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People Yearn for Leadership
One thing Bishop Ron Ramsey has emphasized is, "Lead!" Get out from underneath your wussiness and lead. Guys, it's time to stand up and take a leadership role. Everything rises and falls on leadership.
I believe most of our churches have people who want to be exposed to some empowering leadership, and want to be part of an effective church. But they need some good leadership.
When I go into churches and start talking about principles of leadership and church health, I almost always see a couple people who are like wilted flowers that got rain water on them. You can see it in their faces: "Yes, that's what I'm looking for!
Where leadership is exercised, we find people waiting in the shadows to step up and get involved. People who previously stayed on the sidelines decide they now see a situation in which they're willing to invest themselves. When people see things change, resources that have been sitting there the whole time get unleashed.
Pastoring at the Strongholds
We have ministers who are at the strongholds where Satan lives in their city. They know that to break the strongholds hindering their churches, they have to deal with certain issues. And they've taken them head on. They would charge hell with a water pistol, because they know that Ron and I stand behind them. Though they've been bloodied, they feel they've been loved on and they've learned some powerful lessons through it.
One pastor has gotten beat up badly, but we stood with him and talked straightforwardly with his people about some issues. Some of our pastors are just as straightforward as we are. I'm proud of them. They've learned some powerful lessons about tempering their straightforwardness with care and tenderness, and God is doing things in their churches.
We've had people be pretty caustic with us. Most times we find that when we follow the Lord's agenda and processes, he does the work, moving resistant people out of the way. In some churches, we've seen people turn and repent. I had a guy come ask forgiveness for something that happened 12 years. You see that and realize it's God.
Pastoral Assignments: Taking Our Time
When it comes to pastoral assignments, we've had the opportunity to take time. Years ago, your pastor left one week and the new pastor came the next; that's how our system worked. But now, many months may pass between pastors. Some of these interim times have enabled churches to realize what a pastor means to them. Sometimes, in reviewing their church profile, we've addressed some issues. If a pastor left in conflict or was pushed out, we addressed some of those issues before the new guy arrived.
In other cases, we had interim pastors, like Ron Cook and Wayne Goldsmith, who did good work that was extremely helpful. George Speas came down to Freeport, Mich., and was able to assess that the church wouldn't be able to sustain a ministry, and he led them toward the concept of closing down. For their situation, that was the most effective decision. They celebrated their history and ministry and now resources will be used to re-invest in the Kingdom as their legacy.
It's good when a pastor comes with an intentional plan, rather than as a savior, and uses the first-year honeymoon period to build some strategic things into the life of the church.
Sometimes you get a new pastor without assigning a new pastor. I think Banner of Christ in Michigan got a new pastor. The Mike Caley I see now is different from the Mike Caley when I first visited there four years ago. Mike has shared how he had been discouraged. Since their consultation, the Lord has done a fresh work in Mike's life and the life of the church. He is free, confident and the Lord is working mightily. Sometimes it's not a matter of changing people, but of seeing people change.
It's Not About Numbers
Some ministers, by passion and personality and giftedness, will never be anything more than a shepherd. They enjoy doing the hands-on ministry to people. History says they can grow a church only to what they can handle--about 100-150 people. So when that church grows to 150 and stagnates, the best thing we can do is put him back into a church of 75 and not see that as a demotion, but as how he can shine and be fruitful.
It's not about numbers. It's about recognizing who he is, and not making it something negative. It's how God wired him--his passions, his abilities. Then bring in somebody who can delegate to lead that church of 150.
Our Task Over the Past Four Years
Ron: The majority of our churches have very fine people--good hearts, good intentions. But somewhere we lost the zeal and vision to do anything ourselves, to reach lost people and plant new churches, and have that be a regular part of who we are in our churches. Part of me says that if reproduction isn't taking place, the body is unhealthy. So we have lots of good people, but basically they are unhealthy. So I believed my task was to be a Johnny One-Note to get our churches focused on outreach again.
I think that, for the most part, it has been fairly well received, at least emotionally. But then comes the volitional step--doing something about it. And I think that's where we are. Churches will tell you they want to grow and change, but when you tell them what that involves, "No, we don't want to do that."
Pat: We have emphasized that we're here to serve you, not to keep the denomination going. Wherever we went, our influence and reception was based more on relationship than on position. In the past, when the bishop visited a church, that was a big deal. But not anymore. There is a deep respect for this office, but not an obvious respect. For us, it wasn't about our office but about honestly trying to help churches.
Attitudinally, we know we both have come across kind of loud and straightforward. We don't mean to be loud, but that is how we come across. At the same time, we have sought to show honest caring for people while challenging them in a straightforward manner with the truth of the Scriptures.
It's About Mission, Not Methods
We run into people who think effective change is about methodologies, about us giving you a program to use. Our message has been, "It's not about a prepackaged method, but about finding the most effective way to accomplish your mission in your locality." How that happens in southern Ohio is different than southern Michigan. The key is what you're trying to accomplish, not how. Bishop Ramsey and I have been consistent on that.
Most of our churches think in terms of program, not process. The mission is to make maturing disciples who reach other people, but most churches haven't thought through a clear process for taking a totally heathen person who doesn't know Jesus and leading them to a relationship with Jesus Christ, then to becoming dependent on Christ and sharing the gospel with others. There aren't clear processes.
Instead, churches too often are just doing church. They know what programs they want, what music they like. But they aren't thinking missionally about their role in the body of Christ and how to walk people through the maturing process. People don't think in those terms, only in doing church and being cared for.
Dealing with Church Conflict
Ron: One common problem I've seen in our churches involves conflict resolution. They're not good at dealing with conflict.
Pat: We have hammered the Matthew 18 principles of conflict resolution. Sinful conflict is a major hindrance in our churches. We've seen and experienced that for years. Ron and I committed, at the beginning, to address sinful situations. In churches, how you disagree and address your grievances is vital.
Ron: I think you manage conflict, not resolve it. If it resolves, that's good. But sometimes you can't resolve it, yet can manage it so it doesn't hinder what God wants to do in that place. Some conflict is just difference of opinion. Some conflicts are more substantive, issues between sin and righteousness. You would like to think that people not approaching it from a righteousness standpoint would be conflicted by the Spirit, but sometimes they hang in there, and it becomes a power struggle.
Too often, it's a matter of power, of who gets to call the shots. People want to sit in the big seat and make decisions. Sometimes this stems from seeing pastors come and go, come and go. They figure the current pastor will only be there for a while, so they'll run the church how they want. The pastor will just be a chaplain. We've tried to break up some of that thought. People forget that there is only one power source, one power seat, and that's the seat that Christ sits in, and we're all servants of him.
Pat: We have helped address the alligators, and I'm not afraid of addressing them. But we do that by opening up the scriptures and saying, "This is how God says it should be handled." I don't say you must agree with me, but here is what the Bible says about how you disagree with me. Here's what Titus says about divisive people. You're not battling me; you're battling a scriptural truth.
A Visit to New Life Church
This past Sunday, Pam and I had the privilege of visiting with Michael Longfellow, pastor of New Life Church in Chanute, Kansas, and cluster leader for that area. The New Life Church (formerly Highland Avenue United Brethren) had been stymied in growth by a very limited building. An opportunity came up last year for the congregation to purchase the Alcott Elementary School that was relocating to a new school complex.
The whole story of the purchase, renovation and first Sunday is a magnificent account of the grace of God. First, the school was purchased for $25,000. It is a two-story non-combustible building. The school left a centralized fire alarm system, a centralized communication system to every room, a number of tables and chairs, plus some other supplies and materials.
Through six weeks of hard work in renovation/construction, all done by the congregation, the place was transformed into a wonderful house of worship and fellowship. Funds were suddenly offered for special carpet in the former gym (now the worship center). Skilled professionals (electricians and plumbers) had just recently started attending and provided their skills and labor. Even a few eighty-somethings gave of themselves cleaning up both inside and out.
Michael (right) estimates that with some extra, unplanned projects that were done based on donations, that the total renovation costs amounted to around $21,000. That means they got the property and renovated for under $50,000. And the joyous thing: they are in their new facility debt-free.
This congregation that averaged 105 two years ago had an Easter attendance of 267. Previously, Easter attendances were enlarged by visiting family members. Not this year. Not this year. While some visitors were family, a good portion of them were from their neighborhood and other parts of the community.
Michael says that their desire is for the church to become the focus of the community once again. They have the beginning stages of an exercise room that will be available to the community. They plan to use the hallways and stairs as a walk/climb track.
With economic challenges hitting this community of 9400 very hard, Michael and the congregation see increasing opportunities for sharing the Gospel. This newly renovated facility will provide them the space to reach many people for Christ.
When Relationships Trump Spiritual Health
Two days ago, I mentioned some things Bishop Ron Ramsey and I have learned during the past four years. Here is one more: People value historic relationships over spiritual health.
In a number of churches, one or two individuals or families use gossip, slander, or position to either attack the leadership or cause division in the church. Rather than stand up and address the sinful actions of these folks, the people tolerate the sin and watch to see how long the pastor can survive it.
My question is, "Why do you tolerate this?"
The church is unhealthy because cancer is ignored or tolerated. The Body, not just the pastor, must be willing to stand up.
Jesus' desires for his Church should take precedence over how long someone has been in a church or what your personal relationship has been with them if they are acting ungodly. Scripture says to warn a divisive person once, warn them a second time, and then have nothing to do with them (Titus 3:10). Where people have stopped tolerating such actions, freedom and blessing have come.
I've Learned a Lot
It is hard to believe that almost four years have passed since the Bishop Ron Ramsey and I began this journey together. In our travels and interactions, we have learned (or been reinforced in) many truths about churches. Here are a few.
God can and will bring transformation to the willing.
It has been thrilling to see the power of the Lord released into the lives of people who humbly sought his desires over their own comfort and previous traditions.
Discipleship produces evangelism.
Many churches are trying to do evangelism but are not equipped to walk with people through what it means to be a disciple. But where churches are creating environments where people are truly growing in "grace and knowledge of the truth," evangelism is the natural outcome. That brings long-term, sustained growth.
People can't do what they have never seen or experienced.
We can't assume people know what to do just because they have been told. If they have never seen it, experienced it, or done it, how are they supposed to do it? That is why mentoring and exposing them to other patterns is vital. People do more what they see than what they are told.
There is no power without personal and corporate prayer.
We have found where the pastor and leaders are busy doing rather than being, there is no power. When there is no corporate emphasis on prayer and personal study of the Scriptures, there is no power. Methodologies may change, but the basics never do. Craig Groschel's book "IT" captures this truth.
People confuse forms and functions.
Some have asked us when God ordered the church to change. As far as functions, he hasn't. Worship, prayer, study of Scripture, using our gifts in ministry, preaching, evangelism, and giving as stewards are all functions that will never change.
But God has called us in Psalm 78 and other places to effectively communicate the great truths about the Lord to the next generation. And to do that, our forms and methodologies must change. We must not confuse the non-changing functions with the need to change forms.
What truths do you see?
Do You See the Distinction?
I am reading through the Scriptures once again following a chronological plan. Several things struck me as I am reading through Exodus and the accounts of the plagues. For example, the interplay between God saying he sovereignly hardened Pharaoh's heart and Pharaoh hardening his own heart.
But the key thought that struck me most this time had to do with the Lord saying several times, "I make a distinction between my people and your people." At least three times when he brings a plague on the Egyptians, he protects the Israelites and the land of Goshen from that plague. The people of Egypt see the distinction, and because of that, they are favorably disposed to Moses and the Israelites.
A distinction. To mark someone or something out as different. To make a comparison between. To use as an illustration that is apart from the norm. To separate out as something admirable.
What a great description of God's people. We are illustrations. We are protected from the consequential disasters that fall on others because of our relationship with the Lord. We are shown by the Lord as different, holy. When the Lord uses our lives to reflect the difference, people will see and hear and give him glory.
Do you see the distinction? Do you acknowledge how the Lord protects? Do you find that people are drawn by what they see happening in your life?
We have a loving Father who keeps watch over us. His purpose is to show everyone himself through us. He distinguishes us from those around us. And the ultimate end is that people will be apt to revere him because of what they see in our lives.
I'm grateful for such a wondrous God.
Planning Vs. Being Led by the Spirit
When I became pastor of Devonshire UB church (Harrisburg, Pa.) in 1988, I laid out my six-month plan for preaching. A couple ladies approached me.
"We don't think you're being led by the Spirit."
"Oh?" I said. "Help me understand why you think that."
"How can you be led by the Holy Spirit if you're planning things out six months in advance?"
I asked them, "When did God lay out the plan of salvation? It was before the foundation of the world. He created this plan, then Jesus came 2000 years later and implemented it.
"If God can plan 2000 years in advance, are you saying he can't lead me to know what to preach about six months from now?"
To them, being led by the Spirit was flying by the seat of your pants.
A Christmas Thought
I woke up to this amazing thought and had to share it. While there is nothing new in it, my heart was blessed to contemplate it all in a new way. So here is my new, old Christmas thought.
The One who created all things, left that which was comfortable in order to take on a form that was unnatural.
The Creator became created.
The Omnipotent One became dependent.
The One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills was born in abject poverty.
He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we may have life.And He simply asks that we be willing to leave our position of comfort, enter into the zone of unknown, and tell the world what He has done for us. All by the power of His Spirit living in us.
All I can do is say "Thank you" and "Here am I, Lord, send me."
Who Owns Your Church? (Part 3)
In the previous two posts:
- We examined the deception of thinking, "This is my church."
- We substantiated that the church, including the church you attend, belongs to Jesus.
Now: how can you properly say, "This is my church"?
Now that we our attitude is straight, we can rejoice in the following:
- It is MY church because I get the privilege of worshiping there with other believers.
- It is MY church because I can honor the Lord with my finances and sacrificial giving there.
- It is MY church because I get to use my spiritual gifts there to build up the body of believers.
- It is MY church because I have the privilege of speaking things that build up others there.
- It is MY church because I come under the authority of those who are exercising spiritual leadership there.
- It is MY church because it's where I have chosen to join with others in transforming my community for Christ by reaching lost people with the Good News.
There are many more ways we could celebrate being a part of a church, but notice that they all involve a privilege and responsibility--and not a right of control.
So enjoy your church. Love the church in which you serve. But always acknowledge the ownership of the Lord over your church and don't allow yourself to get deceived.
Who Owns Your Church? (Part 2)
Yesterday, I asked you to consider the question, "Do I feel I have a shared ownership of the church I attend?"
I hope you wrestled with that question and did not easily fluff it off. It is an important question to ask. Your view of what happens at the church is based on your answer to this question. Today, I want to share a Scriptural defense of who truly owns and should control the agenda of the church.
The church belongs to...Jesus Christ
- He is the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22).
- He died for the Church (Romans 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:10).
- He determines the gifts each person receives through His Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11).
- He freely gives us all things we need (Romans 8:32; 2 Peter 1:3).
- He is the Savior of the church (Ephesians 5:23).
- He holds every church in His hands (Revelation 3:1).
- He gives the mission to the church (Matthew 28:19, 20).
We could give many more proofs. But the point is made. It is HIS church. His blood bought it; His Word established it; His Spirit fills it.
So how much do you think about His ownership and seek His direction about what happens at your church?
On Thursday, we will finally look at how we can say, "This is my church."
Who Owns Your Church? (Part 1)
I've been amazed to see so many people living in deception when it comes to their relationship with their own church. When disgruntlement raises its head, or when people resist change that will bring about greater effectiveness in fulfilling the mission of the church, it's common to hear statements like these:
- "But this is my church."
- "You're not going to do that to my church."
Generally, the term "my" implies not only identification with, but also ownership. My computer. My home. I own them. And I determine what happens with them.
There is the deception. Did you catch it?
Continue reading Who Owns Your Church? (Part 1).
Update on George Rhodifer
I visited George Rhodifer last week. As we mentioned previously for prayer, George has been diagnosed with a fast-moving form of leukemia. The doctors are using chemo to address the cancer and try to slow it. Currently, George's white count is almost zero, so he must guard against exposure to anything that would bring infection.
George is pastor of the Olivet Church in New Lebanon, Ohio, also cluster leader for churches in the Dayton and central Ohio area. Albert Roland, pastor of Park Layne UB church in New Carlisle, Ohio, will be taking on responsibility for the cluster while George is in treatment.
Please be praying for George and his wife Beverly.You can contact George by email or by writing to:
George Rhodifer
109 Solar Drive
Tipp City, OH 45371
Leaving UBDom
The South Mountain UB church in Dillsburg, Pa., has withdrawn from the United Brethren church. They do so with our blessing.
Some connections existed between people at South Mountain and at Celebration Church, a local Assemblies of God church plant. Celebration needed a place to meet, and there were conversations about sharing South Mountain's building. After senior pastor Greg Helman left to become pastor of Blue Rock UB church (Waynesboro, Pa.) earlier this summer, some leaders at South Mountain began pursuing the idea of becoming part of Celebration. I did some checking. Celebration is a good church with a highly regarded pastor.
Bishop Ron Ramsey and I both met with people from South Mountain. We told them, "If you want to withdraw, here's the proper way to do it." They followed those steps, which culminated in a congregational meeting on Sunday night, September 28. I was present during that meeting.
Five options were presented:
- Remain United Brethren and let us find them another pastor.
- Remain United Brethren, but become part of a circuit with another UB church.
- Remain United Brethren, but sell the building and become a house church.
- Remain United Brethren, but hire a bi-vocational pastor.
- Join with Celebration.
Of the 52 votes cast, 43 were in favor of joining with Celebration.
South Mountain took all the proper steps. So as of September 28, we consider them to have properly withdrawn from the United Brethren denomination.
The Language of the Community and the Next Generation
The Chinese church is trying to figure out how to impact the community the church is in when:
- None of them live in that community--they all drive in.
- None of them speak the dialect spoken in that community (Mandarin, I believe it is).
Many of the adults do not speak fluent English, but all of their children do. They're trying to figure out the most effective way to train their young people when they don't by nature speak Chinese--they go to American schools and speak English. They want to reach their community and the next generation, but they don't speak the language of either.
Right now, they're looking for some English-speaking people to work with their youth. I appreciated the spirit I saw when I visited them last year.
On Sundays, the Chinese people make a day of it. They come for worship in the morning, usually do lunch together, and have worship later in the day. They have rooms in their building where kids can watch TV, study together, and do activities. A lot of fellowship happens on Sunday. It's a cultural thing for them. It reminds me of the old days when you had service, stayed for lunch, then had an afternoon or later service.
George Rhodifer: Diagnosed with Bone Marrow Cancer
George Rhodifer (right) is one of my cluster leaders. In addition to pastoring the Olivet UB church in New Lebanon, Ohio, he leads a cluster of churches located in Ohio and Indiana. I've appreciated working with him over the past three years.
Today, George was told that he has bone marrow cancer. He's been given three months to live. He sent me an email about this a short time ago.
"My blood count has been low for several months and they could not find a reason for it," George wrote. "They sent me to a blood doctor and she wanted to do a test on the bone morrow which makes blood. She read the report to us today in her office. It seems that I have bone morrow cancer--luekemia of the bone morrow. She told my wife and I that I have about three months to live. With low-dose chemotherarpy, I could possibly live six months, but that is not a guarentee.
"This came as a complete surprise to us. I have a pinched nerve in my back which has affected my right side. I was getting ready to go on pain management, but the doctor told me I may as well cancel that and just take pain medicine."
George asked that we remember him in prayer, and he states, "I believe that God is able to touch me and take care of the problem."
You can contact George by email or by writing to:
George Rhodifer
109 Solar Drive
Tipp City, OH 45371
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