Making the Most of the Membership Directory

It's not too hard to remember what it was like for my parents to have me get dressed in nice clothes, drive to the church on an irregular night, and stand in line to have our family portrait taken for the church membership directory. We'd usually end up with a few prints of the photo to give to grandparents and hang on the wall, but the real treat was picking up the hardcopy of the directory. Here was a nicely-bound photobook of every member of the church. Even now, my family have a few copies of these long-outdated volumes on the shelf. And for a long while, that's how I viewed those books. They were well-made time capsules of my previous years in different churches. 

Then several years ago, I began listening to Mark Dever speak at conferences. Much of what I was hearing was directed to pastors. Something he mentioned over and over again was the practical utility of the church membership directory beyond phone numbers, home addresses, and birthdates. Dever said that while the Bible is the most important book in his library, the second most important book was his church membership directory. As a pastor it's so important because these are the people for whom they will give an account (Heb 13:17). It's also a tremendously easy way to pray for every member by name. 

Not surprisingly, the pastors at PBF have taken up this idea. They not only pray through the directory but encourage all of the members to do the same. This is mentioned in the Membership Class and often brought up in application of sermons and lessons. 

But are you, PBF member, actually praying through the church directory?

Maybe you're not convinced it's actually that helpful or needed. Maybe you just don't know how to get started?  Either way, I want to point out to you some specific ways you can make the most of the church membership directory.  

See God at Work

As we scroll through the pages of our membership directory, we see evidence of God's grace and it ought to bring us joy (2 John 4)! We see children coming to faith and entering membership. We see teens become adults and are reminded of their ministry at church. We think about members who join as new believers and have matured into those who are now helping others mature. We might even see those who have gone out from us, for whom we ought to be praying God would restore to our midst (1 Cor 5:5). Praying through the directory is a fresh reminder that God is continuing to work in his people until the last day (Phil 1:6).

Be Prompted to Ministry 

Following on the last point, as you are praying through the membership directory, you may realize that someone is struggling. Perhaps they aren't showing up regularly or seem burdened in recent weeks. Perhaps they are wandering from truth or fighting against doubt. The Bible says that we ought to go after such believers and help them back into the safety of God's church, encouraged and growing again (Jas 5:19–20; Jude 22–23). Pray through the directory, ready for God to prompt you to patiently come alongside those who need help (1 Thess 5:14).

Remember Homebound Members

The saying "Out of sight, out of mind" is all too often true. We have a handful of members who cannot regularly gather with us for worship. Do you think about them? Do you pray for them?  The psalmist sets the example by praying, "Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted" (Ps 10:12). How much more ought be praying for our homebound members, if not visiting them (Jas 1:27)? The membership directory helps keep them before our minds and hearts. 

Serve the Church as Homebound Members

Perhaps you are one of those members who struggles to get to church because of health issues. Know that we miss you! More than that, know that you can still serve the church. I once heard about a young woman who was paralyzed at birth because of a drunken doctor who delivered her. As she grew, she put her faith in Christ for salvation. Yet, she was largely bed-ridden. A church intern was astonished when he visited her for the first time with her pastor and saw a giant calendar suspended above her bed, each day containing one or more names of people she knew—members, missionaries, pastors, relatives, and more. As she lay confined to her bed, she would spend hours praying for the church and world!  What a gift!  Loved ones, though you may not move about as freely as before, you can still serve on the frontlines by interceding for the saints. 

Have a Pattern for Praying 

Most Christians don't excel at praying because they don't have a plan to pray. Planning doesn't exclude the Spirit. Just the opposite—it may open a pathway for him to work more easily in our lives (1 Tim 4:6–9). We know we ought to pray for one another in the church (Jas 5:16), but how regularly do we do this?  How often do we pray for every member? The membership directory is an easy tool that lends some structure to our praying. Even praying for five people a day can be helpful. What can you pray? Anything biblical! Take whatever verse you're reading that day and praying it over them. Or, use a passage you know well and turn it into a pray.  Even better, if you know something specific the person needs, pray for that. 

Don't Neglect the Body 

While the Bible never says "Thou shalt pray through the church membership directly," it does place a strong emphasis on the mutual responsibility church members have for one another's spiritual health. What better power and privilege could there be than interceding for God's people, asking the Lord to work his mighty arm of salvation for their good and his glory?  The church membership directory is simple tool that helps us lean into our care for one another through prayer.