Count Me In
Every Member Ministry Glorifies God
From the person that clips the bushes to small group leaders and greeters, a transformation is afoot at Christ Church at Grove Farm. It’s called Every Member Ministry.
Brought forth by Senior Pastor Craig Gyergo, Every Member Ministry aims to involve all Christians in ministry. Too often evangelism and witnessing are seen as the pastor’s job alone, but pastors can’t carry the workload for everything. Nor can staff.
Every Member Ministry recruits lay people to apply their gifts to ministry as volunteers. The Bible calls us to authentic church life. There is such a great and dire need. Every Member Ministry is a way for us to model Biblically healthy church.
Volunteers enrich the body and outreach to advance the Gospel. Lives are transformed, as evidenced by a recent convert to Christ who heard the message on Christ Church’s livestream.
But we need more Christians to embrace the mission. We have a pressing need for ushers and kids ministry volunteers, but there are many ways in which you can get involved according to your gifts and interests.
Anchored In Truth
Why does our church believe so fervently in Every Member Ministry? Because we see it so clearly in scripture. Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we reach unity in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
In 1 Corinthians, Paul says God gives the spirit for good works to each believer, for the profit of all. “There are differences of gifts, but the same spirit. There are differences in ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
Peter implores believers to use their gifts for God’s glory and to edify each other. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)
Answering The Call
I am one of the volunteers that supports Every Member Ministry, contributing to marketing, music and men’s ministry. You don’t have to write a thesis on Romans to step up. Everyone possesses a gift to strengthen the church.
We tend to beat ourselves up at times and doubt our capability for ministry. We need to remember that Jesus allowed himself to be beaten, so we don’t have to walk in defeat. We all possess talents for service. Remember the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
The issue of works in Christianity remains controversial. The Bible teaches that salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8). But that doesn’t give us license to sit things out. James clarifies the situation when he proclaims that faith without works is dead. “Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works,” James 2:18
Volunteering brings me joy. I hope you will join the Every Member Ministry movement at Christ Church at Grove Farm.
To volunteer, visit https://www.ccgf.org/volunteer/
