Church Service

I must belong to a very special church.

Last Sunday we visited a church while vacationing. Their pastor gave a good sermon, but it came from a source that appears to be abounding around the web. He spoke of church members doing service for others. A subject dear to my heart, as you know from previous posts.

He made the statement, and I’ve read it in various postings around the web, 20% of the members do 80% of the work. Google on that and you'll find: "The 80/20 rule is a hallmark of virtually every nonprofit or volunteer..." So a lot of people believe this rule.

So, I must belong to a very special church, for our figures are different.

I maintain our church database (some day I’ll post about Servant Keeper) and can tell you that from the list of our members, 43 percent of the active member families are holding positions or doing work in our church that minister to others. To list those ministries would take another paragraph. Just visit our church site and see what we have to offer.

What I did find that matches 20 percent is the number of our members who are either physically disabled or are elderly shut ins. Didn't count them if they are just elderly widows, for many of them are among the 43 percent serving.

That brings us up to about 63 percent of the church accounted for, leaving 37 percent. But, wait! I do not have the financial records (nor do I want to!!!) but I do know several within this category who complete weekly offering envelopes. We might assume they contain tithes and offerings, so many are providing services financially while simply attending.

How do you count the times those 37 percenters have brought guests? Took in a visiting missionary and provided them shelter and food? Weren’t they ones who brought food for fellowships? Is that not service?

These statistics surely do not take into consideration prayer chains – those wonderful prayer partners who kneel for us, interceding for so many needs.

So, I must belong to a very special church.

Funny thing is, I believe our church is not unique. I believe that 20%-80% figure sounds good, but probably isn’t correct. I believe that on the surface 20% of the members are high profile and achieve public accolades, but I find it difficult to believe that 80% would only come to sit in pews. If there is such a church, I cannot imagine why those 80% would be returning.

Why in the world do so many people do so much? Perhaps they really do believe what they read:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 KJV)

All of us are able to attest to John’s writing:

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:16-19 KJV)

Therefore, we serve Him – and belong to very special churches.