Engagement is the emotional commitment the member has to the church, family, personhood, community, and its goals. This emotional, spiritual, religious, and psychological commitment means engaged members actually care about their participation, their gifts, their development, their purpose and their passions. Their passions and those of the church are closely aligned. Engagement influences the behaviors and levels of effort in service to the overarching mission, vision, and goals of the church. The more engagement a member has with the church, small group, committee or ministry, the more effort they put forth. Engagement produces an environment that encourages individuals to take ownership for the success of the church rather than merely being spectators or even worse, commentators and analysts on what is going wrong or right in the church community.

When a congregation is engaged there is a deep feeling and profound awareness of “We” over and against the pull towards an “I” centric focus, which cripples collaborative efforts to the detriment of the whole church’s forward movement and greater good it was created to accomplish. Therefore, in 2018 our focus will be to help our members get engaged where every member is investing fully of their gifts given by the Creator. When members are engaged, the kingdom of God we seek to create, here on earth, comes closer to realization and life is made better for our people. Are you ready to be fully engaged? Make your answer a resounding, yes!

Peace,

Bishop Randy “Mwenda” Brown

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