MINISTERS MATTER

PROPHETIC WORD TO LIFECENTRE

You can hear this read live today or go to www.lifecentre.org and download a pdf of it. A word received for Lifecentre. Enjoy!

Fresh Hunger from Lifecentre.org on Vimeo.

Another one of those stories we need to read as church planters and pastors. This one comes to us from LifeWay with Ed Stetzer. Enjoy.

I've seen many leaders, including those who would be considered successful, and those whose work failed to produce lasting fruit, crash and burn while doing the very thing God called them to do. If you're planting, or thinking of planting, these words are for you.

Alan (not his real name) started a successful church in a large Northern California community. He worked hard, built up his core group and drew over 300 people to his launch service. By the end of his first year, Alan's church averaged over 200 in worship. By the end of his second year, his church averaged nearly 400. Alan became a hero to his local denominational leaders. Northern California is difficult soil and Alan's new church was their most successful start in over 20 years. His ministerial star was rising. Then Alan resigned at the end of his third year. He was not leaving to lead another church. In fact, he was completely leaving professional ministry to enter the management trainee program with Taco Bell Corporation. People were shocked.

His friends, colleagues, and even a few fans tried convincing Alan into giving ministry another chance. Their reasons were admirably motivated: God equips gifted people like him to advance the kingdom. Alan understood and appreciated their concerns. But he was not budging. The reasons he cited are all too familiar. The pressures to succeed made him miserable, the church increasingly demanded more time away from his family, and he felt spiritually barren. Furthermore, Alan did not like what he or the church had become. The church was like a spoiled child demanding their needs be met and giving nothing back. Alan drew a large crowd, but felt like he was doing it alone. He was seeing very little life change in an outwardly growing crowd on Sundays. Physically, emotionally and spiritually disillusioned, he had enough. He wanted out, so he quit.

Most, if not all, church planters wrestle with at least some of the issues Alan faced. Admittedly, most don't quit. But many limp along nearly broken under the pressures to succeed. Some church planters so singularly focus on the task of creating a congregation that they forget to build a church and guard their own spiritual lives. When this happens, both the planter and his church suffer. Let's look at two practices that can help planters avoid a spiritually dry and disillusioned ministry.

Spiritual Renewal

I know this sounds basic, but many church planters neglect fundamental spiritual disciplines. An informal survey of Nehemiah Project church planters (North American Mission Board) revealed their greatest challenge was spending time with God. I talk to church planters all over the country from many denominations and I am amazed at how many find it difficult to maintain a quality relationship with God. They love God and trust him for the future of the church plant but for most it has become a long-distance relationship.

Church planting is a rigorous task that leaves planters physically, emotionally and spiritually drained. Church planters are busy and stressed. The inherent instability of church planting places constant pressure on these Alpha-leaders to excel. They feel that every sermon, every service, every advertisement, every contact, and every event must be exactly right for them to succeed. Performance pressure overwhelms their theological moorings as to who they are in Christ creating an incessant anxiety which drives them even further into the work that drains them. It's a vicious cycle.

Finding rest in the presence of God is the only answer. But rest rarely comes when the planter's mind is a vortex of what must be done next. "Next" becomes the enemy of God's work in their lives "now." Consequently, the planter's relationship with God gradually erodes over time leaving him spiritually dry and empty.

If you find yourself enslaved in the vicious cycle, there is only one answer-stop! Now, I don't mean push the "Pause" button on the church plant. But you need to put some of the responsibilities into the hands of others (even if they will not do it as good as you think you will) and give yourself more time for with God. Guarding your life with regular times of prayer, solitude, and Sabbath where you sit unhurried before God will ensure a rich and abundant reservoir of spiritual life and power. Planters who fail to keep their time with God a priority will invariably suffer in their personal walk and the church plant will feel the profound effects as well.

Theological Reflection

Eugene Peterson makes an interesting observation in his introduction to "Working the Angels." "The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper's concerns-how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money." 1

Many pastors are feeling the pressure to attract spiritual customers, but at what price? Megachurch pastor Walt Kallestad reveals similar feelings in a recent Christianity Today article, "Showtime No More."

On the surface, all was well. I was a megachurch pastor with invitations to speak at conferences, write books, and mingle with dignitaries. Our church had state of the art facilities next to a major freeway. But that was on the surface. Deep down inside, I was mortified at what we'd become. We had to change. We just couldn't keep going like this. Not anymore. 2

Obviously, church leaders feel a tension between numerically increasing their congregation and increasing biblical maturity among the members. The conflict has always existed-just read Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Planters in particular feel the pressure because new churches must grow to survive!

By overemphasizing aggressive outreach, risk taking and innovative methods, planters can easily become preoccupied with numerical growth and fail to exegete everything from methods to culture. Having prepared for years to plant a church, their livelihood, personhood, reputation, hopes and dreams all ride on the success of the plant. Some church planters like Alan focus so much on outward success that they never personally reflect on God's work in the details of people's lives. Ultimately, they live in disappointment about themselves for not attaining every goal.

Planters must practice theological reflection to maintain biblical integrity in their perspective of ministry. Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."3 I wonder if the unexamined church is not worth starting. Integrating theological reflection into the vision and methods of a church plant will help both the leader and the people.

Ask questions like: What is the purpose and mission of the local church? What does it mean to be a Christian? What does a genuine disciple look like? What is authentic worship? What does Christ require of us, and what does faithfulness to Christ look like? How do we implement these biblical mandates successfully in our cultural context?

These and other like questions form a biblical baseline for planters. Then the baseline becomes the goal rather than building up one's personal sense of fulfillment. Plus the baseline keeps the pressure off of the planter and on the vision to keep the church on course.

One of the planter's most important roles is leadership. Wise leaders understand their role in shaping the vision and culture of the church. They also understand the need to remove oneself from the pressures of ministry and experience renewal and reflection. Planters who do this are personally and professionally healthier than planters who do not. And, they lead healthier, more biblical and more sustainable churches.

Being tired is just part of planting a church. Burnout and disillusionment don't have to be. Put your spiritual life in order first and a fresh wind of leadership will follow.

ALAN HIRSCH - another speaker from the Nines.

Alan has written a number of thought provoking books and the one I enjoyed the most is called Re-Jesus. Here is his talk from the Nines. Enjoy!

TokBox - Free Video Chat and Video Messaging

This is Ed Stetzer's comments today on the Nines - a collection of about 70 leaders from across the Body of Christ speaking on subjects of interest to them and what God is speaking to their lives about at this time. Enjoy!

Here is Ed's outline.

Mission, Self, and God's Mission Mission is the opposite of self.

We have to remember to make it about God and not about us. Even pastors struggle with the reality that the heart is an idol factory.

Your heart is an "Idol Factory" constantly creating things other than God to worship. We must resist the pull of idols and live the mission-- to make it about God's Glory and His agenda.

We pastors too often consider ourselves as "religious professionals who can put on a show" rather than people transformed and sent on mission.

1. Those on mission focus on God's glory and His agenda (Isaiah 6:1-8).

2. Those on mission reflect being with God (2 Corinthans 3:16-18). Trying to get people on mission who haven't been transformed by the gospel is a fool's errand.

3. Those on mission no longer live for themselves (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). It's not about thinking less of you it's about thinking of you less.

Ed Stetzer - The 9s from LifeWay on Vimeo.

SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS A PROCESS - Where do you need to grow?

From the moment we begin to follow Jesus, we also enter a process of growing spiritually IF we have the right ingredients, in the right place, and at the right time.

What are some of those important ingredients?

First, we need to understand that God places each of us into His family in the same way a child is born into a family. We are born again into the family of God which is expressed throughout the world through healthy local church communities. Are you an active member of a local church? If yes, then the process of spiritual maturity has started off correctly.

Second, we need to understand the importance of healthy spiritual parents in our lives. Usually local pastors, as spiritual leaders, help this process begin but then congregation members get involved in the practical side of helping us grow. We all need people who can mentor us through the stages from being a baby Christian to becoming a mature and fruitful disciple of Jesus Christ.

Third, the spiritual disciplines of personal prayer, personal worship and a systematic ‘through the bible’ study of scripture will help to renew our minds and heal our hearts. These disciplines will enable us to understand what God expects of us as we continue to grow up in His house.

REASONS FOR LEAVING THE CHURCH

Comment by Todd Rhoades on why young people are not going to church and he asks about the adults as well.

by Todd Rhoades

Recently, my friend Ed Stetzer gave a presentation at the International Christian Retail Show on some of the research he's doing at LifeWay.

He shared the top reasons they've found that young adults are dropping out of church these days. Among the reasons:

1. They simply want a break from church (27%);
2. They felt church members are judgmental and/or hypocritical (26%);
3. They moved to college and didn't find another church (25%);
4. They have work responsibilities that keep them from attending (23%);
5. They moved too far from church (22%);
6. They just got too busy, even though they’d still like to attend (22%);
7. They didn’t feel connected to the church in the first place (20%);
8. They disagreed with the church’s political/social stance (18%);
9. They decided to spend more time with friends (17%);
10. They were just going to church to please their parents (17%).

That is some interesting information. I’d love to see how this meshes with the reasons that older adults leave the church. I think there are similarities, regardless of age.

One of the biggest reasons adults give for dropping out of church is that they feel people in the church are judgmental and hypocritical.

Another reason often given is work responsibilities. And then there are those who just want a break, others who have moved and haven’t reconnected with a new church, or are just too busy. And these days, many of us disagree with the church’s political and/or social views.

And just going to church to please your parents? Well that’s still a good excuse, no matter your age. Except maybe it’s your spouse, or another family member you’re aiming to please.

Why do people leave your church? No, really. Why do people leave? Think of the last 5 families that have left your church. Do you even know why they left? And did you or anyone discuss their decision with them after they left?

Young people AND adults leave churches for the silliest reasons. Sometimes a gentle prodding or talk can rescue them from their inactivity in the church. Sometimes not. But too often, we just let them go. We allow their laziness or lousy reasoning to keep them from our or any church, and stand by as they distance themselves from the One who wants, more than anything, to have a day-by-day relationship with them.

Is there someone you should call today to say, “Hey, how are you doing? I’ve been missing you?”

10 REASONS YOUNG ADULTS LEAVE CHURCH

This was presented by Ed Stetzer at the International Christian Retail Show. When you think of the young adults in your church, do some of these same stats apply?

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN HONDURAS

Christians Remain Tense Amid Honduras Coup Crisis

Christians in Honduras are living under great stress as their country’s post-coup strife shows no sign of resolution in the near future.

Since the removal of President Manuel Zelaya from power two weeks ago, the government has imposed a 9 p.m. curfew on the entire country as well as a ban on public meetings, including religious services.

Media reports indicate that the nationwide curfew was lifted Sunday, but it is still unclear on whether or not the prohibition on public gatherings was also lifted.

“This impacts the evangelical church community dramatically, since believers have not been able to meet or fellowship together,” said a Bible League official and local clergyman in Honduras, whose name was not disclosed for security reasons. “But we continue to monitor the situation and have faith that through this crisis the Christian community will unite together in prayer and continue its mission to share God’s Word, which transcends politics.”

The international community has denounced the ousting of Zelaya from office and has tried, but so far failed, to broker successful peace talks between the two parties involved.

Zelaya was expelled from Honduras by the country’s military late last month and was replaced by Roberto Micheletti, who the military installed as the interim head of state.

Since then, pro-Zelaya as well as anti-Zelaya demonstrations have taken place in Honduras, some of them erupting into violence.

Those opposed to Zelaya accuse him of poor management of the country and of trying to change Honduras’ constitution to remain in power. Honduras’ constitution says a president can only serve one term and anyone who is found to “incite, promote, or aid in the continuation or re-election of the President” would face lost of citizenship.

Last week, Zelaya tried to fly back to Honduras but the interim government refused to allow his plane to land.

The deposed Honduran leader spent this past weekend in Washington trying to garner support from the U.S. government and officials of the Organization of American States (OAS). Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, a 1987 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, meanwhile, is trying to organize a follow-up face-to-face talk between Zelaya and Micheletti.

Honduras is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Central America. Nearly half of its citizens live below the poverty line. It also has a long history of military rule.

The country is also overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. The CIA World Factbook reports 97 percent of its population is Catholic. Evangelicals make up only about three percent of the population.

Michelle A. Vu
Christian Post Reporter

MATT CARTER ON MISSION

How does a church get so missional and global?  The answer is by doing it - it isn’t found in a class - it’s found in the field.  Matt ties this to his small group ministry and it’s really good. 

THE SHOW - for May 19, 2009 - Guest Matt Carter from Todd Rhoades on Vimeo.

THE DNA OF GLOCALNET ( Global and local combined)

The ministry of Bob Roberts Jr., of Keller, Texas is one of global connecting together missionally.

The Birth of a Dream…Glocalnet  http://www.glocal.net/

Glocalnet was born out of a dream — a dream that followers of Jesus Christ and their churches would be so radically changed from the inside out that those disciples, their families, their churches, their neighborhoods and their work places would never be the same.

As a result of a transformational experience, these disciples and their churches would form partnerships that would transform their communities and touch the world.

Groups of regionally-located churches or churches within the same city (clusters of churches) would link arms to provide cities and nations good news in all arenas — fresh water, nutritional food, 21st century healthcare, competitive education and spiritual truth.

If this worldwide, strategic, interdenominational alliance of churches went full-force after its calling from Christ to be salt and light to serve the least of these glocally (locally and globally), the world would literally be transformed. Every pocket of the globe would be changed.

The Dream is Becoming Reality

Glocalnet is a network of churches worldwide, clustered together regionally or in cities. These clusters pool their resources to produce T-Life disciples, multiply churches, transform local communities and impact the world.