Never, ever, delegate this

Tomorrow is another Sunday when I’m going to be leading new members sessions during our main church services. Basically, I’m going to explain what it’s about during the notices, and then during the song after that I’m going to walk to the back of the building, gather a group of anyone new, and go to a different room for the remainder of the service. I’ve already written about how and why I do that, here.

That means I don’t get to preach tomorrow. And for me, that’s a high price.

Some of my friends ask why I can’t delegate this. Haven’t I got an assistant member of staff, or a senior volunteer who could do this?

Sure I have. I could delegate the coffee, the cake, the talks and the friendly welcome. Of course I could.

But there’s one thing I can’t delegate – and that’s being me. No-one else can give a direct encounter with the person who’s up front and in charge. A large church can seem complex and managerially layered. I could set things up so people had to work hard to have access to my diary. That’s what social organisations do to themselves.

So for people who are new to be on first name terms with me, in my home – that’s a much better way to feel welcomed right to the heart of what we’re about. And I can’t delegate that.

If you want to know more about new members groups, see Why minus four is greater than plus twenty: the curious maths of a growing church and The 10 Key Elements of a New Members Session

I wrote a ton of stuff about being an intentional church in ‘The Message of the Church’ for the Bible Speaks Today series.

You can order (discount) from 10ofthose here,

Otherwise, from Amazon here, and for your Kindle here.

US edition available from Amazon here, and for your Kindle here.

Aussie? Koorong has it here.