WACO—Relationships are the key to having the happy fellowship every congregation desires, Bob Edd Shotwell told a gathering of a ministers at a Waco Regional Baptist Network seminar.

“Fellowship does not happen by accident,” said Shotwell, veteran Texas Baptist minister of education. “It does not happen without the power of God working in individual believers and in the church body. As believers share with others their salvation experiences, practice Christlike lives and demonstrate their faith by serving others, fellowship flourishes.

“Fellowship is more than just a feeling of goodwill in a congregation. It is a person-to-person relationship and a relationship with God.”

Bob Edd Shotwell, veteran Texas Baptist minister of education, shares insights about building relationships within a church during a seminar sponsored by the Waco Regional Baptist Network and Baylor University.

Churches can facilitate the building of fellowship by getting members involved in a smaller group within the congregation such as a Sunday school class, choir, sports team, missions action team or prayer group.

“Every person needs to be in a small group where they are known,” Shotwell said. “We have to funnel people into small groups if we’re going to get them plugged in and maintain them.”

Fellowship events such as class socials, Valentine’s Day dinners, Christmas banquets, retreats, trips and recreation programs also help build fellowship within the congregation, he said.

A key lies in helping people feel wanted and accepted from the first time they visit. People need to be welcomed “from the parking lot to the pew,” Shotwell said.

Greeters in the parking lot who can help visitors know where to go next are an asset, he said. Also, people need to be greeted in Sunday school and worship. A follow-up contact, preferably made that day, can show visitors they are valued and appreciated.

Communication is paramount in maintaining a healthy sense of fellowship within a congregation, Shotwell said.

“If the church is well-informed about finances, they will come in support of what is going on. The more open you are, the better everything works,” he added.

He counseled pastors to be open about policies and procedures, and to use the committee system to enable input from a wide section of the membership.

“Informing members will help keep harmony, unity and fellowship. Not informing members makes them skeptical and divided,” he added.

Differences between members should be mediated as outlined in Matthew 18, he said.

Maintaining fellowship involves meeting needs when they arise within the congregation. The congregation also will function better when people are making decisions for Christ and worship services result in members rededicating themselves to Christ, he added.

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