A high senior official met with top "Nontheists" Friday morning at the White House. These are men that are totally opposed to a Christian viewpoint. Read their agenda here.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100226/nontheists-hold-historic-meeting-with-white-house-officials/index.html
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
THE SIX PERCENT SOLUTION OF CHURCH GROWTH
The Six Percent Solution
When I was at my first church, I was complaining to a wise, experienced pastor that I had “too few talented lay persons” in my little church to change the downward course of the congregation. (Even forty years ago I was trying to change the church!) “I have no more than five or six folks who show any ability to move forward,” I whined.
“Well consider yourself fortunate,” replied the wise pastor. “My congregation is twice the size of yours and I can count no more than five or six Spirit-filled, innovative leaders. Fortunately, God rarely needs more than that to get the ball rolling.”
What? Jesus changed the whole world with twelve (only eleven of whom panned out) disciples. Malcolm Gladwell’s, The Tipping Point is a study of how human organizations change. How does a system reach the “tipping point” whereby an organizational culture is transformed? Gladwell documents that it takes no more than six children in a school to begin wearing a certain brand of sport shoe to reach the tipping point whereby in just a few days a hundred children will begin wearing that same brand of shoe.
I believe Gladwell is right. In all of the churches I have served as a pastor only six percent of the members gave nearly two-thirds of all the financial gifts to the church. I’ve served some wonderful churches but I’ve never served a church that wasn’t being led by six percent of the members. Only six percent of the congregation are people to whom God has given the passion and the position to lead the whole church.
There is a word of grace here for church leaders. If you want to give the church a brighter future, you only have to convince six percent of the people in the church. As a bishop, if I want to reverse the decline of my Conference, I only have to identify a mere six percent who know how to make that turnaround happen.
When Gil Rendel was advising us on the transformation of our Conference, as we were thinking about how to convince the Conference to move toward eight rather than twelve districts, Rendle put before us the proverbial Bell Curve. He noted that in any significant change 15% of the people are against the change and will remain against the change no matter how that change is presented to them. On the other end of the curve, 15% will say “let’s go for it” no matter how risky the change may be.
“That leaves a full 70% of your people who show a good possibility of conversion into support for this change,” said Gil. “Too many pastors wait in the vain hope that they were good enough to get everybody on board, don’t move until they are sure that they can take everyone along with them. As a result, they never go anywhere.”
Christianity tends to be a minority movement. Jesus occasionally attracted multitudes, but his transformative work tended to be through a small group of disciples. Thanks be to God we don’t have to wait to follow the Spirit until 99% of everyone thinks this direction is a good idea. God can work through something as seemingly small and insignificant as a mustard seed to grow the Kingdom.
Thanks be to God, on our way to “make disciples of all nations,” we only need six percent to get the job done.
Will Willimon
This was recently posted on Will Willimon's blog. I felt it would be an encouragement to you.
When I was at my first church, I was complaining to a wise, experienced pastor that I had “too few talented lay persons” in my little church to change the downward course of the congregation. (Even forty years ago I was trying to change the church!) “I have no more than five or six folks who show any ability to move forward,” I whined.
“Well consider yourself fortunate,” replied the wise pastor. “My congregation is twice the size of yours and I can count no more than five or six Spirit-filled, innovative leaders. Fortunately, God rarely needs more than that to get the ball rolling.”
What? Jesus changed the whole world with twelve (only eleven of whom panned out) disciples. Malcolm Gladwell’s, The Tipping Point is a study of how human organizations change. How does a system reach the “tipping point” whereby an organizational culture is transformed? Gladwell documents that it takes no more than six children in a school to begin wearing a certain brand of sport shoe to reach the tipping point whereby in just a few days a hundred children will begin wearing that same brand of shoe.
I believe Gladwell is right. In all of the churches I have served as a pastor only six percent of the members gave nearly two-thirds of all the financial gifts to the church. I’ve served some wonderful churches but I’ve never served a church that wasn’t being led by six percent of the members. Only six percent of the congregation are people to whom God has given the passion and the position to lead the whole church.
There is a word of grace here for church leaders. If you want to give the church a brighter future, you only have to convince six percent of the people in the church. As a bishop, if I want to reverse the decline of my Conference, I only have to identify a mere six percent who know how to make that turnaround happen.
When Gil Rendel was advising us on the transformation of our Conference, as we were thinking about how to convince the Conference to move toward eight rather than twelve districts, Rendle put before us the proverbial Bell Curve. He noted that in any significant change 15% of the people are against the change and will remain against the change no matter how that change is presented to them. On the other end of the curve, 15% will say “let’s go for it” no matter how risky the change may be.
“That leaves a full 70% of your people who show a good possibility of conversion into support for this change,” said Gil. “Too many pastors wait in the vain hope that they were good enough to get everybody on board, don’t move until they are sure that they can take everyone along with them. As a result, they never go anywhere.”
Christianity tends to be a minority movement. Jesus occasionally attracted multitudes, but his transformative work tended to be through a small group of disciples. Thanks be to God we don’t have to wait to follow the Spirit until 99% of everyone thinks this direction is a good idea. God can work through something as seemingly small and insignificant as a mustard seed to grow the Kingdom.
Thanks be to God, on our way to “make disciples of all nations,” we only need six percent to get the job done.
Will Willimon
This was recently posted on Will Willimon's blog. I felt it would be an encouragement to you.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
East Texas Pastor's Conference
Pastor’s Conference
The East Texas BBF met at the Northside Baptist Church, Rev. Joe Adams pastor. It was a well attended meeting in spite of bad weather. Pastor Joe and his people did a tremendous job as the host church.
Monday evening, Rev. Brad Wilkerson was the speaker and brought a great challenge from Isaiah chapter six. Pastor Brad is a church planter, and about 18 months ago launched a new work in the Dallas/Denton area. Last Sunday, they had 377 in attendance. Currently they are meeting in a school building.
The first speaker on Tuesday morning was Rev. Andy Plunk. About 4 years ago he planted a church in Gilmer, with the help of Rev. Don Bebee and Grace Baptist Church of Kilgore. Today they have a good congregation and building facilities. His subject was, “What Can We Do?” taken from First Corinthians chapter 1.
Rev. Bob Logan closed out the session with a challenge from Mark 6. Bob had recently returned from a mission trip sponsored by OTAN, to the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia training national pastors how to better serve their people. It was a thrill to hear the stories of faithful pastors who serve in their countries against tremendous difficulties.
The ladies of Northside topped it off with a great lunch. Thanks to Pastor Joe and his wonderful people for hosting the meeting.
The East Texas BBF met at the Northside Baptist Church, Rev. Joe Adams pastor. It was a well attended meeting in spite of bad weather. Pastor Joe and his people did a tremendous job as the host church.
Monday evening, Rev. Brad Wilkerson was the speaker and brought a great challenge from Isaiah chapter six. Pastor Brad is a church planter, and about 18 months ago launched a new work in the Dallas/Denton area. Last Sunday, they had 377 in attendance. Currently they are meeting in a school building.
The first speaker on Tuesday morning was Rev. Andy Plunk. About 4 years ago he planted a church in Gilmer, with the help of Rev. Don Bebee and Grace Baptist Church of Kilgore. Today they have a good congregation and building facilities. His subject was, “What Can We Do?” taken from First Corinthians chapter 1.
Rev. Bob Logan closed out the session with a challenge from Mark 6. Bob had recently returned from a mission trip sponsored by OTAN, to the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia training national pastors how to better serve their people. It was a thrill to hear the stories of faithful pastors who serve in their countries against tremendous difficulties.
The ladies of Northside topped it off with a great lunch. Thanks to Pastor Joe and his wonderful people for hosting the meeting.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
News from Mike Peper and Sierra Leone
February 1, 2010
It was our privilege to host a wonderful group of thirteen members of the Heritage Baptist Church of Georgetown, Texas, beginning on December 27th. They conducted Vacation Bible Schools for three of our churches, held a three-day meeting for the beginning of our newest community church, and led in a New Year’s Eve outdoor service. The crowd was numbered at 904 people.
The group ministered to a village that had been devastated by a sweeping fire. Forty-five homes had been affected and over 500 people had been displaced. It will cost approximately $500.00 per home to make repairs and put metal roofs on the homes. It would be a wonderful testimony for Christ if we could assist them with this project in this predominant Muslim community.
The last day of their stay with us was ministering to our college students. They visited several campuses inviting students to the evening service. They had 93 in attendance with 14 being saved.
When they left us they were tired, but it was a ‘good tired’. During their 11 days we had 622 names and addresses of people that made profession of faith.
Thank you for all that you do to make it possible to be here among this great harvest of souls.
In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper
Sending Agency: Central Missionary Clearing House, P.O. Box 219228, Houston, Texas 77218-9228
It was our privilege to host a wonderful group of thirteen members of the Heritage Baptist Church of Georgetown, Texas, beginning on December 27th. They conducted Vacation Bible Schools for three of our churches, held a three-day meeting for the beginning of our newest community church, and led in a New Year’s Eve outdoor service. The crowd was numbered at 904 people.
The group ministered to a village that had been devastated by a sweeping fire. Forty-five homes had been affected and over 500 people had been displaced. It will cost approximately $500.00 per home to make repairs and put metal roofs on the homes. It would be a wonderful testimony for Christ if we could assist them with this project in this predominant Muslim community.
The last day of their stay with us was ministering to our college students. They visited several campuses inviting students to the evening service. They had 93 in attendance with 14 being saved.
When they left us they were tired, but it was a ‘good tired’. During their 11 days we had 622 names and addresses of people that made profession of faith.
Thank you for all that you do to make it possible to be here among this great harvest of souls.
In Christ,
Mike & Diane Peper
Sending Agency: Central Missionary Clearing House, P.O. Box 219228, Houston, Texas 77218-9228
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