation should not necessarily mean losing the relationship. It can become an opportunity for multiplication.
19. FELLOWSHIP PLANTING AND MULTIPLICATION.
A healthy fellowship should eventually reproduce itself.
Roles and duties:
• Identify members with leadership potential.
Train them in doctrine, character, pastoral care and practical leadership.
• Establish small groups that can eventually become fellowships.
• Develop a clear process for starting new fellowships.
• Provide mentorship to emerging fellowship leaders.
• Maintain accountability between the mother fellowship and new fellowships.
• Avoid planting fellowships merely to increase numbers.
• Ensure every new fellowship has sound teaching, responsible leadership, safeguarding and a clear mission.
Healthy things grow. Mature things reproduce.
20. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION.
A fellowship becomes vulnerable when everything depends on one pastor or a small number of people.
Roles and duties:
• Develop multiple responsible leaders.
• Train pastors, deacons, ministry leaders, group leaders and ushers, intercessors, and other emerging department leaders.
• Give younger leaders opportunities to serve under supervision.
• Develop written procedures for important responsibilities.
• Encourage leaders to mentor their replacements.
• Establish appropriate accountability for leaders.
• Encourage servant leadership rather than personality-centered leadership.
• Plan for continuity when leaders relocate, retire or become unavailable.
Elijah Mutua Kirima.
Pastor.
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD.
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