College Press Publishing

"The greatest among you will be your servant" (Matt. 23:11). This concept was a dramatic change for the people during the time of Jesus. It shook the leadership foundations of the world like an earthquake. Two thousand years later this statement is just as powerful. That's one of the reasons The Servant-Driven Church was runner up for the Gold Medallion Book of the Year. I believe God's Servants will dramatically change the world in the 21st century.

In some small ways, my prayer is the The Servant-Driven Church to be a companion book on the shelves with The Bible. After more than four decades in ministry, I have discovered we can have the right Scriptures, the right purposes, and unlimited opportunities--but God has tremendous difficulty working in churches, which are not servant driven. God will not call all of us to build 10m000 member churches, but does call all of us to be servants. my prayers is that each one of us will empty his cup so God can fill it with his servant spirit. To God be the glory as we approach each day with the servant attitude: "Lord, here am I, use me."

The Servant's Prayer for the 21st Century

Lord, there will be times when I don't have enough time
--help me to make the time to serve.
Lord, there will be times when I have enough cares of my own
--help me to tenderly care for others as you do.
Lord, there will be times when I've given all I have to give
--help me to keep on giving more.

For All of God's Servants,
Ray Fulenwider
-Excerpted from the Preface

You and your congregation will be challenged and excited as you consider the impact your congregation could have, if it became a Servant-Driven Church. This book will light a fire in you that will make a difference in the church you attend.

"Ray Fulenwider's book, The Servant-Driven Church, distills the wisdom of his productive servant ministry across the years. He is widely respected among churches as someone who knows how to broaden the base of a church's involvement in ministry. More opportunities for more members will translate into effective outreach and growth. Reading this book will help you identify options for building a program of member involvement around the Christ-imitating model of servanthood."

Rubel Shelly
Minister, Woodmont Hills Church of Christ, Nashville, TN

Click here for the Table of Contents.

About the Author...

Ray Fulenwider is the Minister of Administration and Church Coordinator for the Spring Woodlands Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. From 1991 to 2000 Ray Fulenwider served as the Minister of Education and Involvement, Staff Coordinator and Office Manager at Central Church of Christ in Amarillo, Texas. Weekly attendance has grown from 1100 to 1750. Ray earned his BSE and MSE degrees from Abilene Christian University and has done graduate studies in New York, Tennessee, and Texas. He received an Administration degree and counselors license from Texas Tech.

Ray began preaching at the age of twelve and has held ministries in churches of all sizes. In addition, he has worked all types of jobs from pulling and chopping cotton to teaching at the university level (Pepperdine University, Oklahoma City College, Harding University, Lubbock Christian College, Abilene Christian University, The University of Texas and David Lipscomb University). He has been a principal and coach in the Texas public school system. He has directed workshops for Bible school teachers. For 25 years he was the coordinator for Church Growth and Involvement Seminars held semi-annually. These seminars have attracted over 12,000 people from 40 states and 5 foreign countries. He has also hosted a weekly cable television program entitles "Coping" and served as president of the American Cancer Society as well as being Executive Director of the Richland Hills Counseling Center and serving on the executive board of Texas Alcohol Narcotics Education.

When it comes ot church growth, Ray speaks from experience. From 1968-1978 with the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas, and from 1978-1990 with the Richland Hills Church of Christ, he helped attendance in all services (already at the several hundred level) to double and even triple.

Ray has spoken throughout the United States and in two foreign countries. He has conducted over 350 leadership retreats for elders and deacons. He has written How to Grow a Church through the Bible School and has edited Bible school curricula and the magazines Gospel Advocate and 20th Century Christian. He has also been a contributing editor to Image Magazine.

Ray is married to Ann and together they have four children: Deana. Jeana. Joel, and Jana. Ann has taught preschool and children's Bible classes for over 25 years.

service, church, gathering, servant