One of the keys to advancing the gospel is for the church to be made up of individuals who consider it their task to do the work of the ministry, rather than expecting the paid staff to minister to them. According to the New Testament, the purpose of church leadership isn't to do all the work of the church, but to equip the church to minister to one another. It's easy to identify by the number of lay people involved in leadership. With the help of others, discover areas of ministry for others to do. If necessary, find a group of individuals who can help you identify the needs of your congregation and how they can be fulfilled.
People own something when they're an integral part of it.
Find ways for your congregation to begin owning the ministry. The first thing you need to do is be willing to give something up yourself. Yet our research indicates that there is a highly significant relationship between the ability of a church to demonstrate love and its long-term growth potential. Growing churches possess on average a measurably higher 'love quotient' than stagnant or declining ones. Don't underestimate the power of relationships.