What is the spiritual gifts and ministry interest form template?
Many congregations rely on the same faithful few, while plenty of people would gladly serve if someone asked them in the right way. A spiritual gifts inventory starts that conversation. It invites members to reflect honestly on what they enjoy and what they're good at, and it gives leaders something concrete to follow up on rather than a vague "let me know if you want to help".
This form does it in three pages. First, sixteen statements in two short grids — from "I enjoy explaining things so others understand them" to "I'm good with my hands" — each rated from "Not like me" to "Very much like me". Next, a grid of the people they feel drawn to serve, practical skills, and the one difference they'd love to make. Finally, the ministries they'd like to explore, when they're free and how often.
Choosing "Children's or youth ministry" shows a short note about your safeguarding steps and asks them to agree to a background check. Each response is saved as a PDF in your FileIt vault, ready for the pastor or ministry coordinator who follows up.
- Best for
- Churches running a membership class, a gifts sermon series or an annual serving drive
- Filled in by
- Members and regular attenders
- Time to complete
- About 10 minutes
- Includes
- Gift statement grids, people-group grid, skills, ministry choices, availability and a background-check note for children's work
Who uses a spiritual gifts and ministry interest form?
- The last session of a newcomers' or membership course
- An autumn serving fair where people fill it in on their phones
- A sermon series on gifts, with the link on the screen
- Refreshing your volunteer list before a new ministry year
- Matching small-group hosts and leaders from people who already said yes
Questions on this spiritual gifts and ministry interest form
17 questions over 3 pages · includes conditional questions, multiple pages, consent checkbox, ratings.
1 Your gifts
- Your name*
- Email*
- Phone
- How long have you been part of our church? Less than a year · 1–3 years · 4–10 years · More than 10 years
- Where do you serve now, if anywhere?
- How much do these sound like you? (1 of 2)* Not like me · A little · Somewhat · Mostly · Very much like me
- How much do these sound like you? (2 of 2)* Not like me · A little · Somewhat · Mostly · Very much like me
2 Your passions
- How strongly are you drawn to serving these people?* Not really · Somewhat · Strongly
- Skills you'd be happy to use Teaching or training · Music or singing · Sound, lighting or video · Cooking · Driving · Accounts and admin · Design or social media · Building and repairs · Gardening · Languages · Counselling or listening · Hospitality
- If you could make one difference in our church or neighbourhood, what would it be?
3 Where you'd like to serve
- Ministries you'd like to explore* Children's or youth ministry · Welcome and hospitality · Worship and music · Tech, sound and livestream · Pastoral care and visiting · Prayer team · Small group leading or hosting · Outreach and food ministry · Missions · Office and admin help · Buildings and grounds · Kitchen and events
- Background check* asked only when it applies
- When are you usually free to serve?* Sunday mornings · Sunday evenings · Weekday daytimes · Weekday evenings · Saturdays · Occasional one-off events
- How often could you serve?* Every week · Every other week · About once a month · Now and then
- When would you like to start? As soon as possible · In the next few months · I'm just exploring for now
- Would you like a conversation with a pastor or ministry leader about your results?
- Anything else you'd like us to know?
The spiritual gifts and ministry interest form, page by page
1 Your gifts
The member gives their name, email and optional phone, how long they've been part of the church and where they serve now. A short paragraph asks them to answer as they are, not as they'd like to be. Two grids follow, each titled "How much do these sound like you?". The statements cover teaching, leading, organising, mercy, hospitality, giving, encouragement, serving behind the scenes, faith, wisdom, sharing faith, shepherding a group, practical making, creativity, prayer and discernment. Every row is answered on the same five-point line.
2 Your passions
"How strongly are you drawn to serving these people?" lists children, teenagers, students and young adults, young families, older adults, people who are ill or grieving, people in financial need, newcomers and visitors, and people from other countries and cultures. "Skills you'd be happy to use" offers a checklist from music and sound to cooking, driving, accounts, design, repairs and languages, with room for others. An open question asks what one difference they'd like to make in the church or neighbourhood.
3 Where you'd like to serve
"Ministries you'd like to explore" lists twelve areas, from welcome and worship to missions, admin and buildings. Ticking "Children's or youth ministry" shows a safeguarding note and a consent to complete a background check when asked. The page then covers "When are you usually free to serve?", "How often could you serve?" and "When would you like to start?". A yes/no asks whether they'd like a conversation about their results, and a final box catches anything else.
Make the template yours
- Replace the ministries list with your own teams and programs
- Reword the gift statements to fit your tradition's language and teaching
- Edit the safeguarding paragraph to describe your actual process
- Add your service times to the availability options
- Send the form personally to each member of a membership class from the Share tab
- File responses into a folder for your ministry coordinator
Tips for a better spiritual gifts and ministry interest form
- Treat the results as a conversation starter, not a verdict — people grow into gifts
- Follow up within two weeks while the enthusiasm is fresh
- Invite people to try a ministry for a month before committing
- Share interests with ministry leaders, but keep personal reflections with the pastor
- Repeat it every year or two; people's season of life changes
Every response becomes a PDF in your vault
Each response becomes a PDF in your FileIt vault, with the grids printed row by row so it's easy to read in a follow-up conversation. The form owner gets an email, and the member receives a copy of their own answers.
In the Responses table you can search by name or by ministry, and the CSV export lets a coordinator filter everyone interested in, say, worship or welcome. FileIt doesn't score the inventory — your leaders read the answers and talk with each person.
- Start from this template. It opens in the FileIt Forms designer — change any question, add pages, set the rules for when questions appear.
- Share it. Turn on a public link, or send it to people by email, each with their own link. They don’t need a FileIt account.
- Get the answers as PDFs. Each response is saved as a PDF in the vault folder you choose, with uploaded files attached — and listed in a Responses table you can export to CSV.
Spiritual gifts and ministry interest form: frequently asked questions
Is this spiritual gifts form template free?
Yes. It's a starter template in FileIt's Forms app, included on every account, free plan too.
Does the form calculate a gifts score?
No. It records each answer clearly. A pastor or leader reads the response with the person — many churches find the conversation matters more than a number.
Can I change the gift statements?
Yes. The grid rows are fully editable in the designer, so you can match your own teaching or add gifts your tradition emphasises.
Why does it ask about a background check?
Only people who choose children's or youth ministry see it. It sets expectations early so nobody is surprised when the safeguarding steps begin.
Can people fill it in on a phone?
Yes. The grids and checklists work on phones, tablets and computers.
Will people get a copy of their answers?
Yes. The form is set to email each person a copy of their response.