Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA was sitting on an almost paid for, million dollar church building, but the people in their congregation needed help. Instead of sitting there and doing nothing, the church decided to sell their building and use the million dollars worth of equity to reach out to the people and help. They’re going to try and find a movie theater to meet in after their building sells.
This takes a lot of faith and guts to do. Thank you, Rolling Hills, for striving to be what we have been called to be, and for inspiring us and teaching us what the Church is really about.
I was watching a video of Kem Meyer, Communications Director at Granger Community Church, speak about the concepts in her book Less Clutter. Less Noise., and she made an interesting point I wanted to share. Actually, she made several great points, so watch the video below to hear them all.
She was trying to debunk a few myths people have about communication as it relates to the church, and she said one myth was that “people care about what you have to say.” Kem said:
Another myth is that people care about what you have to say. Really they care about what they’re looking for. [...] Just because a crowd showed up at a certain location doesn’t mean they’re here to hear what [the pastor has] to say. They’re looking for something. They’re looking for relief from pressure. They’re looking for an answer to a question. They’re looking for a new direction.
We need to figure out the most effective way to break down the walls of clutter and noise and let people see through to Jesus and find what they are looking for. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. It’s not about cool logos or being slick and hip. It’s about using the most effective ways possible to lead people to Christ through our communication. We have to be intentional about it, and as Kem said, sometimes that’s counter-intuitive.
I don’t want to be an “innovative ministry leader” because in doing so the focus of my life may switch from being an obedient servant of the Most High God to being an obsessive slave of the latest and greatest technique!
I love innovation…I love doing what is new (God is always up to something new – Isaiah 43:18-19). However, I think some in the ministry world have lost their freakin minds as they have become obsessed with all they can do…thus losing sight of all that God wants to do! We want to be on a list rather than actually listening to the voice of God!!!
We are called to embrace innovation–WHEN God leads in that direction. BUT…I believe that every step in life and leadership should be led by God–and so when we launch a “good idea” that isn’t a “God idea,” the results will prove to be fruitless. (John 15:5)
This is why, as leaders, we should stay up with the times…but should also be DESPERATE for the voice of God! Leadership is as easy as listening to God and doing what He says. Our PASSION should be HIS VOICE, to INVESTIGATE HIS WORD and FOLLOW HIS VOICE…because by doing so we will see Him change the world we live in rather than us trying to do it all on our own!
We absolutely cannot get caught up ONLY in what is the latest and greatest. Rather, we need to get caught up in what God really wants for our lives and the Church. And through that, use ALL that he has given us to reach those who don’t know Him.
Carlos Whittaker posted about this story a couple of days ago, and I thought I’d share it with you all.
