Who are you promoting?

In the world of church planting, planters are occasionally told that we are the brand and therefore must promote ourselves regularly. Just as a musician, an athlete or an artist might attempt to increase their own profile, we, too, must accept that it is necessary for people to know us and see us as a central element to the ministry. The idea is that people who are like us will see us, relate to us and then join us in our new church.

However, a year before starting my church planting journey, Jeff Bass, a mentor of mine who serves as the executive director for the Emmanuel Gospel Center in Boston, shared a very different perspective on how I might pursue ministry as a church planter.  

A different perspective on leadership

As we walked through the streets of Boston, I shared my hopes and dreams for a church plant in the West End of Providence, Rhode Island, laying out detailed plans and hoped for outcomes. Jeff patiently listened and encouraged me, then he said something that still cycles itself through my mind on a regular basis:

“John, remember this: when it comes to ministry, it is always better to be the one taking the picture, than to be the one in the center of the picture.”

He continued to explain that the role of a ministry leader is not to build his own platform, but to equip the saints for ministry, empowering and celebrating each individual as they serve to the glory of God.

As I have meditated on this perspective, I have come to realize that it rejects the idea of personal legacy or the growth of one’s own ministry. Instead, the minister’s ultimate goal is testifying to Jesus’ work on the cross and its impact on the people that one is serving.

This viewpoint isn’t concerned with whether a church planter must be more entrepreneurial or more pastoral, but instead focuses on the heart of the one ministering. The result is that the people in the faith community are elevated and built up, becoming, both individually and corporately, the shining stars of the work.

Ultimately, what Jeff shared with me is a mindset of humility, recognizing that when you plant or minister, it’s not about you, your success or your achievements, but about God’s powerful work among those He is calling to Himself.

Practical ways to put others in the center

So how can a pastor or a church planter put the people who make up the church at the center of the photo? Here are five practical ways:

1.     Social Media/Online Presentation – Make almost all online photos and stories about the people taking part in the ministry. Allow the congregation worshiping Jesus and fellowshipping around His Name to be the face of what you are building.

2.     Celebrate the People in the Sunday Service – Regularly include and honor those serving on the various teams in your church, having them stand or come down front to be seen and applauded for their efforts.

3.     Teach on Necessity of the Body of Believers – Make it a point of recognizing in your teaching that Jesus is the one true hero and that the Church is meant to work together to witness to Him and His accomplishment on the cross.

4.     Multiply the Church’s Leadership – Even if your church cannot afford to pay multiple staff members, build a team of lay leaders that serve as elders, deacons, coordinators, directors, team leaders, etc. Use the term “we” and not “I” anytime you talk about what is happening at the church, emphasizing that you are part of the team serving the community of faith under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

5.     Share the Microphone – Allow others in your church to preach, teach, testify and lead, making your voice less dominant in the life of the family of faith. This approach will protect the local church from a consumerism mentality that promotes attendance based upon a charismatic personality that entertains the flock.

Jeff’s words have significantly helped me in my ministry as I have found freedom from needing to feel significant and, in its place, experienced tremendous joy in seeing and highlighting the beauty of what God has been doing among those in our community. May Jesus be the center of our ministries and the people He entrusts us with shepherding be displayed as the treasure they most certainly are to God.

John M. Ames is the church planting pastor of Faith Community Church in Providence, RI.