July 22, 2002
The Springs gushes with 100 percent of members in ministry
___By Alison Wingfield
___Fellowship News
___SAN ANTONIO--As a new, smaller congregation, The Springs in San Antonio has a distinct advantage over older, more established churches: 100 percent of the membership is actively involved in ministry.
___"Everyone is engaged in some form of ministry," said Pastor Brad Russell. "The ministry of a church needs everybody to be participating, and everybody needs to participate to experience the joy of ministry."
___The 1-year-old church had the benefit of beginning from scratch, with no constraints that might impede an established congregation. "Whenyou're starting a new church, you have a blank palette to paint on," Russell explained.
PASTOR Brad Russell baptizes Linda Reeves in an outdoor service. The year-old church has been cited by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as a model congregation for faith formation.
___Involving every member in ministry was a foundational commitment of the church. Part of the vision statement notes the goals of helping others "fulfill their life-mission in the kingdom of God."
___The Springs is one of two churches chosen by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as a model of ministry in faith formation. The church's priorities closely match those outlined in CBF's faith formation strategies and key initiatives.
___To be intentional about engaging everyone in active ministry, The Springs offers an Explorer's Seminar, which is a requirement for membership. This four-week seminar, taught by Russell, gives prospective church members a chance to learn the values of the church and what is expected of each member. It also provides time for Russell to get to know new members. At the end of the four weeks, members are asked to sign a membership covenant acknowledging that they will endeavor to grow spiritually and to use their gifts.
___"There are no surprises when you join the church on what's expected," Russell said. "The expectation that you are here to serve is there."
___The church also encourages visitors to become involved in various ministries before they join the church.
___"We are constantly recruiting new faces in the crowd to become involved," Russell said. This early involvement aids assimilation of new members, he added.
___Church member Steve Kleiser appreciated the Explorer's Seminar.
___"I really like the idea of educating people about the church and her philosophies before they join," he said. "Too many people get lost through the crack when they join without fully understanding what they are getting in to."
___The seminar also helped Kleiser understand the direction the church was going and where he could fit in.
___Kleiser, whose background is in computer science, serves as the church's webmaster. He also has participated in dramas during the worship services and is recording the history of The Springs through photos and videos.
___Jan Patterson rediscovered an avenue of ministry through music at The Springs. Although she played guitar in high school and college, she wasn't able to keep it up when she entered medical school.
___When the pastor asked her to play at the church's first worship service, Patterson found an outlet for ministry.
___The result has been "a personal revival for me through music," she said.
___Patterson also used her gifts as a professor of medicine in infectious diseases when she volunteered with the church and a local hospital to offer health-care seminars on bioterrorism after Sept. 11.
___Finding a niche and serving in a meaningful ministry are key reasons people have joined The Springs, church leaders report.
___"The No. 1 reason (why people join) given by those with a church background is that they were looking for meaningful ministry," Russell said. "They felt needed here, like there were outlets for their particular ministry gifts."
___Patterson echoes this: "At The Springs, I really feel needed. It's so fulfilling to be a critical part of the ministry."
___Judy Senter searched for several years to find a place where she could use her unique ministry gifts. As a licensed special counselor, she had a private counseling practice in Allen and she facilitated a recovery group at First Baptist Church, where her husband was pastor.
___After he retired and they moved to San Antonio, Senter began looking for a place where God could use her gifts. She found that place at The Springs. Senter now serves The Springs as an associate for a recovery ministry called Healing Waters.
___In addition to the Explorer's Seminar for new members, Russell recently offered discipleship courses that integrated spiritual gifts. He also preached a sermon series modeled on the courses. As a final component of the course, those attending the classes were asked to write a six-month plan outlining what spiritual gifts they had identified and wanted to act upon.
___"The whole goal is helping people be more deliberate and intentional," Russell said.
___"Life is too short for people not to act on the unique gifts God has given them. The needs around us are so urgent."
___
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