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Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Oakland Avenue

Presbyterian Church 421 Oakland Ave.

Rock Hill, SC 803-327-2006 www.oapc.net

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Dear OAPC Disciple,

At Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church we believe that each of us is called at our baptism to join God at work somewhere in the church, the community or in the world. We also believe that God has equipped us with a unique set of talents to answer that call. Our talents include our spiritual gifts, our abilities, our personalities, our passions, and our experiences. The Every Member Has a Call team wants to help you discover your talents and help you find your ministry.

In order to help you find your ministry, we ask that you complete the exercises in this booklet. The discovery is yours; if you’d like to keep your answers to yourself, feel free to do so. If you’d like to share them with the Every Member Has a Call Team, please place them in the mailbox for the Interim Associate Pastor for Compassion. After we have had a chance to go over your information, we will explore how God is calling you to ministry.

Thank you for taking the time to explore the ways in which you are

equipped to serve God through serving others. If you have any questions or

would like to discuss the questions in the inventory, please feel free to

contact me at 803-327-2006 (235). We look forward to sharing the

discoveries you make through the discernment process.

Sincerely,

Jane Summey Mullennix Interim Associate Pastor for Compassion

Spiritual Gifts Discovery Exercise

Write a score for each activity using the descriptions below.

Score 4—I greatly enjoy doing this activity and I often excel at it.

Score 3—I like doing this activity and I do it pretty well.

Score 2—It doesn’t bother me to do this activity and I usually do okay at it, but I may not choose to do it very often.

Score 1—I do not like doing this activity and I may/may not do it well.

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1. _______ I like to help people understand things.

2. _______ I find joy in encouraging someone who is downhearted.

3. _______ Having a good, healthy cry with someone who is hurting.

4. _______ Being called on by others to assist persons in need in a variety of ways.

5. _______ I have a sense for how and when projects or ministries

need to be better organized.

6. _______ I have a conviction that all I have been given is a gift from

God, and I want to be a good steward.

7. _______ I have accepted leadership responsibilities and have

succeeded in helping a group work toward a goal.

8. _______ Sharing with someone the good news about Jesus Christ.

9. _______ Knowing the difference between good and evil.

10. _______ I understand what Jesus meant when he said mountains could be moved by faith.

11. _______ Praying for someone to be healed.

12. _______ I would be pleased if asked to be a prayer partner.

13. _______ Having visitors in my home.

14. _______ Applying truth effectively in my life.

15. _______ Forming new groups of Christians.

16. _______ Sharing my insights to help fellow Christians.

17. _______ Going out of my way to bring a person back to my congregation.

18. _______ I like to work at little things that help further the ministry of the church. 19. _______ I am able to clarify ideas and concepts for learners (children and adults). 20. _______ Encouraging people when they are doing a good job.

21. _______ Being a Good Samaritan!

22. _______ Doing routine things if those actions will help someone else.

23. _______ I am able to make plans for accomplishing goals.

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24. ______ Providing financial aid to others. 25. ______ Inspiring people to do things I know need to be done.

26. ______ I have helped others to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

27. ______ I help people work through perplexing issues to figure out what God would have them do.

28. ______ Knowing something will happen that everyone else disbelieves.

29. ______ Listening to someone’s problems in order to help them.

30. ______ Maintaining a daily prayer list.

31. ______ Meeting new people and welcoming them.

32. ______ Working out solutions to very perplexing problems and situations.

33. ______ Spending a good deal of time working in the greater church, not just my own.

34. ______ Discovering new truths for myself which is often easy for me to do.

35. ______ Spiritually nurturing my friends and others.

36. ______ Doing behind the scenes work with enthusiasm when I know it glorifies God.

37. ______ Seeing the light of understanding “click on” in someone else.

38. ______ Encouraging people toward goals they should be accomplishing.

39. ______ Forgiving someone who has wronged me.

40. ______ Cleaning up after the party is over.

41. ______ I enjoy planning things decently and in order.

42. ______ Having people borrow things from me.

43. ______ Making important decisions for the sake of the church.

44. ______ Talking about what my faith means to me.

45. ______ Distinguishing between God’s truth and phony substitutes.

46. ______ Hanging in there‖ because God said to never give up.

47. ______ Being an instrument of God’s healing power.

48. ______ Persevering, through prayer, for the needs of others.

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49. _______ Making people feel at home in any situation.

50. _______ Applying God’s word to my own life which comes easily.

51. _______ Feeling a sense of authority when I relate to other Christians.

52. _______ Bringing conviction and agreement to other Christians

through my insight.

53. _______ Knowing and understanding those persons I serve and guide.

54. _______ Remaining anonymous and receiving no praise after I have done a good job.

55. _______ Being responsible for imparting knowledge to others.

56. _______ Bringing out the best in others.

57. _______ Visiting and calling sick persons and homebound people.

58. _______ Strongly desiring to relieve the distress of others.

59. _______ Overseeing what needs to be done.

60. _______ Looking to God to supply my needs.

61. _______ Directing others toward accomplishing a goal.

62. _______ Encouraging an ―unlikely someone‖ to come to church.

63. _______ Recognizing poor choices and avoiding them.

64. _______ Getting guidance from God that defies human predictions.

65. _______ Seeing someone healed through the power of God.

66. _______ Being persistent in prayer for others.

67. _______ Being prepared to care for guests who drop in unexpectedly.

68. _______ Nominating persons for positions who often work out as good choices.

69. _______ Being fearless about speaking to new people concerning God.

70. _______ Easily mastering new facts and principles I learn from the Bible.

71. _______ Leading new Christians in the faith into a deeper understanding of it.

72. _______ Doing things at church that few others seem to want to do.

73. _______ Telling others what I have learned from the Bible.

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74. ______ Showing a person ―a better way‖ in a gentle fashion.

75. ______ Helping someone who is ―down and out‖ .

76. ______ Helping others achieve their goals.

77. ______ Seeing that all the ―loose ends‖ are tied together.

78. ______ Making things available that other people need.

79. ______ Seeing a program I have devised put into action.

80. ______ Leading a person toward a relationship with Jesus Christ.

81. ______ Protecting people from evil.

82. ______ Trusting God rather than circumstances.

83. ______ Being sought out by others for healing prayers.

84. ______ Knowing God answers my prayers for other people and situations.

85. ______ Opening my home to those in need.

86. ______ Feeling an unusual presence of God when tough decisions have to be made.

87. ______ Seeking to influence in a Christian way a number of different groups of people .

88. ______ Searching for inspired writings and theology and retaining what I read.

89. ______ Greatly enjoy visiting with church members and those who are sick.

90. ______ Preferring to do the seemingly unimportant work for the Lord.

Enter these scores on the Answer Sheet on p. 11 (which may be removed for easier tabulating or to share with the Every Member Has a Call Team through the Church Office).

Spiritual Gifts ―The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12.

―We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8.

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―Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. I Corinthians 12:27-28.

―Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. You are encouraged to read I Corinthians, Chapter 12 in its entirety.

Administration: A gift of organization, planning, thinking ahead and solving problems before they arise. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Alternative Gift Fair, Church Officer, Finance and Stewardship, Personnel Committee, Support Staff in office, Worship and Music, Communication & Technology, Every Member Has a Call.

Apostle: A gift which may involve the edifying of various church groups and may involve the establishing of new ministries. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Committees focused on our Church Goals, Together On Wednesdays Committee, Together On Wednesdays ―The Sending, Mission, Christian Education, Worship and Music.

Discernment: A gift which has to do with distinguishing between truth and error, good and evil. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Committees focused on our Church Goals, Church Officer, Finance and Stewardship, PW Lesson Leaders, Sunday School Teachers.

Encouragement: A gift of giving courage, hope or confidence. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Basketball Coach, Basketball Concessions Organizer, Vacation Bible School, Congregational Care, Project H.O.P.E. House, S.T.A.R., Commitment– Every Member Has A Call, New Member Mentors, DeaconCare Leaders, Stephen Ministry, Family Promise.

Evangelism: A gift of leading people to Christ through speech and loving action. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Communication & Technology: Web Designer, Media Assistant; Worship: Choirs and Musicians; Evangelism Ministry to New Members; Mission: Peacemaking and Global Outreach.

Faith: A gift of trusting the Lord in all circumstances.. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Every Member has a Call– Commitment, F2 Faith and Friends, Children’s seasonal and special events, Friendship Fellowship, Stephen Ministry; DeaconCare Teams, Flower Ministry, Funeral Care.

Giving: A gift to joyfully share an extraordinary proportion of one’s time, energy, and resources to the work of the Lord.

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Examples of Ministries to consider are: Special Offering Coordinator, Usher for Worship or Special Services, Stewardship and Finance Committees, Project H.O.P.E. House, Stephen Ministry, Family Promise, Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen, Habitat, The Hope Garden.

Healing: A gift which enables helping others become whole in mind, body, and/or spirit.

Examples of Ministries to consider are: Worship: Service of Wholeness and Healing; Cancer Support Group, Stephen Ministry, The Hope Garden, Flower Ministry.

Helper: A gift of sensing a need and bringing support to others to relieve their burden and/or support their ministry by working and being with them. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Office Assistant, Publication Assistant – Bulletin & Oakleaf, Fellowship Dinner Clean Up Team & Set-Up & Serving Team, Tom Sawyer Volunteer, Property, Children’s seasonal and special events, Holy COW! Choir helpers, Funeral Care.

Hospitality: A gift of welcoming strangers and making people feel at ease with joy and effectiveness. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Food Coordinator for Adult Ministry, Preschool Egg Hunt Coordinator, Youth – Montreat Conference Cook, Youth – Sunday Night Meals Coordinator, Basketball Concessions Volunteer, Concerts at Oakland—Reception Team, Ushers, Nursery, Planning Committee, Fellowship Dinner Decorator, TOW helpers, Habitat, Family Promise, The Haven, Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen., Ushers, Greeters.

Intercession: A gift of praying for others faithfully and steadfastly Examples of Ministries to consider are: Stephen Ministry, DeaconCare Teams, One Anothering Ministry, Prayer Board, Service of Wholeness and Healing.

Knowledge: A gift of discovering, analyzing, and clarifying information and ideas which are pertinent to the growth and wellbeing of the church. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Personnel Committee Member, Safe Place Policy Trainer, Sunday School – Adult Class Coordinator, Sunday

School– Superintendent, Library helper, Communication and Technology

assistants. Leadership: A gift to lead others effectively in various areas of Christian ministry while offering personal concern and care for their growth. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Retreat Planning Team, Presbyterian Women, Nominating Committee, Church Officer, Worship

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Leadership— Choir and Handbells, Committees focused on our Church Goals, Habitat.

Mercy: A gift to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distressing physical, mental, or emotional problems and to translate that compassion into deeds done cheerfully which reflect Christ’s love and alleviate the suffering. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Stephen Ministry, Funeral helpers, DeaconCare Teams, One Anothering Ministry, Family Promise, Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen and The Haven helpers, Project H.O.P.E. House, S.T.A.R. ministry, Children’s Attention Home.

Pastor: A gift to assume long-term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a believer or group of believers. Examples of Ministries to consider are: F2 Faith and Friends, Kid’s Kirk,

Mentors to New Members, Holy COW! Choir helpers, Agape Choir helpers, Youth Advisor, Stephen Minister, DeaconCare leader, S.T.A.R. ministry

Service: A gift to selflessly help or aid in various areas of Christian work. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Alternative Fair Christmas Worker, Church Library, Archives, Choir—musical gifts, Property, Photographer for various committees, TOW helpers, Westminster Towers Bus Transportation, Ushers, S.T.A.R. ministry, Communication and Technology helpers, Database helpers, Friendship Fellowship lunch helpers,

Teaching: A gift to communicate God’s truth to others in such a way that it can bring understanding and application. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Teachers – lead our children, youth, and adults in discussions relevant to their faith on Sunday mornings; Vacation Bible School Teacher, TOW (Together on Wednesday Committee and Teacher), Disciple Class Leader, Education Ministry Teams, Kid’s Kirk, Youth Advisor.

Wisdom: A gift of insight into the ways of God, into the understanding of life situations and into the linking of the two, so that one knows what to do and how to do it. Examples of Ministries to consider are: Education Ministry Teams, Friendship Fellowship, Senior Adult Ministry Team, Peacemaking, Church Officer.

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This page is intentionally left blank, so you

may more easily remove the Answer Sheet

for tabulating your scores or

to share with the Team

by returning to the Church Office.

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If you are returning this sheet to the Every Member Has a Call Team,

please fill in your name, phone and email address on the

reverse side, and leave in the mailbox in the Church Office

for the Interim Associate Pastor for Compassion.

Gifts for Ministry

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NAME: _____________________________________________________________

PHONE: ____________________________________________________________

EMAIL: _____________________________________________________________