Pastor’s often wonder if they are really making a
difference. Week after week we preach,
teach, counsel, console, guide, guard, hold accountable, seek God, study, pray...
and so on, and each week we wonder if we are being fruitful. Sometimes months,
then years, go by without much visible progress and frankly it is often
disheartening.
I know it’s the same for you too sometimes, pastor or
not. If we truly are in pursuit of God,
we all desire good fruit that is visible to others and we all want to see
progress in our own walk with the Lord.
We don’t necessarily desire it be visible for prides sake, but for
‘measurable progress’s sake’.
My family and I have been at Abundant Life for ten years,
this month. If I look at where I thought
we would be by now, I will be discouraged.
If I look at where I wish we were as a church, I might be
discouraged. If I look at where I feel
God wants to take us together, and we are still not there by the way, I might
be discouraged. I actually have battled discouragement numerous times. However, I have to look at how far we’ve come and if we are still progressing.
So, how far have we come in ten years? I think we’ve come a long way. (Please understand as I share this, that I am
bragging on God, not me or even us.) Ten
years ago this church was hurting. There
had been a church split previously that had left lots of wounded people, many
people not attending anywhere. There
were only a handful of people who were still faithful members at ALT. From the stories and the attendance sheets of
those days, probably only about 25 to 35 people were regularly in attendance,
down from 400 or 500 at one point. There
was a mortgage for this ‘multi-million dollar facility’, that was extremely
reasonable but still a huge burden on the few still here. There was very little reserve in the account
to support a pastor and his family. There was a small worship team and no
musicians, so worship was done by soundtracks. The church had been without a
pastor for around 15 months. And honestly, the name of the church seemed
synonymous with the trouble of the past.
There was a great core group of people here though, and a
real desire to endure even in hardship.
There was a greenhorn pastor, and family, who was willing to risk
everything to step out on faith even though, we knew if God didn't meet us, we
were in very big trouble. There had been great words spoken over the church
about greatness still to come. Words like: “This house will be a ‘hospital’ for
the hurting, where people will come and be healed and will go back out to
minister” or “This place will be a place of great fruit and will be an example
to the whole region” or “Worship will lead the way (into the move of God).”
Ten years after God called us here, things are still
progressing. We still have a long way to
go, as a church, to reach our full potential, but those words are coming to
pass. Consistently people are coming here, being healed and returning to
ministry, albeit, often elsewhere. Light
Our City among other outreaches that began in this church, have impacted and
united churches in our region, and are continuing to be the example to the body
of Christ here and even overseas. Our worship, while constantly in spiritual
warfare, has expanded to become a potential powerhouse, or perhaps a ‘powder
keg’, just on the verge of a major spiritual breakthrough which has the
potential to lead us far deeper into His presence. It consists of passionate and talented
worshipers and musicians who do all
they do for His glory!
Many of those wounded people from years past have been, and still are being, healed. Our congregation has grown back up to about 200 members, with an average Sunday attendance of about 150. Most of that core group is still here, but the majority of the congregation are those who God has brought here within the last ten years.
Several years ago, we paid off that mortgage too and have done many updates to the facility including a new roof, repaired the parking lot, several newly replaced A/C units, and now we are upgrading our sound board and updating our look in several areas. We are sending the gospel of Jesus around the world on podcasts and in mission efforts.
Here though, is where it’s clear how much God has moved… Instead of having a name that was once seemingly synonymous with ‘trouble’, we have become known as a church who loves, and forgives, and reaches after the heart of God and the souls of men.
On a personal note, don’t look at where you wish you were, but where you are now allowing God to take you. It’s a journey. Hang in there… be faithful! We are making a difference as a church, there is fruit for our labor, and you will see the same on a personal level, if you don’t give up. (See Gal. 6:9)
Many of those wounded people from years past have been, and still are being, healed. Our congregation has grown back up to about 200 members, with an average Sunday attendance of about 150. Most of that core group is still here, but the majority of the congregation are those who God has brought here within the last ten years.
Several years ago, we paid off that mortgage too and have done many updates to the facility including a new roof, repaired the parking lot, several newly replaced A/C units, and now we are upgrading our sound board and updating our look in several areas. We are sending the gospel of Jesus around the world on podcasts and in mission efforts.
Here though, is where it’s clear how much God has moved… Instead of having a name that was once seemingly synonymous with ‘trouble’, we have become known as a church who loves, and forgives, and reaches after the heart of God and the souls of men.
On a personal note, don’t look at where you wish you were, but where you are now allowing God to take you. It’s a journey. Hang in there… be faithful! We are making a difference as a church, there is fruit for our labor, and you will see the same on a personal level, if you don’t give up. (See Gal. 6:9)
