Ep. 457 An Effective Equipping Model for the Church

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Shows Main Idea – Each local church has visitors, regular attendees, non-engaged members, and engaged members. In many of these churches, the visitors, attendees, and non-engaged members are more numerous than those doing the ministry’s work. When this happens, the church’s infrastructure—leaders—is weaker than those who expect care from the church. You’ll also find that those who expect more care complain more. Thus, each church has to wrestle with how to identify and develop more engaged members by identifying the consumers and moving them into the smaller leadership infrastructure sphere.

Show Notes

You may want to read:

• Information about the Mastermind Training
• Proactive Plan for Leadership Development in the Church
• What Is the Litmus Test for a Leader? Are You One?

Church Demo

1. Visitors: Those who are checking out the church.
2. Attendees: Those who attend but not contributing to the ministry.
3. Members: Those who like the church and become members.
4. Leaders: These are committed members, ministering within their strengths.

Thus, the goal is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each person and move them to the next level:

1. Visitors become regular attendees.
2. Regular attendees become members.
3. Members become leaders in spheres that match their gifts.

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20).

Attention v Care

The key is for the church leadership to focus on leaders ready to make disciples. They need the most time to continue to grow, flourish, and do the work of the ministry. Jesus spent more time with the twelve than the masses.

The leaders do not ignore the needier larger group but provide the contexts and resources for them to grow while giving the leaders most of their time. The fundamental principle is, “Do you want my attention or my care.” You can give them your care through those who receive your attention. Jesus gave the most attention to the twelve, and that small group exported the care of Jesus to the masses.

Our ministry follows this model. For example, I do not engage folks on social media because it would consume most of my time and prohibit me from creating resources and leadership development. We provide free resources for them.mThen we have supporters who invest in this ministry. They consumed our content and wanted more, so they became supporters. There is a smaller group inside this niche: our Mastermind Students, the folks who receive my personal care, time, and attention. The aim is these students will pour into their communities, permitting me to care for these communities through the students I develop.

Jesus could not care well for more than “twelve,” nor can I. Therefore, while everyone receives my care and we turn away no one, I have to determine who receives most of my time in the here and now while developing these core leaders to bring effective care to the growing masses.

How We Help

Our ministry comes alongside pastors to supplement their training in two ways:

• We develop leaders through our Mastermind Program to disciple folks in their local churches.
• We provide free resources for any Christian to use and share with others.

Call to Action

1. How can our ministry help you? If you’re a local church, we’d love to chat with you. If you’re a church member and want to grow in your discipleship skills, reach out to us.
2. Will you check out our Mastermind Training to see if it’s a good fit for you or someone in your church?
3. Will you share our ministry with your church body and also your leaders, letting them know about this valuable resource?

Need More Help?

1. If you want to learn more from us, you may search this site for thousands of resources—articles, podcasts, videos, graphics, and more. Please spend time studying the ones that interest you. They are free.
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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).