THE PERSONAL TOUCH
Creating successful ministries that touch lives
by Edward E. Thomason

---

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication, except those parts which the author has granted permission to be copied or adapted by the local church, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the author.

Dedication

To my sweet family of brothers and sisters in Christ at New Madrid, Missouri.

Special thanks to

-- Linda --

"My life companion and best friend."

---

CHAPTER ONE
granddaddy's green thumb

I remember with fondness my boyhood days of walking with granddaddy through his vegetable garden. At evening, while it was cool, we would make a visit to the garden and return with a basket full of vegetables for Mom to take home. I would listen with pride as neighbors would stop by and compliment Granddaddy on his garden. Some neighbors admiringly would comment on "Granddaddy's green thumb." It was as if he had a "magic touch." He seemed to be able to grow almost anything. It wasn't until latter years when I tried my own hand at gardening that I truly appreciated the efforts that Granddaddy made.

Looking back, I wonder if maybe there was something special about Granddaddy's touch. He touched the soil, carefully examining it. He touched the seeds, carefully planting each one. And he touched the plants as they grew, carefully examining their leaves, roots, blossoms and fruit.

His keen knowledge of soil, seed, and seasons was a part of the "magic," but it was his "personal touch" that set his garden apart from others. His devotion to details and love for gardening added the magic which many called his "green thumb."

I believe that church growth is in many ways like Granddaddy's approach to gardening. Success comes from a keen knowledge of the soil, seed, and seasons as we "labor together with God" to cultivate the soil, plant the seed of God's word, and nurture each plant until it reaches its fullest potential and bears fruit to the glory of God.

Surely, the local church where we minister will grow and flourish if only each Christian will add that extra "personal touch" that can be seen in our love for God, love for the lost, and love for gardening in the Lord's vineyard!

If you are the kind of person that cannot drive by a beautiful garden without wondering in curiosity, "How did this happen?" Or if you are the kind of person who delights in getting involved and taking the "hands on approach" in church work, then this book will probably appeal to you. However, if you are expecting to be given all the answers and think there is some kind of "magic" recipe or formula for church growth then you will miss the point. Successful church growth takes the individual "personal touch," which only you can provide!

I hope you find this book both enjoyable and profitable reading. My personal wish for you as you read and perhaps re-read this book is that it will in some small way inspire and encourage you to do your best work in ministering to others.

Best wishes!

CHAPTER TWO
soil, seeds, and seasons

The parable of the sower, Mark 4:1-20, might also be called the parable of the soils. The "seed" in the parable, which represents "God's Word," will not germinate and grow until it is placed into the soil. But the kind of soil in which it is planted made a "big" difference as to the ultimate growth and fruitfulness of the plant. Reconsider for a moment, this parable as it relates to church growth and our local ministries.

some hearts are...
trampled and hardened

Some hearts are like a well trodden pathway along the edge of the garden of life that has been trampled and abused by both the world and the individual himself or herself. "And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up... And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts." (Mark 4:1-4, 15.)

Such individuals have been accurately described by the prophet Isaiah as mentioned by Jesus in chapter thirteen of Matthew. The prophet said, "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed..." Hearts which were once receptive or at least had the potential of being receptive to the truth of God's word can at some point become hardened by the wickedness of the world, by sin and its shameful consequences, and/or by religious error to the point that they become like the trampled and hardened wayside soil in the Lord's parable.

There are numerous things, of course, that may be contributing to the continual hardening of hearts today. But at least some people, if not a great many, are suffering from a sense of low self esteem. We are living in a world that has little compassion nor interest in individuals anymore. We all find ourselves being trampled underfoot by an uncaring world.

The modern day afflictions that often offend the weak or disappoint the strong are numerous. Almost daily we see hearts that once were loving and trusting being callused and hardened by broken marriages, dysfunctional homes, loss of employment, and economical chaos. People by growing numbers are becoming distressed, depressed, diseased and destroyed.

In such lives, the word of God makes little impact. If only someone could have shared the message of hope with them before the days of disinterest, despair and disgust! But this sad situation reminds me of Granddaddy's garden again. He knew that there was a proper season for planting. For some precious souls, that season of opportunity seems to have been missed.

How sad! How tragic!

For others however, the time to plant is now before someone walks on the row and hardens the soil.

some hearts are...
shallow and rocky hearts

Some hearts are like shallow rocky soil. On the surface the soil appears to be rich and fertile but just beneath the surface is a resistant layer of solid rock. "And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.... And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." (Mark 4:5-6, 16-17.)

In such soil the word of God is quickly and joyfully received. But there is an under layer of stone that hinders growth. For some the circumstances and difficulties of life have contributed to the sub-surface hardening of their hearts. Many are looking or hope and often grasp at straws or anything that seems to offer a glimmer of hope in their chaotic world. They rejoice in their new faith and its promises of tomorrow. But they may become offended by any hardships or persecutions that are related to thier new faith. (Mark 4:17).

Deep seeded sin may also become a barrier preventing many from making a fuller and deeper commitment to Christ. As various trials of faith come, their shallow faith withers away like shallow rooted plants in the heat of the day.

some hearts are...
entangled

Some hearts are so involved and intertwined with the affairs of this life that their spiritual growth is choked out by the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and lustful desires.

"And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit... And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." (Mark 4:7, 18-19.)

We are living in the day of "other things." As Americans, we pride ourselves on being "open minded" in our intellectual and educational pursuits, yet we find ourselves growing into "couch potatoes" and filling our minds with all kinds of clutter and trash.

We pride ourselves on being independent like our forefathers, yet we are often burdened and encumbered with all kinds of concerns and worries. Our generation is in a hurry. We rush through our lives in pursuit of trivial and temporal things like child n that are charmed by a bright and shinny penny. We grasp, and we covet, and we yearn for more and more. Today we must get, we must gain, and we must have and possess everything that someone else has. As a result, there just isn't enough time anymore to pray, to study Gods Word, to worship, and to care about eternal things.

Granddaddy knew that weeds could take over his garden if he wasn't careful and diligent. Priorities had to be set, work was required, but a clean garden was possible. Many have become too lazy in nurturing and cultivating their spiritual lives. Their hearts are not only open to the gospel, but also open to all manner of things that quickly displace and crowd God out of their lives.

Many lives that once were fruitful gardens are today becoming nothing more than patches of weeds.

some hearts are...
good

Some hearts are like "good soil" found in the center of the garden. Rich, fertile, deeply cultivated and able to produce healthy plants and much fruit.

"And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred... And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred." (Mark 4:8, 20.)

Some people are more open and receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their hearts are fertile soil without any underlying resistance that would hinder continued growth. Such people can become deeply rooted and able to withstand the trials that challenge their faith. Also, they have broken free from the choking influences of the world.

reflections

I believe the Lord gave us this parable not only because he thought that it was important for us to be aware of the wide variety of hearts that our ministries will likely encounter, but because he wanted us to generously sow the good seed of the gospel with compassion, understanding and patience into every heart in our garden of opportunity.

The Lord would say, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." We need to give careful and prayerful thought to this parable. We should consider the importance of a compassionate understanding of the personal needs and problems of the people in our neighborhoods and communities where we are attempting to sow the word.

The church will grow as we start looking for ways to appropriately minister to our neighbors and friends who live around us. We can minister appropriately by considering their circumstances, degree of receptivity, and their everyday struggles and experiences. Even the most callused and trampled of hearts may become softer in time by the gentle rain of our kindness, sincerity and friendship.

Remember, seasons do change and so do hearts!

 

CHAPTER THREE
six categories of people

Obviously, church leaders and members touch the lives of two groups of people: Those "in the church" and those "outside the church." But within these two groups there are at least six categories of people with special needs that we must understand if we are to effectively touch their lives. Simply stated these categories are as follows:

1. Non-members who are not coming to the assemblies but are looking.

2. Non-members who are coming to the assemblies and quietly observing.

3. Non-members who are returning to the assemblies and are listening and learning.

4. Members who are new in the faith.

5. Members who are growing in the faith.

6. Members who are mature in the faith.

In this chapter, we want to briefly examine each of these six categories as they relate to our ministries.

first category
"Non-members who are not coming to the assemblies but are looking."

These are the people within the community who are currently looking and searching for answers. They may be wrestling with some of life's most perplexing questions. They may be struggling with their own understanding of life's real purpose and meaning. They may be quietly sinking in frustration or deeply submerged in despair. They need the helping hand of a friend and a hope to hang on to.

If there is a silver lining in the dark cloud over their heads, it is that they are, at least momentarily, open to the biblical truths that touch their lives, with reference to their present needs and their current problems. It is in these brief moment that we have a window of opportunity to "touch their hearts" with the gospel of Christ. But our effectiveness depends on how alert, watchful and prepared we are. In all probability it will be through our "personal touch" of kindness and caring that they will be brought into contact with the gospel and the answers and hope they are looking for.

Where do we find these people? If we are looking we will find them everywhere. They are sitting on the stool next to us at the lunch counter. They are pitching ball with their children at the park. They live down the street or just next door. They are at the market place or sitting beside us on a bleacher at a school concert or ball game. They are everywhere and anywhere. We all know them because they are our closest friends and family members. This is why we each must realize that we "personally" may the only link they have with the gospel. We must realize that we "personally" have an opportunity to sow the seed and make a real and lasting difference in their lives.

Think for a moment about those in this category. What special needs do they have that we need to be aware of? Let me begin your thinking by suggesting a few of their most obvious needs. They need:

Security and Stability in their lives

Direction and Purpose for living

Genuine love and Compassionate care

Acceptance by others

Forgiveness and Friendships

When you think about it you will realize that these are the same things that all of us need and things that we have found in Christ and among our Christian friends.

What are some of the specific problems that those in this category may be facing? Again a list of the most common problems could include:

Fear, Loneliness, and Poor self esteem

Economic difficulties

Family and/or marital problems

Religious confusion

Guilt and Shame

One of the great challenges of the church today is to constantly watch for people in this category and let them know that we care and that Christ is the solution to their needs and problems. Within the local congregation, our outreach ministries to the people must tune into their felt needs and we must be prepared to offer sound biblical answers and real solutions for the problems they face.

At this point they may not be particularly interested in doctrinal issues or the things that make our fellowship distinct. They are more interested in getting help with their present needs and problems. Their hearts are open to Christ and his word only as it touches their lives at the moment. But once they see that Christ offers solutions to current needs, the door may remain open to other relevant truths and perhaps their interest in spiritual things can be nurtured.

second category
"Non-members who are coming to the assemblies and quietly observing."

These are those who have taken the initiative to attend one or more services and are still curious as they observe what is going on. They are watching not only what we do together in worship and becoming acquainted with our order of services and sincerity of worship, but they are also carefully watching and scrutinizing what we do as individuals. Our attitudes and actions are under their critical observation. They are watching to see if we are genuine.

Let us think about those in this category for a moment. What special needs do they have that we need to be aware of? Again let me prime the pump, so to speak, by suggesting a few of their more obvious needs. They need:

Special Encouragement

Warmth and Attention

Acceptance, Love and Care

Friendships, Support and Salvation

What are some of the specific problems that those in this category may be facing? Again a list of the most common problems could include:

Fear, Loneliness, and Economics

Family and/or marital problems

Religious confusion

Guilt, Shame, and Poor self-esteem

We can immediately become effective in touching the lives of these people by making a special effort to speak to them each time they attend an assembly and by becoming better acquainted by visiting when possible in their homes. In other words, we should personally roll out the welcome mat and try our best to make them feel appreciated and comfortable without embarrassing them.

The genuine warmth of our friendship can help remove some of the awkwardness they feel. Our interest in them and offer of friendship is an essential part of a ministry that would build bridges and open doors of opportunity. Such ministry may be as simple as offering them a place to sit beside us or asking them to go with us to some other church activity. Most importantly, we must build within our congregations the ministries that will address the specific needs and problems of these non-members in helpful and compassionate ways that will lead them closer to Christ.

Such people must not be looked upon by the membership as strangers or outsiders. A spirit of hospitality within the congregation must be developed. We should think of them as the very special people that they are. Their faces may not show it but deep within they may be hurting, struggling quietly with personal problems and looking for compassionate practical and helpful answers to their questions.

They have taken a very courageous first step by bravely attending our assemblies. They are watching us to see our sincerity and genuineness. We should be asking our selves, "What does our personal ministry have to offer these people?" And, "How can we as a congregation touch their lives in a positive way?"

third category
"Non-members who are returning to the assemblies and are listening and learning."

These are those who have taken an active interest and are listening and watching with a desire to learn and understand. While those in this category may still be struggling with many of the needs and problems that they had when they first visited our assemblies, their needs may have broadened to include:

A clearer understanding of God's word

Our patience as they learn

Our empathy and encouragement

Our love

Our interest in those in this category should include an interest in the specific problems they are facing. Such problems may include:

A lack of biblical knowledge

A timidness in asking questions

Discouragement and confusion

Disappointment in the inconsistency they see in the lives of many members

Somehow we must encourage them to be more openly inquisitive by helping them to feel comfortable and special. Our friendship and interest must be sincere and non-threatening. Some kind of personal bible study or small non-threatening group study may be helpful. Access to tracts and literature that relate to the kind of problems they may be struggling with, as well as tracts that discuss doctrinal issues, need to be written and/or made available to this group of people. And as we teach and preach we must not forget to teach the fundamentals of our faith with simplicity and clarity and love.

fourth category
"Members who are new in the faith."

These are those who would be considered new converts and who are listening, learning and watching others. The needs of new members are in some ways similar to the needs of those non-members who are listening and learning. But they now need to feel like they are truly a part of the congregation. Their needs are many but generally speaking they probably include such things as:

A clearer understanding of God's word and doctrinal concerns

Patience, Encouragement, and Acceptance

Friendship and Fellowship with other Christians

Involvement in the work of the church

The problems that new converts face should be considered as an urgent part of our ministry. Their problems may include:

A lack of confidence in their new faith

Confusion and unresolved questions

A continued timidness and shyness around other members

Old temptations and worldly enticements that constantly pull them away from the church

These "babes" are like the tender young plants in granddaddy's garden. They need to be gently watered, protected and nurtured as they grow. Some may be so weak that they cannot stand alone. They need our continual support and prayers as they struggle to grow in Christ.

They also may be struggling to find where they "fit in" within the local congregation. They may want to be more involved in the work and life of the congregation but feel uncertain of their talents and confused about their responsibilities. They also m be vulnerable and easily offended or hurt by unsympathetic members. I once heard of a lady who bravely brought a favorite dish to a potluck dinner at church only to be bluntly told that another good sister always brings that dish. Such insensitivity or lack of concern can quickly stunt the growth of a new member. Sometimes it only takes one harsh criticism of a good effort to dramatically dampen or even quench the "volunteer" and adventurous spirit of a new Christian. Our ministry does not end with the conversion any more than a farmer does not consider his work to be complete just because a seed has germinated. Our ministry must continue to meet the challenge of new needs and new problems.

fifth category
"Members who are growing in the faith."

These are those who have matured beyond the infancy stage and are equipping themselves to use their faith to meet the daily challenges of life and service to God. There is probably a tendency to take these members for granted. They have passed the critical and urgent "infancy stage" but their special needs and problems often pose the greatest challenge and burden to our ministries. Their needs may include such things as:

Continued support, fellowship and involvement

More opportunities to serve in the work of the church

New challenges and a greater application of God's word to life's problems

Development of Christian virtues and leadership skills

The problems that challenge those in this category may often include:

Problems that relate to family relationships

Ethical concerns and morals

A growing apathy and indifference toward spiritual things

Our ministries must be especially creative and thoughtful when it comes to this category of members. With some we may need to seek them out personally and encourage and motivate them to be more involved in the work of the church. Most will expect God's word to be proclaimed boldly and passionately from the pulpit. Which means that the preacher will be faced with the challenge of putting old familiar truths in a new light that will continue to spark an interest and challenge them to grow.

We may also have to help them discover or even rediscover their talents and opportunities to serve God. Above all, we must not let their tendency toward apathy discourage us or become contagious to the newer members.

Our ministry will be challenged, strained and taxed more by this group perhaps than by any other.

sixth category
"Members who are mature in the faith."

These are those who are seasoned by experience and faith. They are strong and capable of leading and strengthening others. The church is greatly blessed when it has members that have reached this category. They are a joy to work with but they must not be taken for granted as if they have no special needs or problems that would challenge our ministry. For example, their needs may include:

More challenging insights and a more in-depth study of God's word

A greater sense of usefulness

More opportunities to serve

More responsibilities

Motivation to serve more diligently

The strengthening and development of old and new skills in leadership and service

A greater appreciation for their efforts

Those who are mature in the faith will have problems that relate directly to their maturity and age. There is no doubt that they will continue to struggle with some of the same problems of those less mature but time has a way of threatening them with a new set of problems such as:

Weariness in well doing (burnout)

A loss of enthusiasm toward their responsibilities

A loss of compassion for the lost

A growing apathy toward bible study

A loss of interest in new challenges

How do we effectively touch these lives with our ministries? What can we do to continue to spark enthusiasm? How do we challenge, motivate and reward those who we have come to count on? Such questions are not easily set aside. We must be creative and resourceful yet, biblical with our answers.

The mature need a strong diet of "meat" but they also need it served to them with an appetizing sauce now and then. Devotional type of literature and subscriptions to a variety of periodicals that will help motivate and uplift as well as teach may be help.

But perhaps you're beginning to think with me of other things that can be done in your ministries. I hope your interest and enthusiasm is being kindled and your now asking yourself, "How can I improve my ministry?" or "What can we do as a congregation to minister to all these different people?"

here is a suggestion

Perhaps you could discuss some of these things with members of a class that has a wide range of members. Perhaps a core group in the congregation (young and older).

Put this list of six categories of people on a chalk board or overhead and explain something about each group. Then ask the group for their "feed back." What do "they" think are the needs and problems of each of these groups in "their" community and congregation? Give them time to think and respond and be sure to write down their responses. You'll probably be surprised by their response and interest.

Two things could happen if you try this exercise: First, the congregation begins to think with you about the need to minister in a variety of ways. Second, They are working with you toward building a congregational ministry that will reach out to all kinds of people. After they begin to identify the needs and problems of each category, ask them to suggest ideas of how their congregation can "personally touch" these lives? Encourage them to be creative and thoughtful. And again, write down their suggestions.