Many moons ago, I was a part of a church plant in Oviedo, FL where we met on Sundays at a high school auditorium. It was a great learning experience, but the church never grew and we shut the doors after a year and a half. Well.....Our latest church visit in Greenville, The Edge Community Church, is a church plant. It was started about 5 months ago and is currently meeting at a high school auditorium. So I was very curious to see how things were going for this newly planted church.
There were about 60-70 people total including children, so with me being a visitor, I was standing out like a sore thumb. That being said, I was warmly welcomed by folks as I came in which was quite refreshing. Even more so, I was very surprised to see the makeup of the congregation racially diverse. Growing up in Panama and Miami, diverse churches were very common. However, after moving to the "southeast" U.S., I have come to realize that the churches here are some of the most racially divided institutions around. So I was encouraged that even in this small number, there were blacks, hispanics, and whites, all fellowshipping together. I walked into the auditorium and the house lights were dark with the stage lights on and the band taking their place. The worship started and the band sounded great.
The pastor was also the lead guitarist in the band…. COOL!!! He preached a good message that was very sincere and challenging. The church had spent a good part of that Saturday doing an outreach in a poor section of town. I was encouraged that even though this church is new and small, they don’t neglect their responsibility to reach out to those less fortunate.
One of the things I noticed in the bulletin and during the announcement time, was a plea from the church..… “Are you ready to take the next step and start making a positive spiritual impact on people’s lives? Then we are ready to find your perfect place to serve. To get plugged in here, please contact….” I guess you expect that with a church plant as manpower is probably at a minimum and they need more warm bodies to help accomplish the things God has called them to do. I have visited a few churches recently that echoed that plea with the request of “Come learn what gifts you have so you can get plugged into ministry here.”
It seems to make sense…..but at the same time it also seems wrong. Why do churches assume that the best place for a person to serve is to join up with a ministry at that church? To be successful in ministry, do you have to be a greeter, a musician, children’s worker, small group leader, Sunday school teacher, or an usher? Churches need these positions filled in order to do be successful with their different programs and activities. So they offer gift and talent surveys where you can find out what you’re good at and then they plug you into serving in that area. Call me crazy, but that kind of sounds like the military to me.
Consider this …. The average family connects and participates in spheres of influence throughout their daily lives. They usually live in a neighborhood with neighbors and participate in activities with other families such as kids’ sports, PTA, hobbies, or school activities. And on top of that, one or both of the parents spend a minimum of 40 hours a week at their work with co-workers. I call these activities “spheres of influence” because they are opportunities to influence the people around them. The problem is that the church model for serving takes people out of their spheres of influence by requiring them to go to the church building and serve the needs there. Of course most of the church’s ministries are centered around the Sunday service, so rehearsals, team meetings, trainings, and teachings occupy much of the active Christian’s time and keeps them mostly around other Christians and not in the real world that is happening each and every day. Is the church really interested in raising up leaders or having people serve as instruments in their machines of ministry?
Have you ever considered the church coming alongside a family and seeing how they can help support that family in their spheres of influence they are already a part of. For example, if the Smith family was very involved in the local soccer league with their kids, how could the local church help that family to be a light in the darkness to the other families in that soccer league? Are there resources and creative ideas that the church could employ to support the Smith family in sharing the gospel with their sphere of influence in that soccer league? Or would that church look to limit the Smith’s time in their mission field to assume a particular role that will help them be more successful with their Sunday service?
Now, before you get upset at me….. I am a musician and have always served on the worship teams at the churches we’ve attended. I’m not saying to neglect any type of service at your church. The difference is that church ministry is not my main outlet for serving. It is only a part of it….a BALANCED part of it. I make sure I have time to stay connected to many of the wonderful relationships that God has given me in the different spheres of influence of my life. I refuse to allow the church and its activities to consume my life. This may sound harsh, but I’ve seen too many people get taken advantage of and burned out by church service and ministry.
I am still praying for the day when a church will come behind a family and specifically ask how they can help that family be a light in the darkness in their community. Where the leadership of that church will commit creativity, support, and most importantly resources to helping that family reach those around them.
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6 comments:
I really enjoy your writing, because I really enjoy you. YOU come across in your writing. I agree with what you're saying. To many define the totality of their "Christianity" by what they do or how they serve on Sunday mornings. When their service inside the walls on Sunday mornings is over... so is their service and maybe even their Christianity.
We're looking to segment Symrna into grids... and when a small group is ready to take on a grid, we as a church (Cumberland) want to support this group in any way to go out and BE the church... to find hurting people and show them Jesus. This would give ownership of Christ's church to more than just staff and elders... and would be waaay more than Sunday mornings.
Thanks, Brian. Pray for us.
We sure could use you.
- alan
Ergo reality TV shows, let me oblige America's need to be judged by a Terse sharp-tongued Brit: "What a load of bullshit!".
Don't turn your head lest you swipe me with your ocular timber appendage. Why would you wait for a church to come along and fulfill your opinion of what the body should do? You are the body. Just do it already. People die and go to hell whilst you wait to be supported. Be the support. Start that church, that group, that ministry and make it happen. If you have the right way to run a church then people will join you and you can show the rest of the world how its done. Unless you tried that already and your church plant didn't work last time. Get over what has been done to you, what you have seen and what you think is the problem and start blogging about who you brought to Christ, how you discipled them, how you trained them to do the same and what new ideas you came up with that actually work with outstanding results.
Blah blah blah!
I like your point here...
I can tell you from being in church leadership as well that it's difficult to find people to lead period. Is is a social problem... definitely. Is it an American Society problem? Not sure. I live here so I'm biased to say yes. Regardless, there are just too few leaders, or "people that give a damn," anymore.
You'll have a congregation of folks who have been involved in the body for a year that finally put up a chair after service just because no one has challenged them too until that day.
I sympathize with the idea that putting a "plea" in the bulletin is a turn off, but I know we at Lifepoint always are asking for volunteers in the bulletin so that people are aware of the need. Perhaps "The Edge" could more tactfully word their opportunity and present the "opportunity to serve" more in that light over what seems to be begging, but I disagree that promoting servanthood in the bulletin is wrong.
It's also important, though, that the culture of the church from the top down truly is servanthood. I understand the military approach and if you detected that there, then get out. You shouldn't be guilted into service, period. Read James... understand the difference between condemnation (outside) and conviction (inside) if you want proof of that.
Hey Pete..I think what you really need is a good ol American smack alongside your limey head with the plank in my eye you are referring to. :) For some reason you are taking my post as a whine about needing the church to do something I refuse to do.
The problem with your argument (or lack thereof) is that there isn’t a “right” way to do church. And there aren’t necessarily any new ideas under the sun either. Unless you call building relationships with the people God brings into your life and sharing Jesus with them a new idea. Most people in America have heard the gospel. I believe what they haven’t seen is people genuinely living the gospel. Living life in your sphere of influence for Jesus. I just wish the church would look at their folks as full time ministers and not some cog in their machine of church ministry. The reality is the American church model is broken and ineffective. And what might work for a church in Willow Creek, or Saddleback, or even Peru, may not work in your own backyard.
But now that you mention it… there are certain churches that do believe they have the “right” way to do ministry as you call it. Sometimes they call it the vision and say that it is God’s model for everyone to adopt as it is the blessed model that works. They don’t care what country, town, or city you may be in, the model is irrefutable and works in all instances and occasions. They have been known to demand that each of their members should be discipling a certain number of people at a time….oh I don’t know, why don’t we say 12 at a time. Combine that with leadership level meetings, group meetings, weekend retreats, and maybe they do pull their members out of the world and into their perfect model of church ministry. ………I….digress…..
I could blog about the things Jeanne, Selah, and I are doing here, but I’d rather do that on facebook and since you’re not on facebook I guess you’ll never know…. J “Just do it” is a nice slogan and sells a lot of sneakers, but it’s not a way to minister. I lean toward “Just obey and do it.” Rest assured, we are “just doing” exactly what God has told us to do here in Greenville, South Cackalaky. And starting a church is not one of them. God knows we have more than plenty of churches here in America anyway.
Love you man. Thanks for bringing it.
LOL...wow you do digress! A little sarcasm coming out there! I did tell you last time you were down I'd be the Simon Cowell to your blog! Hope you are still happy with that and having fun!
Boo Hoo, cry me a north American river. Dude, results speak louder than words. There are so many churches and ministries that I completely don't agree with in structure but they blow me away in results. What am I going to say to that?
Again, give us your results. Help grow churches, ministries by your wisdom that brings results, not a complaint of what others do or don't do right or whether you agree with them.
And btw I ain't a limey, you Canadian! lol
Hey….You’re more Canadian than I am!!! yup, having fun with the sarcasm and yes, I know limeys are from south of the border. I had to try to step it up from your comment. And as misguided as they may be....I am also aware that Scottish criticism makes Limey criticism look like compliments too.
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