Thursday night our executive met to discuss findings from a recent leadership meeting and to move from that to some priorities that would hopefully begin to lay the groundwork for some direction...
So, what did we come up with? Nothing earth shatering, but this is us and this is where we're at.
These are not in any order...and I'm just remembering them off the top of my head, might be missing one or confusing two...oh well, of no consequence.
1. We have space problems and they're only getting worst. It's such a cool problem to have, on the one hand, but it means that we're working hard to try and be able to find better configurations so we can seat more people in our limited place. A better configuration right now means lots of rows, something impersonal, that I don't like much...but it seems we don't have much choice in. There's a restaurant in town I'd love to buy...but that's a dream away. I did speak on generosity this weekend, so I might have made some room :). Beyond all this we want to take a complete look at our building and how we're using it, so we can maximize our potential for ministry in and beyond our walls.
2. Finances...with small churches come issues of finances. Actually, I've been in churches of different sizes and find that finances aren't an issue of size. Still with getting more people usually comes more money. But also more needs and more demands and you got it, more finances...am I going in circles? Good thing God owns all the cattle in the fields, because he's gonna have to take some to auction.
3. Leadership training. We have a few people doing lots of work. Not just that, of the few that are working it isn't really an organized effort. No criticism here...these people really have sacrificed to be where POG is at. And when you're smaller you don't need as much structural organization, but then you get to where we're at and in order to move forward you need more training and a more organized effort. As well, as perhaps, the most challenging fact of all which is working in "teams" of people to accomplish the things that in the past only needed one or two people to do.
4. Children's ministry. What can I say? We have some incredible, wonderful, people trying to make do. We need more people to do something impactful at all levels with our children of all ages. I think that I'm mixing this up. In truth Discipleship, overall, is a major need in our midst.
So, does that sound like a challenge? Here's what I realized on thursday night, if it's up to me, we're done! But I also realized something else, it isn't up to me! Some comforting words came to me since then, "I desire obedience, not sacrifice." Kind of like, obey me and watch me work. My part in all this, demonstrate this and help others get it.
I'm excited about what is ahead. Yes, I'm sure we'll have our mountains to climb and with mountains come valleys, as well as mountain tops...best of all I'm glad we have the one who made the mountains and the valleys leading us.
We meet next week to discuss some action plans.
Posted by edI love how God works...(most of the time :))
Discipleship is major important and something I really long for. I'm know I'm not a new Christian, but I have so much growing to do and I think sometimes lasting change can only come through some kind of mentoring.
Children's ministry...'nuff said.
Space issues...Hallelujah! (Darren told me about your idea for a wall creating an entrance and making that the front of the church...sounds good...the sound might be better too).
Leadership training...in agreement...can that come after discipleship? I'm not sure if I could join although I desire to be involved...but the blind, deaf, lost person shouldn't be trying to lead. Right?
Sounds like a very good meeting. And another confirmation that God is all over us. Good feeling!
Here's a neat fact that I think the Church (big C) sometime misses. Jesus picked a bunch of blind, deaf, lost?, guys to lead. And when he left most still took a long time to get it. Even Peter years later had to be told off by Paul because he wasn't getting it.
Our place seems to be the perfect example that if we're going to have to wait for everyone to become good enough, we might miss some opportunities to do some ministry God wants us to do.
I'm not into just putting anyone, anywhere just to fill holes, but I believe that it's not about getting God enough to do ministry any more than it's about being, clean, nice smelling enough to come to Christ.
Having said that, absolutely...Discipleship, major priority! Actually, these are all things that will happen all together. They're all needed. That's why there's only a few priorities. Although they're big ones. As we chisel away at it, they'll become smaller ones and give us room to do other things as well.
Okay, talk soon, thanks for your comments.
Posted by: ed