Well, it just so happens that I got the section of the book (The Church Unleashed) where the author goes into the “methodology” of unleashing a church.
The sections I was reading before were the “strategies” or theories, if you will, about the unleashed church.
And, well, the author in a way refuses to put down a single “method.” In other words, he advises that ministries should grow out of a “want-to” mentality. That resources and such will come out of strategy sessions (NOT committee meetings) and that ministries may come and go as the want – not need – get filled or not.
In an example he wrote: will we have a vacation Bible school next year? Only if someone wants to lead it.
Sounds a bit funny, doesn’t it?
BUT…it also stands to reason. If someone wants to have VBS that bad, they will make it happen and that will most likely result in a better VBS than one where someone takes it over because the church “should” have one.
The author points out that church should not (is not) a one size fits all for everyone – every church is different. While you may get an idea for a ministry from one, you most likely wouldn’t be able to run it the same way. It’s a different church, with different people.
I just started this section, bear with me…
One of my complaints about the "business" of church is that when someone does feel led to begin/implement a ministry - such as VBS - why do they have to do it the way others, WHO DID NOT STEP FORWARD, tell them to do it. Let the "spirit led" do the planning - not the "organization led".
ReplyDeleteThat is EXACTLY what the author is getting at.
ReplyDeleteTheir church has ONE committee – that’s it. And their function isn’t so much a “yay” or “nay” as they are a “can we?/Can’t we” If someone is led to a certain ministry in their church, they do what they can to support that person. Sure they may have the person think it out a bit, maybe find a certain direction, but it’s up to THAT person to figure it out and the church to help that person accomplish it.
Also, if a person did step up to do a VBS, they would have pretty much total creative choice as to how to run it, because of the individuality factor – the author really stresses that the church should foster and motivate and let each person grow within themselves, in turn it will grow for the church – ultimately for God.