I've been out of ministry for just over a year. My last church was a small, aging congregation, and I'm afraid I didn't do a very good job of taking them forward. Now, I find that the only doors open are also small, aging and inner-focused congregations. I'm wondering if this is where the Lord wants me, or whether I'm rushing in just because I'm desperate to get back in some sort of pastoral ministry. The church that invited me to consider being their moderator has a lot of 'cons' and not too many 'pros'.
It is small, they have an old crumbling building hidden on a side street in an impoverished part of town, and the last pastor left under not the best of circumstances. They really need a full time pastor, but they can not afford to pay a salary. The mindset, as described by the lead deacon, is that "the way we are set up financially, we can have visiting preachers and continue indefinitely." Which is not what a declining church should be thinking....
On the plus side, they are on a solid financial footing - if only because they are not spending money on a pastor. The building can be made to look great again for only a small amount of money (and a lot of elbow grease). They have an effective, if rather haphazard, outreach to the community. And they do realise something has to be done. There are enough people for a relaunch - my past church plants started from much more dire circumstances. And, it is a God-sized challange, which really makes my blood flow and sends me dreaming.
I don't know if I'm crazy, desperate, or right in the middle of God's plan. I'd appreciate some prayer as I try to sort out which. Thanks.
Dear Marius
It is not easy to take the move after you have heard many negative points about the Church, normally after you have taken a step forward the devil might magnify those cons in your eyes and discouragement shall hit you right at the onset. I pray that you ask God to help you focus more on the pros and give you wisdom to manage from their point of strengh in order to overcome and over shadow the negative. What is important now is to be absolutely certain that God is really speaking to you about this new Church then in that case you wont focus on what man is speaking to you about this Church. In case you feel like holding back and feel no inner peace in taking a move to join this Church, I counsel that you take more time to seek God until you feel it is the right timing.
Let me pray together with you brother.
Mighty father who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance (Is.28:29b) I ask you in the name of Jesus to guide the feet of our brother Marius into the way of peace. In deed the Bible says the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few, therefore I pray that you place brother Marius who has made himself available to be used of you into his right place that you have ordained for him right from the time you called him and chose him to be your servant. Let the Holy Spirit be his light and guide at this critical moment of decision making, let every hindrances and stumbling block be removed out of his way so that he can movce and be fully placed into your purpose and will for his life. Let the peace of God guard his heart and mind as he patiently waits upon you for a word of command in the next step he is going to take. I sincerely believe and trust that you will speak clearly to him and use him to bring great impact into your Kingdom.
I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen
Set aside the salary prospect for now! Are your spiritual gifts those that can be exercised in this fellowship? You mentioned twice that this was a small church, but that isn't the issue. Does the Lord want you to take this fellowship on and challenge them to look outside at those that are diing without Christ?
Father, help Marius see Your direction for him. Speak to him in the inner man where only You can reach. Reveal Yourself to Marius and use Your word as a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path. Amen
Pastor Dave
1Cor. 2:5
Dave,
Thanks for the prayer and advice. This is an older post - in the meantime I accepted the call to be the pastor of this church. It's a GREAT group of believers - they may be just a few of them, but they have the right heart attitudes. I am so very blessed to be their pastor! And, well, I believe that somehow the Lord will provide...
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