Skills, continued
•D. Use problems to create opportunities
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•                          E. Praise and reward workers
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•F. Do a few things well, stress success.
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•G. Professionalize to mobilize, not replace.
It is always good to look for ways to help people earn something for themselves, so if you can supply work around your church, do it.  (This often requires some supervision).  Single men who ask for help are often willing to work for help you might give them.   There might be some elderly person who needs their lawn or yard taken care of, and might even have the money to pay for it.   Organize some lawn care.   The Deacons can pay for the men to work on the homes of widows and then two problems are solved at once.  A problem thus becomes an opportunity.
    When you have volunteers doing mercy work make sure you encourage them.  Pray for them, praise them, tell them they are doing good.   Send them to training seminars (preferably in the most exotic and luxurious place you can afford).  It is good to set smaller and measurable goals so that mercy teams can see direct success.   This will inspire them to do so much more.   This is why we encourage churches to become proactive and programmatic in their approach, and not just reactionary to problems.
    If you can afford to hire someone full time in mercy ministry, don’t let them do all the work.   Make sure they help with the task of multiplying the work force by mobilizing others.   They should develop a mercy apprentice, have a list of volunteers to call, and mentor those who want to learn about ministries of mercy.