They Traveled from Afar

This isn't really a Christmas story.  I'm not describing the wise men as they traveled to see the baby Jesus (Not in the manger by the way...but that is another post for another time).

No, this is about the church I serve.  For some reason, for years, our draw of attendees has come from quite some distance to attend church here, despite passing several churches of similar tradition and style.  Several people drive over 25 miles just to come to church here.  For several years now I have told my wife that I would never be surprised if some of these families were to begin attending churches closer to home.  With the price of gas right now I am doing everything I can to conserve on the gas, and many other people are as well. 

Why did it bother me this week to find out that we have lost our first long time family to this problem?  I guess the answer is simply that I care about those people.  I have been to events for their children.  I have been in their home, they have been in my home.  Our kids have had sleep overs together. 

Actually, I think what bothers me the most is that they didn't tell me they were leaving.  Word came through another kid in the Sunday school class.  Yes, anyone leaving hurts, but when there is a legitimate reason for it, I understand completely.  Just tell me. 

Maybe I am too sensitive...probably I am too sensitive. I trust that they are still attending church and growing...perhaps even more then they would have here.  I just hate losing family.

Mundane

Sometimes ministry with no other staff is fun and exciting!  There are times of discipleship and fellowship. There are times of leading and feeding. There are times of introducing a lost world to the love of Jesus Christ.
Then there are the times of a floor needing mopped that no one did. A pile of trash in a hallway. Complaints about why something doesn't look better. No funds to fix the things complained about. Suggestions of what we should do, but no offer to help do it. 

I often wonder if these are the things that Satan spends more time attacking with.  Certainly I have been feeling attacked lately with multiple issues that are far from mundane.  To the point that I have even questioned God's call on my life. Maybe I am too thin skinned and too thin hearted to continue putting myself out there to be torn down time and time again. Those attacks come, but with far less regularity. It is the mundane that wears you down to the point that when a bigger issue arises, you feel like there is not the strength to stand. 

Toilets plugged, refrigerators not cleaned before being unplugged, lawns not mowed, preparations not made, trash not taken out, walls not painted, bottles not washed, and meals not cooked.  

I firmly believe that this is the very reason that in Acts chapter 6 the disciples set apart 7 men to take care of the mundane needs that were arising.  Not that those needs weren't important - they just weren't the main thing! Acts 6:4 - "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." They kept the main thing.  When the bottles needed washed, there was someone to wash them. 

My prayer is that God would raise up more willing workers...in my church and in yours! People who are willing to be used in the mundane.  People who when asked will step forward gladly, and people who will not even need to be asked. 

I have one of those such men in my church, and I thank God for him! He has even told me to stop saying 'thank you' to him, because he isn't doing it so I will say thank you! I thank God for him, but we need more of those! He can't do all the mundane, just as I can't do all the cooking and bottle washing. 

God, raise up those men to model the Acts 6 servants (maybe deacons), and raise up Godly Shepherds to teach, lead, and disciple!

Introduction

Through some recent challenges in ministry I have been encouraged to blog some of my thoughts and struggles.  My initial reaction was, "Not gonna happen."  The last thing that I want is someone from my congregation reading about some of the issues I am dealing with.  Then I realized I could do this completely anonymously!  We'll see how that works!

A little about me and the church I serve.  We are a small church in a suburban setting.  Due to some major indiscretions of previous ministers, the church has been left with a large building and debt, and a membership that doesn't fill it.  In the time my family and I have been at this church, we have seen an increase of over 15% in attendance.  People are growing in discipleship and in their faith.  Unfortunately, despite this increase, there are still not enough funds to hire any additional staff.  According to Barna, a church this size should have at least a FT preacher, a PT/FT secretary, and a PT/FT children's youth person.  What do we have here?  ME!  I am fortunate to have volunteers helping me with many things, but since I am the only paid person, I am still the chief cook and bottle washer!  The buck and the blame stops here. 

Unfortunately, this means that in one moment I may have to deal with an upset person because of something that was said or done, and in the next moment I have to do a wedding for a family.  I have to go from finding out someone is suicidal to teaching a Bible study. There are struggles that I see that I cannot share with anyone.  I try to protect my wife as much as possible, but she often shares my burdens with me. 

Lately I have really been focusing on shutting up long enough to listen to what God has in store for me, my family, and my church.  I don't think I have gotten any clear answers yet, but I do believe that God will see us through this.  I believe that we are challenged, tempted, tried, and I also believe that just as Satan was allowed to "sift" Peter and Job, we will go through times of sifting.  God will allow Satan and his demons to do their thing, and Jesus' response will be the same as it was for Peter in Luke 22:32, "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail." 

As I struggle with the challenges of being the chief cook and bottle washer in a small church setting, I trust that Jesus will be praying that my faith may not fail!