Lesson 15

MINISTRY ORGANIZATION

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts. 1:1-7

The early Apostle’s ministries were filled with chaos and disorder till they brought in organization. Without organization, no ministry would last long or enjoy growth. The number of the disciples only multiplied greatly after they brought in organization.

How do we organize our ministries?

Let there be division of labor: don’t leave things to chance and try to do the entire work by yourself. The Apostles chose men to see to the part that of the ministry that has been neglected.

(a). Let the ministry have a body of stewards, deacons, elders, administrators etc. as you may chose to call it and let this body respond to the administrative work of the ministry. (The Administrative work of the ministry may include such work like organizing ministries’ services, outreaches, programs and the book keeping of the ministry)

(b). Let not the pastors be involved in the organization of the ministry directly, rather let the pastors ‘give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word’. The Apostles described it as ‘serving tables’ when the preacher is now attending to other things other than praying and studying and preaching continually. God had called others to serve in other capacities in the organization of His work through us; find your part and stick to it because in the sight of God the preacher isn’t greater than those who made the preaching service a possibility.

2. Train men to take various position of responsibility by impacting your spirit on them. ¶ And the LORD said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit which is upon you and put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone’. Numbers 11:16-17

The burden of the ministry is carried by Christ in us (…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18) and on all that we’ve impacted such commission of Christ in us to.

NB: never use anyone who hasn’t the spirit of the commission (understood the vision and mission of the ministry and has shown commitment towards the realization of such ministry with you) in any organizational position for the ministry. Whoever doesn’t have the spirit of ministry or the founding minister of such ministry or vision won’t be able to carry out the organizational part of such visions.

The early ministry of the apostles is called the ‘acts of the apostles’ because every ministry is the act of the founding minister whom God used and whoever that isn’t likeminded with the founding minister or is ready to be likeminded with him cant organize effectively such ministry no matter how gifted and talented he is in organization.

Don’t work with the man you don’t believe in his ministry, if you don’t have his spirit or the desire to have it, you won’t prosper in your work with him. The 70 elders were given the spirit of Moses to be able to work with Moses; never work with the man you don’t like his spirit.