There are three words at the forefront of my thinking in the beginning stages of my tenure as Superintendent. They are context, connection, and collaboration. I believe these concepts are at the heart of who we are as a district.
The District and General Council provides context for ministry in our doctrinal foundation, credentialing of ministers, network of churches, network of colleges, universities, and seminaries, world-wide missions, and organizational structure.
Within that context we have an opportunity to connect with our fellow ministers for mutual encouragement. Our district structure can help create points of connection, but that alone is inadequate. I encourage you to take the time to call or meet with another pastor or two or three for the purpose of relationship – no agenda except friendship. Encouragement, accountability, and learning flow naturally out of relationships with one another. Every so often I remember with sadness a missed opportunity in this area (no doubt I have missed more than I remember). Several years ago I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to give a $100 Christmas gift from Radiant Church to a neighboring pastor of a small church. The board would have been enthusiastic about the idea, but I let it slide and did nothing. I robbed that Pastor of encouragement by my inaction.
Collaboration is achieved through structure and natural connections. AG World and Home Missions is a wonderful structure with diverse opportunities for collaboration depending on the vision of a local church and its giftedness. Collaboration can occur in a less structured manner as well as a church catches the vision to parent a new church or partner with a struggling church that needs revitalization. Together we can do more.
I am grateful God placed me in partnership with you.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
What Should a Church Look Like?
What should a church look like? In the last 6 weeks I have visited 8 AG churches. Each one is distinctly different. For example, the setting varied. One met in homes, another in a rented garage, another in a rented theater, another in a rented amusement park, another in a purchased school building, and the other three in classic church buildings.
There are many different ideas about what a church should look like. Cultural preferences are an important factor. For some, dressing formally seems right and for others casual is best. In fact, over the years I have noted proponents of suits and ties have regarded casually clad worshipers as disrespectful, and the casually clad have regarded the formally attired as uninformed. Fortunately, I think this polarization is fading. In my recent church visits, attire varied from suits and ties to business casual to jeans and cowboy boots.
Music has been a big issue with regard to what a church should look like. Loretta and I attended a Christian concert recently which featured “traditional” Christian music. Because of the large crowd, the woman sitting by Loretta made the comment that the attendance indicated her preference in music was right all along. I guess she is unaware of the large crowds that gather for contemporary worship concerts.
I believe the bottom line in what a church should look like is this: it should look like Jesus. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.
Jesus entered the Jewish culture of the first century, adopting their amoral cultural norms such as attire, hair style, language, etc. In that context he effectively proclaimed the eternal, unchanging message of God’s grace and truth. May we (the church) do the same as we collectively reach into the many cultural settings of our society.
There are many different ideas about what a church should look like. Cultural preferences are an important factor. For some, dressing formally seems right and for others casual is best. In fact, over the years I have noted proponents of suits and ties have regarded casually clad worshipers as disrespectful, and the casually clad have regarded the formally attired as uninformed. Fortunately, I think this polarization is fading. In my recent church visits, attire varied from suits and ties to business casual to jeans and cowboy boots.
Music has been a big issue with regard to what a church should look like. Loretta and I attended a Christian concert recently which featured “traditional” Christian music. Because of the large crowd, the woman sitting by Loretta made the comment that the attendance indicated her preference in music was right all along. I guess she is unaware of the large crowds that gather for contemporary worship concerts.
I believe the bottom line in what a church should look like is this: it should look like Jesus. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.
Jesus entered the Jewish culture of the first century, adopting their amoral cultural norms such as attire, hair style, language, etc. In that context he effectively proclaimed the eternal, unchanging message of God’s grace and truth. May we (the church) do the same as we collectively reach into the many cultural settings of our society.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Lessons from a Party
On Sunday July 6, 2008, Praise Assembly of God in Pueblo, Colorado honored Pastor Bobby and Alvena Wilson for 40 years of pastoral ministry at Praise AG. My wife, Loretta, and I had the privilege of attending the evening banquet. What a wonderful celebration. Upon reflection I noted several lessons on effective pastoring in evidence that evening. The fact that I have known Bobby and Alvena for over 40 years accentuated the significance of what I observed.
In spite of the holiday weekend there were several hundred in attendance which was indicative of the significant growth of the church through the years. We sat at the Wilson’s table with their family and a community leader who is a personal friend of Bobby’s but not a part of the church. This gentleman sat by Loretta and me, and we engaged in fascinating conversation. His language was colorful and his opinions sometimes contrary to a Christian point of view. It was evident that Bobby built bridges to people in the community and invited them into the experience of the church.
I was also impressed with the spirit of the people. The entire church family exuded a joyful spirit and great respect for their pastor. There was a sense of safety and well-being under the care of this shepherd. The banquet was well planned and executed efficiently by the staff and congregation. The effectiveness of the event and the well-maintained condition of the facility indicated a culture of solid administration and a desire to do things with excellence. They knew how to put their best foot forward.
There was a couple assigned to serve our table and their comments about Pastor Bobby were revealing. They talked about their pastor hearing from God and providing effective ministry and leadership under God’s anointing. Clearly they saw him as a man of God. And to top it off, when Pastor Wilson was invited to conclude the evening he said “I don’t know how someone can make so many mistakes and be loved by so many people”. His humility and openness was evident to a church family that knew his admission of mistakes was sincere but overstated. His statement was reassuring of his attention to integrity and expressed his deep appreciation and love for “his” people.
Psalm 78:72 says “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them.” Pastor Bobby and Alvena Wilson shepherd Praise Assembly of God and the Pueblo community with integrity of heart, with skillful hands they lead them. Thank you Pastor Bobby and Alvena, and congratulations!
In spite of the holiday weekend there were several hundred in attendance which was indicative of the significant growth of the church through the years. We sat at the Wilson’s table with their family and a community leader who is a personal friend of Bobby’s but not a part of the church. This gentleman sat by Loretta and me, and we engaged in fascinating conversation. His language was colorful and his opinions sometimes contrary to a Christian point of view. It was evident that Bobby built bridges to people in the community and invited them into the experience of the church.
I was also impressed with the spirit of the people. The entire church family exuded a joyful spirit and great respect for their pastor. There was a sense of safety and well-being under the care of this shepherd. The banquet was well planned and executed efficiently by the staff and congregation. The effectiveness of the event and the well-maintained condition of the facility indicated a culture of solid administration and a desire to do things with excellence. They knew how to put their best foot forward.
There was a couple assigned to serve our table and their comments about Pastor Bobby were revealing. They talked about their pastor hearing from God and providing effective ministry and leadership under God’s anointing. Clearly they saw him as a man of God. And to top it off, when Pastor Wilson was invited to conclude the evening he said “I don’t know how someone can make so many mistakes and be loved by so many people”. His humility and openness was evident to a church family that knew his admission of mistakes was sincere but overstated. His statement was reassuring of his attention to integrity and expressed his deep appreciation and love for “his” people.
Psalm 78:72 says “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them.” Pastor Bobby and Alvena Wilson shepherd Praise Assembly of God and the Pueblo community with integrity of heart, with skillful hands they lead them. Thank you Pastor Bobby and Alvena, and congratulations!
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