I DON’T MIND TELLING YOU

 

Cleaning out and organizing decades of ministry material after a major move can be several things.

  • It can be informative
  • It can cause you to ask questions such as why have I kept this all these years.
  • It can be emotional ( depending on your makeup.
  • It can be a huge reminder of why God called you to this work. Also, bring back a combination of Laughter, sadness, loss, and joy. I think today I have experienced all of these and so much more. Now, some information. More years ago than I care to remember, my dear friend Dr. Gregg Wrigley and I came to West Virginia from Florida. Somehow God always allowed us to serve in close proximity to each other. We did not know that this would be the last time we would serve together as fellow laborers for the cause of Christ. We would end up back in Florida one last time, and due to his health, he could not come and serve with me as my Minister of Education. We made a plan, and his health declined, and we could not execute it the way I had hoped. He remained as a trusted adviser, and I have many reminders of our time together. Earlier today I was unpacking and sorting three HUGE boxes of training material, Church plays, and many other things that took me back to that sweet time. In the collection of Church plays (now remember these plays were from the late eighties into the 2000 year mark.) I came across the play entitled “What This Church Needs Is… but who is going to do it?” Some of the dialogue is not pertinent, but it is food for thought as we, as a church and the body of Christ on the local level, examine, identify, and execute this important question. So let’s dig in, shall we? I must give credit to the Author of the material, Nancy Keith. The scene opens with a question: “ Susan asks the thought-provoking question, Do you all know why the planning committee is meeting tonight? (She continues) I know that each of you has been prayerfully considering new areas of ministry for our church. Who would like to share first? The following may surprise you. Louella began with this intro. “Well, if you ask me, we need to start here.
  • Is a ministry to the homeless. If you watch TV, you see so many of the needs.
  • Food, clothes, shelter. Other churches have these ministries, and I think we should too. NOwe listen to Susan’s response, “That's a great idea. So do you want to head this ministry up?” Now look at Louella’s response, UH… “Well, I would, BUT I am really involved in my bowling classes.” “I just have to get my average up or they will not let me back on the team. You know how important that is to me. How about you, Stanley?” Stanley chimed in, “Homeless people live in dirty places. I don’t go to dirty places, and well, that's not really up my alley,{GET IT ALLEY} IT’S JUST NOT MY THING!” The narrative goes on for some time several people recommended others.

In closing, here are a couple of thoughts. 

  • For over a decade, it appears to me that churches have been struggling to find people who were called and committed to the work of the church. It’s easy to say “that's not my job, or " that's not in my wheelhouse.” I heard a long time ago, God does not always call the equipped; He equips the called.
  • God’s people can many times come up with things the church ought to be doing but are unwilling to take on the task.
  • Ministry ideas are great, but it takes people with a vision and desire to see the work of the church go forward. So ask yourself, what is God laying on your heart, and are you willing to put the team together and move forward for the cause of Christ? Henry Blackaby, when he was on the staff with LifeWay in chapel, made the following statement that answers this question why do I desire to serve God? He said: “Find where God is doing something AND GET IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!!” 

You think about that AMEN.

Blessings,

Warren