Hi church! I sent out an email to everyone recently just to find out what we could do to increase participation level in spiritual activities. I was looking for some creative input about how we can develop things that will help people grow spiritually. Most of the replies centered around why people had not attended specific events, that wasn't really what I was looking for, I was not trying to surface guilt, just looking for input. I am going to start using this blog as much as I can to increase the communication since we live so far apart, scattered around the county. Feel free to click on comments and do a little cyber-dialogue with me I think it will be fun and will help us to grow.
PM
About Me
- pastor mike
- I am the pastor of Full Life Church in Fremont, Nebraska. My wife Terry and I have been married 29 years and love to go motorcycling together. We love to spend time with people listening to the story of their spiritual journey. Our life philosophy is 'Love God, and love people'.
7 comments:
Asking people for ideas on how to grow spiritually sounds so vague and open ended. I thought that was what leaders were supposed to do? I remember Howard Hendricks saying that the role of a leader was to catch on fire and then peple will come and watch you burn.
then what happens after we watch them burn? Roast marshmallows? Really, Anonymous, gathering input from those who follow you is one of the hallmarks of good leadership! Stick to the Bible and give Mr. Hendricks the brush off (or quote in context- whatever the case may be).
Sorry P. Mike, I know you aren't after debate...to answer YOUR question; if I had ideas for growing spiritually (ESPECIALLY focussing on what YOU specifically are looking for), I'd have written a book and become more popular than this Howard fellow. ;-)
Great point trouble. I'm sorry I was misleading. I guess I was assuming too much in my attempt at brevity. When you watch a bonfire you get hot! That is the metaphor. Leaders lead by example. If a leader is "on fire", the followers also see the fire and catch it and want to follow. They want to be on fire. As well. When leaders ask the followers what to do, I wonder if the fire went out. Also one leader cannot do it all. I wonder if a leader is biblically sharing leadership when this type of quandry surfaces?
This "Howard fellow" is only one of the leading Christian motivators and leaders of our generation! Try Googling him, but of course I must have presnted him in a bad light. Sorry!
So according to the post the questions was what could be done:
1.to increase participation level in spiritual activities.
2.I was looking for some creative input about how we can develop things that will help people grow spiritually.
Option 1:
Here is some feedback. Stop, desist, discontinue every program in the Church. Get together with the people in simplicity and honesty. Seek God together. The pastor should not be on a pedestal nor should his decisions be independent of the Board. See what God does.
Option 2:
More specific and to the point. Cease and desist as above. Lock the Church doors. Break the church goers down into groups of 15 people or so each under an elder. Have them meet in homes for 4 weeks. Then in 1 month come back to the church building on a Sunday morning with no agenda except for the elders to report what God is doing. Interact on this. If nothing is happening repeat the process. Keep doing this until God does something. If nothing happens sell the church building. God doesn’t need buildings! He needs people and leaders leading and God working through them all.
Anonymous 2
Anonymous, your two options of things to do are the very things you are criticizing the pastor for, asking for people to give input. You seem to be talking out of both sides of your mouth. It sounds like you are suffering from the "gall of bitterness" or just have a chip on your shoulder.
Interesting insights! BTW what language are you speaking? “Gall of bitterness”? ;~)
Well anyway as I look back I’ve tried to probe the concept and then give concrete ideas. Result? Others have attacked me. You may or may not like the ideas. You may or may not agree. Maybe they were not worded most succinctly. But to attack as both “trouble” and “anon2” have done is an interesting insight into the subculture. I assume this is seen as some sort of us against them situation.
Very interesting. “Gall of bitterness?” Phew. Maybe being stuck in the 17th century (KJV 1611) is why it is so difficult to understand metaphor and to see the balance between leaders leading and servant leadership.
I expect that this post will also be attacked because someone will want to read into it their own attitudes or meanings. So I guess this will be my swan song. Of course I’m an outsider and do not know PM or anyone who has posted here. I hope the church prospers and PM finds what he is looking for. Assuming it is what God wants as well.
Matthew 6:9-10 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.
Pastor Mike,
I would love to be able to grow spiritually within the church, but I don't feel that this can happen if I don't feel welcome in the church. I feel that there are a few "important" people and everyone else falls by the way side. I have been asked multiple times how I liked visiting the church and if I would visit again- I have been a member of the church for over 10 years. If the communtication and respect isn't there, why should I continue to attend?
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