Hey Guys,
I write this as I’m getting ready to go to one of the Engage meetings. I say “one” because there are now two meetings on Monday nights and one on Saturday morning. Engage started a couple of years ago with three guys meeting for breakfast and a need for an environment where all these new believers could be cared for. How it developed has become a model for how new ministries get started at BRCC.
We recently had a married couple ask about starting a ministry for couples. When we met, I told them that we didn’t use a normal model (we have used one in the past, but it didn’t really work). Instead, we asked them to go and pray about it (you will recognize steps described in previous blogs in this process). As you pray, be aware of “convergence” (e.g., other people sensing or being prompted to do the same or a similar thing). Don’t pray for a particular program, but for the “thing behind the thing.” For example, we don’t start ministries to create small groups or married couple groups, etc. Those are forms. We’re after functions. Functions would be things like: is there a “so that” (evangelism) at the heart of it? Is it about people getting closer to Jesus? In the case of a ministry for married couples, we believe the best thing for a married couple is for them to be drawing closer to Christ and, hence, taking on His attributes—His love, patience, self-control, etc. (If these sound familiar, it’s because they are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.)
Another indicator is that the ministry generates energy and excitement. If the ministry is God-generated, you won’t have to keep breathing life into it, but it will breathe life into its participants. We’ve almost arrived at the conclusion that if we have to consistently add energy to something, God probably isn’t in it. In other words, the need doesn’t constitute the call to start a ministry. That’s often our idea rather than God’s. As God Himself says, “My thoughts are different from your thoughts.” It may be a need, but if God doesn’t raise up leaders (servants) and it constantly requires energy rather than producing energy, it probably isn’t what God is up to at this time!
Operating like this has certainly required a new paradigm—a new way of thinking and acting. But it has allowed us to focus on ministries that draw people rather than exhaust or discourage them. It lets us join God in what He is doing rather than trying to get Him to join us in what we’re doing. I don’t think we’re going back.
Woody
7 comments:
Sometimes this new paradigm is a little frustrating, but mostly I like it. :)
Thank you for this blog Woody...It's just one more example of God's perfect timing. this is the third week that just a few of the Women around The Ridge have been meeting on Thursday mornings to pray for what God has for us to do with this "energy" we are feeling for women in the daytime hrs to help one another to grow in Christ and at the same time go out in the community and show his Love in tangible ways through service in and through the community. We are praying for the core group and for the breath of the Holy Spirit and I tell you I have felt discouraged...and then I heard Cheryl's testimony again on podcast and read your blog and what can I say....God is so good. Thanks again for blogging God's word.
Cindy J.
Absolutely! I see it as "God's paradigm",the model has been here since the birth of the new way documented in Acts.
If a leader forms a group or curriculum, it will be his or her vision, and their vision being of human origin will be imperfect and will fail, no matter the skill level of the leadership, or relevance of subject matter.
Relying on God to lead, allows us to relax and grow closer to Him, instead of trying to figure out how. So the curriculum subject matter in itself becomes the way to grow closer to Him, rather than a plan of how to grow closer to Him.
I know I speak for many, when I say thank you so much to the leading body of BRCC. You have created a transparancy in the model of how we do things which is not anyone's vision but a fluid growing environment where we all participate and grow closer to God together. Well put, Woody.
Amazing. I have been praying for some time that God would allow me to walk with Him, to take me each day on His journey. I can tell you that life has been AMAZING since I changed my way of approaching each day! Not asking God to walk with me, but asking God if I could walk with Him. It means so much to see such confirmation!
Awesome. Over the last few months I changed my prayer request. Instead of asking God to walk with me, I have been asking God that He would allow me to walk with Him on HIS journey each day and not requesting Him to walk with me. It has been a incredible time and I am excited about what each day holds. Today I read your blog. God has confirmed to me that going with Him is much better that trying to get Him to go with me.
It sure would be interesting to know the statistics on how many new believers actually stay around after they are initially "drawn in". Because it seems like all the attention is focused on getting a person to become a believer, follow with baptism and start serving. Which is great, because that's when the big spiritual high is going on.
But before you know it, your heading down into a pit of muck like you never even knew existed and everyone says "oh you'll be fine - that's just the way it goes."
And for some reason, they don't have time for you anymore and you wonder if they ever really were your friends in the first place, or if you were just a number, a statistic, something I can't explain. But you definitely know you're pretty much out to fend for yourself, again.
And as long as those numbers are going up and people are "crossing the line" - than I am sure both God and the church are happy. And isn't that all that matters, really?
I really thought this was going to be different but it is not - it's all the same.
I wish everyone the best. Love the community, and all the info. Thanks :) Buy Backlinks
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