While on the plane out of Orlando I watched a new film from Rick Garside that truly touched my life. “Faith Happens” is the story of one church and the impact it had on the lives of very real people in one very real California community. I don't expect it to win an Oscar, but I do believe it will change many, many lives.
I’ve spent much of my ministry career helping churches and ministry leaders grow numerically, improve their communications, better their image or strengthen their staff. I’ve helped them raise money, build facilities and strategically plan their futures.
While watching this film I was reminded that the church Jesus died for and will someday return for is not a strategic plan or a growth strategy. It is not an image, brand or logo. The church is a body of believers that passionately love God through His son Jesus and through that passion they are serving and loving those around them.
Jesus said that He didn’t come to be served, but to serve. He also said that if we are to be great, we too must serve. Based on that truth, I’ve been a long way from greatness and a long way from the church He intended me to be.
Maybe the most effective strategic growth plan or brand might be that we invest our lives into those around us. That we serve those in need; care for those that cannot care for themselves and love even the most unlovely.
I know, that’s not much of a strategic plan, but it is strangely New Testament in its model. Maybe the problem isn’t the modern church or the emerging church or the traditional church…maybe it’s me. Maybe if I stopped trying to brand me and brand the church long enough to serve those around me I might become part of the solution and really be used strategically.
I fear that if my servant heart was measured by how I responded when someone treated me like a servant, well ouch, that smarts.
As you look in the mirror tonight, when you are brushing your teeth, may you see part of the solution. May you see a servant full of greatness. Within each of us is the capacity for greatness, which means there is the capacity for service. Peace, Chuck
