Don was an evangelist.
He was not in the manner of a Billy Graham or even a Greg Laurie. Don never filled a pulpit, nor spoke to large crowds. Don just loved to talk about Jesus. You could not be in a conversation with him for very long when the subject would turn to his Lord and Savior. There was no forcing the conversation, no hype, just a mention in a normal conversation which always turned to what God had done for him. Don did not drive to his work six miles away. He preferred to ride the bus. He told us, “You never know who you might meet on the bus.” Often people would show up at church on Sunday morning or Sunday evening and tell us, “Don sent me.”
The church began an outreach and evangelism program and who better, we thought, to head it up other than Don. A few months later we realized there was a problem. Our new program was not going anywhere, and worst of all Don had quit talking to strangers about Jesus. We belatedly realized that while Don’s motivational gifts were encouragement and proclamation, he was not a leader, and his failure to lead the evangelism program bothered him so much that he no longer had the passion to share Jesus.
This is what happens in many churches as we try to fill positions of ministry and leadership with whatever warm body will accept the job. Then, because the task does not fall in their area of gifting, they burn out rapidly.
Spiritual gifts are talked about throughout the Bible, one of which is found
"so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
These seven gifts listed above are called the “Motivational Gifts.” God gives to each person one or more of these gifts which motivate that person to be iserve Him in a specific manner. When a person is operating in these gifts he or she feels that they are fulfilling their purpose and mastering their role in life.
After seeing the problems with Don and many others over the years we made a very conscious decision that anyone taking on a role in our church would complete a motivational gifts assessment questionnaire and find out where they fit in. We later extended the questionnaire to all members. In that way, when a position came open, we could go through the membership gift listing to identify the best candidate. This is much better than just grabbing a willing warm body but it still requires confirmation by the Holy Spirit.
Identification of your motivational gifting is not just an intellectual exercise to allow you to learn more about yourself. Obviously with the results of your questionnaire you are able to identify ministry areas which you feel most comfortable.
Our book, "Motivation, Your Guide to Fitting In' is now available, for a limited time at aslanministries.org or just click on the book icon below.
Click here to Get your free Motivational gifts book today!
Bill Johnson
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