One word: encouragement.

It’s true. There are few tools that have the power to multiply your ministry like encouragement.

Soulwinning and evangelism is the main thing.

Discipleship is no less important.

And encouragement is indispensable for both.

As a Christian, my goal is not simply to lead as many people to Christ as possible. It is to multiply soulwinners—leading people to Christ, discipling them in the Lord, and teaching them to reproduce.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.—2 Timothy 2:2

As an undershepherd, my goal is not simply to spend my life serving the Lord. It is to multiply servants—to equip those I pastor to serve the body of Christ and to do the work of the ministry.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:—Ephesians 4:12

Responsibilities such as these—multiplying soulwinners and servants—require that we learn to build relationships with people.

And relationships require encouragement.

You can tell someone one thousand times that he should serve in the church, and he may or may not respond. But invite him to serve alongside you once and thank him for it, and you will likely develop a new servant.

Encouragement means that I include others in the work of the ministry, that I involve them in areas of their spiritual gifting, and that I invest in them through instruction and praise.

If you want to multiply your efforts for the Lord and the effectiveness of your ministry, learn to purposefully encourage people.