Dallas Willard led the PGF sponsored workshop - Missional and Formational. During his presentation he addressed how churches define success. Too often it is the ABC's - attendance, buildings, and cash. We count how many people are coming in, how much money is coming in, and how much people enjoy the performance each Sunday. To that end, ministry is about getting people to do things.
Dallas challenged us to remember that we have an audience of one and that ministry is not about getting people to do things, but helping people to discover how God is moving and working in their lives. The Kingdom of God is at hand and ministry is the joy of helping people grow close to God in his present kingdom. Dallas said, "The Kingdom of God is not about Jesus coming back to bail us out. Rather, the Kingdom of God is how God's hand will move in my present spot."
What would our church look like if we defined success not in terms of activity, but in terms of how well we help people discover God at work in their lives? How would this change our session meetings and presbytery meetings? What if our primary activity when we meet together is not to govern and manage each other, but to pray and encourage one another seeking the kingdom? That's a missional vision....
Recent Comments