Ministry 101 - Beware the Migratory Flock!

I'm sure it is more noticeable in small towns, but beware the migratory flock! I remember in my first full-time ministry, we lived in a small town. I saw this phenomenon cycle through our church a couple of times while I was there. There was a group of about 50 who moved from church to church. In churches running 100 to 200, this is a big swing! If you've been in ministry for a while, you know what I'm talking about.

The migratory flock is a group of "well meaning Christians" who begin attending a church because "the Holy Spirit is present here." It begins with one or two, then they begin coming in groups. You get so excited to see that God is growing the church as numbers begin to swell. It lasts anywhere from several weeks to a few months, but eventually it ends.

These people come and praise what God is doing. Some may begin to serve, and some may give. Until... something happens. You can't put a finger on what it is, but usually it is when the unspoken leader is offended by something said, or doesn't like the way something is being done. It may be because you won't do what they want.

As quickly as they came, they are gone. They move together to another church in the community where the "Holy Spirit is present." They have apparently determined that the Holy Spirit is no longer at the church you are at. Don't worry, if you are there long enough they (presumably because of the Holy Spirit) will be back. When they leave, they usually leave a damaged church in their wake. In the time that it takes a church to recover from their impact is usually how long it takes for the Holy Spirit to make His rounds to the various churches in the community.

Sound crazy? It's not. I've seen it with my own eyes. If you don't recognize it when it hits your church, you may get caught in the wake of damage left behind.

How do you prevent it from happening where you are?
1. Pray constantly that you will be led by the Holy Spirit.
2. Stay Biblical. Don't get caught in the hype of the moment or by current fads.
3. Start people who come from other churches out serving in simple areas like greeting. If they are willing to serve anywhere, in any situation, and stick with it, you'll see their heart. If they want to be in leadership right away and are unwilling to serve where needed, or want to put conditions on their service, you'll know there is a problem.
4. Don't make large changes in leadership positions all at once. This is one reason annual elections for all the leadership in the church is a bad idea.
5. Pray constantly for God's protection and wisdom. Discernment is a great tool here!
6. It's God's church! It is the bride of Christ! Care for it and defend it from predators (In God's strength!).
7. Love the people. If you focus on the numbers without caring for the people the numbers represent, you'll get blindsided!
8. Talk with other pastors in your community. Isolation is a welcome mat for disaster.
9. They are harder to spot in large churches, but if you are communicating with others and within your own team, you will learn who the leaders are and can watch for them.
10. Focus on people who don't know Jesus instead of the already churched! Healthy, effective churches tend minimize the stay or even repel these people. Besides, if you are reaching the lost and raising leaders from within, you won't "need" what these people "bring" to the church.