Deeper, Deeper

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Okay, so I'm challenged that our worship services go a bit deeper than this parody. What do you all think?

Could every generation's liturgical norms be parodied as pointedly?

Resolution number 3

As I recall, there were about 2 resolutions at District Council this year.

On one hand, it is very nice to have so much peace and agreement in our District. Unity and agreement is a very pleasant thing indeed, and something that is blessed of the Lord.

But in the past year, I again read the book (actually listened to it this time) 5 Dysfunctions of a Team.

If I applied some of those principles, I gotta ask; do we have enough spirited discussion and challenging debate over the things that really matter? One of the dysfunctions is not being able to argue passionately over the stuff that really makes a difference.

Years ago, we added a requirement to our system where resolutions must be submitted months in advance and reviewed carefully by a team of parliamentarians, and whatever other processes. This seemed good at the time (as I recall) because hotheaded and spontaneous- perhaps poorly thought through- ideas could not be brought to the floor at all.

The thing worked, and we now have relatively peaceful meetings. Yes, we do disagree and passionately discuss certain details about the resolutions presented, and that seems fine I guess. But is there room for a resolution to be brought up spontaneously "for the good of the order", just because the Spirit is moving and someone thought up something good right there on the spot?

We get together and pray for God's leading, but how can He move? And how can we be a healthy team when there is no room for any resolution that was not thought up 800 years before (exaggeration intended for humor of course)?

Maybe this is just for me, because I am not the world's best planner. But after I read Tom Rees's report on the 83% of my friends and neighbors who will end up in Hell, and David Crosby's report that we have about the same amount of churches (and that we had when I started ministry in '83), I wanted to repent of lots of things, including but not limited to our issue with autonomy of the local church.

For example, I wanted to weep about the fact that I cannot think of a resolution to bring to next year's Council that really addresses the 83%. How would we, what would we, who would we, and where would we start? I have no serious ideas. The 83% should not expect anything good from me as it pertains to the rescue of their souls. They should get ready for a hot eternity, because I am bankrupt.

I was thrilled with the Decade of Harvest in the 90's. I was thrilled with Pastor Steve's idea to bless and give room for Catalyst leaders to work in the C3 plan. And I was thrilled with a lot of other ideas that better minds than mine have come up with over the years.

Yet, we are still about 360 churches, and close to the same amount of adherents here in PennDel. In my ministry lifetime, we have zoomed downward from at least 45% church attendance in America, to less than 20%! Yes, I think we should repent!

Minister friends, we have failed. We have failed our culture, and failed the Kingdom of God. We are losing the battle and from Penndel northward (the North East), we have failed the most of all! I do not wish to point to anyone else- I have not made a discernible difference myself.

In Romans, the Apostle Paul indicates that repentance is a gift that God gives. As I understand repentance, it is not a gift He has given me yet, (or us), yet in Penndel, as measured by our ability to reverse this horrible decline in percentage of people who will spend eternity in Heaven because they know Jesus. Oh God, have mercy on us an give us this treasure! We may not deserve it, but surely you love this 83% too much! If we in the PennDel District of the Assemblies of God are too hard hearted to receive it, please give it to some other group before more of our friends are lost forever!

I am not kidding around here, and not being light hearted. Seriously, does anybody have a reasonable idea to make the 83%, 82%? or 70%? Anybody? Anything? Yes, I know we are planting churches, and if we all live to be a hundred and fifty, MAYBE we will gain a little on it. (not that past performance would indicate that any of our plans will do anything, because since 1983, I and my fellow colleagues have NOT GAINED ONE CHURCH!)

Could there have been a resolution 3 this year that would have addressed the 83%? Does anybody even care? Or shall we come back next year and argue for three more hours about whether the word repentance is too strong for our national leaders to stomach? (sorry, my flimsy take on the little bit of this that I got to be part of)

My sons want me to teach them everything I know about ministry, they tell me. "Gotta be honest", I told them last night, "based on my performance since I got into ministry in '83, I got nothing for you. And don't read anything from anyone my age", I told them. "We are not prevailing. I pray that your generation will, but if you do, it will not be from what you have seen us do, for we have lost half of what we have been given!"

Excuses to make in front of Jesus

In our Creating Outreach and Evangelism class this morning, Tom Rees opened by directing us to the Southern Baptists' report on the Great Commission. (here) It is sobering and challenging stuff.

Here are some findings: 83% of people in Northeast are lost. The population of these states (basically Pennsylvania and north) is 55 million. 83% of this population will be in Hell unless we do something. Currently, there is no growth in numbers of people in this area attending church, so it seems unlikely that we will reach them in my lifetime. They are likely to remain lost.

What will I say when I stand before Jesus, and we talk about the sad fact that in my lifetime, church attendance has slidden to far less than half the numbers that there were when I started ministry?

What will Pastor's say when they stand in front of the One who gave everything to get them to eternal life? What might be the top ten list of excuses that we mumble out to "Him with whom we have to do"?

1. It was too hard.
2. I didn't know what to do
3. I was busy doing church stuff
4. My church wasn't yet large enough to plant another one
5. Really, there are lost people in America?
6. I didn't have the money
7. My church needed me!
8. I tried to reach some, but I'm not very good at it.
9. That other church tried some stuff, but it was a joke.
10. My fellowship didn't tell me what to do!

I am sick to death of my own stupid excuses. Jesus gave it all, so the least I can do is give more, work harder, stop doing stupid religious stuff, and resolve to flounder my way toward some kind of progress.

Any body with me?

Only well-planned, healthy babies wanted..?

It's a beautiful thing when a healthy young couple plans carefully, saves money, and prepares well for a wonderful new child. Baby things are gathered, the financial cost is counted and prepared for, and the extended family is carefully informed.

But for whatever reason(s), babies don't often come that way. Some come unplanned, even to the c couple who plans carefully. Some come when many things are not right and maybe even the parents did not prepare even a healthy parental relationship (marriage) for the new child to be born into.

But however they come, all children are a heritage of the Lord, and a blessing. As believers we celebrate the little life and rejoice that God sent them into the world to care for it and make it better, as Genesis tells us we were created to do. As we know from simple life experience that many who were "unplanned" by the parents, are nevertheless huge blessing to their world!

Maybe churches are like that too. Some are well-planned, beautifully orchestrated, and well put together. Baby things are gathered, and finances are well prepared. The extended family is carefully informed and everyone is happy about the birth. Right?

But then there are those churches that came about the wrong way. Not so well planned, without enough finances and a shock to many people around them.

Yet God uses them.

Acts has all kinds of examples. The Bereans studied, the Jerusalem church exploded, and so many others seemed so well done. Then along comes Ephesus, born out of a riot, lies about the founding Pastor, and all kinds of ugliness.

But each one, however they come, have potential to become a house of great repute, and a recycling station for hurting lives. They are God's idea to rock the world, and create new disciples.

Outreach magazine last month quoted Ed Stetzer: The American Church is on birth control". It is unnatural and wrong, Stetzer went on say, that most church do not procreate. He said they seem to worry too much about doing it right and making every effort a success.

I like his way of thinking. Maybe we should be more desperate about being barren, than we are about doing everything perfect.

Discipleship Dare

Fellow A/G pastor (Potomac District) and VFCC grad Jess Bousa has written "The Discipleship Dare" - a great way to activate yourself and your people in following Jesus. It is unusual in that it actually works, and can be used for new believers as well as more mature believers.

Jess provides video intros, and sermon outlines for your church as well as the ability to read the book online for free. www.thediscipleshipdare.com

There are currently some bloggers posting everyday for 40 days as they go through the Dare. Follow Jess on Facebook or visit the website to find out more.

I began posting on this today. www.goodground.blogspot.com

Have a great new year of ministry!

20 in 10

We are targeting 20 areas for church planting in 2010.
If you have a passion for one of these areas, please contact the leader listed or give me a call.

• Bethany Beach/Ocean View, Delaware (Tim Satryan)
• Braddock (Brian Bolt) *
• Cranberry, Venango County (Chris Clark)
• Downingtown (Sam Masteller) *
• DuBois (Chris Clark)
• Elsmere Hispanic, Delaware (Tim Satryan)
• Fogalsville (Mark Caston)
• Frackville (Richard Earl)
• Gettysburg (Gerry Stoltzfoos) *
• Greensburg (Don Immel) *
• Hanover (Gerry Stoltzfoos)
• Inner city/South Side Wilmington, Delaware (Tim Satryan)
• Lewisburg (Paul Grabill)
• Marshall’s Creek (Jim Rugg)
• Milton (Jon Baker)
• New Castle/Minquadale, Delaware (Tim Satryan)
• Philadelphia (Dan Clark)
• Pottstown (Steve DeFrain)
• Southside Pittsburgh (Jeff Leake) *
• Three Springs (Dan Fox) *
• York (Gerry Stoltzfoos)

* Church Planter has been identified and in process.

boot camp registration is open

Church Planter's Boot camp at Freedom Valley

The first week of November is less than 1 month away, and registration is open! You can go to www.freedomvalley.org to find the link on our home page, and register.

Penn-Del is offering scholarships for credential holders. You can pay online. After you have registered, order your boot camp materials and start the exciting journey toward planting a church.

We are encouraging church planters to bring whatever team that is being developed around you. If finances are a problem for you, call me personally (717-398-9033) for plans to help- such as a home opener to stay with, or a reduced registration fee if needed.

A few weeks ago, I did a church planting seminar for a couple of sections in the western part of the state (the sections led by Ken Martin and Christ Clark). At lunch afterward, a retired Pastor told me about "the good old days" where it was generally expected, he said that EVERY Bible college worth his salt planted a church! He said it was a standard expectation!

Ironically, those were also the days just before the Assemblies of God was named "the fastest growing denomination" in the country.

The old timer told me when he heard the seminar, that he hoped maybe it could happen again, where the AG became the aggressive church planting movement that it once was.

Maybe it could...