An "Experiencing God" Moment

Nothing profound or particularly poignant in this post, just a brief testimony of a door God is opening for our church and which we are looking forward to going through. Here is a brief bullet point synopsis:

• A door for ministry in our church, one that had been open and was a primary outreach ministry, closed. We tried to reopen it, and prayed for it to reopen, but it remained closed.
• I began praying for new ways for our church to minister to our community.
• My fellow pastor, a few leaders, and our prayer team began to pray for an opportunity for ministry.
• The past ministry door transformed to a different but still significant ministry. In the mean time, God was working on another door…
• A local, large multi-housing complex sent a letter to its tenants asking if there was any interest in organizing an Easter egg hunt and possibly gathering for an early service on Easter morning.
• The newsletter found its way to me.
• I approached the apartment manager about his letter and offered the assistance of our church. I gave him two weeks to think about it and said I would contact him to discuss the idea further.
• Our church prayed corporately for two weeks about the opportunity.
• We made a more specific plan for the event and for ongoing ministry in the MH complex.
• We sought the best way and time to pitch the idea to the manager.
• Before I could call him, he called me.
• He asked if we were still wanting to do ministry in his apartment community.
• I met with him and pitched our plan for Easter weekend and ongoing ministry after that.
• He is excited about having our church hold this event/service and prepare for ongoing ministry to his 1200+ tenants.
• Turns out, though the complex is owned by a secular corporation, the manager and two of his staff are born again Christians and want to see their complex reached for Jesus Christ.
• We are planning for Easter weekend and looking forward to how God will work through us for His kingdom.

I share all this as a testimony of a current “Experiencing God” moment. God is still at work. Our church is beginning to see people saved and lives being changed. I’m thankful to be able to join Him in His work. May we be faithful to His call.

Now your turn...
SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY -- What's God doing where you are?

What kind of pastor will I be?

In my ministry, I have come across two kinds of pastors.
I must choose which kind I want to be.

Will I be…

. . . a pastor who is an encouragement to those around them or a pastor who sucks the life out of others by my negative attitude?

. . . a pastor who see challenges as an opportunity for God to work or one who approaches challenges with a “can’t do” attitude?

. . . a pastor who talks about what God is doing in the lives of people or a pastor who complains about the difficult people?

. . . a pastor who loves people and invests in others or a pastor who sees people for how they can benefit me and my agenda?

. . . a pastor who is constantly critical of other ministers and ministries or a pastor who praises other ministers and ministries and comes alongside those who need support?

. . . a pastor who casts a vision and asks the congregations to give to it or a pastor who has no vision and complains about the church not having any money?

. . . a pastor who sees things as they can be or one who sees things as they’ll never be?

. . . a pastor who appreciates and seeks to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before or a pastor who is cynical of the older generation of leaders?

. . . a pastor who values fellow believers even when I disagree on secondary and tertiary issues or one who demonizes others with whom I disagree?

. . . a pastor who constantly talks about myself and my plans or a pastor who takes an interest in others?

. . . a pastor who embraces theological, philosophical, and methodological discussions from an “iron sharpens iron” point of view or one who debates others in an adversarial manner and seeks to win arguments at any cost?

. . . a pastor who prays for others or one who gossips about others?

. . . a pastor who spreads the gospel wherever I go or one who preaches, teaches, and talks about evangelism but never actually shares his faith with anyone?

. . . a pastor who walks by faith or one who walks by sight?

. . . a pastor who is desperately dependent on God or one who ministers in his own strength?

. . . a pastor for whom prayer is vital to my life and ministry or for whom prayer is an afterthought or a begrudging duty?

. . . a pastor with a vital and growing relationship with the Lord or one whose spiritual life is dull and lifeless?

. . . a pastor who puts ideas into action or one who posts lists on a blog and then forgets about them?

. . . a pastor who seeks first the kingdom of God or one who seeks first the kingdom of Todd?

My Ministry Core Values

As I have been in the transition period from seminary life to full-time ministry, I have recently been asked to share my philosophy of ministry. I have thought through some of my core values and offer them for your consideration. Feel free to offer your comments or critique.

MINISTRY PHILOSOPHY

Among my ministry core values are the following:

Kingdom Focused Ministry – My focus must go beyond my own personal success or the success of my church, but the advance of God’s kingdom. If not, I run the danger of being self-centered, self-seeking, and self-glorifying. God wants churches to grow, but as part of the bigger grander vision of expanding his great kingdom. For this reason I will lead a church in being “kingdom-focused” and in having an “Acts 1:8” mentality—reaching the local community and partnering with others to take the gospel around the world. I will lead in partnering with Southern Baptists and other Great Commission Christians in reaching my community and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will actively support and promote the Cooperative Program and Southern Baptist partnership on the association, state, and national level. I will also lead in appropriate partnerships with both Baptist and non-Baptist evangelicals.

Relational Ministry – I place a high priority on relationships over programs and events. Evangelism, discipleship, ministry, and other aspects of church life all happen best in the context of relationships. Busyness in church life can often be detrimental to the health of a church. Being precedes doing. I will lead in developing certain programs and events and an aggressive pursuit of the Great commission, but will focus on those that build relationships in evangelizing non-believers and foster the “one another” aspect of being the body of Christ. Moreover, I will seek to equip believers in being a lighthouse to their family and neighborhood and to use their gifts and resources in service for his kingdom.

Biblically Based Ministry – The Bible is our authority as Christians. It contains “everything we need for life and godliness.” If the Bible is indeed our textbook, we must make every effort to conform our thoughts and practice to Scripture. All that I teach and preach will have its basis in Scripture. Most of my preaching is expository although I will preach topical sermons when appropriate. Ministries, strategy planning, counseling, and all other aspects of ministry will be biblically grounded and biblically measured. I affirm the doctrine of inerrancy as expressed in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message and the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.

Great Commission Ministry – The mission of the church is the Great commission. To fulfill that commission means that we focus on making disciples. This begins with evangelism, and moves to discipling and equipping believers for service. Evangelism must be an urgent priority. We must implement innovative and “contextual” strategies to reach people where they are. Our job is not done, however, until we develop fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, growing in his likeness, using their gifts in the body of Christ, and reaching others with the gospel. I will lead a church to be fervent in evangelism, but also in discipling and equipping ministries.

God-empowered Ministry – The Bible teaches that it is the Holy Spirit which empowers our mission. Ultimately, it is God and not human effort which determines the success of mission – our attitude and action must reflect that. This emphasizes the need for absolute dependence on God, a vibrant faith, and a devotion to prayer. I am an avid supporter of church growth principles and effective strategizing. However, if we depend only on our knowledge and effort and not on the power of God, we will have not only an unfruitful ministry, but an ungodly one. Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).