Para-church organizations–Ministry beyond the church In the beginning, para-church organizations to minister to the community were supported by the churches which provided oversight as well as supplying funds and volunteers. As a result, many church members were able to get training and experience through the programs. However, many churches no longer support the parachurch organizations and the organizations get very little support from individual churches, so they are often forced to draw their support from the community at large. As a result, churches often see them as competitors for money rather than as avenues for ministry and church members are finding few avenues to serve and no training in how to serve. Many para-church organizations can provide volunteer opportunities for members to serve God and often provide needed training. (see “The Important I”-LULU Press) If you are interested in serving Christ beyond the local church check with the local Salvation Army or other church related ministries to see what volunteer opportunities are available in your area.
Posts Tagged ‘church ministry’
Third Sunday of Pentecost-A-June 22
Parachurch Ministries– Ministry beyond the church In the past, many members learned to minister to others as they ministered to other members and to those who came to the church for help. Today, church members are so scattered they rarely know each other well and few people come to the church seeking help anymore. As a result members get little experience in ministering to others and few church members have the experience to help. Many problems in small churches do not warrant separate programs to deal with them, however many problems formerly associated with the inner-city are moving to the suburbs as the poor move to the suburbs where rent is cheaper, housing is better, and there is less violence. Many suburban and rural areas do not know how to deal with the problems and many problems are too big for individual churches to handle. As a result, many churches today have withdrawn from ministry to those around them so many community needs are not being met. Parachurch organizations have grown up to help, such as Habitat For Humanity, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, etc. to carry on ministries and to meet the unmet needs in the community.
First Sunday of Pentecost-B-June 8
Organizing For Ministry–We often think that the church cares for its members and decades ago that was true in small churches but today, even small churches have problems ministering to their members. Previously, small churches usually drew from a small area and everyone knew each other outside church as well as in the church. In addition, many members were active in a lot of church activities. As a result, they felt free to call on each other in times of need. Now churches draw from a wide area and few know each other outside church. In addition, because of the distance, few members are active in church outside of Sunday morning. As a result, many do not feel they know other members enough to call on them in times of need. The church needs to group its people by area and provide activities in the small groups where members can socialize outside Sunday morning.
First Sunday of Pentecost-A-June 8
Not just for Pastors-Many people think that only preachers can lead people to Christ, but Jesus said to His disciples, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. While there have been times when evangelists like George Whitefield and Billy Graham have risen to call God’s people to repentance, the main response has come mainly from within the body of believers. Few outside the church responded until revival had swept through the church and unbelievers saw the change in the life of believers and wanted that life. When the church has had a highly trained and highly paid clergy, the church has generally not been very effective in reaching the lost because members leave evangelism to the clergy. The greatest inflow of unchurched people occurred during the early church before they had paid clergy, during the Wesleyan revival when Wesley organized small groups of converts under lay pastor’s, and in the American wilderness when believers gathered to pray and study the Bible while waiting for the Lord to send them a pastor. Although John Wesley and George Whitfield preached extensively and circuit riders rode throughout the American wilderness establishing churches, members of those churches continued to reach out to those around them, inviting unbelievers to hear the traveling preachers. It has been said that church isn’t a haven for saints but one beggar telling another where to find bread.
Fourth Sunday of Eastertide-May 18
Seek Gifts Eastertide is a time of preparation for ministry. The disciples prayed together for the power (Holy Spirit) Jesus had promised. The church should be united in prayer as we seek the gifts that God has given us and where God would have us use our gifts. Although it is a personal search, it should be undertaken together with the church, seeking guidance and feedback from our fellow believers. We need the support and direction of the body of Christ to help us locate our individual gifts because we often confuse where we want to serve (because of the prestige) with where we are gifted to serve and would enjoy serving. Those who know us can help us explore various areas of service to see where we can contribute our gifts. Too often the church pressures people to serve where there is an opening even when the person does not enjoy it or have the needed gifts. (See “The Important I” which I wrote to help those seeking God’s will for their life).
Third Sunday of Eastertide-May 11
You shall receive power-Acts 1:4-12-Jesus’ appears to the disciples in Jerusalem-Jesus promised He would not leave them alone but would send the Holy Spirit. He promised that the Holy Spirit would be with them until He returned and would guide them and strengthen them. He then commanded them to stay in the city until they received the Holy Spirit. We are not to set out to be His witnesses until we receive the Spirit for we cannot do it effectively without the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Making America Great Again-O
– Many churches today struggle with declining memberships and have difficulty attracting new members. It seems like people are no longer interested in spiritual things. Many church leaders feel the church is no longer relevant and are trying to change the way they do things to make the church seem more relevant. In addition, they down play the Christian message or ignore it altogether because they think that it is offensive to people. In fact, the Christian message is relevant and is needed more now than it was 60-70 years ago. The fact is, the church is not getting its message out. Those things that worked 60-70 years ago no longer work.
The number one question I am asked by pastors in America is how to get people more involved in the church. Many churches are constantly struggling to carry on with only a few members actively involved. People used to be actively involved but over the years it has become more and more difficult, until it is very difficult to get people to help. However, the problem is much deeper. While many pastors say that their churches are going well otherwise, I do not find that to be the case. When I survey churches, I am primarily concerned about whether they are fulfilling Christ’s command to win the lost and make disciples, because that is how God measures the church. Many churches have not had a single conversion in years. All their new members come from those who have previously been members elsewhere, in spite of the fact that the portion of the population that has a church background continues to shrink. Yet churches overseas are experiencing unbelievable growth as many unbelievers flock to the church. What is the difference?
They are not doing very well at making disciples either. In many churches, members are little different than unbelievers though they have been members for many years. If Jesus came to show us a better way, why aren’t Christians living out that new life and why aren’t they eager to serve God? Many members struggle with balancing what they hear in church with what they hear from the world around them. They may pay lip service to the teachings of the church but do not live them out in their everyday life. .
Seciond Sunday of Eastertide-May 4
Of One Accord As the discipled prayed for power, they were united in one purpose. They concentrated on the job ahead and focused their attention on what was needed. This should also be a time when the church concentrates on what needs to be done and what the church will need to carry it out. Summer is a good time for the church to concentrate its resources on reaching the lost while children are out of school, younger workers have the time, and weather is at its best. It should begin gathering what it will need to carry out its mission during Eastertide to be ready when summer begins. However, many churches have lost interest in Pentecost and no longer focus on reaching the lost during the summer. As a result, they do not do anything during the rest of the year when people are often busy with school and other activities.