Last week we discussed how change is a fundamental characteristic of all who are growing. This week I want to discuss a couple of ways that we have implemented change as a lifestyle in our churches, which we believe has had remarkable fruit.
As we learn from biology, the cells in a body are constantly being renewed. Even at the most basic level there are changes happening continually, with some organs of a healthy body actually being renewed every month or so. Others may take a bit longer, but are still being renewed continually. How does this apply to the church?
For this reason we have a saying in our church that most of the people who have joined us have “come to pass.” By this we mean they are only supposed to stay with us for a time, and then they will move on, with others taking their place. This is not true of everyone, but it is true of most, and we are fine with it. This may seem to be the opposite of what is needed to build our church, especially as we come to understand that church is basically relational. We are not trying to build the typical church—we are trying to build up the whole church, not just our little congregation.
We are very happy to equip people, and then have the Holy Spirit place them in another church to be used by Him. The Lord is the One building His church, and the Holy Spirit must have the freedom to place the members of His body where it pleases Him, not us. To be properly equipped, most Christians need the experience that they get from being in at least a few different churches. If the church was in the proper unity, it probably would not have to be this way, but for now, it does.
This is not to say that all of the moving about in the body of Christ is right, as many people miss their greatest opportunities for growth and to be equipped for their purpose by moving prematurely. These are the ones who are led by dissatisfaction or impatience, rather than by the Holy Spirit. Even so, many come to us to learn or be equipped in certain areas. When they have received what was needed from us, we often have so many already functioning in those areas that they need to go to another congregation to have a place to function in their gifts and ministries. Many of these keep in touch with us, and are still considered part of our family. And, we genuinely love to see them from time to time, but we are even more concerned that they are accomplishing their purpose in the place that the Holy Spirit has appointed them.
We also view ourselves as just one small part of the body of Christ in our city. We look at every other congregation that truly serves Jesus as Lord, as fellow members of the body, and coworkers in the gospel. Just as the different organs and members of our own body all have different functions, so do the different congregations. This means there are many other congregations that are better at different aspects of the ministry of the church than we are. For this reason, we often send those who come to us to other congregations when we feel they are better suited there, rather than with us.
For this reason, we shut down all of our services for the whole month of July each year and encourage our people to visit other congregations. In this way, they at least can begin to obtain a vision for the whole body of Christ. We tell them that if they find a place where they fit better than with us, please go there. We will miss them, but we have an eternity to be together. It is far more important to be where the Holy Spirit wants them, than where we may want them.
Cancer is a grouping of rebellious cells that have started consuming and growing without regard for the rest of the body. This is the nature of a church that is a cancer in the body. Recently, one well-known minister moved to a city and started a church and more than one hundred small churches immediately had to shut down. Maybe some of these smaller churches needed to move on, but it is hard to believe that this is the way the church in a city is going to be built up.
When we moved our headquarters and a number of our people to a small community in the mountains, a major persecution rose up against us. The accusations were not true, and neither was the spirit exhibited by our accusers, but the Lord told me that this was partly my fault. Having the kind of visibility and size that we have was a big threat to them. I was shown that if we had gone to the church and town leaders before moving there to explain who we are and what we are, this could have been prevented.
Now, when we begin a work in a new community, we try to meet with the church leaders in that area first, and determine ways we can help them, not take their people. This has resulted in some very strong support instead of the attacks. There will always be some that will be threatened by anything new. These are probably the ones that are not true shepherds, and do not care about the health of their sheep. We know in every place we go there will be some like this. We have to do what we are called to do anyway. However, when we go into a new place we set as a high priority to strengthen the church there, not weaken it.
Churches need new members like our body needs new cells. New congregations can likewise have the same effect on the church in a city if it is done in the right way. New pastors and leaders may be able to gather the other leaders in the city for fellowship and mutual support in a way that those who are there could not have done because of their history. In this way, barriers can start to be brought down, relationships begun, resulting in a fresh start for everyone. If our purpose really is the kingdom, and building up the whole body of Christ, all of our works will ultimately result in that which blesses and helps all. We must keep the needs of the whole body of Christ in our hearts.
We need change, but change that results in fruit needs a foundation. Though we have learned to appreciate all of the people who come to us but are called to move on, we also greatly appreciate the core of people who have become the pillars that our churches are being built around. These are the ones who now do the bulk of the ministry, and are especially helpful in ministering to those who have “come to pass.”
We have a core leadership team that has been together for a very long time, though we are adding new members to it continually. This core of stable, consistent members is also needed for true church life. With all of the changes happening, these help give stability in some areas which is essential. Even though we are changing, if we are growing in the Lord, there is order to the growth. There are also areas where growth and change need to happen more slowly and less drastically than in other areas.
However, it is for the sake of growing in the Lord, and seeking the growth of those who are entrusted into our care for however long they are to be with us, that we have a ministry team which oversees our congregations together. Each one of our congregations has a pastor, who is primarily responsible for that congregation, but they have the entire ministry team behind them. This allows us to constantly change teachers, worship leaders, and other leaders throughout the ministry, as these changes are needed for the growth of the members of the body.
Usually the pastor of a congregation will only speak there two times in a month, though they will help oversee most of the meetings. Other team members share in the teaching, and sometimes in the daily administration of certain matters. This adds remarkable strength and stability, which the people sense. There is a sense that they are not alone, and the pastors and other leaders all feel this too.
In a single service, we may have three or more speakers, as well as worship leaders. One teacher may go ten minutes, another five, and another thirty or more. These may or may not even speak on the same subject. It may sound confusing, but we try to make each service like a dinner with different courses, which together provide a balanced, nutritious meal. With the diversity of teachers and worship leaders, it keeps the service fresh, alive, and practical.
In all of these things we try to be in harmony with the Holy Spirit, who alone really knows what everyone needs. We therefore try to sense if there is an anointing for evangelism coming upon one congregation, and then we may assign as their pastor for a period of time one who is especially anointed in evangelism. If we do not appoint such a one as pastor, we may at least send that one to them a couple of times a month for a while. If the Lord is especially moving in healing or the prophetic in a congregation at a certain time, we will send to them the ones who are especially anointed in that area. In this way we are seeking to be in obedience to the Lord as the Head of His church, doing what He wants in each congregation.
This kind of church leadership may not work for everyone, but without question, the leadership which the Lord left to His church, which is described in the New Testament, is a team. Just as a basketball team will try to feed the ball to the one with “the hot hand,” we likewise try to recognize the one on our team who is especially anointed at any given time and give them the meetings. Following the anointing is following the Holy Spirit. If He is not the One doing the building, then we are laboring in vain.
When change comes with purpose, and in the right timing, it will always create life, and a spiritual advance. Also, working as a team has kept the burdens that come with overseeing any congregation of people, spread over the whole team. Because of this, the pressures that wear out typical pastors and leaders so fast have not been a big problem for us.
Race car drivers learned years ago that if they run together in what is called “a draft” they save a lot of fuel, and wear and tear on their motors. As various ones tend to get especially anointed at different times, we have also learned to draft behind them. This keeps everyone moving at a pace, and for a distance, that we could not otherwise maintain. Even though I am the leader of our team, I draft behind others probably ninety percent of the time. When people ask me how I oversee a growing fellowship of churches, and many other different ministries, and still write all of the books and articles that I do, the answer is easy—I am a part of a team.
The team divides the burdens, increases the endurance, and multiplies the joys of ministry. If one starts pulling ahead in a certain area, we know if we get behind him, we will all be carried along and benefit. I know I have stayed in the race as long as I have because of the team, and learning to draft.
The metaphor used that calls the church a “body” means that it is composed of different members who are all called to work together. When it is time to go somewhere, and the legs are working, the hands cannot say that the legs are getting too much attention. When the body arrives at its destination, it will probably be time for the hands to do their thing, and the legs may get a rest. The eyes will have to help each of them, but may never get the credit for actually doing the work, or getting the body to a certain place. However, they make things possible for the whole body, which probably could not be done otherwise. Why should we care who gets the credit as long as we all get there and get the job done?
Changes are for our sakes. Changes help all to grow and stay fresh. We can easily tell when someone is getting stale in a position and a change is needed. When these changes are made, there is almost always a bit of disturbance, just as you cannot help but to disturb the wine when pouring it into another vessel. However, when things settle down, everyone is much better off because of it. In fact, every time we make such a change, we see a great acceleration in that church or department.
My point is, if we really are living, and our lives are abiding in the Lord with Him as our security, then we should never fear change, but rather embrace it as one of the most wonderful opportunities to grow. We should never fear those who are different from us, but welcome them with open arms, knowing that they can be a source of great learning, and blessing for us.
It is for a purpose that every prophet in the Bible is unique. Every apostle is very different. You are also unique. If you are going to fulfill your purpose, you must be willing to be unique, and you must be willing to live a very unique life. If you want to recognize the Lord when He draws near to you, learn to look for Him in different forms.
Now some of you have probably thought, “Now weren’t we talking about racism?” Yes, and we still are. Being a racist is basically either letting pride or fear control you, so that you resist those who are different, or you resist needed change. The Lord is obviously not a racist since He is the One who created all of the uniqueness and diversity in mankind. Those who truly know the Lord, and are becoming like Him, will not be racists either.
