Many churches are approaching the
dawn of their new Bible Study year. They are forming new classes, rearranging
others, and the inevitable questions always comes up, “What should we do about
those people that never come anymore, should we drop them?”
Here are some excellent steps
that David ‘Mr. Sunday School’ Francis recently provided about ‘When Do We Drop
Someone From the Roll?”
1. Change the name from
"Roll" to "Ministry List." That is subtle, but the idea is that it changes the primary responsibility.
"Roll" connotes that the people, once enrolled, are committing
themselves to attendance. "Ministry List" connotes that we, the
leaders, are committing ourselves to the members, once they've agreed to
enroll.
2. Now, what does it take to get
on the Ministry List? Just saying yes! Here's my stock phrase when
I'm enrolling someone: "Enrolling in our class - agreeing to become a
member of our Ministry List - does not make you a member of the church nor
obligate you to become one." The obligation is on us, not them.
3. Before removing someone from
the Ministry List, ask this question: What's the worst thing
that could happen to this person? If the answer is: "They might join
another church, or maybe not ever go to church again, but we're pretty sure
that when they die they'll go to heaven." However, if the answer is,
"We don't know if anyone would ever pray for them again, ever contact them
again, ever be available to minister to them again, and when they die, we're
not at all sure they would go to heaven," then how about leaving them on
the Ministry List?
4. So, when would you drop
someone from the Ministry List? (a) When they have moved too far
away from the church for us to minister to them. If they were calling this a
roll, my answer to this question would be, "If they moved too far away to
attend." But, remember, it's a ministry list! (b) If they demand to be removed,
and we've been unsuccessful at talking them out of it! Principle: Don't take
people off the roll unless they want off - really bad!
5. What do you say to someone who
asks to be taken off the Ministry List? Try to communicate that
you care for them and would like to be able to remain in touch with them,
whether they attend or not. You'd like to be able to pray for them, and be
available to respond to them in the event of a crisis in their family. Most
people are only "testing the water" when they ask you to take them
off the list. They may just want to know if you really care.
What's the bottom line of all
this? It is remembering that when we ask someone to enroll in Sunday School we
are making a commitment to them more than asking them to make a commitment to
us. In reality, it's a joint commitment.
Who on your ministry list needs
to be the recipient of your prayer or care this week?
THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….
COMING NEW BIBLE STUDY CURRICULUM: The
Gospel Project, for age 3 through adult, to order - http://gospelproject.com/
FOR WORSHIP PLANNING: You can align
your worship services with The Gospel Project curriculum by using these worship
ideas: http://www.lifewayworship.com/n/gospelprojectworship
FOR DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY: Transformational
Discipleship, how people really grow; book and DVD - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/transformational-discipleship
FOR DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY: Transformational
Discipleship assessment tool to chart where you are and suggestion of ‘next
steps’ toward growth - http://tda.lifeway.com/
FOR DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY: Radical small
group study; combines messages from David Platt concerning Radical and
Radical Together - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/radical-small-group-study-dvd-kit-P005471377
FOR DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY: It’s Not Too
Late by Tony Evans, how God uses broken people to accomplish His purposes -
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/its-not-too-late-how-god-uses-less-than-perfect-people-leader-kit-P005475107
FOR ‘BOOMERS’ MINISTRY: A new magazine
just for boomers, More Living; read
through a preview issue - http://www.lifeway.com/article/more-living-new-lifeway-magazine-urges-boomers-do-what-matters?cid=rdr-moreliving
FOR LEADER TRAINING: Missionary Sunday
School webcast, July 2, 4:00pm, FREE - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-Event-Missionary-Sunday-School-Webcast-2012
FOR LEADER TRAINING: Transform: Changing Lives Through Teaching
Conference, September 22, Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-Transform-2012-Dacula-GA
FOR LEADER TRAINING: Teach the Bible for Life Conference,
September 28 & 29, Nashville, TN - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/teach-the-bible-for-life?type=events
FOR EDUCATION MINISTERS: Excel 2012 Conference, September 24-26,
Nashville, TN - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-Excel-2012-Nashville-TN
FOR MEN: Sleeping Giant by Kenny Luck,
an intentional discipleship process for me, moving them from ‘affiliated’ to
‘activated’ - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/sleeping-giant-dvd-leader-kit-P005469852
FOR MEN: All Pro Dad simulcast, August
25th; a unique event for dads with elementary aged kids - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Adult-Event-All-Pro-Dad-Simulcast
FOR MEN: Kingdom Man by Tony Evans;
helping to empower men to exercise their leadership responsibilities at home,
at church, and in the world – http://www.lifeway.com/Product/kingdom-man-dvd-leader-kit-P005469702
