Recently, I mentioned how church people are always obsessing over worship. We want to know who’s preaching and how good is he and a number of other questions that take us away from the real thing. (Look over the last two or three weeks of my blog and you’ll see several posts about worship.)
I know this is true because it’s true for me, but we all know that there’s more, more to church and more to life.
This week I have seen the other side.
Our church has been discussing building phase two of our building master plan. We’ve also been discussing providing the financial resources to pay for it. Though we’ve voted to move forward with these plans all of this puts the pastor–that’s me–under the pressure of providing good leadership. Pastors also obsess over these kinds of decisions. We ask, “how did it go?” and “what do you think?” and many other questions trying to get a gauge of the people’s commitment.
This week I saw what church people really want.
They want to make a difference and to be part of a church that does.
As we have presented our building plans and asked the people to give extra funds to make it happen, this is what they have “oohed and ahed” about.
They care about ministry. Special needs ministry really matters to them. So does Celebrate Recovery. And they love to hear the stories of people who have experienced recently what they received years ago–new life in Christ. They love to hear of children trusting Christ and of adults experiencing life change.
Asking for money is not a fun or easy thing but seeing that people want to make a difference in others is worth all of the time, effort, and stress.
It’s makes you feel really good about the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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2 Responses
It was such an exciting time Monday evening hearing about and seeing plans for the future growth of our church facility. God has blessed us with Godly leadership and people who are willing to plan ahead. I believe God will speak to our church members, and we will meet this challenge and help make it happen.
Yesterday morning in the Men’s Prayer Band the “process” and the staff were lifted up. There were questions about funding and suggestions of how this may challenge the comfort zone of some. I am pleased to know that some Sunday School Class members get together weekly for a game night or some other social function. Now I am praying that they catch the Vision and multiply. This is a hard thing to do, groups splintering up to include others. 15-20 is about as large as a home will tolerate as well as success in developing an intimate fellowship. The older I get the less inclined I am to want new challenges in areas that I depend on, look forward to: renewing, refreshing, dependable experiences, Joy.
I cited Richard Jackson, yesterday was it? Anyway, as a means of grasping what God has done I recounted the numbers regarding the attendance at North Phoenix Baptist Church. When he came he found 500. When he retired he left 22,000. “Everyone members, one of another.” Any good mechanic knows you can put the engine together; everything can be precisely correct; the metal can be shiny, clean and awesome to behold. But where and how will it go? As Mom and Dad said, “It looks nice, but what good is it?”
May we find faithfulness together “in little” will bring Faithfulness “in much.” AMEN
Blessings