One of the keys to helping new members become a part of the body is to help them find a way to serve. As I discussed a few weeks ago, I think we’re far too obsessed with plugging members into preaching, teaching, song leading, etc. Those things are good, but when we communicate that those are the principal ways to serve in the church, we disenfranchise large swaths of the body.

People need to serve in ways that fit their skills. When they do, they’ll not only feel better about their Christian walk, they’ll also edify the body.

Last year, one of the young couples from our bilingual group had a baby. One Sunday, they had a blessing over this couple in the main auditorium. People there didn’t really know this couple, and I don’t know that that changed much after the baby blessing.

Then a couple of months ago we put in a new community playground by our church building. The man who originally did the concrete work did an amazingly shoddy job. Instead of redoing what he’d done, the scoundrel walked away from the job. This same father who had the baby blessing stepped in and did the job. He did excellent work, even providing some extras that weren’t in the original plans.

After that construction work, lots of people at church know who this young man is. What wasn’t accomplished through a moment in the assembly was achieved by a work project. This man was able to use his skills for the church and felt quite good about it. In many ways, he became more a part of the whole church than he had been in the past.

As we look to help new members find their way, it’s good to remember that everyone would like to contribute, everyone would like to feel needed, and not everyone is gifted at speaking in public or singing. Find the ministry that God has prepared for each Christian, rather than forcing them into preset roles.