If I had it to do all over again...
If you had it to do all over again, what would that be?
As pastor for 24 years in really great/wonderful churches, I would teach/equip parents to disciple their own children instead of trying to do it all for them.
If you had it to do all over again, what would that be?
Please post...
posted by Bob Carder @ 12:04 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Funny...because I would pay more attention to my children's spiritual upbringing. I feel I've left mine outside the church, assuming they would "get it" like I did growing up. But the world changed and I didn't realize it in time.
thanks Mike for courageously sharing this.
As we pray for them, God is interceding on their behalf. While there is time, there is time.
Love you, brother.
If I had it all to do over again, I would disciple my own children instead of entrusting them to the "church".
Secondly, I would speak out against the drift in my "church." The "church" to which I entrusted my children has of recent proffered evidence that their status as The Church is somewhat in doubt.
Rolin, thanks for your comments. Where was your picture taken? I love the country scene behind you.
Tell us more!
The photo was taken on the rim of the Grand Canyon (by a passing Japanese tourist) as I prepared to hike down to camp overnight at Indian Gardens, June 2006.
I was given your contact information by Bishop Alan Morris. You can learn more at my blogsites listed in my profile.
I would throw away every Church growth book. I would forget every tip and tecnique affirmed by the evangelical Pantheon. I would focus all my effort on makng disciples whether in worship, service, evangelism, or mission efforts. I would stop trying to be the hero/control-freak pastor and let God's team step up to the plate.
If I had it to do all over again, I would release people to serve wherever God leads them in their areas of passion and gifting. This means I wouldn't be determining (controlling)the ministries of the Church. The Church family would be released to serve outside the church as the Holy Spirit leads them. As pastor I would help believers live in their passions and gifts.
When people serve in their area of passion and gifting souls are touched for eternity. How about believers serving in their passion while showing those you serve who Jesus is. This is a natural bridge to making disciples who..
Mike, you may have left them outside the church "the place" but as the church you and Deb brought the church into their lives. Your influence was and is HUGE. So HUGE they will never forget it. Those who seem farthest from Christ are often the closest.
It ain't over til the ________ lady sings.
I STILL UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND MY COMMENTS MAY NOT REFLECT YOUR FULL MEANING, SO ACCEPT THIS AS ENCOURAGEMENT.
I've been an active "church lady" for 40 years. Instead of pouring thousands of hours into corporate church "activities" with minimal individual life impact (VBS, classes with no accountability, endless socials, superficial evangelistic campaigns, armslength community help programs) I would seek the Spirit's guidance in investing myself deeply in one or two young families, showing the parents how to walk with God in obedience and train their children in active godliness. I'm 63 and I'm done with regret for wasted time and energy. I am now looking for the first family God has for me to disciple.
~ Kay
Kay, I cannot express the joy I experienced when I read your comments. I pray for you that God will lead you to His prepared work. God will reveal the family or families He has readied for such a time in your life and theirs.
While I also have regrets, I am now enjoying the most fruitful and blessed time of my entire ministry. Seeing believers disciple others who disciple others is a dream come true.
Kay, your Holy Spirit led discipling ministry in just one family can and will likely produce more fruit than your ministry and mine combined in traditional church.
I'm thrilled for you and I invite people around the world to pray for you as you step out.
Kay, your post touched a cord with me.
After spending the last two years discipling homeless drug addicts and alcoholics on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Lord has plunged me (at age 65) into a new and unexpected ministry: Discipling a nine-year-old in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
My new ministry, like the former, continues to teach me more lessons in "how to disciple." Specifically, my current disciple tends to contradict everything I say and imitate everything I do. It has become crystal clear that what I say pales into insignificance beside what I do.
Dcn Rolin
Post a Comment
<< Home