a new day has dawned…

 The 21st century has brought many challenges to the church. If the church (as we now know it) is going to survive, we are going to need to make some wholesale changes. No more can we open our doors and think that people are going to come in because we’re there. We are living in a post-Christian society, therefore we better have something to offer worth people’s time, energy, and resources.

At our church we are simplifying our ministry and reinventing ourselves with a lean ministry philosopy in mind. People’s lives are frenetic in general to say the least. There’s no time to spend unprofitable hours at the church. We’re going to be lucky to get people for a couple hours a week. We better make them count. We’ve developed a strategy to accomplish a new paradigm for a new era.

We’re propagating a three-fold process to help people keep a balanced lifestyle. It’s simple: Receive… Relate… Serve… In order to keep it simple we recommend to our folks to attend one service per week. Attend one small group per week. And serve others one time per week. It’s simple, but it’s a discipleship process that fits the 21st century.

The day of asking people to be at church every time the doors open is effectively an expectation of the past. This is a battle that we WILL NOT win. We must change our expectations to survive and flourish.

Remember this; it’s as simple as loving God (receive), loving people (relate), and serving the world (serve).

Simplicity is in… Complexity is out…

Your thoughts?

JPF

New Fangled Thangs

Today is my last posting for the week.  I’ll be taking the weekend off and return on Monday.  Even I’m not disciplined enough to do this seven days a week.

 The new fangled thang that I’m referring to is the use of electronic means to receive offerings these days.  I confess that we at Christian Life Center have just created a brochure and accompanying form to automate the giving of many of our constituents.

Whether it’s giving by check,  an automated debit from the checking account, credit card, debit card, bank bill payment, or even cash, our world has become complex in many ways.

 Someone would say, isn’t the church just acquiescing to the world system?  And I would say yes and no.  We are using the systems of the world, but we are not compromising our integrity or the Word of God.  We can be in the world (use their technology), but not of the world (compromise God’s Word).

Why would we do it?  What advantages does it provide for us?  I’m glad you asked that question.

 First, it provides an opportunity for people to be systematic in their giving.  It’s easier to know that it’s being taken care of and you don’t have to think about it every week.

Second, it’s a help to the church in the fact that there is a more consistent flow of income that makes budgeting easier and the cash flow smoother.  It becomes possible to plan for ministry and outreach opportunities without worrying about whether or not the money is going to be covered through offerings.

 Third, and definitely the least important is that it provides a convenient way to facilitate ministry by making it easy for people to give to their church or non-profit organization.

And lastly, believe it or not, it’s a safer way to give as security is at a premium to protect the consumer from identity theft using these alternative methods.  So there, now you have it.

Have I jumped over to the side of the Antichrist?  Or am I simply on the cutting edge of technology in the church?  What do you think?

 JPF

Giving in Turbulent Times!

There’s a website that I’ve found very valuable during these turbulant financial times.    It’s called GenerousGiving.Org.  I recommend that you take a look at it if you are a teacher or a student.  A young believer trying to understand and obey the Bible’s recommendation to give tithes (10%), offerings (voluntary), and alms (for the poor).  It is also a great resource for leaders who need to know where to send their people to learn and reaffirm what is the will and purpose of God for His own people.  Enjoy the resource.

JPF