Fine Tuning Won’t Fix your Church

Over the past couple of decades I’ve been following the myriad of ways of doing church, reading up on what is happening within Church Growth circles and Fresh Expressions from around the world.

Often times looking at how I can incorporate aspects of the methodology (principles, strategies, and models etc.) within the Corps (church) settings that I’ve been involved in and determining if this is what God wants of us in these moments. 

In some cases we, as a Corps have adopted an aspect / new approach that seems to have worked, while others not so much. One of the reasons I believe that these adjustments have worked in our ministry has been because I hold to the inherent nature of the early ‘pioneering’ Salvation Army officers and soldiers that were always at the forefront of change, adapting to the times and willing to try something new so that we could ‘win some for Christ!’

However, over the past few years or so I have noticed more and more that the main denominational western church have become less inclined to make the changes that we need to, to move in the direction of what the Spirit of God is doing in the here and now, and leading us into.

Instead we have tended to be overly cautious and risk adverse, having to fill out a myriad of paperwork and develop proposals so that we can justify to the powers that be why we think what we want to do may assist the mission. 

I was recently reading an article on the Fresh Expressions site entitled Fine Tuning Won’t Fix Your Church. “Remissioning” is Different.

As I was reading through it and assessing my ministry over the years, and the growth that Annette & I have seen in some of our appointments which was both spiritually and numerically, I identified with a few things that we all can possibly take on board as we return to a semblance of normalcy within the church.

The first is that we can no longer afford to make small adjustments ‘fine-tuning’ – sometimes we need to take a leap of faith and make much larger ones.

“When churches or church leaders realize something needs to change, they often turn to ‘fine-tuning.’ Fine-tuning means making small but meaningful adjustments to an established system. In the church setting, this could be anything from changing the congregation’s name, the church building’s carpet, or adding a new church service with different music.

There is value to fine-tuning, especially if you are generally happy with how things are going. But for many churches, fine-tuning will never be enough.”

The second is that out of crises, where everything appears to be in chaos, God creates something new and brings about order.

Many church growth commentators acknowledge that the Covid-19 pandemic has been a major crisis that we have all had to face right around the globe, and the church throughout the world has never seen anything as disruptive to the way that we do church than having to adapt / change / pivot the way that we operate, and navigate the way forward.

Our world has drastically shifted and in many ways we will never fully go back to the way we were before. 

“For churches to thrive in a world so different from how they were built, they need to make a more radical shift than fine-tuning. Churches and their leaders need to recapture a theology of God’s mission, an expansive and flexible model for local congregations, and develop skills, strategies and spiritual capacity for living and working as missionaries in this new context.“

Fresh Expressions call this radical shift ‘remissioning’.

Others refer to it as revitalisation, refocusing, re-engineering, re-strategising, reorganising, re-focusing on the key aspect of mission, or mobilising.

Whatever you call it, in all of these approaches churches are seeking to see a movement of the Holy Spirit that manifests in a powerful supernatural way. 

In essence we are crying out for revival and doing what we can to help enable it.

In the settings that Annette & I saw growth we went through a process of questioning everything that we as a Corps were doing, determining if it was something that we wanted to carry on doing, and re-confirming the ‘why’ we exist.

At times this was not pleasant as we had to close down ministries that were no longer doing what they were initially intended to do and people got quite upset. However, in those instances where we were able to communicate the rationale why we were doing what was necessary, it was taken on board positively.

But we were determined and chose to invest in what it was that God was leading us towards and we saw growth – numerically and spiritually. 

As many churches (Corps and centres) return to in-person gatherings and aspects of church go back to ‘business as usual‘, I pray that we would take our time and properly assess what it is that God is doing in these days. 

There are a lot of difficulties facing our world right now. Churches and church leaders have their own difficulties as well. 

But there are also plenty of possibilities and opportunities to do things differently.

In many regards what we were doing prior to the Covid pandemic was not necessarily working for us.

Many church leaders were seeing their churches (Corps and centres) dwindling, finances were not keeping up with the increasing costs of doing church, ministries were not having the effect that they were intended to make and church attendance was low.  

I’ve recently been privileged to be conversing with key church leaders around the Wellington region and they all agree that it feels as if God is doing some pruning in the church. Many are facing challenges that they have never had to face, and in those moments they are finding that they have to draw closer to God like they never have before.

And I believe, as do many others, that God is doing something new thing right now, and many congregations are already experiencing renewals as they are “remissioned” or mobilised.

Maybe that is because for some time the church has been relying on what ‘we’ bring to the table – But it could be argued that we have been doing service for services sake and we haven’t truly allowed God to do what only he can do with them and this goes for many ministries also. Who are they really for?

The things is, often those that we minister too in God’s name don’t even know that we are doing it for Him, let alone so that we can make Him known. Instead ‘we’ (the church or organisation) get the recognition, accolades and praise, rather than the One we are doing it for. 

So, let’s start focussing more on ‘being’ church in and for Him, rather than ‘doing’ aspects of church for _ _ _ _ _ (you fill in the blanks).

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Why Gathering with the People of God Matters

I recently read an article from Church Answers written by Chuck Lawless that lays out 8 Reasons Why Gathering with the People of God Matters.

Within it he outlines the following:

• That worshiping together is part of God’s intent in making us relational.
• It reminds us that we’re not alone in our Christian walk.
• Our engagement in worship is encouraging to others.
• Non-believers who see us worship might sense our love and awe of the Lord as we worship and praise Him.
• There’s just something special about the people of God singing His praises together.
• It is in our gathering together that we provoke one another to love and good works (Heb 10:24-25).
• The gathering together of the body of Christ to hear from their under-shepherd is a privilege, indeed.
• It is what the early church did.

For more information about what Chuck Lawless has to say about each of these reasons click on the links above or here.

Over the past year or so, as this pandemic has continued to cause disruption to the way in which we meet regularly for worship, we have seen the ongoing effect of not gathering in-person; attendance levels are all over the place, people are apprehensive about going out and meeting together and some have even gotten used to the idea of not ‘doing church’ etc. and the list could go on.

However, this does provide us with a number of opportunities and in Pastor’s Ponderings, Scott Strissel provides five for us to ponder as he explores how we can be the Church in a post-pandemic world.

The thing is, in the past few weeks and months for many of our Corps and Centres gathering together has been made even more difficult by the Covid-19 restrictions that have been placed on us within New Zealand. However, this has also seen many Corps adapt /pivot to different ways and means of meeting together, some online in Zoom meetings, others in smaller house church and small group settings, while others have moved their entire worship experience online – which of course raises interesting challenges especially in the area of one-on-one contact and being ‘together’ etc.

In these times it is helpful to be reminded of the importance of why gathering with the people of God matters and find ways in which we can not only pastorally care for each other, and those within our families and communities. But also how we can adapt our model of church worship and discipleship to better impact those that are seeking our Lord and Saviour.

These may be challenging and interesting times for many, but they are also exciting times for those of us that are looking at what God can and will do to impact the hearts and minds of His people going forward, and those that He is longing to bring into relationship with Him, and us, through the local church.

Why not check out some of the following links:

Fresh Expression US is a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet part of any church.

It is part of an international movement of missionary disciples cultivating new kinds of church alongside existing congregations to more effectively engage our growing post-Christian society.

Fresh Expressions UK is a growing movement of everyday people forming new, vibrant Christian communities in every ordinary nook and cranny of life.

Fresh Expressions are new forms of church that emerge within contemporary culture and engage primarily with those who don’t ‘go to church’. (Mission Shaped Church Report)

Messy Church is a church for everyone who may not feel comfortable attending a ‘normal’ church service and who don’t yet belong to a church.

It is a relaxed style of church suitable for all ages and typically includes a meal, hands-on activities such as arts and crafts and more.

The Dinner Church Collective is A Nation-Wide Community Of Mealtime Missionaries Spreading The Word About A Simple, Effective And Historic Approach To Starting New Forms Of Church.

Also why not check out The Dinner Church Movement which is made up of churches across the world that share a eucharistic meal as their primary form of worship.

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Embrace the change

This year as we continue to live in a world that doesn’t know from one moment to the next if we are going to be going back to some form of normality, I am reminded of the need to embrace the change, and accept that we are going to be living in a very fluid time.

If last year has taught us anything many of us have come to accept that some of the things that we hold on to as “normal” may never return, or at least not in the way that we have become so accustomed to.

Case and point international travel – even this week our Prime Minister here in New Zealand has admitted that ‘normal’ international travel to just about anywhere in the world may be a long way off as countries continue to grapple with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even limited travel bubbles are on hold as we experience the first community case in approximately 2 months.

Many more countries have or are now in the process of closing their borders and are not anticipating reopening them as per “normal” any time soon – even if the vaccine has been successfully distributed in a particular country.

Expect managed isolation stays and limited travel unless you have been vaccinated as a ‘new normal’.

So how does this affect us in the church? We too need to embrace the change!

I say this because things are not going to necessarily be the same as we strive to comprehend what ‘new thing‘ God is doing in our communities and as we move to impact them with Christ’s message of life and hope – How church will look will very different to what they were just a few short years ago.

Some propose that many churches will not return to pre-covid attendance numbers and that if they do, it will be in a variety of different ways.

i.e. multiple services over multiple days and different times, or even in different locations / settings / buildings etc. and the list could go on…

One of the main examples of change that we need to embrace is the digital world – many churches and Corps around the world have pivoted (the latest buzz word) to use facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram to not only keep congregational members connected, but also enabling them to continue worshipping in the comfort of their homes. Which for some didn’t happen previously as when they were unable to attend the Sunday morning service for whatever reason they simply missed out.

In the latest edition of The Officer (A quarterly magazine for Officers of The Salvation Army) the General (Brian Peddle) asks; “‘Who knew’ what opportunities the digital world would offer?”

He goes on to write; “I note, with deep admiration, the courage of those who have literally ‘moved the Army online’. Who knew…

that worship around the world was possible without leaving my couch? (Thank you!)

that an iPad passed through a letter box to a senior who is shielding (protecting people who are at high risk from coronavirus) allowed for the best pastoral visit ever?

that our online prayer meeting at IHQ could grow from 10 in attendance to 60, overnight?

that you can still kneel in your home and respond to the message, accept Christ and give your testimony (online) two weeks later?

The General goes on to say; “In celebrating our digital engagement and our online presence, I joked with a colleague, ‘Wouldn’t it be a good day if the headline could read: “Christians crash the Internet”?’ The Church is not closed! The Church is alive, living and breathing in each missional heart of those who follow and call Him Lord. We will find a way…

So, what does the ‘next normal’ look like? I see…

an Army that has recaptured its creative and adaptive spirit – we can do this!

an Army that is not held back by anything that prevents it in furthering the cause of Christ – Lord, set us free!

an Army that takes its stand, not one that is stuck on immovables, but an Army that pivots and is always turning toward the needs of people, and finally,

an Army that is outward facing, responding to its call to mission – ready, engaged and taking responsibility.

My challenge to The Salvation Army, to us as its leaders, is, ‘don’t re-embrace our “old normal” as if it is the best that God can do’.

‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland’ (Isaiah 43:19)

I propose to you that there is no evidence, biblically or in God’s narrative with his people, that the ‘old model’ is the only thing we must do… He is doing a new thing! Don’t miss it!           

Major Martin Gossauer, editor of The Officer adds: “In this time of great need and adversity, there are also positive outcomes: more people are hearing and sharing the gospel online; more people are praying; more people are taking care of and talking to their neighbours. Some church doors may be closed, but we are reminded: we don’t go to church we are the church; The Salvation Army is not a building, the Army is us – you and me, God working through us!”

So, as we approach this new year may we all be reminded that God is doing a “new thing“, and we need to reimagine how we do church in this fluid time that we find ourselves in. We need to embrace the change, even if we don’t fully understand it or even want to, as God is in the business of moving people forward in their journey of faith – just look at the lessons learnt by the Israelites in Exodus as they spent time being led by God in search of the promised land (I’m pretty sure He knew where he was leading them to).

This is something that we will be looking at as Annette starts a new sermon series this coming weekend as we explore ‘the land between’.

And yes this journey may be daunting and scary, a number of us might not be entirely happy with where we are heading – but with God on our side nothing is impossible and we will get through this into a much better place.

Blessings ’til next time 🙂

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Leadership Network, Nvader & Fresh Expressions

On Thursday afternoon I had the opportunity to attend a Leadership Network meeting in Spreydon Baptist.

Leadership Network is an organisation that is being developed by former Senior Pastor Murray Robertson of Spreydon Baptist church. The vision of the Leadership Network is to encourage pastors, elders and other church leaders in the development of effective missional churches throughout New Zealand.

At this meeting we were introduced to the opportunities and challenges that two large churches within Christchurch have experienced due to the recent Earthquakes which have well and truly blurred the lines of denominational differences and shown that collaboration between churches is not only possible but beneficial to the health and well being of the church as a whole.

Prior to the earthquakes the senior pastors of Spreydon Baptist and Grace Vineyard had met to discuss ways in which they could together reach out to the city of Christchurch. The earthquake has very much sped up that process and now not only are they combining for evening services but Spreydon has, after substancial damage to Grace Vineyard opened up their office space and building for them to coexist in the same church complex for the time being.

At the meeting we were also introduced to Nvader which is a Christian-based non-profit organization whose purpose is to effectively combat the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and children by facilitating their rescue and the prosecution of the perpetrators responsible.

Nvader founder, Daniel Walker, has twenty years law enforcement experience. Daniel spent four years working undercover in more than a dozen countries documenting cases of human trafficking on behalf of two international human rights organizations. His efforts have resulted in the rescue of many hundreds of women and children as well as the successful prosecution of many traffickers.

You can read about his journey and the case for Nvader in his book, God in a Brothel.

We were also introduced to ‘Fresh Expressions’ which encourages new forms of church for a fast changing world, working with Christians from a variety of denominations and traditions. The initiative has resulted in hundreds of new congregations being formed alongside more traditional churches.

For more information check out the link to an introduction by Graham Cray.

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