New Living Assembly
– our LPD Church of the Week
Thanks to Anna (Ben)
Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!
***
This Sunday, the first
after Labour Day Sunday is what we typically call “kick off Sunday.” People have returned
from vacations. Programs are readied and the season of ministry begins.
I look forward to preaching at One
Hope Community Church, as they Kick off for the season, and as
they celebrate their church anniversary and their inaugural English service. As
I do so, I will be missing out on the 36th anniversary of Richmond Chinese EFC
– Congratulations to both of you!
May I ask, should
your church be “kicking off,” “kicking a field goal” or
simply “kicking away?”
With a record of one win and nine losses as I write this note, the BC Lions are not having a stellar season as a football team. Any notion of playoffs seems very distant at best.
In reviewing their
statistics for the year, I note that they have had to “kick off”
twenty times after scoring touchdowns (7 points each), kick field goals
twenty-one times (3 points each), when unable to score a touchdown and
“kick the ball away” (punt) fifty-five times (0 points), when they
were unable to score or to achieve a first down to keep the ball in their
possession.
These are not good
statistics!
They demonstrate that,
more than times than not, the BC Lions, unable to score points or even to move
the ball forward in order to keep it, must kick the ball away. This week, they
fired and replaced one of their coaches in an attempt to address their failure.
Failure
sounds like a harsh word now days! Everybody should be a “winner,”
whatever the score.
Success,
or the goal of a football team is more than players simply showing up to a game
in uniform with all the positions filled. It is to score more points than their
opponent, in order to win football games, in order to reach the playoffs, and
hopefully have a chance to play for and win the “Grey Cup” – ok, or
“Superbowl” for the four-down people.
Within a game, the goal is to score touchdowns (as fans, we love this!). If we
fail to score a touchdown, we hope to at least score a field goal. If we can do
neither, we will end up kicking the ball away to the opposing team, hoping that
we can regroup, get the ball back and do better when we have the opportunity.
So,
how does your church measure “success?”
“Success”
can seem rather worldly, even unspiritual. But, what do we believe God has
called us to? What is our purpose, our calling, and our mission?
My observation is that churches and ministries start with a clear mission and
passion, but over time can come to simply provide a variety ministries with
little sense of purpose.
What does success
in Children’s Ministry or Sunday School look like today? That children are safe
and happy? That parents are happy?
How about this for one measure of success for Children’s Ministry?
This means that:
a) all leaders
must have personally received and
embraced the Gospel.
b) all leaders
must be equipped to share the Gospel.
c) There must be
intentional times when the
Gospel
is presented clearly.
d) Each child must
be given opportunity to respond to
the Gospel.
e) We make room to
celebrate the new births in Christ.
You will have other measures as well. Teaching biblical truths. Applying the Bible to everyday situations that the children are facing…
How do we measure
success in our church and ministries? Better yet, what does God measure?
Sometimes, we need to
“Kick off,” celebrating what God, by HIs grace is doing in our midst,
and in anticipation of a new season.
Sometimes, we may need to just “kick a field goal.” We don’t strive
for field goals; we settle for them – but sometimes that’s all we can do. Let’s
celebrate them, and plan for a “touchdown in the future.”
Sometimes, we need to “kick/punt it away.” This may sound crass and
insensitive, but sometimes, we need to acknowledge that a ministry is not
working, let it go, and plan to regroup and start fresh. We have done
this with both ministries and churches, and though it is both painful and
energizing to see the birth of something fresh.
As you begin this season, are there things we should celebrate where God is
specially working – a “touchdown.”
Are there things we celebrate that we trust will flourish – a “field
goal.”
Are there ministries that we need to admit are no longer what they were, and we
need to kindly “punt them away?” These often are those ministries
that were once led by volunteers, but now you need to hire staff to maintain.
It may be a ministry that is no longer relevant. We need to be both sensitive,
and also good stewards of our time, resources and personnel.
May God bless you as you begin this new season of ministry. We pray that God
will grant you “success,” like that of Nehemiah, who prayed before
approaching King Artaxerxes, “Lord,
let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer
of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success
today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. “
***
One caution regarding
“success.” Who defines success? Pastors, we are to serve people,
not to drive them towards our goals. Here is a link to a thoughtful article
entitled, ” The Problem With Church: Submit to your Pastor.”
Please pray for:
Upcoming Events:
LPD/EFCC Pastor and Staff Orientatio
Monday, September 23 at the EFCC Office
All pastors staff and interested volunteers are welcome too this opportunity to learn about the history, ethos, doctrine and ministries of the EFCC. Orientation is a requirement for all persons seeking credentialing in the EFCC, and is valuable for everyone in EFCC churches.
Here is the info.
Pastor_and_Staff_Orientation_2019_Invitation.pdf
You can register
online at:
https://www.efccm.ca/wordpress/pastors-orientation/
***
EFCC Lay Leader Training
| The training is designed to help followers of Jesus carry out their calling of making disciples, both inside and outside the church. It will provide a series of modules with in-class sessions on a variety of key topics. They are as follows: |
| Module #1 1. EFCC History & Ethos 2. Canada’s Changing Culture 3. How to Share the Gospel 4. How to Make a Disciple Module #2 1. EFCC Theology 2. Spiritual Formation 3. Christian Leadership 4. Mentoring/Coaching |
What…………………………
Module #1
When……………………….. Friday evening and all day Saturday,
September 20-21, 2019
Location……………………. Fosmark Centre at Trinity Western University,
in Langley BC
Cost………………………….
$50/person (includes food & beverages for breaks, and lunch on Saturday)
Teachers…………………….
Bill Taylor, Dave Penner, and Neil Bassingthwaighte from EFCC Home Office
Registration…………………
Online at http://www.bit.do/layleader
***
Best Practices for Mission Workshop
The Best Practice for Church Missions Workshop, developed by Fellowship International and Northwest Baptist Seminary, has benefited almost 50 churches across Canada. It has been designed to help churches navigate the maze of missions options to become effective and strategic partners in God’s mission to the world.
This one-day workshop provides church leadership and missions committee members the opportunity to revisit and clarify their missions program. The interactive format encourages vision and passion as participants see a role and purpose for their leadership in missions involvement.
Join others in a day of discovery and decision making that will give clarity, purpose – and a plan – for impacting missions participation.
Book your table soon, there is only room for 6 churches.
Date: Saturday October 5
Time:
9.30 – 3.30
Cost
per church (includes lunch): $80 (up to 6 participants), $100 (7-10
participants), $120 (11-15 participants)
Venue: Vancouver
Chinese Evangelical Free
3295 E Broadway (at Rupert)
Missions_Committee_Workshop_brochure.doc
***
LPD Pastor and Spouse Retreat
Nov. 22-24, 2019
Hello LPD pastors, we’d like to invite you to join us on Nov. 22-24, 2019 for a Pastors’ retreat! We’d like to encourage you to take a breather in late November (before Advent begins) with your fellow pastors at Camp Charis in Chilliwack.Registration is open on our LPD Website.
