MIM Ezine, June 25, 2009

-- In the Huddle - Discipleship Through Intentional Community, by Tim Burns.

-- Book Review - "The Everyday Visionary: Focus Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, by Jesse Duplantis, reviewed by Tom Hanover.

Tim moved with his family to Pleasant Meadows not quite a year ago. He was enjoying getting to know the people, and his family was enjoying the community. It was a great place to raise three boys and his wife was making friends of her own. Tim thought the decision to accept the call to Pleasant Meadows Church was indeed inspired.

At the same time Tim noticed several things about Pleasant Meadows that seemed curious at best and bewildering at worst. Most of them were not fatal issues, but thus far no one had responded to Tim’s questions. For example, the church had some impressive steps by the front door of the building. They looked attractive most of the year, but pretty perilous during the winter months.

Over the years the church had added onto the back of the building. Most of the regular attendees knew there was ample parking and safe entry in the rear. So the Trustees decided not to shovel the snow and ice off the front steps to encourage people to enter in the rear where it was ground level. This was considerate for the local members, but to a visitor or a traveler, the church looked closed and abandoned during the winter months.

Tim, in his gracious and gentle manner, did what he often did throughout that first year. Rather than mandating changes he did not have the authority or power to implement, he raised questions. “Please explain to me why we do not shovel the snow and ice off the steps during the winter months.”

Asking questions and listening to stories is a great way to begin to develop the relationships of leadership in a ministry. This is critically important in all areas of ministry, but especially in churches that have an average weekly worship attendance of less than 150. Larger churches still demand healthy and vibrant personal relationships. They just do not expect every member to have a personal relationship with the ministry staff. Consequently, the pastor of a larger church focuses those relationships among key leaders of the congregation.

Asking questions and listening to stories signals to church leaders that the pastor recognizes there is some history prior to the pastor’s arrival. Tim was listening to and valuing their stories, as the leaders explained how certain patterns and procedures came to be.

Some of these leaders began to catch on to Tim’s approach. They recognized that he asked questions about issues that he considered important. When he asked about why the sign at the driveway next to the church building said, “DO NOT ENTER,” instead of “Exit;” they began to look at their facility through his fresh eyes. They began to ask questions, too. Unfortunately, none of these leaders were the Trustees and the front steps were never cleared until April.

How quickly can a pastor or ministry leader effectively initiate change? If one waits too long, are excellent opportunities missed? If one runs ahead too soon, are important relationships bruised and wounded?

First, how stable and comfortable is the community and the church? Our openness to change is directly proportional to the pain we feel with the status quo. So, if the church is on the verge of closing and bills are unpaid, the leaders will more likely listen to alternatives than if everything seems to be fine.

Since people do not live in the church, do not think and breathe church like many ministry leaders; the pastor needs to consider the wider community. Are there major shifts and transitions going on? Are people anxious and troubled about concerns beyond the church?

Second, what is the tolerance of the people towards change? Generally (although not always), people in rural areas experience a slightly slower pace of change. Some people intentionally choose rural areas to avoid adapting to rapid changes in more urban areas. However, some urban and suburban churches can be very resistant to change as well.

One suburban church grew significantly during public school bussing in the urban center forty years ago. While most people from the outside would consider them suburbanites, their identity is flavored with an escape from radical change.

Other factors may include unique characteristics of the community. A community located next to a military base or a university where people often transition in and out may be more comfortable with change than a community that transitions very incrementally, if at all.

A third ingredient, do the people of the church see the church as a refuge from the danger and evil in the world or a mission base from which to engage the world. People who think of the church as a safe haven from the troubling and tragic experiences of life will often resist changes that threaten that feeling of security. For example, they may not care if someone shovels the snow and ice off of the front steps, but they might go ballistic if someone moves that picture of Jesus from the west wall to the east wall. Certain symbols become meaningful in establishing their sense of security and safety in a rapidly uncertain and unpredictable world.

On the other hand, if the church is where we form relationships that encourage us and nurture us to address the wild and wondrous world God has created, it changes our attitudes toward the church facility. Perhaps I am more troubled by Aunt Sarah having to move into a nursing home than the moving of a picture. It is my circle of relationships that holds my source of identity and security.

Often, people who have latched on to the symbols of buildings and space have done so because the relationships they used to enjoy no longer exist. Too many have followed the path of Aunt Sarah, and I just have not been able to replace that special friendship with new people.

Two stories come to mind. My wife and I sat down with our three children and informed them that we were moving from our current location to a new community and a new church. The two older ones who were in elementary school began to cry uncontrollably. They had an ideal situation. They could walk safely to the library, to school, and to the YMCA. They had cousins they saw frequently. They had developed friends in the neighborhood. All they could see in that moment was the tremendous loss of everything.

As the two girls began to cry unceasingly, their younger brother, who did not quite understand what all of this meant, cried because they were crying. I seriously considered calling my superiors and trying to change an already finalized decision.

The only thing I could offer my children were these promises: 1) We will find new friends; 2) We will be happy again; 3) We will be together.

Years later, my children – now adults – are involved in various forms of ministry leadership. One of them shared with me that the trauma of moving helped her learn how to develop new friendships and relationships. God used change to create new blessing.

This is my second story. In that same community I visited Helen (not her real name), who was 107 years old. She was an amazing woman. But I soon discovered that every time I would visit, I would hear the same story again and again. And I knew that I dare not leave until I heard the story. It was really a remarkable story about how she narrowly escaped being hit by a car while crossing a railroad tracks. She attributed it to God’s divine intervention.

One day I used it in my sermon because I thought it was an inspiring story. That week when I stopped by to visit, I told her I had shared her story with the congregation.

So I repeated her story that I had heard so often. She never told me that story again. She went on to other stories, but I never heard that one again.

Sometimes people keep telling us the same old story because they are not sure we’ve heard it the first time. Listening to their stories and being able to share their stories back with them affirms them and confirms the leader has listened.

The effective ministry leader will find a creative way to spin the old stories in the light of a new mission and opportunity. Change can emerge out of an interface of mission and history.

For example, Aunt Sarah’s grandchildren come to visit her on the Sunday after Christmas. They want to worship at Aunt Sarah’s church, but they drive past assuming it is closed because the snow and ice is piled deep on the front steps. Aunt Sarah is heartbroken to think her church has gone away. Her grandchildren are disappointed they cannot experience the richness of their family tradition. And the church leaders are embarrassed they never noticed how their building appeared to visitors.

Pastor Tim linked the history of the congregation with the mission of the congregation. And the next week two little old women, both in their 80s, started chipping the ice and snow off the steps. Of course, it didn’t take too long for some younger, able bodied help to arrive and finish the job, and the steps have been cleaned ever since.

Leading change is a spiritual art form. How do you discern God’s leading for introducing change?

Tom Hanover is Advertising and Promo Director of MIM ezine. He has served in a variety of pastoral leadership roles for more than 30 years, including seven as a District Superintendent supervising the ministries of more than 100 pastors and churches in southern Ohio. He is currently Senior Pastor of Sulphur Grove UMC, a multisite ministry in Dayton. He has a BA (cum laude) from Taylor University, and the MDIV and DMIN degrees from United Theological Seminary in Dayton. You can contact Tom at hanover@dbmim.net.

I don't know if you have visited West Michigan lately, but we have the Holland Tulip Festival, many celebrations on the Lake Michigan coastline, and an active cultural calendar in Grand Rapids throughout the year. Growing up in a strongly traditional denomination, I got to a point where I was frustrated over the many different denominations that seemed to be on every major street corner. It was not uncommon to have three or four churches within a block of each other. Each has a different name engraved above the door, and each preaches the truth from the pulpit. Unfortunately, they don't talk to each other much, or pool their efforts to promote a common message of truth, love and the larger Gospel. In fact, some talk more about the each other than the Gospel. That was the source of my frustration.

I found it easy to be an angry teen, critical of what I perceived as denominational self interest. Grand Rapids' inner city was filled with homeless, poor and needy individuals. I wondered why each of these churches spent so much on their own “flavor of the Gospel” rather than joining together to advance their common message.

Fortunately, I've grown out of my anger. I understand that each part of Christ's body has its own gifts, and each congregation can pursue the ministry channels which God places as a burden on that group. That is God's purpose in diverse congregations. The more I study the New Testament, I see that God did not intend to establish an organization with a central planning authority which guided and directed the entire group. He is that Head, the only Central Planner with the wisdom and power to guide his bride the church.

However, there are times when I still wonder about the purpose pursued when each part of the body has its own building, campus and facilities that absorb so many financial, physical and human resources. A question of stewardship is whether we can be better managers of God's resources if we shared them more actively with others.

The following short article by Jesse Phillips brought these questions to mind recently. Posted in the Catalyst blog (http://www.catalystspace.com/), congregations in Orange County, California had to face new questions, which brought surprising results.

The Christian Post fielded an article recently about a church whose membership dwindled to the point where they had to give-up their building and meet in homes. Here's what they found interesting about meeting in homes:

Most of the offering and tithes go straight to ministry works and service projects rather than to overhead costs and staff salary. Ken Eastburn (the pastor) is the only paid employee in the church. Also, there are no passive attendees. Everyone participates and the house church has the potential for creating authentic disciples.

"You can go to a conventional church and just sit there. It's much easier to hide," the house church pastor noted. But at house churches, "you can't just sit there for too long."

With budgets getting tighter and many churches being forced to lay-off their staff - more churches may be facing the possibility of losing their buildings. Can homes be a valid alternative? What do you think are the pros and cons, challenges and benefits of meeting in homes?

Maybe Orange County is onto something. What would your church look like if more resources currently devoted to the management of the building and facilities could be diverted to outreach and ministry? How would your congregation change if the percentage of attendees diminished, leaving behind a greater percentage of Christ followers committed to ministry, discipleship and living the Gospel message to a world awash on an increasingly dangerous and darkening sea.

I am no longer that angry teen, but the question of stewardship remains. How can we best fulfill the kingdom's great commission? Management specialists repeat (as if a mantra), “If you do the same thing over and over, you will get the same results. If you want different results, maybe it's time to do some things differently.”

Maybe it's time we, the band of Christ followers regardless of denominational label, ask new questions, and honestly measure ourselves according to how effectively and thoroughly we are completing Jesus' final request.

God isn't against church buildings, denominations, or facilities, but he is for people. And salvation is about connecting people with the knowledge of a great and Loving God. (John 17.3) Our culture is changing, and according to many studies (www.barna.org), the Christian church is increasingly less influential. Maybe it's time to ask questions about the model we are using. Are we being good stewards of advancing the Gospel as well as caring for the material gifts with which God has blessed us?

Fulfilling the Great Commission isn't a numbers game, it's a kingdom building game, which often is messy, and difficult to measure. Since it's not just numbers, we must ask different questions. Is your local church reaching new people? Are you having an impact on your neighborhood? Are lives being changed because of you, and the gifts God has given you?

Do you think home churches, cell groups, or neighborhood ministries are models that could reach people in your city or town? What would that look like in your church? Somebody should ask these questions. Why not you? (Acts 2.42-47)

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Timothy Burns lives in West Michigan, and has written professionally for six years. Timothy’s writing reflects a deep connection to cultural influences, Christ centered living, and how often unwritten patterns can influence our behaviors and beliefs, because while people differ by continent and decade, human nature does not. The ability to identify the human element or organizational culture sets Timothy’s work apart from what can be otherwise commonplace copy. His writing spans topics of Christian living, apologetics, and the hidden benefits that often surface through personal trials.

NOTE TO OUR READERS: Published author and MIM ezine columnist, Teena Stewart is currently working on a book on Women’s Ministry. She would love to hear from our readers on the following regarding: special women’s events you have planned, how your women’s ministry works, insights into women’s ministry, felt needs of women, tips on women’s ministry, success stories and failures pertaining to women’s ministry, suggestions on ministering to women. No pay, but if selected, your name or the name of your ministry may appear in her book. Email Teena at smartwords@embarqmail.com.

by Jesse Duplantis, 2008, Touchstone/Howard Books, 228 pages, ISBN#978-1-4165-4976-5

For more than 30 years Jesse Duplantis has been known for his strong, Biblical preaching and humorous life lessons. From an up-and-coming rock musician to the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries, he reaches millions of people around the globe through television, video and audio tapes, Christian literature and more.

These kinds of journeys do not happen by themselves. Duplantis’ book reflects his own experiences and life learning on dreams and vision. He shares generously from scripture and his own personal experiences to illustrate his convictions about turning dreams into reality.

Duplantis discusses goals of all sorts: large and small, personal and professional, social issues to personal finances. The guidelines are simply described and illustrated for easy comprehension.

The book is easy reading. The subtitles sort the material of each chapter into an easy outline of Duplantis’ thoughts. His use of bold print makes key principles stand out for quick review. His stories are based on everyday experiences that illustrate the insightful concepts Duplantis has put into practice in his life.

The tone of the book is upbeat and hopeful. The pace is bold and quick. The reader may want to slow down and reread some portions to track Duplantis thinking on several topics.

This would be an excellent book for someone who needed some encouragement or inspiration for the hard work of identifying and developing vision. For those who seek a more deeply analytical book based on scientific research, they may wish to pass on this one. Duplantis is energetic, enthusiastic, and contagious with his faith in God and the promises of scripture.

Tom Hanover is Advertising and Promo Director of MIM ezine. He has served in a variety of pastoral leadership roles for more than 30 years, the last seven as a District Superintendent supervising the ministries of more than 100 pastors and churches in southern Ohio. He has a BA (cum laude) from Taylor University, and the MDIV and DMIN degrees from United Theological Seminary in Dayton. You can contact Tom at hanover@dbmim.net.

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DBMIM June 25, 2009