From ASSIMILATION to ACTIVATION with Scott Michel
Episode Summary
In this episode of Reinventing Church, Derek Sanford and co-host Danielle Hartland explore one of the most important shifts every church must make: moving from assimilation to activation. Featuring insights from Shane Stacey of Clarity House and an honest conversation with Scott Michael from Grace Church, this episode challenges pastors and church leaders to rethink what it really means to mobilize their people for God’s mission.
Shane unpacks why volunteerism is too small a vision for the people of God and how churches can help individuals discover their divine design instead of just filling ministry slots. He shares practical ways to cultivate calling-based ministry, reminding us that programs should build people, not the other way around.
Then Derek and Scott take the conversation deeper, comparing the traditional assimilation funnel to a new multiplication funnel that starts small and grows through activation. They discuss how to lead through the “beautiful chaos” of change, how to help people connect their faith to their workplace and neighborhood, and how to measure ministry success by movement and mission, not attendance.
Whether you lead a small church or a multi-site campus, you’ll walk away with actionable ideas to awaken calling, simplify systems, and unleash everyday missionaries.
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LINKS & RESOURCES
SHOW NOTES
Key Insights from Shane Stacey (Clarity House):
Churches often confuse volunteerism with calling. God’s people were not designed to merely fill slots, but to fulfill their divine purpose.
- Volunteerism is too small a vision for the people of God. Leaders often use “volunteer slots” as the only on-ramp to serving, but this limits people’s imagination for kingdom participation.
- People don’t just need something to do, they need something to live for. When we reduce ministry to tasks, we strip away the adventure of following Jesus.
- Calling is not about what you can do, it’s about what you must do. Help people name the holy fire in their bones, the divine design that intersects with God’s mission.
- Use programs to build people, not people to build programs. It’s easier to run ministry systems than to release people into their unique callings, but true activation starts with trust.
- Reframe Ephesians 2:10 , God didn’t design people simply to serve the church; He designed them to carry His creative purpose into the world.
- Shift your imagination: The Spirit’s gifting was never meant to stay inside church walls. Releasing callings into everyday life awakens the human spirit and brings glimpses of heaven to earth.
Key Insights from Pastor Scott Michael (Grace Church: Erie, PA)
Moving from an assimilation model (get people in, connected, and serving) to an activation model (help people discover and live their calling) changes everything, how you lead, measure, and multiply.
1. Help people discover what God has placed in them.
- The calling journey often begins with small stirrings, pay attention to what gives people energy, purpose, and joy.
- As leaders, help them connect the dots between their story, their passions, and their purpose.
2. Recognize that calling ≠ church employment.
- Calling isn’t limited to full-time ministry.
- Some people are called into church roles; others are called out of them and into the marketplace, schools, neighborhoods, or nonprofits.
3. Learn to visit people in their “mission field.”
- The church building is not the only sacred space. Visit members in their workplaces, neighborhoods, or community circles.
- Your presence there helps them see their environment as spiritual and missional.
4. Expect emotion when people find their calling.
- When people connect their story to God’s story, it’s often deeply emotional. The discovery of purpose feels like spiritual awakening.
5. Move from big-to-small to small-to-big.
- The assimilation funnel gets people in and then narrows down.
- The multiplication funnel starts small, 12 to 15 people deeply activated, and lets the movement grow from there.
6. Redefine success.
- Assimilation asks: How many people are in the room?
- Activation asks: How many people are living their calling outside the room?
- Train leaders to multiply disciples, not just fill programs.
7. Don’t default to “new programs.”
- Churches are good at adding plays and systems, but activation isn’t about running new programs, it’s about releasing purpose and influence.
- Resist the urge to overstructure what should be Spirit-led.
8. Think “controlled chaos.”
- Activation requires leaders to loosen control without abandoning clarity.
- Provide support, not supervision. Encourage initiative without micromanagement.
9. Treat everyday leaders like pastors.
- What if the business owner, the teacher, and the coach were viewed as your campus pastors?
- Empower them as extensions of your ministry rather than just members of your congregation.
10. Measure impact by movement.
- You’ll know activation has taken hold when people move from paper to pavement, when calling statements become action in real life.
- Look for stories of obedience, risk, and fruitfulness.
11. Get curious about your people.
- Ask two questions:
- What has God given you? (skills, passions, experiences, pain)
- Where has God placed you? (neighborhoods, workplaces, relationships)
- Curiosity is the first step toward activation.
12. Lead through change with calm and clarity.
- Don’t try to eliminate the chaos of change, create calm and conviction within it.
- Anchor people in purpose, communicate constantly, and care for people more than the plan.
- Model adaptability. When leaders stay calm and flexible, it creates courage in the team.
Behind the Curtain
Topic: Why we removed the “bumper video” before live sermons.
- The team realized that years of predictable transitions created unintentional distance between the preacher and the congregation.
- Removing the bumper video created space for more authentic, Spirit-led moments at the start of the sermon.
- Leadership takeaway: Examine your patterns. Just because something works doesn’t mean it still serves your purpose. Regularly ask, “Why do we do this?” and be willing to disrupt what’s comfortable.
Tips & Tools
Tool Highlight: The My Impact Tool
- A simple, two-question resource to help people connect their faith to their everyday life:
- What has God given me? (gifts, abilities, experiences, passions)
- Where has God placed me? (home, workplace, community, relationships)
- Designed as a “baby step” version of the full Handcrafted Calling process from Clarity House.
- Encourages people to see themselves as embedded influencers who bring God’s goodness into every environment.
- Bonus: Listeners can download the My Impact Tool and get 34% off the upcoming Handcrafted Cohort
Click Here to access Handcrafted Leadership
Use code at purchase: ReinventingChurch34
Expires: December 31, 2025
Episode Application for Church Leaders
- Audit your church processes: Are you assimilating people or activating them?
- Try visiting one member in their workplace or their neighborhood this month.
- Download the My Impact Tool and test it with your team or small group.
- Sign up for a Handcrafted Cohort for 34% off the regular price.
