*Please note that this article was written during an interim time of ministry. I was seeking a new ministry opportunity, and found my home in Little Rock, AR. Southwest Christian Church.)
Saul had little idea what was about to happen to him the day he took his a step toward Damascus. In fact, he didn’t even make it to Damascus before he was in the grip of the Holy Spirit. On the way there, God gave Him the “Holy Smackdown!” By the time Saul was Paul he understood how evil he had been. By the time Jesus’ disciples found out the #1 persecutor or the Church had become one of them, Paul had the concept of what his ministry would be all about. He was God’s #1 tool to leave the local ministry to flourish, and go nation-wide, and later intercontinental.
I share much of Paul’s experience. I was/am a dreadful sinner…the chief of all sinners. I was zealous in my carnal nature and the degradation of the Church. My youth was spent in zealotry of a “feel good” faith in which I was the exception to God’s rule and I had the right to be as bad as I wanted to be.
But, the Lord met me in a "Smackdown moment" at a motel in Forest City, AR one night…and scales fell from my eyes. Since then, I too have become consumed with the zeal of the Lord. I have attempted to help several small congregations reach beyond their small localized isolation. Carol, my wife, and I once had a big laugh when we thought, “Well, when the Lord calls us home, we can always say, ‘we had a wild ride.’”
Since August of 2009 my wife and I sought to find a good potential “marriage” to a loving congregation which sees her role in the worldwide Kingdom of God and have finished the “music wars” surrounding worship. You probably have seen these congregations. Most of them grow rapidly…just like the first congregation in Jerusalem did.
If your congregation is more than 20 years old, and has not grown, in the past 1/2 of your congregational life, you have to ask yourself, “Why have we faltered with ‘The Great Commission?’” There are some legitimate reasons. One very legitimate reason I have run across in the past is abuse from pastors/ministers. Immorality issues of infidelity between a minister and another woman, which can taint growth for years. The same is also evident when the leadership of Elders and/or Deacons and/or their spouses, have incidents of moral turpitude.
Two congregations I have spoken with and visited with recently during my search, have had untimely deaths of their pastor. One in a boating accident and one from natural causes. These are all legitimate reasons for congregations to falter with contributing to the worldwide Church.
These reasons, and other legitimate reasons, are frankly, rare. Though small congregations faltering and making excuses, is rampant. Faltering with contributing to The Great Commission is usually attached to becoming “good people” in a congregation's view of herself. By this I mean a wonderfully loving and caring congregation, with, unfortunately, no concept of being a key participant in the worldwide Church (capital “C”). They take good care of their own people, and have a missions budget, but little or no Godly passion for anyone they don’t see at their weekly worship services.
It’s funny that as a former missionary for a children’s home, I have seen a commonality between growing, thriving congregations. Usually they are good local servants, but moreover, have a solid grasp of, and a constant drive to promote The Great Commission outside their realm of localized influence. Not only a consciousness, but a purposefully, and intentional program to bring the Church worldwide, to meet the local church.
It seems that when believers in Christ see the impact around the world, across the state, across the city, which one congregation can make, the Great Commission goes viral! One congregation I am applying to pastor, takes a percentage of every offering and send it to the third world, to one particular indigenously-run church. Every person in the state-side congregation gets updates and information regarding the difference their congregation is making in the Worldwide Church of Jesus! The impact on bringing local people to Christ and making difference in the community, is huge. That’s how the Holy Spirit works within The Great Commission.
How about your congregation? Have I sent you a resume? Are you finding my weblog for the first time? Are you trying to figure out what kind of guy I am…what kind of people Carol and I are? This may help you. The likelihood that we would be a match to your congregation if you have not made the first step toward Damascus, is small. But, if your congregation, no matter how small you are, sees yourself as a vital part of the Worldwide "Smackdown" Church, we may be a match.
Let’s make a difference locally, by going internationally, national, and local…together.
All my love to the Lord Jesus…
Mark