Creating a Relevant Ministry

December 2005
by Kent Shaffer

“It’s here! It’s finally here!” You can hardly contain your excitement as you clench the brown cardboard. After months of waiting, you are only moments away from opening the box between you and the gadget you’ve wanted for way too long. Little do you know that you are also minutes away from utter disappointment. What you are about to realize is that although this gadget has the ability to make your life a lot easier, the instructions shipped are in Portuguese.

Language barriers can quickly turn useful information into useless information. The instructions are not relevant if you cannot understand them. According to Merriam-Webster, relevance requires two things. First, something must be practically applicable. Second, it must also be socially applicable. Relevance is a key factor to your ministry’s success. In Mark 16:15 (NLT), Jesus commanded us to “go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.” God equipped us with practical information, but He gave us the responsibility to preach it in a way that is personally applicable to everyone, everywhere. Let’s take the next few minutes to study how we can fulfill the second part of relevance by communicating the Good News in a way people can relate to.

Without question, Paul was an effective minister. He understood the power of relevant ministry, and he understood how to create a relevant ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9:20-23 (NLT), Paul writes:

“20 When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. 23 I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.”

Paul understood the two dominate principles of relevance. He understood that the salvation message itself is timeless. It speaks to every human being no matter what race, gender, or culture. He knew that God covered the practicality of salvation, but the preaching of salvation is left to believers. Secondly, he understood that effective ministry is communicating the salvation message in a way people can understand and relate to. He made the salvation message socially applicable. It is important to realize that Paul only imitated culture that did not compromise God’s Word. In doing so, he won people’s confidence and became a living testimony as he became someone they could relate to. He understood that his first purpose was to preach the gospel in its entire truth. He preached God’s Word in its purest form not as a foreigner but as a peer. His relationship with people led to their relationship with Christ.

The key to people understanding your message is you understanding them. The level of your understanding will set the limitations of your ministry. Your understanding of Portuguese will quickly determine how well you understand something from Portugal. That’s obvious! However, cultural barriers are not as obvious and are often far more powerful than language barriers. We all have a complex culture. An individual’s culture is actually comprised of a variety of cultures such as race, nationality, religion, gender, generation, social class, profession, family, personality and more. That’s a lot of culture to understand. Each culture is different. Baby Boomers are different than Generation Y. Engineers are different from musicians. Culture is a powerful thing. Many of us have cut our hair, worn our clothes, and behaved according to what is socially acceptable in our culture. Your human nature draws you to people like yourself, but you will have to learn about others in order to be an effective minister.

In the past, a popular notion of marketing was that mass advertising works. To a degree this is true, but in the past there were only a few television channels to watch and newspapers to read. Today, people have more choices. They can watch, read, do, or eat whatever is relevant to their lifestyle. Without question a message targeted specifically towards you is more effective than one that is meant for the entire nation. If you had to shoot a target, would you want a shotgun or a rifle? The shotgun takes less skill to hit the target but will leave a weaker impact. The rifle takes skill to use but delivers a precise, efficient, and focused impact. Paul realized that people want to hear a message that is focused at them. It takes more work to learn and adapt to someone’s culture, but it is far more effective.

Your ministry’s overall culture should serve as an umbrella to all of the subcultures you are called to reach. Create ministries within your ministry that can reach each subculture on a relevant level. Create a skateboarding ministry to reach skaters. Create groups that people need and want to be a part of. Make your children’s church fun. Ask yourself these questions. Are you ministering to every subculture you are called to reach? How can you be more relevant? Anthropologists know that the best way to understand a culture is to become a part of it. Fortunately, there are alternatives to full cultural submersion. You can learn much from observing and talking to people. I work in two different ministries at my church. One classroom is kindergarten. The other one is fifth and sixth grade. The two cultures are night and day. Each one requires different teaching methods. I learn so much from my students by talking to them. I discover what is important to them and what problems they have. Not only do I get insight into their culture, but I also discover how to minister to their specific needs. I further my learning by watching their favorite television shows or trying the things they love. As I do that I begin to develop an understanding of who they are and how to reach them in a lasting way.

The principles of relevance work in every culture. Find out more about the people you are trying to reach. Every community has diversity. Each person reacts and relates to your message in a unique way. I like Paul’s insight in 1 Corinthians 11:33 (NLT) when he says, “I don’t just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved.” The goal is salvations. Relevance puts aside personal preference and self-interest. It might not be your favorite music or your artistic style, but lay it aside if it will make a difference. The key is to stay focused on what is the absolute best way to preach the Good News. When you do that you will be creating a relevant ministry.

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