Leadership Thought: Some Reflections on What Makes an Active Church Member

Dear Friends,

What makes an active church member? There are a number of criteria one might offer beginning with one of the most predicable means of measuring church activity, and that is worship attendance. It used to be that an active member was considered to be one who attended church three times a week. They might attend Sunday morning, a mid-week service and maybe a Bible study. Today we have lowered the bar, and many consider worshipping three times a month qualifies you to be called an active member. That is a difference of 75 percent. What if you were to reduce the time you spent with your spouse by 75 percent? The marriage counselor might be just around the corner. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts us "to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching". 

But there are other means of measuring active membership, and let me share some of them to see how we stack up? 

Secondly an active member will pursue meaningful relationships with others in the family. One of the best ways to do that is through small group involvement. A member who is involved in a small group will be five times less likely to drop out from the church over a five-year period than one who is not involved in a small group. Relationships are the glue that holds the church together.

Thirdly, you are giving regularly and systematically to the church. You are investing in kingdom purposes through the stewardship of your resources. The bible is clear that "where your treasure is there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). Your heart will follow your money which seems counter intuitive, but it is true. If you invest in the stock market, you will be anxious to regularly check the stock prices because you are interested in your investment. If you give to the church, you become more interested and more involved as you want to know how your giving is being used for kingdom causes.

Fourth, you will be involved in some form of ministry: serving on a cleaning crew, setting up tables for fellowship, ushering, greeting, teaching, welcoming new visitors, serving in youth ministry, teaching Sunday School. There are plenty of opportunities to become involved, and if you are not sure where you might fit in, let us know and we’ll find an area of service that fits your interest. 

Fifth, you are inviting others to church because you want others to experience what you have experienced. If you are excited about something, you will encourage others to become involved. When we find a good restaurant, one of the first things we will do is to tell others about our experience, and the same is true for the church.

Sixth You are reading your bible daily, involved in some form of spiritual discipline like prayer, bible study or fasting, using a daily devotional or watching a podcast.

Seventh you are able to share the vision and purpose of the church. You can articulate your church's core values and its key distinctives that identify you and guide you in developing your mission and ministry.  

I write this not to foster guilt or heap judgment on anyone who doesn't subscribe or measure up to these above qualities of active membership. I fully realize that none of us will probably ever fulfill all of them. But the more qualities we do identify as part of our church's DNA, the more likely we would be considered active members. The church needs active members, each one bearing and sharing part of the ministry load. May God help us develop these kinds of members, who can help us storm the gates of hell and pull down Satan's kingdom. Will you join us?

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom