Archive for the 'Pastors' Category
Guest Post | What a Balanced Global Missions Ministry Will Do For Your Church by Doug Sarver
Today, RonnieFloyd.com welcomes guest writer, Doug Sarver. Doug is the Minister of Global Missions at Cross Church.
Many Pastors in today’s church struggle with balance in some areas of ministry and life. Family time, staff issues, church leadership, and budget issues all cry out for our attention and require balance in order to be healthy. Have you ever considered balance within your Global Missions Ministry?
From 28 years of leading Missions Ministries in local churches, I have learned the value of balance in Global Missions. It seems that church and mission leaders tend to lean toward their own strengths and desires rather than a biblical approach to Global Missions. I prefer to lead God’s people to a biblical model that allows them and the church to maximize their strengths and abilities. This model also allows you, the Pastor or Missions Leader, to lead with confidence and conviction rather than lead by consensus!
So, what is the model I have used for all these years? It comes straight out of Acts 1:8 and 1 Corinthians 3:6…wow that was simple. Let me explain what a balanced Global Missions Ministry will do for your church.
Balance keeps your church focused on lostness…the Acts 1:8 model
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Jesus taught us to bring the gospel message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. I call this Geographical Balance. There are a few of truths to consider within this model.
1. Geographical balance allows my church to always have opportunities in places for first-time mission goers and those who are “hard core”, or what I call humorously, “repeat offenders”. Places like Mexico, Central America, Brazil may be technically “reached” by missiological definition but are still incredible places for a person to “cut their teeth” on missions. If we only go to the Middle East countries & the 10/40 Window, we will potentially limit our involvement, especially for the first-time participant. Ensure balance for all levels of mission participants.
2. Geographical balance demands that I have a strong effort in my own “Jerusalem” first! You will often hear me say, “At Cross Church we will not sacrifice Northwest Arkansas on the altar of the world.” What I mean is we earn the right to go abroad. If we will not be faithful to bring the gospel to those in our own cities and neighborhoods, why would we have the privilege to go around the world? This is a simple gospel stewardship issue. At Cross Church, we presently reach about 1,500 people outside our campuses each week in community missions. We are partnered across America through church planting in 16 different SEND cities with the NAMB strategy. We also have active, ongoing partnerships in 14 nations around the globe from Mexico to the Middle East…that is Geographical Balance.
3. Geographical balance should always focus your church toward lostness. Whether it is in your own city or a city like Dubai, the focus on all our efforts should be lostness. I don’t believe in using missions as a “spiritual vacation” or only a social ministry platform. Everything we do on our church’s Mission Journeys locally and internationally should include a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a challenge to trust Him alone for forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
Balance allows your church to include everyone…the 1 Corinthians 3:6 model
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6
Paul taught us that as we are bringing the gospel message to the world geographically, each person has a role. I call this Balanced Evangelism. This is how Balanced Evangelism will help your church.
1. Balanced Evangelism helps us to understand the various pieces of evangelism. Many understand evangelism to be when they share the Four Spiritual Laws and someone trusts Jesus immediately. Well, we must always remember in order for fruit to appear, someone sowed a seed, and someone watered and cultivated that seed. But ultimately God caused that seed to become fruit. There are three elements to Balanced Evangelism. They are sowing, watering, and reaping.
2. Balanced Evangelism gives every member an opportunity to use their gifting in Global Missions. Pastor, always ensure there are opportunities in your mission efforts for people to sow the seed of the Word, water the seed that has been sown, and harvest the fruit from seed that has been sown and watered. Our ministries give people opportunities to simply sow seed in ways like prayer walking, Bible distribution, and simply inviting people to an event. We also water the seed by doing VBS in existing churches, leading Bible discussions under Mango trees in Malawi Africa with Muslims who want to know more about Jesus, and leading Pastors’ Conferences. Also, we go to places that are ripe for the harvest of souls and call for the masses to respond to the Gospel message. This approach allows for the church member to see where their talents and gifts can best be used and opens opportunities for mass participation. Pastor, please don’t get in a rut of simply doing the same thing and only one thing year after year…give balance to your evangelism.
For the Pastor and Missions Leader, balance is the key to most of our lives and ministries. Balance is also the key to your church’s Global Missions Strategy. Both Geographical Balance and Balanced Evangelism will keep your church focused on lostness and involve as many of God’s people as possible. If Cross Church or I can assist you in bringing balance to your church’s Global Missions Strategy, please feel free to ask. Contact me at dougs@crosschurch.com or @missionman2818 on Twitter & Instagram.
Doug Sarver
Minister of Global Missions, Cross Church
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Four Key Questions for Church Leaders
One of the most difficult things as a church leader is knowing the right questions to ask. I believe when we discover these four key questions, we will find it easier to make the right decisions for the future of the church.
#1: What is best for the church?
The number one question that church leaders must always ask is: What is best for the church? In fact, church leaders need to teach the members of the church to ask the same question.
Sadly, the fellowship of the church is often high jacked by the carnal consumerism of its members. This happens because too many of us have stopped asking this most important question: What is best for the church? The church is about Jesus Christ, the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, discipleship of believers, reaching of those without Christ, and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The church is not about me and my personal needs. Nor is it about you and your personal needs.
At the next business conference in your church, point your people to this question: What is best for the church? At the next committee meeting where debate occurs, push pause. Call everyone to ask the question: What is best for the church? When there are many different opinions about the future of the church and what should be done, ask the people to answer the question: What is best for the church? If you are a pastor approached by a staff member or church leader about church matters, challenge them to ask this important question: What is best for the church?
When we prioritize what is best for the Church of Jesus Christ, decision-making in the church will begin to make sense and operate in a more biblical order.
#2: What is best for the Office of the Pastor?
The second question we need to ask when faced with decision-making in the church is: What is best for the Office of the Pastor? There is a very concerted, constant effort by the enemy, Satan himself, to bring destruction to the Office of the Pastor, even bringing the termination of God-called pastors in service to their church. This is sad and wrong.
The American culture is constantly questioning their leaders. Sadly, it happens not only in politics, education, business, and athletics, but even in the church. From news talk shows and debates to blogs and social media, there is a growing, blatant attack on the leaders in our nation and world. Scripture does not applaud this conduct, but condemns it.
When churches or ministries are confused about the future, there must be enough spirituality present among people to ask these two questions, in this order:
What is best for the church?
What is best for the Office of the Pastor?
You see, if the Office of the Pastor becomes jeopardized in a local church, the entire church will be negatively affected. I have never seen a church that dishonors the Office of the Pastor go on to prosper over any length of time. In fact, I have seen those churches become shipwrecked. I appeal to you, always have your church at heart and then always lift up the Office of the Pastor. When you do, your church will become a recipient of God’s blessing and power.
#3: What is best for my ministry?
Many well-intentioned church members and staff members are most concerned about the ministries they are involved in personally or may even lead. If they are not careful, this will skew their decision-making and can even sour their attitudes.
Always start with asking: What is best for the church? Then follow that with: What is best for the Office of the Pastor? Then and only then, is it right to ask the question: What is best for my ministry?
From your perspective, it may make sense for the ministry you are involved in to receive greater support financially, have a different meeting space, or new equipment. However, this may not be best for the church. Remember, the pastor has to look at every ministry of the church, not just yours. Therefore, in reality, he may have to determine your request is not best for the church as a whole at this time. For the sake of what is best for the church, receive the decision. Trust the Lord. Leave it in His hands.
#4: What is best for me?
How many times do you say about church matters, “Well, this is what I think we need to do”? Or perhaps, “This is what will minister to me the most”? While this may be your feeling, it just may not be the will of God or the best thing for the church.
The greatest churches in the world are not the churches that cater to the needs of its people. The greatest churches in the world are those committed to being a Jesus church above all else. One of the wonderful by-products of this is that the needs of people are met. Christ-likeness, not consumerism, moves decision-making.
Keep these questions in order
Keep these questions in your heart. Keep them before yourself and the members of your church. Refuse to let them get out of order for yourself, others, or your church.
What order do they go in? What is proper?
- What is best for the church?
- What is best for the Office of the Pastor?
- What is best for my ministry?
- What is best for me?
I hope you will have a great week in your church.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.