Ministry is about...

So, yesterday was a wild day. We had our final preview service for the new campus. After church in Salisbury, there were some major storms and steady rain most of the day (which we haven't had in months). Just as we dropped the gate of the trailer to unload in Pocomoke, it started pouring again. It seemed to set a tone for the evening.

We slammed the stuff into the building and began setting up. The four preview services before this one saw increased attendance each time, culminating with about 115 in June. Granted, a good portion were supporters from Salisbury, but there were a lot of Pocomokers that were coming, too. Last night, there were only about 14 visitors that weren't Salisbury folk, and even they were carrying embroidered Bible covers, indicating they were very churched people (maybe I shouldn't judge, but I do!). We set up for KidMo for the third time, but there were no children other than our own.

So discouraging. But why?

I think we get impatient with our expectations and easily lose sight of the fact that churches just don't sprout overnight. Whether or not the Pocomoke campus makes it, God is still about revealing more of who He is to us. And, as Reid preached, God is about pursuing and redeeming people.

I've always said two things: 1. I didn't go into ministry to be rich or popular, and 2. Ministry is about people. Yesterday, I learned that regardless of our perceived successes or failures, ministry is about people...again. But, didn't I just say that's one of things I've always said? Yes, but I never claimed to always live by it.

You see, we need constant reminding of even the things that we have always known. Just like we need to give our lives to Christ on a daily basis, dying to self and carrying His blood-soaked cross. Just like I need to commit each day to being a loving husband and father. Just like I need to remember that, amongst the mechanics of "doing church," ministry is about people. I know these things, but that doesn't mean I automatically live these things.

Father, burn onto my heart that ministry is about people because You are about people. Let Your heart beat in mine. Help me see the opportunities you place before me this week to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

"Weight" on God...

Day 2 of my "blogsperiment." I haven't given up yet!

Today has been a challenging day. I am being challenged in my faith. Sometimes I wonder if faith isn't being challenged, is it faith at all? Hmmm...

I'm learning that faith is stepping with your full weight into the unknown. That's not a profound statement by any measure, and it's one that I learned--at least in head knowledge--when I was quite young. Learning and experiencing, however, are two vastly different things.

So, how exactly am I being challenged? Our four-year-old church is planting a south campus, and it's scaring the heck out of me. Not from a physical standpoint, but from an emotional and spiritual one. Being a mobile church, this proposition means we will be loading in at our main campus at 8 a.m., having church, packing up, driving 30 miles south, grab a quick bite to eat, start setting up again at 3:30, have church again, pack up, drive 30 miles north, and get home around 9:30 p.m. Every Sunday. If you do the math, that's at least a 15-hour day from wake-up to head-down.

The vision is that God raises indigenous leaders to take the ball and run with it, but so far after four preview services, that has been an elusive thing. It's causing me to question my leadership and our leadership as a staff. But at the same time, it could be exactly what God has sovereignly ordained...at least for now. I'm reluctant to step with my full weight, and that bothers me tremendously. I want to be all in or all out, none of this in between stuff.

The Good Book says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11). In this situation, I know what I hope for and I know what I can't see. I guess that's right where God wants me--to trust only in Him...rather than strategies, technology, relevance, etc. Those are all important things, but how often do we make idols of them? God calls us to walk by faith in a dark, dying world. Sometimes, that just really stinks! But at the end of the day, what choice do we have but to follow Him? Our new campus could belly up and "fail," but whatever happens I'll bet my bottom dollar God has a plan for it all. Sink or swim, God is on His throne and He will be glorified.

Where is God asking you to step with your full weight?

Father, help me to step with my full weight (minus a few trips to Krispy Kreme and Taco Bell) into whatever it is you call me to. Help me to cast off my unbelief, abandon my preconceived notions, and trust Your divine hand to do YOUR work. Redefine success to me. Thank you for the privilege of being a part of this amazing thing called "the Church." Jesus, lead on.

Always a Little Late...

So, this is my first foray into blog-land. I've always noticed of myself that I tend to be a little (or a lot!) late with fads, fashions, trends, etc. So, it's no surprise that I'm a few years late to the blogging phenomenon.

Pardon me while I take off my K-Swiss tennis shoes and change my parachute pants into something a little more comfortable...

There. That's better! I must say, I've been inspired to take this step by my wife. She has been such an inspiration to me since she started blogging a few months ago. I joke with her that it's the best way for me to really know what's going on in her life. While that statement could be perceived as a sad commentary on our marriage, it's not. In fact, I think blogging will be an avenue for me to journal, which is something I've always had the desire to do. Yet, I've always lacked the will to back it up. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a new season for me.

As much as I want for myself the spiritual benefit of journaling, I also it to be an encouragement to you, whoever you are! I look forward to this journey and pray God's blessing on it...

More tomorrow...hopefully.