Building a tribe of followers is essential to a growing ministry and evangelism.

Tribe members help achieve the tribe mission.

Tribe members help reach out and encourage others to get involved.

Building a Tribe Essentials

Following are 10 ways for building a tribe with humility and compassion.

1. Define the tribe’s path. Identify goals and expectations for the future. Talk about what members need to do to get them where they want to go. Write it in a story that represents the values of the tribe.
2. Show tribe members you are passionate about the success of the tribe. This is what you want to do. Be the real you – be genuine. Be there for them. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Respect people people.
3. Develop a method to gather information about what the tribe wants and needs. Ensure the tribe knows what it needs to grow.
4. Help your tribe see that all things are possible with God. Don’t just quote scripture, give it meaning. Use simple concepts to help members understand. Break things down and explain what is behind the messages. Encourage feedback.
5. Identify shared values based on God’s Word. Relax how these values help the tribe and the individual members reach goals. Get the members involved in helping build the tribe’s identity.
6. Facilitate a process for members to get what they need most.
7. Use you’re role as tribe leader to mentor and encourage tribe members. Enrich their lives.
8. Establish God-sized goals. Set goals that seem to hard to achieve. Set Goals that live in God’s blessing. Set goals that give God the glory.
9. Be accessible to tribe members. Show tribe members you appreciate them. Show that you love them.
10. Over-communicate with tribe members. Touch time in ways they don’t expect. Encourage members to communicate with others.

What About You

Do you think building a tribe is important.

Tell us about your experience.

What suggestions do you have to help others in building a tribe?

It was the beginning of His ministry.

He was tempted and was found blameless.

He taught and was highly regarded.

He healed people and drove out demons.

People were astonished.

Some were skeptical, even those in His hometown.

He gained a following because of miracles.

People listened to what He has to say and commended Him for His knowledge and teaching methods. He taught with authority with what seemed to be no formal training. (One trained to be a Rabbi by apprenticing with a Rabbi.)

It soon came time to develop a group of apprentices for Himself. We call them His disciples – soon to be apostles.

He was on the beach of the lake of Galilee. He spotted the boats he was looking for. The boats owned by Simon and his partners.

He climbed into Simons boat and sat down.

Jesus getting into the boat is Him getting into them.

He was humbling Himself.

He was putting Himself in their shoes, showing He was sympathetic to their condition.

He was willing to become one of them

He made them feel comfortable which is a precursor to removing doubt.

He demonstrated that he was one of them.

He had Simon move the boat away from the shore.

Then He taught them. What exactly we don’t know but it was about the Kingdom of God. I wouldn’t be surprised that it was similar to the Sermon on the Mount.

Then came a truly wonderful event.

He said to Simon (Peter), Put out into the deep [water], and lower your nets for a haul.

Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled all night [exhaustingly] and caught nothing [in our nets]. But on the ground of Your word, I will lower the nets [again].

Notice that Simon acquiescence shows he probably met Jesus before. (See John 2.)

Well you know the rest of the story.

There was a great catch that almost sunk two boats.

Simon recognized the glory of Jesus for the first time.

At Jesus’ calling Simon and his partners left everything and followed Jesus.

Jesus humbled Himself to become one with His “audience”.

We can follow His example. Our audience will feel closer to us. We earn their respect and trust.

The basis for this post is Luke 5: 3-11. Verses are from the Amplified Bible.

Listen.

The phone rings. On the line is someone you’ve never met.

They want to come to see you because they’re interested in helping you.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? So, how can we make this a common occurrence?

Our results rise and fall on our ability to establish and nurture connections.

Merely making a connection is not sufficient.

To produce fruit, a connection must be nurtured to a high-level of trust.

Our first and foremost relationship is with God. We must get this right before we can work on any other relationship.

As Christians our single-minded focus is to serve Christ in everything we do.

As servants, people appreciate who we are and what we do.

They appreciate our give-first attitude, our compassion, and our care.

This is the core of networking for Christian organizations.

Every relationship involves choice between two parties. If one chooses not to participate the relationship weakens and eventually falls apart.

There must purpose supporting each relationship.

We need to know why we’re making a connection and the associated benefits.

First we make the connection with individuals supportive of our mission.

To make the right connection we must:

• know what we’re looking for,
• understand the value we provide,
• keep the interests of others foremost in our minds,
• develop competence in attracting people to our cause – our audience,
• develop an “inner circle” of advisers, and
• have a connection system.

Next we nurture connections to grow relationships.

We must:

• exhibit strong character,
• have something our connections value,
• show them how important they are to us, and
• continuously deliver results – helping them get what they want and need.

We should track what we do and the results we achieve – always watchful of new ways to get better.

We should document the system we use to connect, keep it up to date and try new things.

That way we’ll get good at it and produce outstanding results.

Why Become a Mentor?

We are grateful for those who mentor us.

We then have the responsibility to become a mentor.

Mentoring could well be part of your job.

But we can also be a mentor as we communicate and interact with our audience.

But if we are troubled (afflicted and distressed), it is for your comfort (consolation and encouragement) and [for your] salvation; and if we are comforted (consoled and encouraged), it is for your comfort (consolation and encouragement), which works [in you] when you patiently endure the same evils (misfortunes and calamities) that we also suffer and undergo. 1 Corinthians 1:6*

As we face and overcome challenges we profit.

It makes us stronger, it makes us more patient and it builds character.

It then becomes our responsibility, as good neighbors, to transfer this knowledge to our audience.

We help people avoid the lesser challenges and we lessen the impact of the more difficult challenges.

So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another. Romans 14:19*

Here again, it is our responsibility as mentors to eagerly pursue the mutual development of our audience by encouraging them to keep the faith.

And, as mentors, we pass on wisdom from our experiences so they grow and mature.

We who are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms of others] and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1*

We who are experienced should help bolster the inexperienced, not to please ourselves but for their welfare.
We do, however, profit.

We profit when we see the seeds we plant help people grow, mature and produce fruit.

Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually]. Romans 15:2*

Mentors joyfully make it a practice to strengthen and encourage others.

Send an encouraging message to your audience with each interaction.

It builds your credibility by showing people you care.

Credibility leads to longevity of relationship.

*Amplified Bible