Christian Stronghold Baptist Church: Mobilizing the Membership for Ministry

Christian Stronghold Baptist Church: Mobilizing the Membership for Ministry

How does Christian Stronghold Baptist Church sustain its commitment to holistic ministry? Three factors are key: emphasis on the responsibility of every church member to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, thorough training to carry out that calling, and a strong focus on biblical discipleship.

Evangelism, discipleship, and social ministry are linked in the expectation that as members grow spiritually, they will minister to the outside community. "We're a serving church," affirms the coordinator of New Member Ministries. "We are here to serve, not just to get saved." Through new member classes, sermons, Sunday School, and small groups, Christian Stronghold calls believers to participate in ministry to the body of Christ and to society. One woman describes what led her to become a church member: "When you walked in there, you met Christ. When you walked out, you were equipped to serve."

Members are equipped through rigorous training. As a ministry leader explains, training is essential because "most people don't join the church because of the minister, they join the church because of the people." An annual "Concentrated Weekend" offers intensive training and a window to jump into evangelistic outreach. Many members follow up with evangelism courses from the Christian Stronghold Church Bible Institute. Ministry leaders go through extra training on evangelism, discipleship, and leadership skills. Evangelism is also stressed right from the start in the New Members' class. Says Rev. Richardson, "Nothing matches the joy of new converts enthusiastically experiencing the joy of the Lord and sharing their faith with other people!"

The Church Bible Institute evangelism course blends classroom learning, hands-on involvement, and personal spiritual growth. One member signed up for the course to learn to share her faith with her family. To meet a class requirement, she became a trainee in the Block Evangelism ministry, in which volunteers share the gospel door-to-door in a chosen neighborhood. As a trainee she was given the role of prayer partner, working alongside another church member who had already completed the training. She was grateful just to be able to watch and pray at first! As she practiced her skills and slowly overcame her fears, she also saw first-hand how the program nurtures volunteers' spiritual and personal growth. The ministry gave her transportation to the evangelism site when necessary, and served a light breakfast. Volunteers shared a Bible study and prayed for one another before, during, and after the ministry. This member appreciated that the group took time to debrief after each evangelism excursion, discussing the difficulties and joys they encountered, or any other aspect of their lives. She formed friendships with the other trainees and volunteers. Gradually she lost the feeling of entering new and hostile territory. Instead, her focus shifted to the benefits of the ministry to herself, to the church, and to the recipients. After completing the class she decided to continue participating in the Block Evangelism ministry.

The goal of evangelism, Rev. Richardson teaches, is active discipleship. Christian Stronghold stresses the necessity of living in accordance with biblical teachings in order to participate in God's design for a wholesome life. The Community Action Council coordinator describes coming to a new understanding of salvation after attending Christian Stronghold: "I called myself a Christian, but I wasn't saved. There's a complete difference in being saved . . . not just going to church on Sunday but living your life as a Christian every day." Most altar calls in the church include an invitation to rededication for people whose faith in Christ or church membership have lapsed. Those who make a profession of faith are given Christian literature, matched with a mature "spiritual sister or brother" from the congregation, and channeled into an extensive discipleship process.

This emphasis on personal spiritual growth fuels members' commitment to holistic ministry. Bible study and prayer are cornerstones for the church's outreach. Believing that prayer is a powerful influencer of people and events, many ministry activities-even routine staff meetings-incorporate intercessory prayer. Volunteers gain confidence by drawing on a power source beyond themselves, as one of the counselors testified:

I don't have to walk away [from a counseling session] thinking, "Did I say the right thing?" . . . No, I know I gave them the Word, and I know that the Word is not going to go out void. . . . I'm not so wrapped up in my own skills and my own ability to counsel. I'm more wrapped in the power of the Word and how the Holy Spirit will be used in the life of that person.

With this combination of consistent calling, training, and discipling for ministry, Christian Stronghold has had stunning success in engaging members in holistic outreach. About half of the congregation is involved in a church outreach ministry. But members go beyond involvement in programs to make sharing the Good News a way of life. According to our member survey, 90% of respondents said they often or sometimes talked about their Christian beliefs or testimony with non-Christians in the last year, and 70% invited people to church. And 82% of respondents said they helped lead someone to Christ!

Christian Stronghold members are equally committed to demonstrating God's love with caring actions in their daily lives: 95% of respondents reported providing someone in need with food, clothing, or money in the last year, 83% helped someone find a job, and 82% took care of someone who was sick or handicapped. In word and deed, members demonstrate their personal commitment to the church's holistic ministry vision.

[Adapted from Churches That Make a Difference, chapter 5].