Can’t get people to invite others to my church

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Look over Keith Drury’s Shoulder as he answers his mail

QUESTION

I can't get my people to invite others to church.  I can "cast a vision" and "motivate" and they nod encouragingly.  But  they just won't do any inviting or relationship evangelism.  I'm trying the "equipping model" to enable them to do "works of service" but they just keep enjoying the equipping--and don't do the works fo service!  How can I get them to invite their friends so we can grow beyond our traditional 40 people?

--Former Student

ANSWER

Yeah I've seen this—often. This may be a time in your life when you will serve as an ”equipping minister" only in theory... that is you may have to go get the next 30 people yourself.  Often a church of 40 gets their next 30 people VIA the pastor's own grit, determination and simple hard work.  My hunch is these 40 people think they've done 90% of their ministry/service/evangelism by hiring you!  (I know, I know they are wrong about this--but it is probably how they feel anyway and I bet you’ll have a gargantuan task changing that core belief!)   I'm going to be quite frank with you--few pastors of churches of 40 ever beat this.  {gasp!}

The way to beat it is to go get the next 30 people on your own.  Go door to door.  Go hang out around town.  Get your people to give you the names of the people they ought to be inviting--then YOU go invite them.  Follow up every "lead" you find at least three times for each lead, better yet five times.  For the time being put the equipping model on the back burner and give half your time doing what you've been trying to equip them to do—go get people for your church on your own.  Give the other half of your time to “maintenance ministries” in the church. I’d say it is time to move out of “management” into “sales.”  Go get a few dozen people on your own and see if the church catches fire and other start to follow suit.

However before you do this ask a very important question.  “Will my people welcome new folk if I do succeed in getting a few dozen new ones in?”   Will they offer hospitality and friendship?  If so, then go do it. 

If not, then it is time to either learn how to be the priest for a dying church or move on to another church.

Keith

So, what would you add?

To suggest additional insights I missed write to Keith@TuesdayColumn.com