“I HAVE BEEN YOUNG, AND NOW AM OLD; YET I HAVE NOT SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN, NOR HIS SEED BEGGING FOR BREAD.” PSALM 37:25
I do not know if our Church has finished its mission or not. Perhaps, after 10 years we have completed our course. I do not know whether or not I am finished in ministry. I honestly don’t know. I am certain that I am tired of caring when so few others seem to care. I have no interest in building buildings; I have always desired to build people. I have no interest in having church services for the sake of saying we have a church. I have no desire to build another mega-mall of spiritual programs. I believe the contemporary church has so little in common with what we are supposed to be.
Easter could be our last service and after 10 years of seeing God’s faithfulness, I cannot say that I would be at all disappointed in God. I believe that Easter will the last worship service for our church as we know it, it will almost certainly be the last service we hold in our current location. We are paid weeks in advance, but the Elders are in agreement that we are in the wrong place; and our worship is at the wrong time of day.
God has been shouting in my Spirit for weeks, “Tell the people to “STOP GOING TO CHURCH AND COME BE THE CHURCH!” I thought it was a message for Gahanna, but I’m not certain that Gahanna is interested; spiritualism certainly has a stronghold in the community.
So I am asking you to pray with me for God’s direction for New Hope Community Fellowship. I believe with all my heart in the vision God has given us, but it is not a vision I can call to fruition alone. I love to pastor, but I cannot pastor without people to pastor. John Maxwell says, “You may believe you’re a leader, but if no one is following, you’re only taking a walk.” I say, “Life is too short to be out on a walk.” My identity is rooted in the One who saved me, not in a title or position. If no one is willing to follow, perhaps I shouldn’t be leading. I have always said that as long as there were people who wouldn’t go elsewhere to worship, I would give my all to see our church vision fulfilled. Has that time come? I guess we’ll see.
I do know this, regardless what happens over the next 3 weeks, Pastor Jim and I will be who God has called us to be. We may need to go about ministry differently, but we are who we are. I began serving God as soon as I was born again and I don’t need to be a pastor in order to do that. Life is too short to labor, where your labor is not desired.
Men may make you beg, but God never will. God is faithful; always. He has never forsaken us. We need to be bread givers, not bread beggars, so – let’s see where God takes us from here. If I sound disappointed, I am, but not in God. Beyond it all, God is in control. Pray for us as we seek His’ direction and assurance. Amen!
I do not know if our Church has finished its mission or not. Perhaps, after 10 years we have completed our course. I do not know whether or not I am finished in ministry. I honestly don’t know. I am certain that I am tired of caring when so few others seem to care. I have no interest in building buildings; I have always desired to build people. I have no interest in having church services for the sake of saying we have a church. I have no desire to build another mega-mall of spiritual programs. I believe the contemporary church has so little in common with what we are supposed to be.
Easter could be our last service and after 10 years of seeing God’s faithfulness, I cannot say that I would be at all disappointed in God. I believe that Easter will the last worship service for our church as we know it, it will almost certainly be the last service we hold in our current location. We are paid weeks in advance, but the Elders are in agreement that we are in the wrong place; and our worship is at the wrong time of day.
God has been shouting in my Spirit for weeks, “Tell the people to “STOP GOING TO CHURCH AND COME BE THE CHURCH!” I thought it was a message for Gahanna, but I’m not certain that Gahanna is interested; spiritualism certainly has a stronghold in the community.
So I am asking you to pray with me for God’s direction for New Hope Community Fellowship. I believe with all my heart in the vision God has given us, but it is not a vision I can call to fruition alone. I love to pastor, but I cannot pastor without people to pastor. John Maxwell says, “You may believe you’re a leader, but if no one is following, you’re only taking a walk.” I say, “Life is too short to be out on a walk.” My identity is rooted in the One who saved me, not in a title or position. If no one is willing to follow, perhaps I shouldn’t be leading. I have always said that as long as there were people who wouldn’t go elsewhere to worship, I would give my all to see our church vision fulfilled. Has that time come? I guess we’ll see.
I do know this, regardless what happens over the next 3 weeks, Pastor Jim and I will be who God has called us to be. We may need to go about ministry differently, but we are who we are. I began serving God as soon as I was born again and I don’t need to be a pastor in order to do that. Life is too short to labor, where your labor is not desired.
Men may make you beg, but God never will. God is faithful; always. He has never forsaken us. We need to be bread givers, not bread beggars, so – let’s see where God takes us from here. If I sound disappointed, I am, but not in God. Beyond it all, God is in control. Pray for us as we seek His’ direction and assurance. Amen!
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