We have been introducing the five myths that are stalling disciple-making movements.
Week 1: The 5 Ministry Myths 
Week 2: The Engagement Myth
Week 3: The Expertise Myth
Week 4 : The Equipping Myth

EMPOWERMENT MYTH: Filling Spots = Empowering People

“I want to make a difference. What should I do?”

If a faithful church member asked your staff that question, how would they help them? Your staff’s response comes from one of two motivations: What best helps our organization? What best helps the individual?

The Empowerment Myth happens when we assume that filling spots in our programming is empowering people. Sometimes serving on a volunteer team is exactly what people need. The question is how do we direct them to it? Most churches don’t take the time to help their people discover their passions and gifts and find the best opportunity that matches how God has designed them.

When a church doesn’t emphasize personal calling in its discipleship strategy, it promotes a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership and disciple-making. This prevents people from stepping into their unique passions and gifts, thus making the process less life-giving both to them and those they serve.

The result is a leadership that overpromises and underdelivers. When we just fill spots in our church, it comes at the expense of our people. Their passions and gifts are underutilized and eventually, they get burnt out. Our volunteer opportunities facilitate connection and they help our church run its programs, but it doesn’t always help people discover and use their calling.

Want to learn more about the five ministry myths and assess how influential they are in your church? Download the FREE assessment here and get a free training talk by Robby Gallaty from our Discipleship Blueprint course. 

HOW DO WE BUST THIS MYTH? – EMPOWER EACH ONE

One of the most influential reasons people don’t disciple others is that they don’t believe they have anything valuable to offer others. The church must help each individual understand how God has uniquely designed them and how they can use their story, passions, and gifts to make disciples. The church’s strategy must empower each one by helping its people discover their calling and see how they can use it in their workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.

Ready to bust this myth? The Discipleship Blueprint in an on-demand course that includes seven training sessions with some of our most foundational concepts that we use with teams in our consulting processes. Access this course here.

The post Do Your People Seem Disinterested in Volunteering? This May Be Why. appeared first on Replicate Ministries.