Thriving Church: A Case Study Part I

Just as COVID-19 was bearing down on the United States without our knowledge or understanding, I was working closely with a large, predominantly African-American church with Baptist roots, located in the South. After being invited to train and coach their staff and leadership teams and leaving them with resources to continue having the spiritual gifts conversation as well as to implement gifts-based-ministry going forward, the entire country shut down. Initially for weeks. Then months. Then many months. Church remote. Church online. No work. Nothing in-person. Then, slowly: Drive-through food assistance. Drive-by celebrations. Drop-offs of children’s activities. Physical distancing. Then masks and attendance limitations. So many things up in the air, let alone making an intentional start on a deep and wide equipping ministry with the aim of also meaningfully engaging and connecting people.

 

Fast forward five years. This church is thriving in many, many ways. They appear to have come out of the worst season of the pandemic stronger. They are adding people to their number [“highest church growth in years” according to one of their leaders], including through new believer baptisms. They not only are hosting a version of the God. Gifts. You. spiritual gifts assessment on their own website (with permissions, a contract, and a one-time fee—contact me for details if you/your church are interested in doing something similar.), they have developed a 4-step process by which people can get to know their church, discover more about themselves, and find meaningful participation and community.

 

The two staff members with whom I had initial contact are no longer on staff, but are both still integrally involved in the delivery of these efforts. They are part of the Body of Christ—the church—whether on staff or not. Keep in mind that your best advocates are often those who are unpaid but feel a sense of calling and purpose. Don’t let them slip through the cracks, especially if they move from church staff jobs to employment outside the church. These two leaders are phenomenal…and I am grateful to the Lord and to the church for keeping them in this place of passion and effectiveness, stewarding their gifts wisely, for the glory of God and for the benefit of others. Literally hundreds of others.  

 

Together with the rest of the team that welcomes people into the life of their church (some would call it new members, some growth efforts, others assimilation, still others equipping and service…), these two faithful servants and a team of others continue to champion the culture of gifts-based ministry. The team has helped many fellow congregation members discover and pursue their unique calling and purpose and get connected. They offer on-ramps in the form of a series of four classes, offered every month (except July and December)! Every month. Their materials say “Everyone starts at Step 1”—the first week of the month and continues for four weeks. For new and not-so-new people.

 

The next few blog posts will highlight this team’s responses to the following questions I sent them recently as a client check-in:

 

·         In what ways has adding the gifts assessment and related classes changed your church for the better?

·         Can you supply a specific example or two of people or teams transformed by discovering, understanding, developing, and using their gifts?

·         What pushback/roadblocks to embracing these gifts concepts have come from your leadership, staff, or congregation?

·         Do you have suggestions for addressing this resistance?

 

 

Important resources:

 

 

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

 

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis. 

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Shirley Giles DavisCOVID-19, covid-19 and volunteering, covid-19 and church, african-american baptist church, training church staff and leadership, coaching church staff and leadership, successful church membership program, body of Christ, church as Body of Christ, church assimilation, church new members, gifts-based ministry, culture of gifts-based ministry, gift-based ministry