Assimilating New Members by Connecting Them With Service Opportunities at Noonday Baptist Church Marietta, Georgia

Abstract

ABSTRACT

ASSIMILATING NEW MEMBERS BY CONNECTING THEM WITH

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AT NOONDAY BAPTIST CHURCH

MARIETTA, GEORGIA

Yancey Jay Worthington, D.Min.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Jeff K. Walters

The project explores increasing retention of new members by helping them become active in service within their church. The basic premise is as members become involved in volunteer positions within the church, they will become more connected.

Chapter 1 details the purpose, goals and ministry context of the project. Chapter 2 examines the biblical foundation for the project using 1 Corinthians 12 as the focal passage, but also examining Matthew 20:26-28, Ephesians 4:7-13, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. These texts emphasize the importance of church members serving in the church and the importance of church leaders to equip members for that service.

Chapter 3 studies theoretical and sociological issues that are pertinent to the project. This chapter focuses on different ways that service increases a member's ownership and belonging in a church.

In chapter 4 a detail account of the fifteen-week project is given in a week-by-week format. Chapter 5 is a critical evaluation of the entire project.