Barnabas File

One of the most discouraging things that a pastor or staff minister can hear is this:   “I just don’t belong here. I can’t find a place to plug in at this church.”   This may be the last conversation that the minister will have with this person, and it may be said as the person walks out the door of the church on Sunday morning. The person’s perception may be true.  Because of the direction that a particular congregation has chosen to pursue, the gifts and talents of this individual may fall outside the opportunities for service and fellowship offered there.  However, it is more likely that the failure to connect has more to do with the way that a church empowers its members than with the lack of opportunities available. A model for equipping and empowering believers is found in Ephesians 4:11-13: “ So Christ himself gave   the apostles,   the prophets,   the evangelists,   the pastors and teachers,   to equip his people for w...

Several years ago, I made this challenge to the ministers with whom I worked:  “How can you make yourself indispensable this year?”  My challenge was predicated on the idea that they should discover something that they offered to students, churches, and other stakeholders that would be missed if it were no longer present.  Was I asking them to seek ways to assure their job security?  Probably. As I think about this now, I would still ask the same question but my motivation would be different.  I would be more interested in these individuals identifying the ministry, service, or relationship that each one could offer that was unique to each of them as an individuals. I have often thought about this quote:  “What are the things that you should do, what are the things someone else should do, and what are things no one should do?” I would add to this, “What is the thing that only you can do?”  In other words, if you don’t do it, it won’t get don...