Better Than One

Have you ever been lost? Of course, all of us have been lost spiritually, but that is not what I am talking about in this blog. Have you ever been lost directionally? Most all of us have, resulting in frustration and sometimes fear. If you are like the majority of us, particularly men, the last thing we want to do is stop and ask directions. We have the idea we will eventually find the right way.

The feelings are similar for pastors and churches trying to navigate in the right direction with church growth and health. All pastors have experienced the frustration of doing everything we know to do and yet still be lost on the highway of having a growing, thriving church.

The Ministry Toolbox, being introduced and made available by your Kentucky Baptist Convention, is an excellent place to find our direction. This tool can help pastors and churches determine where their church really is by allowing members to grade themselves personally in their Christian journey. None of us are likely to get on the right road to spiritual health until we discover which road we are presently traveling.

Could it be the Ministry Toolbox is the “service station” we need to pull into in order to find out where we are and where to turn in order to head in the right direction? Is a reality check long overdue for many of us as  we attempt to travel the often elusive road to church health?   Contact any of us on the Church Development Team and let us tell you more about Ministry Toolbox.

We are ready to start distributing the door knob hangers and “plan of salvation” brochure. We have already done “prayerwalking” in the area of our delivering door hangers. Many have had witnessing and assimilation training in their association or church. One of my area churches are rennovating their foyers by painting, getting new furniture and pictures. This will help to greet those on Easter and beyond. The foundation of all we do and are doing is PRAYER.

One of my pastors attended Here’s Hope Discipleshp Workshop with Claude King. He was impressed with Claude’s emphasis on Prayer as the “House of Prayer”.
Isa 56:7 and Jer 7:11 both highlight the house of prayer.
Mt 21:13 even warns “My house will be called a house of prayer but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” The pastor is eager to go back and make his church a House of Prayer.

Find It Here should have motivated us to make our congreagation a House of Prayer. We can do nothing without Him and we are embarking on a state-wide gospel sharing emphasis. Don Reed, DOM in Elkhorn Association wrote in his bulletin:

The North American Mission Board introduced God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS). There are four Mile Posts for the GPS:

PRAYING: Every Church Praying For Lost People.
EQUIPPING: Every Believer a Trained Witness.
SOWING: Every Lost Person Receiving a Witness.
HARVESTING: Every Church Harvesting and Celebrating Every Salvation Response.

FIND IT HERE fulfills every element of the commands of Jesus, and God’s Plan for Sharing.

Prayer allows us to bring the lost to God so He my know our love and passion for those we will contact. We do not know their name or even their life situation but God does. He cares more than we do but chooses to work through willing disciples. We can prayer individually, in Sunday School, prayer meeting, worship services, small group meeting, mission meeting, music rehearsals and beyond.

Praying for Find It Here should only be the start of making our church “A House of Prayer”. Give the Lord a Chance to work in your body of believers.