Romans 12:4-10 We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us.
If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, we should do so.
Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully. Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another.
Every one of God's children are important and each one is given important gifts to keep the ministry going. Notice that some were to speak and some were to teach. Those are very important gifts, but right along with those gifts are the gift to serve and the gift to encourage. Most people don't think those are very important gifts, but without encouragement, the teachers and speakers would have a hard time keeping up their duties. It can be very discouraging and a bit frightening to step out in front of several people, whether it's behind a pulpit or by e-mail, and try to present a message. There will always be someone in the audience who might know more about part of the message, or who could present it better. It's a very humbling experience to know there are those who could do better. Without those wonderful, sweet, people who come up and give a word of encouragement, it would be easy to just throw in the towel and give up.
The people with the gift of serving are the ones who make it possible to get anything done. They are the ones who help keep things running, pull a program together, and do it all without drawing attention to themselves. Both the encouragers and the servers are just as important as the teachers and speakers. All of them have jobs that require a lot from each person and require a lot of time with God to be able to face the job and do it well.
When a church loses a member, it loses something very valuable. It loses a person with a gift needed to keep that church going. When a church is guilty of chasing that member away through pettiness, unkind words or actions, and thoughtlessness, that church has not only hurt the member, but it has hurt itself.
Someone once asked me how to bring back church members who have been hurt. A good way to start is to visit them. Put aside all assumptions, and ignore all gossip about the person. Ask God to let you see them through His eyes. When you visit them, apologize. It doesn't matter if you were the one who chased them away. Right now you represent the church so be truly sorry that they were hurt and apologize for what happened. Tell them you know the incident or incidents never should have happened and you're sorry it did. Become a friend to the person. But let it be a true friendship, not just a friendship with the motive to get them to church and then think you're done with them. Be humble, kind, loving, and compassionate towards the person and then invite them to come to church with you, with the promise that you will stay by their side and protect them. People are less likely to attack a member if someone else is standing next to them. These attacks are usually done in quiet, because the attacker knows they shouldn't be saying those things.
Don't accept or tolerate unkind words, or actions towards another person. Step in and with love and kindness, and find a way to stop the whole ugly scene. Redirect the conversation to a safe topic. Bring the focus back to Jesus and His love for us all. Do anything, just as long as your actions are kind and loving. If it's possible, try to encourage your church to accept the differences of each other. Those differences help us all to grow and enrich our lives.
Jesus was a friend to all kinds of people. He ignored the gossip of others. He encouraged and loved everyone. His gift of Salvation is for everyone. If we are truly brothers and sisters in Jesus, we can love and accept each other just as we are.