The reality of church ministry comes to life.
This past Wednesday night in our 6 p.m. membership meeting at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church was just for that purpose. Getting members to view their thinking about their ministry in the church. Generally as Pastor/Leader/Elder, I lay out my opinions and idea and what I think. But what I felt a really neat idea, "What Are You Thinking?" So I started with Jimmy and Lois and move to Stephanie, then Linda, skip Bill and went to Bob then to John and Peggy, (well I skippe Peggy) then to Frankie and Danny, and so forth, then came back to Bill, then to Charity and Dorothy, then to Bill and Mary, etc.
Really its good to listen to what members are thinking about the ministry that they are involved in. Its good to hear concerns and ideas and thoughts. Too often I believe members may think they are not heard.
The meeting was very good and produced some good thoughts.
Then 7 p.m. came, and we were just about half way through the process, and before you knew it, the time was 8 p.m. So what about my lesson for tonight? I want have to study as hard the next week. Sometimes its good to listen and not talk. Who said that?
Pastors have this fault of sugar coating problems and concerns. They often speak of the good points and hid the problems the church has. This is a fault that hurts the progress of the church.
In order to get ahead of what was before we must deal with the past. We have a future if we are honest about the events of the past.
Churches that do not deal honestly with themselves and do not stop of correct and adjust, will fall into the same pattern all over again.
Therefore in this brief post, I am saying, ROJBC and its leadership and members are making progess in their purpose to make our place a place that will bring honor to the Lord.
