Recent Q and A:
“What are three hopes that you have for the future of your current ministry?” – I was recently asked this for the Q and A section of our state newspaper. Looking back through my answers frightened me and challenged me. What the heck are we thinking!?!?
1. Responsiveness to the needs of people – One of the filter questions we are using for decisions in our church is, “Will this allow us to stay close and be responsive to the needs of people in our community?” I’m hoping that our church can stay outward focused and unselfishly give ourselves away for years to come. I’ve been convicted as a church leader by this question about personal debt – “Do you think about living generously and then remember something you have or want?” Responsiveness and generosity must be a priority if it’s going to be a reality. Anything that keeps us from responsiveness and radical generosity must be eyed with great caution.
2. Reproducible. I hope that more disciples, leaders, ministries, and churches will result. Insisting on reproducibility forces us to keep things ultra simple and stretches our faith. We’re already planning for new expressions of Bridge Church in 2011, in surrounding communities. I’ve been wrecked by Ralph Moore’s question in How to Multiply Your Church – What’s better, a church of 400 taking on overhead, or 5 churches of 80 that can be responsive to the community and quickly reproduce itself?
3. Transformation. A question that I’m constantly asking myself as a leader: “What good is it if our church grows, but the community continues to deteriorate?” Disciples transform the world by responding to the needs and shaping the culture around them. I hope that we won’t settle for anything less than transformed lives and community. One of the things I’m most excited about is multiple dysfunctional family systems that we’re engaged in restoring around our community. Families that for generations have battled addiction, abuse, disease, etc. It’s hard, messy, discouraging at times, but when transformation is your goal, seeing someone sitting in the pew every Sunday isn’t enough. We insist on seeing God glorified in the daily and seeing a new road paved for future generations.
What are your most challenging hopes and dreams?
Posted on February 3, 2011, in Church Planting, Leadership, Ministry. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
Lane Corley 
The goal of transformation is indeed difficult. One would have to believe in miracles. I believe that I am one. It has been a hard and messy road for me and I have even been slacking in the pew. I know that by the glory of Jesus Christ I have changed. With the help of God’s Holy Spirit, I continue in my transformation into one who thirsts for the Word that nourishes my transformation. Only through God’s saving grace and His son, Jesus Christ, am I able to continue on seeking His presence. My hope is on Him. “Only by the blood,” (I hear my mother singing) am I made acceptable and forgiven.
That I should dream a dream acceptable to Him and live it out for His glory are the things about which I pray to Him. This year, 2011, I will continue in my transformation. Our lives are a gift from God. I continue to transform my life in obedience and praise to Him.
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