| Accountability partners are two or more people | | | | another. You all should agree on how much time |
| committed to holding each other accountable for | | | | you will spend doing a check-in, especially, if it |
| one or more items related to Christian growth. | | | | takes more than thirty minutes. |
| For example, you and a fellow church member | | | | Check-ins should focus on how you all are doing |
| may commit to checking in with each other on a | | | | with carrying out your commitments. It is often |
| weekly basis for the next three months about | | | | helpful to talk about joys and concerns that are |
| serving in a ministry group or even staying with | | | | being encountered, in trying to carry out the |
| an exercise routine. The following are my | | | | commitments. It is important to listen when it is |
| suggestions regarding accountability partners: | | | | time to listen and to talk when it is time to talk. |
| 1. The power of two or three. Ecclesiastes 4:12 | | | | Encourage one another to keep going, instead of |
| teaches that where two or three are working | | | | excusing one another for poor reasons. There are |
| together there is great strength. It is not strange | | | | times to adjust commitments. However, many |
| for people to be inspired by powerful preaching | | | | times we are better off by simply continuing to |
| and helpful teaching. | | | | press on. |
| However, when a person does not have to talk | | | | 6. Adjustments. There are times when |
| about or be accountable to anyone about his/her | | | | adjustments in both commitments and partners |
| commitment then it easy to fall by the way side | | | | have to be made. Sickness, injury, financial |
| (say "amen" - smile). On the other hand, | | | | hardships, and family crisis are just a few reasons |
| commitments are more likely to be kept when | | | | that adjustments might have to be made. |
| you have to check in with one or two others on | | | | And then the commitments may have been |
| a regular basis about carrying them out. | | | | underestimated. You may have to lower your |
| 2. Being equally yoked. Accountability partners | | | | expectations or give yourself more time to do |
| work best when you all are compatible with one | | | | what you committed to doing. |
| another. You all don't have to have identical | | | | And then there are times when your partner is |
| commitments. However, you all need to at least | | | | simply not serious enough. He/she may not be |
| be inspired by a desire to live in obedience to | | | | helpful enough. God forbid, he/she may not be |
| God's will. | | | | confidential enough. Whatever the case, there are |
| You and your partner(s) should have personalities | | | | times to make adjustments. |
| that don't clash. Some people simply don't have | | | | Try to work it out. If it is simply not going to |
| good chemistry with one another. It doesn't mean | | | | work, be as nice and as wise as possible, but |
| one is bad and the other is better. It simply | | | | don't waste time continuing to do what is not |
| means, sometimes you are better off with | | | | working. |
| someone else. | | | | 7. Key areas. In most churches, there are three |
| Make sure you and your partner(s) are serious | | | | key areas for accountability partners. There are |
| about carrying out your commitments. You don't | | | | new church family members. It is not strange for |
| want to waste someone else's time. And you | | | | people to join but have very few supportive |
| don't want anyone wasting your time. | | | | relationships. |
| 3. Covenant. The covenant or agreement should | | | | Thus, accountability partners can help newer |
| include at least what each person is committing to | | | | members stay in church, instead of walk out the |
| doing, the frequency of the check-ins, and the | | | | back door. Not only stay in church, but |
| length of time for this partnership. I highly | | | | accountability partnerships can help them to grow. |
| recommend that you write this stuff down and | | | | New leaders like ministry managers and teachers |
| both of you all sign it, after praying about it. | | | | would do well to have accountability partners. |
| For example, you may commit to being more | | | | When the focus is on skills and confidence and |
| demonstrative in worship. Your partner may | | | | one partner is viewed as more authoritative than |
| commit to being friendlier towards others. You all | | | | the other, this is actually more of a mentoring |
| may decide to check-in weekly for three months. | | | | situation. However, peer to peer accountability |
| The covenant can be much more detailed. | | | | partnerships are helpful also. |
| However, it should at least include these bare | | | | And then there are those who have made a |
| bones. And again, I believe putting things in writing | | | | recent commitment to something. It may be a |
| insures a certain level of seriousness about what | | | | commitment to grow in giving, to do more |
| is going on. | | | | personal evangelism, to have regular personal |
| 4. Prayer. You are duty bound to pray for your | | | | devotionals, to exercise more, to paying off credit |
| partner on a regular basis, ideally, everyday. Pray | | | | card debt, or any number of things. |
| that God would give your partner the wisdom and | | | | In summary, accountability partners are helpful for |
| strength to carryout his/her commitment. Your | | | | those who are serious about growing in the Lord. |
| partner is duty bound to pray for you in like | | | | Being equally yoked and in a prayerful covenant |
| manner. I strongly suggest that you all pray for | | | | with one or two others is very powerful. If the |
| one another, as a part of your check-ins. | | | | check-ins are not helping then sometimes |
| 5. Check-ins. This is simply a time of talking with | | | | adjustments have to be made. Be sensitive to |
| one another. It can be over the phone or in | | | | newer members, new leaders, and those who |
| person. It can be for as little as fifteen minutes. I | | | | have made recent commitments. |
| don't recommend a regular e-mailing to one | | | | |