Revitalized for Missional Outreach

Ed Stetzer, in the book Breaking the Missional Code spends some time focusing on what existing churches need to do to really develop an external mission focus. I talk to pastors and leaders on a regular basis who say "we need revitalization" and Stetzer puts his finger on one of the key factors for this to happen. He says:

"Most churches are not breaking through - but they can. Churches that need revitalization need to ask why they are stagnant in the first place. It is amazing but consistent - churches that need to grow think they can do it without change! They think they can break the code by doing the same things they have always done. the problem is, if they keep doing things the same way, they will have the same results.

Instead, most churches need to be led to embrace healthy change if they are going to see different results. . . Change is often needed to be more effective. However, people resist change. But if more people can see that change will produce growth, they are often more open to changing.

Christians love seeing people come to Christ - they just forget that joy. Too frequently, they have chosen their traditions over their children. They have chosen their comfort over their effectiveness. they are part of that 89% of churches not experiencing healthy growth."

The challenge of course is what things might be changed for the sake of the Gospel and what things must not change. One of our congregations consistently uses the phrase "Eternity matters most!" By that they mean that they will do anything for the sake of sharing Jesus with people in their community so that they might be God's instruments in changing eternity for someone.

How are you doing with change? What would you be willing to change? What must never change?

Not Letting "Handicaps" Keep Us From Being Missional

As some of you might know, my wife Becky, Director of Youth and Discipleship at Faith, Georgetown, fell while leading a senior high youth retreat on January 5th of this year. The result of her fall was a left ankle with multiple fractures and a right foot with a broken metatarsal bone. The ankle injury required a delicate surgical procedure to rearrange all the bone fragments with a titanium plate and 5 screws put in place to hold it all together. Becky's orthopedic surgeon shares a good prognosis, but a fairly extended healing process of one year. Many well meaning people have said, "Why don't you just take it easy? You deserve a rest..." and other well-meaning statements of encouragement.

Becky could have filed for disability, and focused all her attention on her own temporary "handicap" and everyone would have understood. But...that's just not how Becky views life and ministry. The day of her surgery she was in the office taking care of phone calls and making arrangements for classes and ministries she is responsible for. She did take off the day after surgery, but 48 hours later she was back for as many hours as she could stand without her foot swelling like a balloon. Becky sees the urgency of her mission as Christ's servant as just too important to let a wheel chair and two broken feet get in the way. Its not that she feels the church couldn't live without her; instead, as long as God gives her strength, she wants to be about his mission. If she waited to heal and walk with her own two feet, it would be 3 months or longer before she would be back in the game.

How about your church? What "handicaps" do people sometimes use for not considering church planting, evangelizing, or supporting Texas District or local missions. Congregations say things like "once we can afford our new staff person...or once we get our new Family Life Center paid for...or once we get past some issues of disagreement then we will become missional."

If we allow our congregational "handicaps" to be the excuse for not carrying out the Great Commission, we can always find a reason not to plant a church or share Christ with our community. If we wait until all is perfect in our congregations, we will always find some "broken ankle" that will keep us from serving. What "handicaps" do you want the Holy Spirit to help your church to overcome?