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Make
Hay Where the Sun Shines!
Buddy Harrison
God's mandate to the Body of Christ is to maximize its impact on the
world. The vision of every local church should be to exert Godly influence
on the communities in which they minister. One of the most important tools
that pastors and church leaders need is the knowledge of what steps the
Holy Spirit wants taken in order for the church to grow.
A young pastor and his wife after growing up in a large metropolitan
church, pastored a small rural church for several years. They had been
trained to know that God's plan for every church was to flourish, so they
prayed diligently asking for the wisdom to lead their congregation.
While they experienced a measure of growth, larger congregations in their
community seemed to be attracting more newcomers. Potential church
attenders drove across the county to the "mega church."
Desiring the growth that God promises in His Word, they attended church
growth seminars that promoted excellent techniques intended to increase
church attendance, giving and lay ministry involvement. They tried
"user friendly" services, "Holy Ghost" services and
"community outreach" services to grow their church to little
avail.
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of
heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field ..."
(Matt. 13 24).
While they sowed a lot of seed, they did not sow enough good seed. Good
seed is that which will produce the highest rate of return. Like so many
pastors, they worked hard but failed to capitalize on their strengths.
While small churches are growing they have a unique strength, size, that
is often mistaken as a weakness.
Recently we were having dinner with friends who pastor a rural church.
They expressed disappointment at being unable to compete with the wide
range of ministry services offered by their larger city cousins. "It
is discouraging when people who live in our community drive past our
fellowship to attend the big church."
If numbers are our only measure of success we can sometimes lose sight of
the strengths of a small church that is "small enough to know
you."
Allow me to suggest several considerations that will capitalize on your
size while you are believing God for growth:
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God ... . Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual" (1 Cor. 2:9-10,13).
Get God's heart for your church
God's general will is found in the Word. God's specific will for us
individually is revealed by the Holy Spirit through prayer. Once you have
prayed through to God's purpose for your church (not someone else's) you
are ready to begin sowing good seed.
How do I know what God's purpose is for my church? Your purpose is found
in what you do well. Find out what your church does best and do it better
than anybody else!
Capitalize on your strengths
Everything God has created is a solution to a problem. Successful churches
are simply problem solvers! Jesus was a problem solver. Jesus had
something other people needed. What your church does best is God's
solution to somebody's problem!
Does your church have a heart for missions? Are there poor who would
benefit from a food shelf? Are interpersonal relationships your church's
strong suit? Does your gifting include teaching or counseling skills?
Build the ministry around it. Think of your church's contribution to your
community as an assignment that will enable others to inherit God's
promises.
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth
the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Cor. 9:24).
Be the very best at what you do
Develop a passion for God's plan for your church. Passion is strong
devotion to a concept or an ideal that evokes an intense emotion which
causes us to take certain actions. Passion is the "fire in your
belly" that drives you to see your city saved, healed and delivered.
Learn everything you can about leading a growing church. Read books.
Listen to tapes. Hang around pastors who have grown their churches from
where you are to where you want to be. Remember: You must grow before your
church can grow.
Believe that you are making a difference. Trust in the anointing that God
has invested in your office. Hold fast to your profession and trust God to
bring the good seed to harvest.
Use size to your advantage
As contrary as it may seem, large churches must develop ministries that
make their church seem smaller! Your size gives you the ability to touch
people's lives in a unique way.
While it is God's will that every church grow as big as it possibly can,
society has sold us on the mistaken concept that bigger is always better.
As a result, people perceive a bigger God at a bigger church. Nothing
could be farther from the truth.
"He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great"
(Ps. 115:3).
"Make hay while the sun shines." Find out what your church is
good at and use your strengths to influence your community. You will be
sowing good seed that will produce an abundant harvest. |
