When Bubba Watson won the Masters golf tournament, he made Bubbaugusta history. Commentators gushed about how an ordinary guy, a person who never took a golf lesson, a professional who didn’t have a cadre of coaches around him, proved that an ordinary man can win a major. His improvised hook shot off the pine needles was lauded as Bubba creativity. What carefully trained, meticulously coached, PGA groomed, institutionally produced golfer could even think of such a shot, let alone pull it off?
It’s a new era of ordinary winners. Or, maybe it’s an era of remembering that golf is meant to be played by ordinary people.
Might the same be true of mission?
We’ve come through a generation and a half of carefully trained, meticulously coached, church-system groomed, institutionally produced ecclesiastical professionals. What’s happened to the church? The culture is losing faith in it. The professionals are falling to the wayside in scandals--ala Tiger Woods. The institutional prototype is turning people off. People are leaving the church.
But there are some Bubba’s out there. Ordinary women and men, people both young and old, are getting creative with the Gospel. They’re meeting people where they live. They’re personifying Jesus in their communities. They’re inviting people into making Christ’s difference. They’re looking outward and giving the genuine love and care of Jesus to people around them. They’re meeting in homes, apartments, and coffee shops. They’re sacrificing, starting non-profits, and traveling both near and far because they believe Jesus is the most important person for everyone to know.
And people are coming to faith in Him. Around the world, the actions of ordinary people--of Bubba’s--are making Christianity the fastest growing faith movement on the planet.
Could your life use some Bubba mission? Could your church?
Go for it, Bubba!
Showing posts with label Mission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mission. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Durability
I had to replace the string in my weed-eater the other day. It struck me that I bought a package of replacement string six years ago and I still haven’t used it all! I’ve faithfully cut and trimmed the grass for six years. I haven’t skimped on using the weed-eater. I haven’t held back in my trimming activity. I’ve pushed the trimmer to its limits and replaced the string faithfully, yet, here we are six years later, and I’m just now thinking about purchasing a new supply.
That’s durability. That’s long-haul resource faithfulness. My weed-eater string has outlasted several of my neighbors, a hamster, and half-a dozen goldfish. I’ve been able to count on my weed-eater string.
In John 15:16 Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.”
The word for “last” means “to remain,” “to endure,” “to abide,” and “to continue.” Jesus used the word ten times in John 15:4-10. He remains in us. By His grace, we remain in Him. We remain in His love and show we’re His disciples.
Jesus was making a major point. A foundational component of being in relationship with Him is durability. Jesus is a long-haul Savior. He remains in us. He abides with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. His love and grace have staying power.
He transforms us into long-haul people. We bear each other’s burdens. We show kindness and compassion to one another. We press on in mission.
But there are obstacles to our durability as Christ’s servants. A few are:
Distraction – Being busy with many things can pull us away from what is most important.
Fatigue – Life is draining. We are finite. We get very tired.
Spiritual defeat – Everything does not always go our way. Sometimes battles are lost and we get discouraged.
Incorrect vision – We plan on short term fixes when God calls us to endure over the long-haul.
Frustration – We try to fix the problem instead of trusting God with it.
Mission Forgetfulness – The temptation to BE God overtakes our calling to serve God.
Running out of Fuel – Neglecting our personal faith dries up the spiritual overflow in our lives that leads to balanced and faithful service.
Selling Out – It is tempting to place personal comfort, recognition, and perks over faithful Kingdom sacrifice.
Are you growing in durability as Christ’s servant? Are you becoming a stronger, long-haul, worker for the Kingdom? Are you increasing in endurance as a disciple? What obstacles do you face in bearing fruit that will last? How will you abide in Christ, continue in His mission, and finish strong?
That’s durability. That’s long-haul resource faithfulness. My weed-eater string has outlasted several of my neighbors, a hamster, and half-a dozen goldfish. I’ve been able to count on my weed-eater string.
In John 15:16 Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.”
The word for “last” means “to remain,” “to endure,” “to abide,” and “to continue.” Jesus used the word ten times in John 15:4-10. He remains in us. By His grace, we remain in Him. We remain in His love and show we’re His disciples.
Jesus was making a major point. A foundational component of being in relationship with Him is durability. Jesus is a long-haul Savior. He remains in us. He abides with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. His love and grace have staying power.
He transforms us into long-haul people. We bear each other’s burdens. We show kindness and compassion to one another. We press on in mission.
But there are obstacles to our durability as Christ’s servants. A few are:
Distraction – Being busy with many things can pull us away from what is most important.
Fatigue – Life is draining. We are finite. We get very tired.
Spiritual defeat – Everything does not always go our way. Sometimes battles are lost and we get discouraged.
Incorrect vision – We plan on short term fixes when God calls us to endure over the long-haul.
Frustration – We try to fix the problem instead of trusting God with it.
Mission Forgetfulness – The temptation to BE God overtakes our calling to serve God.
Running out of Fuel – Neglecting our personal faith dries up the spiritual overflow in our lives that leads to balanced and faithful service.
Selling Out – It is tempting to place personal comfort, recognition, and perks over faithful Kingdom sacrifice.
Are you growing in durability as Christ’s servant? Are you becoming a stronger, long-haul, worker for the Kingdom? Are you increasing in endurance as a disciple? What obstacles do you face in bearing fruit that will last? How will you abide in Christ, continue in His mission, and finish strong?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Unintended Consequences
I was reading my latest issue of “Road and Track” magazine and stumbled upon some unique perspectives about innovation:
1. LED traffic lights are very popular these days. They use 90% less energy than the old incandescent bulb traffic lights. Unfortunately, there’s a downside. LED lights produce very little heat. When ice and snow hit in cold climates, the precipitation builds up on the light housings and cause the lights to fail. This has resulted in traffic accidents due to malfunctioning LED traffic lights. It was an unintended consequence of a new innovation. Solutions to the problem have ranged from installing heating elements in the new lights to hiring work crews to clean the lights regularly. The expense of these solutions may be eliminated if communities go back to incandescent bulb traffic lights!
2. The increase in biofuel production in Europe has resulted in a population explosion of the European wild boar. With more corn and crops being grown for biofuel needs, wild boars have been on a feeding frenzy, attacking innocent villagers, smashing into living rooms, and terrorizing village streets. It’s an unintended consequence.
Clearly, good things can lead to unintended consequences.
It’s true of the church, too.
1. God instituted the Old Testament priesthood and the New Testament office of the pastoral ministry. As the church grew, professional clergy proliferated. As the church became more and more institutionalized, professional clergy began to gravitate away from being missionaries in their communities. Instead they became comfortable, started to settle for the status quo, began to exclude the people of the church from the work of the mission, and used extra time to create an argumentative and internally focused environment. It was an unintended consequence.
2. As “church” began to be defined in terms of membership at a place where there was community, discipleship, and fellowship, a “club” mentality that overlooks the central mission of the church began to form. Reliance upon the “professionals” to do what was supposed to be normal for every believer (prayer, witness, creating relationships with unbelievers, discipling others, growing in the Word, caring actively for each other), caused church members to become consumers of ministry that met their needs. It was an unintended consequence.
What can you do about these unintended consequences? Like the traffic light issue, you may have to look back to the original and recapture the warmth of the purpose of ministry. Like the wild boar issue, you may have to set up some clear boundaries that protect the church from lapsing into selfish indulgence.
Overall, we are called to be accountable to God and to become realigned with His true mission, his purpose, and His intent for His Church. According to Him, His church is described with words like: Ambassadors, Salt, and Light. God expects us and calls us to share the resurrection life of His Son with people. If you’re mired in unintended consequences, it’s time to repent, step away from cold boarishness, and embark upon the most exciting and worthy mission ever.
Need some help? Check out www.missionalworker.org.
1. LED traffic lights are very popular these days. They use 90% less energy than the old incandescent bulb traffic lights. Unfortunately, there’s a downside. LED lights produce very little heat. When ice and snow hit in cold climates, the precipitation builds up on the light housings and cause the lights to fail. This has resulted in traffic accidents due to malfunctioning LED traffic lights. It was an unintended consequence of a new innovation. Solutions to the problem have ranged from installing heating elements in the new lights to hiring work crews to clean the lights regularly. The expense of these solutions may be eliminated if communities go back to incandescent bulb traffic lights!
2. The increase in biofuel production in Europe has resulted in a population explosion of the European wild boar. With more corn and crops being grown for biofuel needs, wild boars have been on a feeding frenzy, attacking innocent villagers, smashing into living rooms, and terrorizing village streets. It’s an unintended consequence.
Clearly, good things can lead to unintended consequences.
It’s true of the church, too.
1. God instituted the Old Testament priesthood and the New Testament office of the pastoral ministry. As the church grew, professional clergy proliferated. As the church became more and more institutionalized, professional clergy began to gravitate away from being missionaries in their communities. Instead they became comfortable, started to settle for the status quo, began to exclude the people of the church from the work of the mission, and used extra time to create an argumentative and internally focused environment. It was an unintended consequence.
2. As “church” began to be defined in terms of membership at a place where there was community, discipleship, and fellowship, a “club” mentality that overlooks the central mission of the church began to form. Reliance upon the “professionals” to do what was supposed to be normal for every believer (prayer, witness, creating relationships with unbelievers, discipling others, growing in the Word, caring actively for each other), caused church members to become consumers of ministry that met their needs. It was an unintended consequence.
What can you do about these unintended consequences? Like the traffic light issue, you may have to look back to the original and recapture the warmth of the purpose of ministry. Like the wild boar issue, you may have to set up some clear boundaries that protect the church from lapsing into selfish indulgence.
Overall, we are called to be accountable to God and to become realigned with His true mission, his purpose, and His intent for His Church. According to Him, His church is described with words like: Ambassadors, Salt, and Light. God expects us and calls us to share the resurrection life of His Son with people. If you’re mired in unintended consequences, it’s time to repent, step away from cold boarishness, and embark upon the most exciting and worthy mission ever.
Need some help? Check out www.missionalworker.org.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Missional Worker Training
In 2010, a new phase of the "Mission 200" effort will begin in Area C of the Texas District. It's called "Missional Worker Training." Following Jesus’ words in Luke 10:2 to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field,” Missional Worker Training will seek to RECRUIT, TRAIN, SEND, and ENCOURAGE missional workers who will start new ministries. This effort will multiply possibilities of ministry expansion and help create a missional movement in Texas.
Who will lead the effort?
As a next step of the M2C effort in the Texas District, the Area C MMF and Area C pastors will combine efforts to implement this training.
What will Missional Workers do?
A Missional Worker is a new or veteran believer who is eager to reach out and is willing to reach a specific group of people or ministry area. This may include home study/worship groups; ministry to men, women, children, and youth; outreach to the “least of these” in neighborhoods or care facilities; leading a “church within a church” ministry, and more.
When will training start?
The goal is to begin Missional Worker Training in the first four months of 2010.
Where will the training be held?
Target areas are: the greater Austin area, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley. Local churches will host the training.
How will Missional Workers be trained?
After being accepted into the program through an application and interview process, an initial one-day seminar led by the MMF and pastors will bring each missional worker a solid foundation of faith understanding, along with unfolding the specific mission plan of each worker. Monthly training gatherings will follow. After the 12-month program and certification, a Missional Worker may elect to take the next step of training by pursuing deacon/deaconess or SMP coursework.
If you or someone you know would be interested in this training, please contact me at mnewman@txdistlcms.org.
Who will lead the effort?
As a next step of the M2C effort in the Texas District, the Area C MMF and Area C pastors will combine efforts to implement this training.
What will Missional Workers do?
A Missional Worker is a new or veteran believer who is eager to reach out and is willing to reach a specific group of people or ministry area. This may include home study/worship groups; ministry to men, women, children, and youth; outreach to the “least of these” in neighborhoods or care facilities; leading a “church within a church” ministry, and more.
When will training start?
The goal is to begin Missional Worker Training in the first four months of 2010.
Where will the training be held?
Target areas are: the greater Austin area, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley. Local churches will host the training.
How will Missional Workers be trained?
After being accepted into the program through an application and interview process, an initial one-day seminar led by the MMF and pastors will bring each missional worker a solid foundation of faith understanding, along with unfolding the specific mission plan of each worker. Monthly training gatherings will follow. After the 12-month program and certification, a Missional Worker may elect to take the next step of training by pursuing deacon/deaconess or SMP coursework.
If you or someone you know would be interested in this training, please contact me at mnewman@txdistlcms.org.
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