One year since we changed

Next month will be one year since our church began making a dramatic shift in our strategy.  

We continue to have a vision to be a large and growing church that is impacting our community and the world and we look forward to multiplying ourselves some day.  However, the strategy to grow the church has shifted to an organic approach.  We're now what you might call a "simple church."  

I daily fight my instincts that keep pushing me to do more to grow the church...more marketing, more events, new programs, pushing members to forego other responsibilities because of the urgency to grow the church.  

Currently, our church exists month to month only by the grace of God.  For the first time in my "career" as a minister I don't have resources to work with.  No office, no full time paid support staff, no associate pastors or paid directors to help me, no vehicles, no money in savings, barely any budget to work with, I'm working a second job and my wife went back to work so our family can continue to serve the church.  

Early on we embraced the "start big" strategy by hiring a full ministry staff, offering many programs, and doing everything with a high level of quality and professionalism.  It worked and we grew quickly.  I knew that people in suburban America have high expectations for what church should offer and we didn't shrink from those expectations.  Of course a new church can't afford all these expenses so we raised a lot of capital for our "start big" strategy.  

But what happens when you no longer can afford a complex structure and large budget?  What happens when you can't meet the "needs" of young professional suburban families anymore?  You either have to quit or you have to change. 

That means, no longer do I try to "sell" people on all our church has to offer.  In essence I tell them, "don't expect much." Of course these sentiments run contrary to my theology because I always expect much from God's Spirit and I guess that's the point.  The Spirit of God isn't limited or helped by the external offerings of our church.  Our size, our programs, the limitations of its pastor have nothing to do with the potential for impact and growth. The point is to be faithful stewards of whatever resources and people we have at any given point. 

People and money come and go but God and His mission for His church are constants.  So, nearly a year ago I stood up before our church and announced that our strategy had in affect created a facade that while effective initially, was not affordable.  Our new strategy would have to be something simple and sustainable and that required more than ever a faith and dependency on God to work through us in spite of our efforts.  It would have to rely on volunteers and a simple structure not on comprehensive programing, mass marketing, and paid staff. 

So, God willing we're making a go of it...acting as a simple church that loves people, shares the Gospel, worships together each week, cares for our members, strengthens homes and builds houses in Mexico.  We've become a small church that maintains the original mission to make disciples and the same vision to grow and multiply.  Yet our approach is different...it's simple.  

I couldn't tell you what a "simple church" is supposed to look like in the end, only that it is our only alternative to quitting what God has called us to do.  Knowing that, I have a peace that He is leading and will accomplish His will through us whatever that looks like.