"All churches change. When a church does not foster a culture of strategic change and incremental change, it is likely to go through disruptive change." Mel Lawrenz in Whole Church.
In a few days I will have been at Riverbluff Church for 21 years. I remember the first few years, my expectations and plans. I also remember God replacing my plans with His plans during the first few weeks. I distinctly remember a shift in my thinking from strategic planning to strategic preparation. Reggie McNeal helped me see that more clearly. Since living things grow, we are to prepare to grow (change) while not always controlling the growth. We are to strategically prepare ourselves for the changes the Lord brings and allows.
As I look back on two decades of ministry at Riverbluff, we have tried to prepare the people, the resources, and ourselves as leaders, to go with God. And God is on mission, which means He is ever at work, on the move, never changing Himself; but always changing the world he has committed to redeem. We have tried to anticipate change and prepare for it. This is that strategic change idea Lawrenz suggests. We have also tried to prepare ourselves for the change we could not have anticipated. This is the preparation component Reggie taught us. I think the shift to strategic preparation was huge in God taking Midland Park and changing it to Riverbluff. We have "got it right" sometimes and "got it wrong" sometimes. Bt we're still here and still trying to go with God.
And He continues to work in us. We are now going through another series of changes that move the focus from disciple-making to disciple-making that results in deployment into the world to make a difference. This is more than deployed to witness although that is certainly primary. It is a strategic deployment of Christ Followers living Kingdom ways in the midst of a world yet to confess Jesus as Lord. This will have implications in every arena. Wherever a Christian is, there the Church is. It is a shift from hunkering down in the fortress to invading enemy territory.
I'm re-reading A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens. The first line is quite appropriate for these days: "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…". As I look at the world around me, I believe Dickens' phrase applies. There are some things about the current season that discourage and dishearten me; but, there are those things that are quite encouraging.
As I look into the latter season of my personal ministry, my heart's desire is that the Church be renewed, refreshed, revived, and re-SENT! I have been praying for this for some years and now have a sense of "ramping it up" a bit more. I think we should try to plant churches all over the globe AND pray/work for the renewal of the church in America. I think that's what He's up to, so that will be what I'm up to.
Just thinking….
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