What Do You Do When the Light Goes Out?

There’s an old question, dating to an historic New York City power blackout, “Where were you when the lights went out?”

Given our local history with power outages, everyone knows what it’s like to lose light in a single room, entire house, neighborhood, or even the whole county. So, please consider this as I ask a similar question: What do you do when the light fades or goes out?

I suppose…

… sometimes you move to another room with better light;

… sometimes you bring out candles or lanterns, substitute lights;

…. sometimes you do nothing and wait in darkness for the light to return;

… sometimes you assess the reason for fading or no light and make corrections;

… and sometimes you can’t determine why the lights are out, so you call for assistance.

Now, follow my thoughts. Jesus identifies His followers, His church, as the light of the world. So, when the light fades, or disappears altogether, within your church, which of the above is your default response?

When the passion to glorify God first and foremost, the yearning for souls to be saved and mature as disciples, and the hunger to see disciples deployed as His servants and missionaries… when this fades or disappears from your church, what do you do?

What should you do?

May the light of our Lord shine brightly through His church!

Blessings,

Jim

A New Trick for an Old Dog

They say “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But this old dog has blown that out of the water.

How? Well, it’s like this. I suffer from that common pastoral malady of mindus runamuckus. Simply put, when I go home after a long day of ministry, I find it hard to calm my thoughts and enjoy the downtime. When I should be relaxing at home with Karen, my head is often planning the next meeting, message or consultation.

But, during a recent GTBN Leadership Luncheon, Dr. Jason Burden spoke about the danger of excessive activity and need for heathy life rhythms. After pondering Jason’s words and the associated scriptures, I sensed the Lord’s conviction. Hobbies came up in our conversation as a tool conducive to relaxation and I realized that I needed something to help me unwind my brain so that I would give Karen, others, and especially the Lord the full attention they deserved.

And so, at the age of 60, I bought a wood lathe and took up pen turning, making custom ink pens. Given my tactile appreciation of history, I hope to make pens as gifts to pastors, turned from wood of significance to them (For example, presenting a retiring pastor a pen turned from a piece of a pulpit he preached from or the church he served).

While I can write today that, after a week, I have turned several pieces and still have all ten fingers, the real benefit has come from the focus. Standing at the lathe with a chisel shaping the wood indeed helps me shift my mind from ministry, letting it rest. And, whether I am home with Karen or we are out with family, I’m more mentally present with them. I listen better and rest easier.

But honestly, these benefits are not because I took up woodwork. They come because I listened to sound teaching, pondered it carefully by searching the scriptures, then I ultimately yielded to what I believe was the Spirit’s conviction. Prompted by His conviction, I learned something new.

In my work with congregations many tell me “I’m too old to change.” I hear it from members who struggle with proposed changes in their church, and even from a few pastors when the ministry gameplan that was once so fruitful is no longer so. They are convinced that you can’t teach an old church, church member, or pastor new tricks.

But you can! Or at least, we can learn something new. Central to being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, and essential to Christian leadership, is a commitment to life-long learning. In this world of sin, as long as there is breath in our bodies there is more our Lord can teach us. And part of this is acquisition of new skills and formation of habits rendering us more fruitful for the Lord.

Keep learning. And remember, like me and my mindus runamuckus, the difference comes as you obey the Lord with what you know. Scripture is full of old guys (and ladies) learning new tricks. Why not join them?

View the video of Dr. Jason Burdon’s message, Pastoral Wellness through Sabbath here. For more encouragement and instruction, visit the Golden Triangle Baptist Network YouTube page.

I Believe I'm Called to Ministry

I’ve received comments over last week’s blog entry from a few individuals seeking consideration for those full-time positions I wrote about. To them, let me say that, while your desire to serve our Lord through His church is welcome, it is only one of several criteria necessary.

I could point you to 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, or my favorite, Paul’s letter to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, and be done with the conversation. But, because I love you guys, let me make some additional points.

Aside from the desire to serve, one must be qualified for the role in question. I know many who seek church employment who are not qualified. Some are godly disciples who lack the spiritual or personal maturity but may, in time, grow into fruitful ministers. Others lack the spiritual giftedness or practical understanding essential to serve in the desired position. These will benefit from discipleship and equipping. But I regularly hear from those who, after checking their backgrounds, we learn they are just not godly! Character matters! No one expects perfection, but we do expect “a man above reproach.”

A friend seeks a position in a Baptist church, yet he current attends one with distinctly different doctrine. I hold him in high regard, but let me be direct. If you want to serve on staff of a Baptist church, you need to demonstrate commitment to Baptist doctrine as an active member with a Baptist church (or at least Baptistic, of like faith and order).

Here’s the bottom line: You can’t shepherd people along a path you’ve not walked.

So, to be qualified for spiritual leadership, and especially to be compensated for ministry service, I recommend this path.

First, obviously, you must be a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ. You must have experienced authentic conversion and live an observable pattern of consistent growth in godly belief and behavior. Must you be perfect? No. But sustained faithfulness over time is necessary.

Second, you should be a faithful and serving member of a Baptist church (we are talking about employment in a Baptist church, after all). I’ve had men come to me seeking a position, and when I ask where they serve they say, “Oh, I just visit different churches.” HOW CAN YOU CALL PEOPLE TO MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT YOU ARE UNWILLING TO MAKE? So, join a church. Yield yourself to their disciple making process. Serve as the Lord gives opportunity. Please don’t tell me you are called to lead in the church when you’ve never been a follower.

Third, develop your gifts in the context of your church. Yes, as believer with no mediator between you and the Lord, you can discern God’s direction. But, given our bent towards sin, His direction is affirmed with greater clarity in fellowship with the church.

This doesn’t negate service with parachurch organizations, or representing Christ within the greater community. But remember, this conversation is about those who desire a place on church staff, as a ministry leader and teacher. Through service with your congregation you receive equipping, encouragement, and when necessary correction. Service for Christ as part of a biblically faithful congregation will empower, not inhibit, your ministry.

Fourth, look for independent confirmation of God’s call on your life through other believers, especially those in your church. As you serve, do others show evidence of growth through your teaching? Do they see and affirm God’s hand on your life? Is there anything different at the back-end of your service than before, or is it all just the same?

Finally, as you sense God’s call to serve “at the next level” such as vocational staff or missions, make your sense of calling known through the church. Take steps to prepare through seminary or other equipping. But amidst it all, continue serving. It is through faithful service where you are today that you demonstrate readiness for service tomorrow.

As a word of personal encouragement, don’t be in a hurry for that paying gig. That itself can be a red flag. Share your sense of call with your church and serve as you have opportunity.

Some churches across GTBN shape their disciple making processes for members to have every opportunity for discovering God’s call on their lives. If yours isn’t as clearly focused, reach out to the network. We are partnering with the North American Mission Board to implement a Leadership Development Pipeline. Through this we hope to help churches develop church planters, pastors and staff, some serving full-time, others co-vocationally. I’ll share more of this as we lay the groundwork.

One more thing. Focus on God’s call to ministry, not primarily to “vocational ministry.” I realize we’re used to a certain number of funded church positions in southeast Texas. But your sense of call should be so clear that, paid or not, you can’t avoid doing it. As the church economy changes, we can expect far more church staff roles to be filled by covocational ministers, or even volunteers.

If you have the privilege of receiving your full financial support from the church, steward that opportunity well. But even today there are not as many of those opportunities as their once was. Prioritize God’s call. Once that general sense of call sharpens to a particular people and place, then you can work through the other details.

Bro. Jim

Why Can’t We Find a (insert position here)?

Once was a time when congregations that could afford full-time pastors and ministers had no difficulty with staffing. The hardest part was sorting through the large volume of candidates to determine who you believed was “called by God” for the job.

Today it’s not uncommon for churches with well-funded positions to receive little interest. One pastor recently shared that, three months after posting his church’s position, they had not received a single resume. Not long ago I consulted with two churches through their pastor search, both with healthy salary and benefit packages. Both searches extended for two full years. Churches unable to provide benefits or with non-competitive salaries find it’s taking even longer. And for bivocational ministries, available candidates are few.

But why? Why are there so few qualified candidates available to serve? I see four contributing factors.

First, there are not as many younger persons surrendering to vocational ministry to make up for ministers who retire or exit the field. Richard Ross, professor of youth ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently said that, when he began at Southwestern 20 years ago, his basic youth ministry classes would have around 30 students, all of them serious candidates for staff positions. Now, he may have ten. In a recent interview with Baptist Press, he said, “From my perspective, there are far more churches searching for student pastors than there are leaders available to serve. At any given moment, I expect that the total number of churches with funded positions exceeds the total number of student pastors by several thousand.” His counterpart in Southwestern’s school of church music and worship, Joseph Crider, gives a similar report concerning worship leaders (see The Baptist Paper article here).

The reasons for this are many. A majority of youth and young adults leave the faith soon after leaving home. The statistics vary, but Barna’s research suggest 3 out of five young Christians depart the faith after age 15. A smaller proportion of those who remain consider whether God has called them to vocational ministry, and fewer answer that call. Among those who do, many become church planters. They would rather start something new than reengineer a traditional congregation. Finally, because so many churches are plateaued or in decline, there’s little interest in preparing for a job that might not exist in only a few years.

A second factor is that, of those who graduate seminary, most don’t last, leaving even fewer candidates. A recent study by Duke University found that 85% of seminary graduates who enter ministry leave within 5 years. A more optimistic study by the Alban Institute places that number at 50%, still heartbreaking. The studies, as noted in the website Ministering to Ministers, agree that 90% of ministers will not stay until retirement. As the article states, “These ministers apparently left to preserve what was left of their families, their sanity, their health and their faith, but the costs to individuals, churches, and denominations cannot be overestimated.”

Third, and this is my personal observation, is that the typical congregation has not grown disciples to the point that they could “call out the called.” When was the last time you heard a pastor extend an invitation for men to consider God’s call to preach, or for anyone to consider vocational ministry or missions? And if they did, would there be people ready to answer?

Many congregations seem to have what I call a “low ceiling” for disciple making. It’s not their stated intention, but their discipleship practice would indicate satisfaction when members attend regularly, give, and avoid scandalous sin. The idea that “every member is a minister” might be stated, but it’s not where their pathways lead. The end result is a congregation made up largely of “religious consumers” reliant on staff to lead. God’s call to Christian service is considered a rare exception for the “super spiritual” rather than a call He places before all Christians. Few, therefore, consider whether the Lord is seeking more.

Finally, let me address the elephant in the room. There are places where committed Christians see how pastors and staff are treated, and others where respected ministers misbehave. In these places, were we to give an invitation to ministry, why would any right minded person, young or old, answer it?

Despite these factors, I see some positive developments.

Christians are answering God’s call to service. The age of beginning ministers is trending older, as adult converts, middle aged career changers, and new retirees consider Christian service and missions. At Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, for example, the largest single age group of students is 35 and over. So the Lord continues calling Christians to ministry leadership.

Many of those answering the call are committed to covocational ministry, which will be increasingly important amidst the changing church economy. As churches seek to reach a younger generation with different financial challenges than their grandparents and those grandparents pass on, most positions today staffed full-time will likely be conducted by covocational leaders, or even volunteers.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the most fruitful congregations of all sizes increasingly develop at least some ministry staff from within. And while this doesn’t give much hope for the church struggling now to fill a needed role, it does point the way to fruitfulness in the future. These congregations invite members to a “high expectation” commitment, a disciple making process with accountability and meaningful service. Such processes allow pastors and disciple making leaders to see members’ faithfulness and to coach their next steps, with many following into leadership and roles formerly filled by paid staff. Both new church plants and thriving traditional congregations give evidence that, ultimately, the resources for ministry are in the harvest.

So, what does the church do when they are dependent today on staff ministers whom they cannot find? Let me offer these suggestions.

First and foremost, pray. As Jesus said, at a time when the need far exceeded the resource, “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers,” (Matt. 9:38). This isn’t just a quick prayer set someplace in a worship service. It’s an earnest cry to the Lord, by His people, for His provision.

Second, remember that, even with the position vacant, the Lord has given your church everything it needs to follow Him today. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 12:18, “God arranged the members in the body, each of them, as he chose.” This means, until the Lord provides the right candidate for your position, you can deploy members in ways that meet needs today. We all love it when people show up, called, gifted, and well equipped to serve. When you have these people, put them to work! But every one of our churches would be stuck without the willing Christian who says, “I don’t know if I am able, but I’m willing to serve here.” So deploy the troops you have.

Third, rather than only relying on denominational job postings, seek out healthy congregations with a history of developing ministers and ask, “Is there someone in your pipeline or an associate on your staff ready to lead?” It’s possible to find someone who has experience as a junior leader on their team who would come and serve with you in a senior role. On the other hand, some would rather remain a junior partner on a healthy team than lead a less-healthy one, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Next, if the search runs long, ask if the Lord isn’t leading the church to adjust their expectations of the position. For example, maybe you can sacrifice experience if you have a candidate with a teachable spirit and pastor or other who can help them grow into the role. Often the expectations of the job don’t fit today’s reality, so a change in the job description may be necessary. And, let’s be honest, sometimes there are issues within the church that, when candidates discover them, they move on. If you haven’t addressed these before, do it now.

Finally, be patient. Deploy the members you have for ministry as you patiently await God’s provision. You might have to change how to do certain things, or when you do them. But never compromise integrity or core doctrine, or otherwise settle on a candidate you have little confidence in.

If the Lord wants your church to have this staff member, He will provide, in His time. Until then, exercise due diligence in the search; but, definitely make disciples. Develop God’s people! Then, whether God provides from the inside or out, your church is best positioned for its best next step.

Bro. Jim

For further insight into this issue, consider the following:

Leadership Matters, by Dr. Roger Yancy, Executive Director of the Tyron-Evergreen Baptist Association.

The Present Crisis for Church Stagg, Baptist News Global

Why there is a shortage of student ministers and what can be done about it. Baptist Press

Amid music minister shortage, training shifts to emphasis on theology. The Baptist Paper

The Aging of America’s Pastors. The Barna Group

Does an Aging Population Explain High Clergy Ages? Lewis Center for Church Leadership

Clergy Losses Are Massive. Ministering to Ministers

Six Reasons Young Christians Leave the Church. The Barna Group

The High Cost of Opacity

I ran this title by a friend who said, “It’s about time you addressed overweight Christians.” I answered, “No, not obesity… opacity. It’s the state of being veiled or concealed, the opposite of transparency.”

To use my favorite word from The King and I, it’s a puzzlement that a people who profess faith in a sovereign God and His call to love, serve and forgive so often interact with a veiled concealment of how they are, what they believe or how they feel. And yet this lack of transparency extracts a heavy cost.

Don’t misunderstand, excessive transparency costs much too. We all know people with no filters on what they say or who they say it to. This isn’t just uncomfortable; it can drive conflict or otherwise disrupt life and ministry. Excessive openness with untrustworthy persons can literally ruin lives, families and churches.

But it seems to me that within the church we default to excessive opacity. Who hasn’t arrived at church and, when asked “How are you?”, answered back, “We’re all fine,” when we really were not? I don’t advocate turning these brief greetings into full flown therapy sessions, but wouldn’t an honest, “It’s been a tough day, but we’re here,” be more helpful?

I’ve heard the excuses. “If the church knew my struggle, they wouldn’t take me seriously.” “If I project that all is well, I can turn it around and it will be.” “If I say something, I’ll be outcast from the group.” “I’ve got to figure this out myself.” With these we justify the veil.

But such opacity has a cost. What exactly?

First, the energy required maintaining the vail leaves less energy for solving whatever issues we have. The cost of resolving most problems increases the longer they persist. In the 70’s a popular oil filter brand promoted regular car maintenance with the slogan, “You can pay be now, or pay me later,” as in, “Pay a smaller fee for a good oil filter now or a much higher fee for an overhaul later.” It’s wisdom worth heeding for most of the matters we face, personally, relationally, and most definitely in the church.

Second, opacity isolates us from others who, if they saw behind the veil, might be God’s provision for us. God created us as social beings, with a need for each other. That’s why he calls Christians to a local church, and why local churches connect through networks and conventions. We need each other. Christians need other Christians. Pastors and those of us serving in ministry likewise need our colleagues. But, since none of us have ESP, we can only help one another when the veil comes down.

Of course, the veil only comes down in an atmosphere of trust. And trust only grows through an established relationship. As my friend Bob Bumgarner says, “We don’t trust who we don’t know.” But the more we know and prove faithful to each other, the more trust grows. This over time allows more of the veil to fall.

With whom can you be most transparent? Think about it and leave your comments in the space below.

Have a great weekend. If you need a hand, give us a call. We’re better together!

Bro. Jim

Shepherd the Sheep You Have

Richard was a shepherd. Born on the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, he spent much of his life tending his family’s sheep. He kept them well fed and watered. He protected them from predators like wolve and coyotes. And, of course, he readied them to fulfill their ultimate purpose, which might include production of wool or even meat at the next church pot luck.

With this experience, from the moment he sensed God’s call to service, he understood at a deep level why the Lord chose the work of shepherds to describe leadership in the church. Serving as his missionary, I was moved whenever he would describe his ministry, his love for the sheep, occasional frustration, but most often the great care he gave for their well being. I remember him saying to me once, “Bro. Jim, if we’re going to reach the lost sheep around here, we must first shepherd well the sheep we have.”

That thought has resonated me over the years. Often in seeking to reach unbelievers, a noble and essential task for Christ’s church, we focus on what we don’t have. I’ll consult with churches about their evangelism and the members might say “If we only had money for a staff member for this or that,” or “It would be different if we had a better location or more people.” Much of the conversation centers on conditions outside the church and often not about the sheep, the people who make up the church.

In 1 Cor. 12:18, the apostle Paul says, “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” Ponder this thought together with Jesus’ command to Peter in John 21:16, “Feed my sheep.” As I read this, the church has everything it needs to faithfully follow God’s call today; therefore, the work of ministry always begins with the sheep you have. Shepherd the sheep well and the flock, together with their shepherd, is best positioned for reaching even more sheep for the Good Shepherd.

My friend Richard, who never went to preacher school, was incredibly fruitful due to his faithful obedience to the Lord’s simple call to “shepherd the sheep under your care.” May we all follow his example.

Bro. Jim

Epilogue: Richard Delores was pastor of the Laguna-Acoma Baptist Church, located on a patch of land between the Laguna and Acoma Pueblos, just east of Grants, New Mexico. As a missionary with North American Mission Board, I served him as an encourager and support while he preached Christ across Native American communities unfriendly to missionary activity. But as Richard, together with his lovely wife April, shepherded the people of his congregation, their witness drew many to faith in Christ. Richard was the first indigenous pastor for the church, and their current pastor is a product of his shepherding.

Richard passed away in April of 2011, but his example as a simple shepherd of the gospel continues bearing fruit.

Settled? Not Likely!

Being a space nerd, I’ve followed with amazement the many discoveries made through the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope, launched in December 2021, observes infrared light from the farthest reaches of the galaxy, shattering long held theories about the universe with each new observation.

The latest, made by an international team of astronomers, reports discovery of six massive galaxies in the oldest corner of the universe. In an article dated March 7, 2023, the Houston Chronicle’s Andrea Leinfelder wrote, the discoveries “have called into question what scientists thought they knew about how galaxies formed in the early universe.” The discovered galaxies are so large, Leinfelder notes, they conflict with 99 percent of cosmology models. Astronomer Joel Leja with Pennsylvania State University says, “(This finding) upends what many of us had thought was settled science.”

The lesson: There’s no such thing as settled science. The universe as God created it is so grand, there is always something new that, once we know it, shatters much of what we thought we knew. And so, the lesson everyone must learn is to stay humble and keep learning.

Which certainly applies to the church as much as it does science. Just when we think we understand how the church works, what makes us fruitful, and how to best please the Lord in our local setting, something new comes along to challenge our assumptions.

Don’t get me wrong! With both science and the church, our Lord has things very much settled. The truths established in His word are absolute. But in this fallen world, with our vision limited by worldly perspectives, we undermine Christ’s mission when we cling to extrabiblical assumptions concerning these truths.

How? Here’s an example. When I last pastored in Texas, our church served a rapidly growing Dallas suburb. At a time when Christianity in general held cultural favor, new residents (even unbelievers and unchurched) would visit our worship service giving us a steady flow of people with whom to share our ministry. So long as I preached the truth of scripture and our people treated the guests kindly, a certain number of our guests would profess faith, joining and eventually serving through our church.

Today, however, our faith no longer defines society. If I don’t learn to engage unbelievers out in the world, the church I serve will bear little fruit. Faith still comes by hearing, and hearing through the word. But to be fruitful for the Lord, I must change my assumption of how and where unbelievers begin to hear.

That’s just one example. The point is simple: sometimes God shows you things that conflict with what you think you knew about the church. So, once you measure it by the settled truth of scripture, learn and adjust to your new reality. Like the scientists, sometimes we need to unlearn a few things in order to be fruitful.

What have you learned lately that has led to a change in how you serve the Lord? Let us know in the comments below.

Blessings,

Bro. Jim

Work Smarter

Our chemistry instructor at Houston’s Nimitz High School, Mr. McClenny, had an amazing ability to guide students through the most complex of scientific processes. To this day, should the need arise, I can balance difficult chemical equations using basic algebra, determining how much of what compounds are produced when I have x amount of y and z reagents. One never knows in ministry when such talents are required.

Seriously, though, Mr. Mac taught us that, while there might be numerous complicated paths to a solution, should you find a simple path to routinely solve the problem, take it. I don’t know that he actually said it, but he definitely taught us to work smarter.

When I consider the work of ministry today, I find myself returning to Mr. Mac’s lessons. Congregations face a flurry of problems, some as mind numbing as a chemistry exam. And there’s a tendency for leaders, in a rush for solutions, to embrace complex programs developed by well meaning partners that don’t quite fit. Ministers attend seminars, learn new steps to take, only to return home discouraged about how to work it into what they are already doing. It’s time to work smarter.

But how? I’m still wrestling with this in my own practice of ministry, but let me share three lessons I’ve learned.

First, clear room in your schedule. Few churches struggle because their pastors and staff don’t work hard. In my experience the opposite is true. With their servant hearts, vocational ministers are prone to being workaholics. And so, even when they are convinced that they should embrace a new practice, they find little time.

Here’s what helped me. As a pastor I was encouraged to complete an exercise listing every task I did relative to my ministry assignment. I was then challenged to note which were (1) essential to my pastoral calling, (2) important to the church that I take the lead, (3) important but could be delegated, (4) of minimal to no importance, and finally (5) really NOT a good use of time. Admittedly there were a few 4s and 5s. And I had to add family commitments and regular time off to #1, essential to my calling. But I found the greatest liberty at #3, when I found several responsibilities I could delegate, some to staff, others to church members.

Try it. Unless your church is down to a handful, there ought to be members who can visit the hospital, teach a class, or share a ministry task or two, perhaps even lead a prayer meeting or plan an activity.

Second, make use of the people available. I’m not advocating that we make unqualified members elders, but surely your church members can do more than teach Sunday School and be greeters. Invest in developing people, notice among the faithful who has a servant heart or shows potential for leadership, and as they grow delegate responsibilities to them. Coach them along. Help them when they fall. In the end you will have a stronger team and lighter load.

One of the most fruitful seasons in my experience as a pastor almost didn’t happen. Our church, located near an air force base, had a rule that someone had to be a member for more than a year before they could serve in any capacity. In practice it was more like two years. The problem was that, when Christian military families considered a church, they were seeking a place to serve. Our deacons held firm to their rule until a crisis, the terminal illness of our young adult minister, left this vital ministry with no leadership. After months refusing to let a godly First Sergeant step into the role, they finally changed their position. This change opened the door to an extended season of growth as new members found their place as partners with us.

Finally, and I hinted at it in the first point, consider time for rest and family as essential. The stress of family disruption adds weight to the most balanced pastoral schedule. Some, like medical issues and prodigal kids, cannot be avoided. But we add unnecessary burden when we fail to maintain proper rest, recreation and family care.

The Lord continues dealing with me in this area, as I wrestle with the concerns of not one but one hundred congregations. Even so, I’m drawn to my teacher’s wisdom to work smarter. You’ve read my suggestions. What would you suggest to help your fellow pastors and staff leaders to work smarter? Let us know in the comments below.

Blessings,

Bro. Jim

Join us Saturday!

I’m keeping it short this week. Just wanted to share a final invitation for you to join us for Disciple Makers’ University, Saturday, Feb. 18th. Our guest, Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, will lead us in a study of those Biblical truths that drive the church beyond mere activity to focused disciple making. Malcolm is Research Professor for Theology at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. You will be encouraged, equipped, and challenged in our time together.

In addition to Dr. Yarnell’s keynote messages, we have four breakout sessions planned:

• I will be leading the breakout, “Simple Tools for Significant Impact.” We’ll consider a biiblical and simple track churches of any size can take for fruitful disciple making.

• Bro. Ryan Thompson, pastor and church planter for Cornerstone Church Mid-County, will speak on Creating a Disciple Making Culture in your church.

• Pastor Josh Fultz of First Baptist Church, Orange, will lead a breakout for students and student ministry leaders, “Deploying Youth as Disciple Makers.”

• and Bro. Wes Smith, Executive Director of East Texas Baptist Encampment, will lead a session focused on worship and music, “Why What We Sing Matters.” In this workshop we explore how worship music reinforces doctrine and disciple making.

We will meet at First Baptist in Fannett. Check-in is at 8, lunch at noon, and close by 4:45. Registration is $15, $10 when registering groups of 5 or more. Lunch is included in your registration. Register here or at the link below.

See you Saturday!

Jim

Fostering Connections through Hospitality

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Rom. 12:13 ESV

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Heb. 13:3 ESV

Scripture issues a clear call for Christ followers to show hospitality to both fellow believers and non believers alike, even strangers. In a time of great temptation for isolating one’s self from the concerns of those outside their own circle, I believe it’s time for Christians to renew their commitment to a practice that predates the church.

The word translated hospitality in the verses above most literally speaks to kindness shown to strangers. When the scriptures were written inns were few, and completely lacking in the gaps between cities. Travelers moved at great risk, especially when the distance was long or they didn’t enjoy the company of a caravan well stocked with provisions. Many travelers depended on the kindness and hospitality shown by families they’d meet along the way. These families would open their homes and share their meals. So significant was this need that many cultures around the world even today consider hospitality a highly honored norm, to be faithfully kept and appreciated.

Karen and I experienced this firsthand while serving as missionaries in New Mexico. Aside from our work with Native Americans, we had an opportunity to assist with the planting of a Chinese church in Socorro. The Lord brought us a Taiwanese missionary who served international students. Starting with two faculty members from the Chinese mainland and two couples who had spent much of their professional careers there, through the student ministry Grace Chinese Fellowship grew to an attendance of more than fifty.

One day I asked a young man in the church, a student raised atheist and taught to shun persons from Taiwan, what drew him to the church. His reply, “When we arrived your missionaries invited us to their home, and made real Chinese food, not like the restaurants here. We are taught, when someone shows you hospitality, no matter who they are, you must honor it. So I kept answering their invitations and the Lord opened my heart. Now I am saved.”

In the years since I’ve served beside persons from a variety of cultures and places. Most maintain this high regard for hospitality so that in both our display of and response to it, I’ve seen people saved and churches planted.

So why is it that, across America, hospitality is perceived as little more than a vanishing custom of the rural landscape? It comes down to our basic struggle with sin and the un-holy trinity of me, myself, and I. The more self-absorbed one is, the less room there is for the needs of others.

How do we recapture a priority for hospitality, obeying our Lord in this area and leveraging it for His purpose? Let me offer a few suggestions.

First, repent of any claim of self-preference. This is a constant battle, but Jesus reminds is that the greatest in His kingdom are the ones who become servant of all. Remember, Jesus, the good shepherd, laid down his life for His sheep.

Next, you need to love people. Christians cannot separate love for the Lord from loving others. Jesus made that quite clear. And it’s love for people that leads us to set aside our momentary needs and wants to serve those of others. We usually understand this within the church, but take a moment and consider how this applies with your neighbors and others who cross your way.

Third, you need to consider God’s hand in directing people your way. I’m certainly not suggesting that we meet every need of everyone we meet. But be aware of those connections with people and prayerfully consider why the Lord brought them across your path in the first place.

Fourth, begin with small gestures showing you care. Delivering a gift of homemade cookies to your neighbors, or stopping your neighborhood walk to say hello to a neighbor checking their mail are simple tasks with deep meaning.

Finally, open your home, or at least your circle. The ultimate in hospitality is sharing your home. I realize people don’t visit their friends the way they used to, but consider inviting friends, neighbors, or colleagues to your home for a simple dinner. Karen and I enjoy having people over for dinner and games, or my prized beef and Bambi chili. You might invite a family visiting your church to join yours for Sunday dinner.

However you practice it, hospitality is basically the tangible offering of your love for others in the name of Christ. The more we practice it, the more bridges we build for serving our church and community for the Lord’s glory. Think about it.

Blessings,

Jim

Bearing the Weight of Ministry Together (Part 3)

Pastor Tom Nelson in The Flourishing Pastor, a book I highly recommend, says, “Few vocations are more social in nature and people focused than the pastoral calling. The dripping irony is that surrounded by so many people, pastors are often intensely lonely and isolated,” (Nelson, chapter 1).

In my last two posts I’ve sought to emphasize the importance of pastors and ministry staff seeking others to share the weight of ministry. You can read those here (Part 1, Part 2). Today I’d like to advance our conversation and discuss how pastors, staff, and other ministry leaders build systems for doing so.

Please note how each of these are active, requiring the minister to act. As a network, we’re working to develop systems for reaching out. But no network or denomination can help if ministers do not recognize their need for connection.

Before moving on, let me quote Nelson once more to highlight the importance of my point. “The lone ranger pastor is one of the most harmful ways pastors get lost in their callings. Pastoral isolation is a toxic seedbed for burnout and scandalous behavior. The damage done to pastors, their families, congregations, and the collective witness of the church is beyond description,” (Nelson, chapter 1).

So, how do ministry leaders build systems for support and “burden sharing,”?

Seek out a friend and confidant within the church. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been told, “Pastors and church staff cannot have real friends within the church they serve.” I get it. Many have been burned, though I wonder how much this has to do with their poor choice of confidants than the statement’s validity. But it seems to me that if the church can’t be the church for the shepherds, it likely will not do much for the sheep.

As modeled in scripture, ministry leaders gain much when they serve in a spirit of mutual accountability. All staff benefit when the church and its leaders value service together in common love, mutual trust, and a commitment to lead with one heart and voice. Shepherding one another as they do the church, they not only share the work of ministry leadership, but also the burdens and blessings.

Admittedly, I know more than a few congregations where this cannot happen. Some churches maintain an almost adversarial relationship among leading members and staff, while a new church plant or small congregation might lack anyone available for the role. But, when possible, I believe we all serve best when we have a close confidant at our side.

Seek out a Barnabas. As one reads the New Testament, given the depth of his writing and his testimony in Acts, it’s easy to see that Paul was the first century church’s missionary leader. But reading the story unfold, one clearly sees that in the early days Barnabas, the encourager, was in fact the senior partner. Paul, this apostle personally selected by Christ to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, had a mentor who invested in him.

Scripture doesn’t speak to Paul’s relationship with his mentor after they parted company, but I believe all who serve in congregational ministry would be blessed to maintain contact with theirs. A long-term friend who knows you like a book, that can sense when you are “on or off” is a priceless gift. It also helps you set an example as you take the next step.

Seek out a Timothy. It’s obvious that, when ministers invest in lesser experienced colleagues, they help those individuals. Many, however, miss the blessing this returns to them. Personally, I find the coaching relationships I have with others to be among the most energizing aspects of my work. However much I seek to bless my coachees, they bless me even more, often revealing insights I have missed. Many have come along my way to share my load as I have shared theirs.

Ministry leaders who seek these relationships will discover that a few will become life-long partners, while others will extend for a season or two, and others only for a short time. Some will develop through formal relationships such as your congregation, education, or an established coach / mentoring process. Others will be less formal, like the pastors’ accountability group I enjoyed back in Shreveport. Sometimes it’s as simple as calling a colleague who you consider a godly, fruitful example of faithful service and inviting them for coffee. But even if the relationship is informal, it should be intentional.

Who should you consider for these relationships? For your in-the-church confidant, seek out someone of the same gender who, by your observation, stands out as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, trustworthy, with proven ability to keep confidential information private. This relationship may begin with you in a disciple-maker’s role, but should grow so that, as “lesser experienced” Paul grew to challenge the “senior disciple” Peter when he was in error (Galatians 2:11), your confidant would be free to do the same for you if necessary.

For your Barnabas, seek a seasoned, mature gospel servant whose integrity is without question, who has demonstrated a shepherd’s heart, one who will share wisdom as necessary but also listen with a coaching spirit as you ponder your life and ministry.

For your Timothy, seek out a younger or lesser experienced person seeking to follow Christ, who’s open to wisdom but who you will coach and encourage as they discern their next steps.

At all levels, seek out someone who listens more than speaks. Anyone who is contemplating their response to what you’ve said before you have finished speaking has not listened. And I find listening to be the most significant aspect of burden bearing.

Finally, and this is the subject of my next post, work toward a culture of hospitality in the church and among your colleagues from other churches. Model it. Those who give themselves to serve their fellow church members and colleagues will never lack partners to share their burdens.

We’re better together.

Blessings,

Jim

Bearing the Weight of Ministry Together (Part 2)

After all these years, my favorite Pixar film remains The Incredibles (2004), largely due to the character arc of it’s lead, Bob, aka Mr. Incredible. Bob begins the story a prime example of the common “lone-hero trope.” Remember, “Fly home, Buddy! I work alone”? And this continues through much of the story until the film’s climax, when he realizes that success, even survival, is possible only as he works in concert with others, in this case his family. The turning point was his realization, “I’m not strong enough.”

Pastors, ministry leaders, we’re not strong enough. We need each other to support, assist, encourage, resource, stretch, and even challenge one another. I wrote last week about the importance of bearing the weight of ministry together. But, given this, why do many choose to work alone?

• Often pastors and staff know the need, but are so drawn into the busyness of their congregations that they find no time. Circumstances drive them into a pattern of isolation.

• Some don’t seek out colleagues for connection because they assume it would be an imposition on their colleague’s time.

• Some have tried in the past, only to have their trust broken. This leaves them hesitant to reach out.

• Some don’t know who they can reach out to.

• Some overestimate their strength and abilities, not realizing the need.

• Some carry personal pain or sin that, if they were to genuinely connect with another, would be found out.

I find it noteworthy that, from beginning to end, scripture says more about the people of God in community than it does the individual journey of faith. I believe it’s because, as the Lord’s designed it to work, the corporate journey is essential for fulfilling the personal one. Those of us called to ministry through the church understand this, but often we focus so much on providing community for others that we don’t draw on it ourselves.

In the book I’m currently reading, The Flourishing Pastor, author Tom Nelson says, “Pastors are not only shepherds; they must keep in mind they are sheep too.” And as sheep, we need the care and support of shepherds and the rest of the flock.

Where do we find this support? That’s our topic for next week.

Blessings,

Bro. Jim

Bearing the Weight of Ministry Together

This is an extremely stressful age in which to conduct ministry. At first glance this seems hard to imagine. I seem to remember times in history when pastors faced beating, imprisonment, and death for faithfully proclaiming God’s word. And indeed, there are places around the world where this remains the case. But it’s not likely for anyone reading these words.

Still, at least compared to our past experience in America, the weight of ministry today is heavy. As I’ve written before, the societal changes over the past two generations have shaken congregations as the ministry now occurs in a hostile, as opposed to favorable, environment. The result is that today, according to the Unstuck Group Quarterly Report for the fourth quarter of 2022, only 16 percent of congregations are either growing or experiencing sustained health, with 66% of churches on the declining side of their lifecycles. It’s no wonder that, according to the website SoulShepherding.org, 75% of pastors report being extremely stressed, 40% report serious conflict with a church member, and 50% report times when, had they an opportunity, they would have left the ministry. The weight of ministry is heavy.

So, how do we bear it?

We know the obvious answer, trust in the Lord who is our strength. Of course, if this were easy we wouldn’t be reading the numbers reported in the above paragraph. So, how do we draw on his strength when our load is heavy?

We need each other! Within the church, God provides our brothers and sisters as a resource for us, which is why Paul in Galatians 6:2 instructs us to “Carry one another’s burdens.” This is true within the church, but I believe it’s also true across the body of Christ between ministry leaders. Pastors and church staff need each other. The common understanding of the call paired with the wisdom a colleague might offer relative to a given need are gifts we ought not dismiss.

We all know this. And there are a variety of reasons why many don’t take take advantage of these connections, which I’ll address in a subsequent post. I’ll also share ways we all might connect, for our own benefit as well as that of others.

In the meantime, please know this: Here and now in GTBN, we’re here for each other. Whether it is through an official ministry like the pastor’s prayer meeting or a simple informal connection with a nearby pastor, there is a connecting point for you. As a colleague in another association says, “There’s no reason for you to pastor alone.” As we say it here, we really are better together!

Blessings,

Jim

A Brief Word

Don’t laugh. I can be brief, when I work really hard at it.

I just wanted to take a second and wish you all a happy new year! It’s good to have 2022 behind us. For our family it was a great year, but I know so many who experienced heavy grief or personal hardship. For churches it was a mixed bag. We emerged from the pandemic, but most have not returned to pre-Covid conditions. And while there was so much to celebrate as the Lord moved through His people, there was also much to lament as sin weighed many down. And don’t get me started on the economy, politics, or the increasing secular culture. The year 2022 was hard for many.

And now, ready or not, here’s 2023. I’m not a prophet, so I’ll not try and predict how this year will pan out. Reading the currents, I expect it will have it’s share of success and frustration, blessing and pain. But we trust in a sovereign God. He reigns. Nothing in 2022 caught him by surprise, and he knows every second of your life that will unfold through 2023. In Psalm 118 the psalmist says, “This is the day that the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.” Well, let me suggest we proclaim “This is the year He has made.”

Let me encourage you, as 2023 unfolds, engage it with joy and gladness in the Lord. Cling closely with Him and His church. And remember, we’re always better together!

Blessings!

Jim

The Great Breadth of the Gospel

What’s in your nativity scene? At a recent prayer meeting for pastors we all laughed as one told how his church’s creche, the one prominently placed on the Lord’s Supper table where the Bible or flowers typically rest, included the little drummer boy. This stirred my thinking about other inaccuracies common to even the best nativity sets. The most obvious, to me at least, is the common inclusion of the magi.

I’m sorry, they just weren’t there. Scholars debate how long it took for the magi to arrive in Bethlehem. Some suggest as short a time as 40 days and others as long as two years, the latter based on the ages of the children slaughtered by Herod’s troops. But Matthew 1:1 plainly says that they arrived at Jerusalem to inquire of Herod after Jesus was born. So they certainly weren’t present that first night.

This is just one of many inaccuracies common to nativity scenes. There’s also the presence of the angels (they appeared to the shepherds, then they left), the actual setting (cave, simple shelter, barn, or lower floor of house), and that Mary in all of them looks remarkably comfortable for a woman who’d just given birth, and she looks European. Scooter Wenner is adamite that you know, while most nativity scenes show the angels as women, all the angels named in scripture have male names. So, our nativity sets are not accurate representations of the history.

But let’s not toss them out just yet, for while they may not capture the truth of the very night of our Savior’s birth, they offer a wonderful representation of the breadth of the salvation our Savior brings. Consider the shepherds, simple, uneducated, humble. And yet the Father dispatched an angelic army inviting them to witness the events. The magi, on the other hand, were of great stature, able to secure gifts fit for a king. These the Father summoned via the star, drawing them on a lengthy journey to likewise witness prophecy’s fulfillment. These wealthy, non-Jews received as significant an invitation as did the simple, socially challenged shepherds. In other words, the gospel’s breadth is as wide as it is deep, with plenty of room for broken souls like you and me.

So leave the creche up. Celebrate the Christ who’s birth it seeks to portray. Dig into the scriptures, meditating on the full story. Then, let’s be like those shepherds and tell everyone about the Savior.

Merry Christmas!

Bro. Jim

Growing from Teacher to Disciple Maker

You who teach in Christ’s church serve a crucial task. Along with pastors and other gifted leaders, you equip God’s people for the ministry He’s called them to. It’s a task not to be taken lightly (James 3:1), but one often misunderstood, if not outright mispracticed, when teachers don’t grow as disciple makers.

Most Christians today draw their understanding of teaching from their experience with school. As students go to school, the teacher dispenses educational content, after which students depart for home. Whether or not students do anything with the content is up to them as, by now, the teacher is busy with the next crop of students.

Often this model influences the church, so that Bible teachers find themselves dispensing religious content as provided in a curriculum, hoping that something of the lesson will stick as students return to life outside church walls.

But teaching in the church is different. It’s different because the core curriculum is nothing less than the word of God itself. But also because, as Lifeway editors once said back in 2000, the leader is the lesson. Teachers in the church share not only their understanding of God’s word but their lives as examples. The most fruitful teaching occurs when relationships transcending the classroom exist as tracks for the train of spiritual truth to run on. In the church, teachers are disciple makers. At least, they should be.

So, how can you grow from a dispenser of spiritual content into a fruitful disciple maker? Consider these thoughts.

First, pray for yourself and those you teach. Ultimately you don’t teach content, you teach people. Stated differently, the object of your teaching time is not to complete a lesson as planned, but to influence the growth of disciples through scriptural truth. But, at a deeper level, your job is to be an instrument of the Lord in His shaping of disciples. This is such a serious assignment (remember James 3:1) that entering the classroom without deep prayer, for yourself and the souls you shepherd, should be unthinkable.

Second, don’t just study the curriculum or lesson plan (if you are using such), study the scriptures the curriculum is meant to cover. By study I mean that you read and meditate on the passages, allowing the Lord to shape your beliefs and life with the truth at hand. After all, how can you effectively teach something that is not present in your own life?

Third, use curriculum wisely. A noted above, teachers in the church teach Biblical truth, not curriculum. Curriculum, study guides, and books can be helpful tools as you, the teacher, dig into the Biblical text and communicate truth. But the Bible is inspired and inerrant, not any of these other tools; therefore, the Bible should be the subject of any lesson.

By the way, consider this. Do you and your students read more about the Bible than you do the Bible itself? If so, consider reversing the order. I often ask church leaders, “What would happen if you woke up on Sunday morning and all of your Sunday School resources were gone so, when you arrived at church, all you had to teach with was the scripture? How would that go?” One pastor told me, “If it’s an adult class, they’d have another donut.” That’s not the best answer.

Fourth, find opportunities to connect beyond group meetings. Obviously there are boundaries to respect, such men discipling men and women discipling women. But within the boundaries are multiple opportunities to invest in disciples so that the teacher’s commitment to Christ is caught as well as taught. One of the best examples I’ve seen, transferrable to almost any context, involves the lead teacher and spouse (for a mixed Sunday School group) investing in two other couples as apprentices, thereby multiplying the relational connections within the class.

Finally, teach for transformation. Jesus says in the Great Commission to “teach them to obey all that I have commanded them.” The goal of disciple making is not simply mastery of doctrine, but growth toward Christ-likeness. If, after many seasons of your teaching, students show no greater appetite for the Lord, no deeper love for people, no fruitful service for Him, then it’s worth considering what might be lacking in your stewardship of the souls entrusted to you as a teacher.

Don’t be satisfied as a mere dispenser of spiritual content. Make disciples, for His glory. If the Network can help you consider pathways toward more fruitful disciple making, give us a call.

Blessings,

Bro. Jim

Hard Truths about Making Disciples

Making disciples for Jesus Christ stands at the heart of your church’s mission. You know this as well as I do. Yet, despite what we know, most of us would agree (I think) that, at least during this current cultural season, most congregations are not very fruitful.

Attempts to explain why fill numerous books and blogs. I’ll not dig deeply into those here, but I would like to share with you three hard truths about making disciples we don’t always consider. Perhaps as you ponder them here you might discover some adjustments for strengthening your fruitfulness for the Lord.

Hard Truth #1, Not everyone has the same capacity. In a commercial for Southern New Hampshire University, school president Paul LeBlanc says, “The world we live in equally distributes talent, but it doesn’t equally distribute opportunity.” I’ll not argue the later point, but the first is most definitely incorrect. Talent is not equally distributed.

People are different. All persons, as creatures in God’s image, share equal value. The church is called to serve and present the gospel to anyone and everyone, without prejudice, discipling all who respond in faith. And all Christians have the capacity to receive a “well done” from the savior.

But when you invest in discipling those who respond, you will discover some will have a deeper grasp of doctrine than others, some will be more able to teach, and others more capable to lead. This can be attributed to many things, such as spiritual discipline and maturity, spiritual giftedness and calling, as well as individual capabilities, personality, and the physical capacity of each person.

This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the church. The challenge is that you will not fruitfully make disciples with a “one size fits all” program. Churches should have a basic pathway for all members. But for disciples to develop, God’s word must be applied to each individual life and circumstances. For this, disciple making must become relational and permeate the church family.

Consider this question, how does your church connect the sermons and lessons to the lives and circumstances of each disciple?

The opportunity is that, as you disciple all members, you can enhance fruitfulness by multiplying your team. Note those who demonstrate the capacity to teach and lead others. Carve out sessions to cultivate their gifts, then deploy them through the congregation.

How are you identifying potential leaders within your congregation?

Hard Truth #2, Preaching and teaching alone will not do it. Scripture says that faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). This is so true. You will not have fruitful disciple making apart from the steady instruction of scripture from the pulpit and classroom. But, if this is the limit of your instruction, fruit will be limited to the 10% or so of Christians who are “self-feeders.”

Consider the example of Paul, who told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, “You know how I lived among you, from the first day I set foot in Asia.” He told the Thessalonians, “You know what kind of men we proved to be among you, for your sake. And you became imitators of us,” (1 Thess. 1:5-6). Robert Coleman’s classic, The Master Plan of Evangelism, explains Jesus’ approach with the Twelve. I’ll spare you from enduring a lengthy sermon on the point, but please note that scripture shows disciple makers not only preaching and teaching. They are modeling truth, sending disciples out to practice truth, coaching and questioning them about truth, and certainly correcting missteps. All of this occurs because there is a presence, a relationship connecting disciple maker with the developing disciple.

Church, we must not devalue the pulpit or classroom! But we’ll not see an emergence of great fruitfulness until we develop within the church those connections so that every disciple has some mature, serving, and fruitful disciple makers to guide on.

What is your church doing to accomplish this?

Hard Truth #3: Many churches aim too low in disciple making. When I was in preacher school, I learned that twenty percent of church members did eighty percent of the work. My colleagues across the country tell me that today it’s more like ten percent do ninety percent of the work. Sadly, many churches would be content with either number and call that fruitfulness.

For generations we Southern Baptists have contented ourselves with growing attendance, considering those who volunteer to serve, lead, or enter ministry or missions as the exceptions. A pastor I once knew told me, “Jim, you can’t expect too much from God’s people. They’re just sheep.”

Now, going back to Hard Truth #1, I understand that everyone will not grow to teach or lead others, and even fewer will be pastors or missionaries. But, I wonder, if we don’t teach toward these stronger commitments, how will anyone embrace them? A wise friend once said, “Jim, if you ask for nothing, you’ll never be disappointed, but you will never get more either. If you ask for the world, you’ll never get the world, but you will get a lot more than nothing.”

It's time to raise the bar for disciple making. Churches should teach about the gifts, calling, and spiritual qualifications of ministry leaders, teachers, and even pastors and missionaries. Every Christian is called to live an exemplary life and to serve sacrificially. Raise the expectation in your church of what it means to be a Christ’s disciple. Do this and most will engage, some will struggle, and a few might even fall, but others will grow to deeper levels of service and greater ministry leadership. And you might even find yourself raising staff from the congregation and sending missionaries to far away countries.

What is the base expectation in your church for a professing, faithfully attending member?

Jesus told his disciples in John 15:16, “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide…” Ponder the thoughts. I’ll have more to share later.

Blessings,

Bro. Jim

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Since last Sunday…

One pastor believes he serves the finest of congregations.

Another questions whether he’s making any difference with the people he serves.

A third perseveres through varied seasons of ministry, loving those he serves but unsure of what the future holds.

One staff member feels loved and appreciated.

Another is frustrated by how some behave toward him.

Others questions whether they are up to the task.

One leader feels overwhelmed by their load.

Another grieves the loss of an ally.

Each of these shares a holy calling to serve the Lord’s church. Each is empowered by the Holy Spirit for the task at hand. Each fills an important role not only in their church, but in our fellowship of churches.

Whichever circumstance you find yourself in, be thankful for the privilege you hold. The apostle Paul wrote, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service…”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bro. Jim

A Hypothetical Conversation

For your encouragement I share the following hypothetical conversation.

Friend: “Hey Jim, Halloween is an evil holiday. Why do you celebrate it?”

Me: “I don’t celebrate Halloween.”

Friend: “But you had a party on Halloween.”

Me: “Yes, we had a community party.”

Friend: “Come on, Jim. If you have a community party on Halloween, then you are celebrating Halloween.”

Me: “No. Not at all. Let me explain. Whether I recognized Halloween or not, every October 31st about 200 of my neighbors will come by my house, uninvited, and ask for free candy.”

Friend: “Ok?”

Me: “I suppose I could be like the old guy shouting, ‘Get off my lawn. Halloween is evil.’ But I’m not sure this actually points them to Christ in any meaningful way.”

Friend: “Probably not.”

Me: “Or I could give them one of those gospel tracks on the wickedness of Halloween, and even toss some candy in. But again, I’m not sure this would bring any real glory to the Lord.”

Friend: “But at least you would be taking a stand against sin.”

Me: “But what if we did this instead? What if we created a reason for people to slow down, for us to learn who they are and build friendships? What if, as their children played in the jump house or made their craft, we learned their names and concerns, maybe even their spiritual condition? And what if, even if we share the complete gospel message with only a few, we established relationships which allowed ministry to them over days and months ahead? Finally, what if we became trusted friends so that, when “life happens,” we’re their 911 call?”

Friend: “I don’t know, Jim. There are no guarantees.”

Me: “There is one. If I let them pass with little to nothing, I am guaranteed to miss any opportunity to be Christ’s ambassador in their lives.”

Friend: “So, you’re not celebrating Halloween?”

Me: “No, we’re snatching it from the enemy to befriend people we’d likely never know otherwise. It’s one way the gospel flows.”

The lesson: When people pass through your life, don’t assume it’s by accident. Slow their passing long enough to discern what purpose the Lord has for your intersection with them.

What I’ve Learned about Church Revitalization

In my role as associational missionary, I’m often asked what struggling churches might do to revitalize their ministries. Not that I’m an expert on the subject. People smarter than me write books and host blogs or podcasts filled with more wisdom on this subject than I have. But, in thirty years of ministry through and with congregations, I believe the Lord has taught me a few things. With this in mind, I’d like to share with you three such lessons.  

 1.      Not every church will experience revitalization.

This is a sad but necessary realization. Not every congregation that seeks it will see a renewed season of vibrant ministry. This has always been true. Remember, not a single congregation spoken of in scripture lived perpetually. Churches are born, they live, and they die.

Some die because their communities no longer exist. Some, their communities have changed, and the church has yet to discover connecting points with their new neighbors. Many churches elevate preference over mission, or they become diverted from their mission by internal battles. Compromise with the world has crippled many a congregation. These are just a few of numerous reasons I’ve seen prompting church closure, but common to all is a struggle to fruitfully make disciples, raising up the next generation of believers to carry on ministry.

 2.      Revitalization is hard.

Thom Rainer, as quoted during a recent North American Mission Board event, says 80% of church revitalizing efforts fail. I suppose that depends on how you define a revitalization effort, but if this is even close to truth it supports my point. But why is revitalization so hard?

The “absolute bottom-line” answer, I believe, is that we address the wrong problem, or at least we start at the wrong place. When leaders inquire of me about revitalization, their questions usually center on tactics. Expecting that change is in order, they seek to identify the change necessary then find a tactical solution amiable to the members. And there’s a time and place for this conversation.

But I believe the core issue with revitalization is the battle within ourselves, that struggle to deny self, take up our cross and follow Jesus. Revitalization within a congregation, just as our conversion and sanctification, is a work of God. As Christians yield themselves before Him through the disciplines of disciple making, He transforms them to greater conformity with Christ and deploys them into the world. When this happens throughout the congregation, we begin to see the fruit of revitalized ministry.

On the other hand, churches who only address strategy and tactics will find revitalization beyond their reach.

3.      Most congregations wait too long before seeking to revitalize.

In my experience, most congregations do not address their vitality until they feel the pain of their current reality. This pain may emerge from continually declining attendance, the lack of volunteers, internal dissent, or a mostly elder congregation. For most, it’s the financial pain caused when their giving can no longer sustain facilities and ministry.

But, because revitalization is a product of disciple making, it takes time for Christians to grow, for groups to assemble, and for the work of God to filter through the congregation. And even more time is required for new believers to grow in their service and giving. This doesn’t mean revitalization is impossible when the church’s solvency is at risk, but rarely have I seen the Spirit expedite His process for spiritual transformation.

Congregations that experience true revitalization begin the process early. Before the pain threatens their existence, or even before the pain emerges at all, they ask a couple of questions: (1) What is the Lord’s next step for our church? And (2) what adjustments do we need to make to fruitfully grow and deploy disciples?

Conclusion

There will be a time for many churches when the Lord says, “Your season is over.” Since we don’t know who those churches are, or when that time is, your partners across GTBN stand with you. We seek to empower the disciple making potential of every church. You may not know what the Lord’s plan is for tomorrow, but if I’ve learned anything from the Parable of the Talents it’s that we all must steward well today what the Lord has given us. His plan tomorrow always begins with faithfulness today.

Think about it, and contact GTBN if we can help.

Blessings,

Bro. Jim