Edward DeVries

Every Member a Minister Edward DeVries

Did you know that 80% of all first-time church visitors did NOT come by invitation of the pastor? Thats right, 80% of all first-time church visitors come as the result of being invited by a non-salaried member of the church. As a Pastor I have knocked EVERY door in the community 11 times and I have knocked every door in the surrounding towns 3 or more times. Yet the greater number of our church's visitors do NOT come as the result of my efforts. They come because one of our members (their neighbor, co-worker, relative, etc.) expressed an interest in them and invited them to come. As a full-time Baptist evangelist I discovered that a church with a soul-winning pastor will have regular professions of faith and baptisms. But a church with a soul-winning membership will have SEVERAL professions of faith and WEEKLY baptisms. The Local Church is supposed to be the Body of Christ where every member exercises his gift for the glory of God and the propagation of the Gospel. Yet MOST churches are a one-man show. The Pastor does everything and the church members do little or nothing. When I was a boy, we called people who had non-functioning body parts RETARDED. And that is what most local churches are today - RETARDED bodies where ONE member, the pastor (and maybe a few others) drag the rest of the members like a retarded man would drag a limp leg. And we wonder why our churches do not grow and do the things that we know God has called us to do. The key to a growing church is to create a church where EVERY member is a minister. Granted, not every member will be the pastor. Not everyone will be a leader. But every member can determine his spiritual gift and contribute to the work of the church by exercising his gift. The 11 chapters in this book have been used by pastors all over the world to motivate their members to serve in the local church. One pastor in Arkansas preached an 11 part sermon series (a sermon from each chapter) and as a result over half of his membership are now active in the ministries of the church. I have personally preached these lessons in churches all over the united States and in each church where I have preached these messages the members catch a vision to serve in their church. If you are a pastor, deacon, Sunday school superintendent, teacher, or just someone who wants to do more for God by serving in His church this book is for you. My address, phone number, and E-mail address are on the back cover in case you have any questions as you read.