Ever since you joined Life Church, have you been ministering to others in the Lord? How many of them have you befriended? An elder once sat beside a "stranger." After the worship service, he extended his right-hand of fellowship to him. He asked him sheepishly, "Is this your first visit to Life Church?" To his surprise, the "stranger" said that he has been attending Life Church for several years. Upon hearing it, he almost dropped his jaws.

I have seen many "strangers" in Life Church. I have spoken to a number of them and have tried to encourage them to socialize with other church members and help them to integrate into the life of the church. However, some of them remained unmoved and tenacious. Unfortunately, such an attitude has prevented us and other concerned members from ministering to them.

Life Church is a big church. Hundreds of worshippers stream in and out of the sanctuary on both services. The pastors try to shake hands with everybody and say a word of encouragement. However, with so many worshippers streaming out of the sanctuary, it is impossible for them to greet every one of them.

There is much to do in Life Church. Many Lifers are still feeling "lost" and need help to get integrated into the life of the church. That is why I am writing to urge, exhort and encourage you to play an active role in this ministry of ministries – People-Oriented Ministry.

Dear Lifers, how can you be actively involved in the People-Oriented Ministry of the church? The "strangers" are crying out for someone to come along to minister to them. A "Hello" is not good enough. What they need is a concerned member who is willing to sit down with them and listen to the cry of their heart. Paul said, "… comfort the feebleminded, support the weak" (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Reading the New Testament, especially the letters of Paul, I am convinced that God’s plan and desire is to see every believer become a functioning member of the Body of Christ. Paul often exhorted Christians to engage in spiritual activities that would enable the Body of Christ to function effectively and to grow spiritually (Eph 4:11-16). Oftentimes, he used a unique word to describe this mutual and reciprocal process. This word "one another" (in Greek this is one word) occurs at least 58 times in the New Testament and it was used 40 times by Paul alone.

In order to get this concept of one another to his readers, he used a unique illustration to get his point across – The Human Body. The word "body" occurs more than 30 times in the letters of Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, and Colossians to illustrate the functioning church. Approximately half of the times he used it to refer to the human body with its many parts and members. In the other half, he applied the term to the Church – the Body of Christ.

For example, Paul applied this analogy of the human body to the carnal and immature Corinthian church. Due to its members’ immaturity, he made special effort to spell out the similarity between the "human body" and "Christ’s Body" – the Church. To emphasize the importance of the functions of the church, he used the word "body" 13 times to illustrate just how this body actually functions in 1 Corinthians 12:14-26. The application of the passage is that Christians are "members one of another." And he concluded it by adding this statement: "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular [i.e. each one of you is part of it]" (12:27).

Dear Lifers, are you aware of your relationship with other Lifers? Do you know that you are members of one another? Paul said, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5). You know, it really saddens my heart to hear members telling me that they still do not have a sense of belonging in Life Church. Is this a problem of integration into the church family? Or is it the problem of some members?

No Lifer should feel that he or she is more important than another member in the same Body. Paul said, "For I say…not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly" (Romans 12:3). To the Corinthians, he reminded them that no member of Christ’s body is more important than the other. In other words, it doesn’t matter who you are and what position you hold in the church, all of us (rich or poor, educated or uneducated) are equal in God’s sight. Even an ordinary member who may go unnoticed is just as important and necessary in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:22, 23).

Again the analogy of the human body expresses it well. Which parts of the body are the most important? Mouth, hands, feet, eyes, ears or the hidden parts – bones, ligaments, muscles and glands? Could the hands or feet or tongue operate without the controlling muscles and the all-controlling brain?

Likewise, in Life Church, no one can say, "I’m more important than you." For that reason, you need to be mindful how you exercise your spiritual gifts. You mustn’t use them in such a way as to make other members of the Body feel unimportant. These unnoticed members are just as important and necessary in the Body of Christ. Do not treat them as second class Christians in the Church of Jesus Christ.

Do you desire to be a more vibrant, dynamic Christian in the Body of Christ? How can you function practically and minister to each other in close relationship? Let me share with you some suggestions for your consideration:

1. Realize that you are a vital part of the universal Body of Christ wherever it is located. You are important in the Body of Christ. You are a valued member in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 6:20). When a person is born again, according to 1 Corinthians 12:13, he is baptized by the Holy Spirit and incorporated into the Body of Christ. He becomes a member of that Body. It doesn’t matter where he comes from. He has become a member of the Universal Church. He is in Christ. Therefore, he enjoys all the privileges, rights, and blessings any other Christian enjoys. There is no class distinction or discrimination.

2. Understand that a local body of believers does not function automatically. There is a Head that coordinates its functions. That Head is the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:19). He is our Leader. We look to Him for wisdom, guidance, and understanding to play our part in the Body of Christ. He is our Coordinator; we are His players.

3. Cultivate Spirituality. The Body of Christ is a spiritual body (Ephesians 4:11-16). It is lively and full of dynamism. Leaders of the church are to help the congregation to become participating members of Body of Christ. Older Christians can mentor younger ones. Am I doing my best to help cultivate members to become mature in Christ? Am I encouraging mature Christians to play their part in teaching, praying, visiting, and counseling? Spiritual cultivation is important and necessary to the growth of the church. Every member is involved in developing Body function in the church. Nobody is spared.