The Indispensibility of serving others.

DAYS 13 and 14                                    Weekend Edition

 Over the last few months, a common theme has emerged chatting to Pastors, Leaders, and gospel workers in numerous countries. Although coronavirus has undoubtedly created some fresh challenges for every church and christian mission organisation, in reality the greater challenges have been those unattended issues that were existing prior to the virus. The pandemic has only shone a bright spotlight on what was already dysfunctional, and is now amplified, and more complex to correct.

 Oftentimes pastors are saying things along the lines of ...

 "I thought the church family was interacting quite well, but in reality our fellowship, sharing, caring, being close to one another, carrying each others problems and burdens... it was there - but only in veneer, rather than substantially ingrained in our DNA. Now in "lockdown", we need this culture and interaction more than ever, but our reset mode is a relatively individualistic and consumer driven mentality. We find it easy to focus on ourselves, our ministry, our situation, our growth, our prayer needs, our problems in lockdown. People are resigning from church membership because they say "they feel disconnected". The truth is they never truly connected themselves to God's people, but relied on others and their spiritual maturity, grace and kindness to draw them in. 

What is most worrying above all is that we thought we were a "missional" church/ group, proprelled by the gospel of Jesus, looking out for lost sheep, but in reality we've discovered that we are pretty introspective, and self serving. We can't even spot people in the church family struggling, never mind those outside of our immediate sphere (who it is harder for us to spend time with now)".

 One of the core functions of Pastors and Church leaders is  ...

" to equip the saints for the work of ministry, 

for building up the body of Christ."

In fact I would go as far to say that this is an excellent measurement of our "success" in ministry.  Success in ministry is not defined by how many people come to our church, read our blog or watch us on youtube. (Incidently from what they have told me... it is leaders of larger organisations and pastors or larger churches who have struggled most with the true reality / honesty of church culture during the virus). Success in any Christian Church, group or family is when we see people looking more and more like Jesus, with an eager passion to serve like the servant king. This motivation and dynamic is well summarised in Titus 2.12-14

"...training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

In our conferences and training sessions, some patterns have emerged in discussion to reveal why this is so hard for us to get this right. 

1) Some leaders love leading but find service much harder. The truth is we can never teach service with integrety or preach about self control, unless we model it ourselves, and show that our own greatest passion is to serve the servant king.

2) Some leaders prefer the safety of the study and planning meetings, to the mess of the shop floor. Books don't answer back, things are always easier in theory than reality. On paper everything is a success. Pdf's are always easier to write and print than implement. When we write for the masses, or publish the perfection of our church on the website, even we can believe our own publicity. Again we have to return to the model of Christ, who withdrew for reflection but whose primary passion was for people. He was immersed in them, ordinary with them, in the mess with them. 

(Read Mark 5. This is real service, it's what the successive battering of being immersed with people looks like - note 4v35 "on that day", 5:2 "immediately", v18 "as he was getting into the boat", 21, 24 "crowd followed him", 5:35 "while he was still speaking").

Yes, a leader should be rightly set apart (for study and prayer), but never at the expense of knowing the reality amongst their people. People will listen most when they believe you are "one of us, one with us". (Matt 1:23, Heb 2:17, 4:15). Never underestimate the power of life example, a sermon grounded and shown in reality (2 Tim 3:14), backed up by longterm integrety. Whoever we are, whatever our role (whether leadership or not), the transparency and honesty of "life on life" is the biblical model of fruitfulness.

3) Some leaders are activists or like to keep control. Ephesians clearly teaches that , our role is to equip others, not do everything ourselves, or have our fingure in every pie. God doesn't love us on the basis of how much overtime we do. If we are too busy - we have the power and pen over our own diaries. If we are slow to affirm or release others to get on with something in liberty (because they don't do it like us), we are robbing the church of diversity, colour and growth.

4)  Some leaders prefer to hide behind an image, (a meme of themselves) rather than let people see the reality, their lack of gifts, and their deficiancies when they muck in. This is probably the most alarming, because it generates and models a culture where pretense is the norm. Over the last year or so there have been unprecidented numbers of high profile Pastors and spritual leaders falling into scandal, bringing the gospel into disrepute, destroying churches, repelleing many away by lack of integrety.  It is never healthy when we think we are someone we are not. It is particularly unhealthy in Christian leadership. Crisis and crash are guarenteed for the podium Christian who loves to believe their own publicity,  yet hides behind the humility of the cross, a giant ego of self gratification.

May God help us in these times of imposed isolation, to reform again under God's word, to sit under His authority, to allow his loving eyes of grace to show us where we need to change. Lord help us too serve others well during this time, and make the most of opportunities to serve others when restrictions cease. May our churches recover the value of loving people like Jesus, and serving him in Joy as we serve others for their good, and His glory.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, 

but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

Pray for IGOR and ALENA ANIKIN. (Игорь и Алёна Аникины)

 If you ever want to see what indespensible service looks like, meet my dear friend Igor. Affectionately Igor is known by over 100 in the Uk as "Igor Builder". The truth is he has always been much more than that. Most people come to know Igor as the man to call for emergency help. I clearly remember one day as we struggled in the dark of the basement at transition house to erect and line up the biggest metal framework ceiling known to man. (Someone told me it is visable from the moon). Igor's phone rang on repeat. First a plumbing issue at the shelter, (one of the children had accidently caused or discovered an issue needing "urgent attention"). Then there was the camp, getting ready for the busy summer opening it was clear a major issue needed materials to be purcahsed and work "urgently" to prepare for the 1000's coming. Then there was an issue with the church building... and so it went on. It became a standing joke, until late in the day one further call arrived. We were scared to ask... "is that another problem for Igor to fix?" "No, came the reply, it was just my wife reminding me not to be late home for tea !" :) 

When new team members came out to Odessa, I always liked watching their reaction as they spotted Igor at the front of church on Sundays. The one who literally"mucked in" with us all week was now the pristine smart guy singing with perfection in the choir, serving communion, taking collection, ministering to and encourageing the young people.  It was clear why everyone loves Igor, his example of service. All churches need those who will serve, those who serve well should be honoured as treasured gifts to the church, who model something invaluable to the next generation.

Pray for Igor in his many avenues of service for Christ, ask the Lord to bless his ministry, and use it in nurturing the next generation of servants.

Pray for this family who put the gospel first. 

Pray for Alena, in her gift,ministry, and business of making extraordinarily good cakes, during this season which is so hard for any business. Pray for the next generation of Anikins, (3 young men and daughter in law) that they will know the blessing of God as they grow in service of Him, together.

 

Pray too this weekend for those who continue to minister in the East of Ukraine, amidst the distress, fire damage and insecurities of war.

 For many church online is not an option, and for some the local meeting house is either in rubble or unnavailable. Some have lost absolutely everything (physically speaking). Pray especially for those serving this situation, ministering with basic provisions for people including books of spiritual encouragement.

 

 There are many photos I could share, but I leave you with two. Firstly a friend with joy...

at recieving a new coat, and two precious friends who following the destruction of their home have been given a "carriage" to live in, and are praying for someone to kindly give some heating aparatus / a stove. 

 

Thank God for those who serve in this situation. 

Thank God for all we have, and ask him to make us good stewards of it as we serve Him and others with his resources.

Love serving with you,

BLOGSKI