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PRIMARY FOCUS for Central |
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Written by Paul Johansson
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Tuesday, 03 August 2010 10:51 |
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Central Family,
What would happen if I were to say to the congregation, "Would all of the ministers present please stand up?"
This summer we are on a Joshua Journey. In the fall we will begin a journey through the book of Acts. Both books teach us how to move beyond ourselves into a new way of following the Lord. This coming Sunday we will gather around Joshua 14:6-14. Three times it is said that Caleb "wholeheartedly followed the Lord God." More than anything else this is the prayer and desire of Central's leadership for the body of Central. May it be said of us that we "wholeheartedly follow the Lord our God."
On July 12 and 13 your leadership staff went on a retreat to discern the diagnosis from the REVEAL SPIRITUAL LIFE SURVEY. In addition to identifying the six specific foci that REVEAL showed us we need to pay special attention to we discerned a primary REVEAL VISION for our life together this coming program year. Subsequently the Church Council met on July 19 and wholeheartedly affirmed the REVEAL VISION. What is the vision?
1. Train and equip leaders to do the work of the ministry (see Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:7-16)
2. Discern God's Design for the Body of Central
In the months to come there will be many specific and tangible ways for you to be involved in the process of discerning God's Design for the Body of Central. But for now I want to begin to have a conversation with you about where we are moving. Back to the question that I started with; "What would happen if I were to say to the congregation, 'would all of the ministers present please stand up?" This little exercise goes along way to show where we are at in the journey of making disciples.
Your staff and Council are moving forward with a basic assumption and I think it is vitally important for everyone to know what this assumption is; "making disciples who make disciples is the primary mission of Central." We live in changing and challenging times in the United States. The United States is now the third largest unchurched nation in the world, over 195 million unreached people. Churches are losing over 2,800,000 people a year. Between 3500 and 4000 churches close their doors every year while only 1100 to 1500 are started. Too many of our church members at best warm pews and at worst never worship or participate in mission. Many church members feel a sense of entitlement instead of being servants and friends of Jesus. Bill Easum suggests that the majority of Pastors are expected to play "pastor fetch" while the majority of members sit on the sidelines cheering or booing.
At Central we want to do everything we can to be making disciples who make disciples. Why? It was Jesus' last request to us in both Matthew (28:19-20) and Acts (1:8). Disciple making is not another program, or just another thing to sign up for BUT it is a whole new way of doing church. For me this means at least three things:
1. The purpose of Central Lutheran Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ.
2. The role of your Pastors and Staff leaders is to train and equip you to do the work of the ministry.
3. God's people - the laity - are the ministers of the church, not the ordained clergy
What will this look like in the years to come? I don't know but I am excited to discover God's unique design for Central and I hope you are part of this journey. What I do know is that God is raising up a cadre of leaders at Central who "get it" and understand that the DNA of Central is to make disciples who make disciples. Our mission of Making Jesus Known is defined by the DNA as the Great Commission. Our heartbeat at Central, our passion, our excitement, our greatest desire is to live and exist for one purpose, to introduce the world to Jesus Christ. Anything that no longer does that is discontinued for something that will. Enuf for now BUT plan on reserving Epiphany evening (January 6, 2011) to come together to hear more about the vision of being such a church and discover how you can be a leader in the mission!
On the journey with you!
Paul Johansson
P.S. THANKS to so many of you who are generously supporting the Summer Building Improvements. Our Financial Administrator is on vacation this week so I don't have the final figures but we received a lot of promises last weekend. THANKS! This Sunday you will be asked to sign up for two specific things. 1. At what time each day will you pray for Central? We are praying for a 24/7 response. Wouldn't it be awesome to know that at each hour of the day and night an individual member of Central is praying for the body. So if you have trouble sleeping or work the night shift make sure you sign up for the late night hours. 2. We are looking for 100 phone callers to call 15 people the week after Labor Day. The intent of these phone calls is twofold; invite people to one of seven worship opportunities and ask them if there is anything they would like prayer for.
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