In my recent blog post entitled “Real Training and Equipping” I shared “three shocks” the Lord gave me while Pastoring. I then asked an important question. Here is a quick recap…
1. I thought that my preaching of sermons was changing the world. It was a tough pill to swallow for me, but the reality was that though a great sermon may change some people’s lives, you cannot fulfill the Great Commission or “disciple nations” through great preaching alone.
2. The environment that we as a church (with Holy Spirit of course) created every Sunday was not necessarily the environment people went home to after the service – or lived in during the week. I discovered that many went home to real challenges, addictions, struggle, and a lack of understanding on how to create that heavenly environment in their own homes. On a Sunday morning when the coffee is brewing, the worship team is “on fire,” and you are surrounded by like-minded worshipers, everyone sort of looks pretty spiritually healthy.
3. I discovered that the level of dualistic living and human imperfection was a little more prevalent than I had thought. And it was going to be hard to preach everything that everyone needed to hear to “repent and turn” in a 45 minute message. Herein lies the problem…
How do we as leaders facilitate an environment through our leadership resources that creates the kind of lasting change in individuals necessary for changing the world?
As we continue with this blog let’s take a look at one more proven statistical dynamic that can be found in ANY body of people – including a local church!
Maybe you have heard this secular quote before:
“20% of the people are doing 80% of the work.”
If you have been in ministry of any length of time you will have discovered this to be very true in a local church environment. Essentially what this means is that approximately only 20 percent of any local church’s membership behaves in a certain way. This is a proven law of life. They are naturally self starters, readily volunteer, and are usually spiritually productive not just on Sundays, but also during the week “beyond the four walls.” Again, let me emphasize that this 20 percent do this naturally without needing to be pushed. It is a pity that so few in a general congregation are functioning at high octane! Knowing this however, helps us understand why, with so many people attending our many churches, the Great Commission hasn’t been fulfilled already!
According to a study done by a well known American University the 20 percent “achievers,” as they call them (for the church world let’s call them “fruitful”), have the following characteristics that have made them that way. This principle has been proven in both the secular world and the Christian world (although it obviously manifests itself differently in the “religious Mountain”). Bear in mind whether secular or spiritual, behind every great success, generally there are “secrets” or principles at work.
The following are the contributing 4 factors of the 20 percent fruitful:
1. They are natural “self starters” and take initiative independently. They are the “first to volunteer” or get involved. Pastors know who these reliable people are.
2. They have learned how to create a godly, Kingdom environment around them not just on a Sunday, but also during the week at home or in their work place. They create environment rather than environment creating them. Beyond the four walls they are the thermostat not the thermometer. They are not solely dependent upon their pastor or upon the church to create a godly home life either.
3. They have developed strong character. Who they are “at church” is who they are during the week. They love the Word and walk according to it, whether the pastor tells them to or not. They are those who cultivate self-development and continued growth on a regular consistent basis.
4. They know how to leverage challenge and pressure to produce continued growth and effectiveness in their relationship with God, and their ministry. They understand James 1:2-4. Usually there has been some kind of difficult struggle or crisis within their life that they have had to endure or overcome in their past which has produced a tenacity or endurance in them beyond the general mass. This principle you can actually observe in the lives of all history makers whether they are Believers or not.
Pay very close attention to those 4 keys, as unlocking those in even the most passive Believer is crucial to them becoming effective in their generation.
Now, back to the 20 percent! In a crowd of many, these few who live this way stand out – and it is not necessarily because God has put some special hot sauce on them! Even with grace and anointing, without those 4 factors in play, the “anointing” won’t last long. These kind of motivated world changers usually volunteer for everything, sit near the front, are reaching people during the week, and make it all look so easy! They are those who even enjoy difficulty and discomfort because they see the end result as worthy of their sacrifice. They are those who enjoy learning and study, and continued growth is like a hobby for them. The church, pastor, and leadership love these achievers because they help accomplish both the pastors’ vision and, ultimately, God’s vision for both inside the church and outside within the community. Can you imagine an entire church of achievers?
I think this also begs another question. Is it possible through the right kind of training and equipping, to help others (the 80 percent) shift into a lifestyle that cultivates fruitfulness in church, at home, and in their respective sphere of influence? The answer is yes! And this is what I love to do through our History Makers Academy training systems. But what kind of training and equipping? What key components are needed to “re-wire” a person for result oriented effective Christianity that fulfills the Great Commission?
We will finally answer this question in my next blog. Stay tuned!
Derek is an apostolic leader, requested speaker, trainer, author, and execution strategist. He loves to advise Pastors and Leaders on Ministry and Church Growth.
Derek is the president of the History Makers Academy and founder of the History Makers Society. Both of which are designed to train, equip and send out individuals to influence all spheres of society.
For more information on how you can join the movement or receive this unique training and equipping experience visit historymakersacademy.com
