In preparing the Spiritual Gifts Class, I read an article “The Four Needs”  by Ken Haugk, the creator of the Stephen Ministry that we use at Joy.  He writes: “Why do people join congregations? What do members need from their congregations? What motivates people to get involved and stay involved?” He identified needs for spirituality, community, care, and serving. I was and am impressed because I have never seen an analysis exactly like this.

Spirituality includes things like worship, sacraments, prayer, art, music. Community is the wide range of activities like small groups, meals, fellowship. Care has to do with things like visitation, providing people with material things they need, grief ministry, and Stephen Ministry. Serving includes the opportunities for us to do things that provide for the other needs like leadership, hospitality, music.

When a church focuses on these needs, it’s better able to carry out it’s mission.

Although some people are really good at demanding what they need (sometimes without offering what they have to others), I confess that it is difficult for me to talk about my needs. It’s just who I am. It’s who my whole family is. We think that we should be self-sufficient.

In my experience, many people expect churches to know what they need without saying anything. Nope, telepathy is not one of the spiritual gifts. So I’ll just put it out there. What do you need from the church? Figured it out? Now tell someone. Talk to the pastor, or a council member, or a ministry leader. It could make a difference.

Read Philipians 4:19 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne