We are entering a new Season in the ministry. This is the time to search yourself, and ask; am I where God wants me to be spiritually?
If we are going to lead in ministry we may have to occasionally change. The most significant pursuit of churches in the past was church growth, but not it needs to be health. Our goal is not to hold people; it's to reach people. We can no longer do ministry today as we did ministry yesterday. In our church Pastor Tina and I have been there three years now and it's not the same church as when we started and Pastor Tina and I are not the same people. We have learned we must continually be adaptable.
If we are to lead effective ministries, our ministries may have to occasionally change. Don't get me wrong the Word never changes, It's us; we must change because of the word in us. We must grow by spending time with God and in His Word.
To have effective evangelism and discipleship it takes commitment. Are you sold out 100%? Are you an influence to your city?
The influencers today are not necessarily the denominational churches; the influencers today are more often pastors and members in local churches who are in constant contact with the individuals in the church, who spend time in fellowship with one another.
The church formerly used time and resources to entertain people, seeing the consumers, whereas now we use the time and resources to create environments and spiritual experiences. We need to involve churchgoers in lay ministry so as to give them ownership and belonging.
Now many churches are used to having one service, in one building, once a week.
We have to understand we are here to manage the resources that God has given us. The question should be how many ways can we use our buildings. Is this going to be a one time, once a week deal, or will it be a practical building that can be used every day, doing some kind of ministry for some kind of people to touch lives? Can we offer our building for civic or educational uses? Can it serve as a food bank or a temporary shelter? What needs does our community have that can be met by our church, both as a building and as an entity?
Stewardship is about management, not ownership. We have to understand that we're here to manage the resources that God has given us. We don't own anything. Its eye-opening experience to realize that stewardship isn't ten percent; stewardship is one hundred percent.
Here's what I want you to know-the church and the leader that understands the times and instead of complaining about the times ask this question: "How can I be effective in these times?" That's the leader who is going to be successful.