A Moment With Pastor Fred

I’ll never forget – and will forever appreciate a comment a man made many years ago in another ministry. He was a deacon – a godly senior saint. Leadership was discussing the pros and cons of changing pulpit translations. Some argued against that change – they liked the translation they had been born and bred on. Switching gears threatened comfort zones and security. Then this deacon said, “If we want to minister to this congregation only – then I don’t see any reason to change. However, if we want to reach the lost, if we want to impact the next generation for Christ then we must change.” May his tribe increase.

Wilf Burrell’s comments are true in a number of scenarios. It is easy to get comfortable at church – this is the music I like or this is the bulletin format I’m used to reading, this is where I sit, etc. But church isn’t about us – it’s about our commission to make and to mature disciples for Christ. Yes, if we want to maintain status quo – then why introduce change at all? Just keep things the same.

There are scores of churches that do just that – and guess what? They’re dying. Thom Rainer’s research states 56% of USA churches are declining; 9% have plateaued and 35% of churches are growing. Change is hard but it is essential for growth demands it. To change for the sake of change is novelty. But to change to be better equipped to meet current and future needs is essential. Changes we’ve introduced here have always been rooted in our passion for God, his glory and the mission he gave us to fulfill. And that dear friends will never change.