Quotable: Lottie Moon
Lottie Moon served as a Missionary to China in the late 1800’s. The Southern Baptist Convention missions offering that was named after her has raised over $2.8 billion since it began. She could have been easily forgotten, because after a long & difficult missionary career, she died on a ship near Japan, without the money to even get herself back home to the states. But she lives on as an example of courage & gospel fervency. Here’s a few great quotes:
- “I do not believe that any trouble comes upon us unless it is needed, and it seems to me that we ought to be just as thankful for sorrow as for joys.”
- “The harvest is very great, the laborers, oh! so few. Why does the Southern Baptist church lag behind in this great work? …a young man should ask himself not if it is his duty to go to the heathen, but if he may dare stay at home. The command is so plain: ‘Go.'”
- “The needs of these people press upon my soul, and I cannot be silent. It is grievous to think of these human souls going down to death without even one opportunity of hearing the name of Jesus.”
- “It fills one with sorrow to see these people so earnest in their worship of false gods… Then to remember the wealth hoarded in Christian coffers! … Should we not press it home upon our consciences that the sole object of our conversion was not the salvation of our own souls, but that we might become co-workers with our Lord and Master in conversion of the world?
- “I have a firm conviction that I am immortal ’til my work is done.”
Found written in the fly leaf of her Bible after her death:
- “O, that I could consecrate myself, soul and body, to his service forever; O, that I could give myself up to him, so as never more to attempt to be my own or to have any will or affection improper for those conformed to him.”
For more info on the life of Lottie Moon, pick up Danny Akin’s short book 10 Who Changed the World.
When It Comes to Character, Make No Exceptions
“David had lived an exemplary life before God all his days… (EXCEPT for that time with Uriah the Hittite)”
1 Kings 15:5 MSG.
David with Uriah’s Wife. Picture from the History Channel’s Bible Miniseries.
An “EXCEPT” in relation to your character could change the course of history for your family. David made an exception in his mission, by not going out to battle with his armies (2 Samuel 11:1). He made an exception in his obedience to God, by sleeping with another man’s wife, then having that man (Uriah the Hittite) killed to protect his own image (2 Samuel 11-12). The result was death, brokenness, & pain for David’s family, along with the curse of division & war in David’s family line forever (2 Samuel 12:10). Make no mistake, the “EXCEPT” in parentheses in David’s life was devastating. And it would be devastating for you & I as well. Make no exceptions in your relation to your character & put no parenthetical “EXCEPT” next to your testimony & family name.
- What exceptions are you making, considering, or imagining for yourself? (“I don’t have to go to church” ; “It will never happen to me” ; “It’s just this once” “No one will ever find out”) In relationships, spiritual disciplines, habits & beliefs?
- If there is already an “EXCEPT” in your life, have you repented & allowed God to bring healing? (see Psalm 32 & 51) And how have you moved past the temptation to make sin common & OK in your life?
- Ask God to help you put a period instead of parenthesis on your testimony forever.
Are You Producing Thanksgiving?
Generosity and on mission living comes with a promise: It will “produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11 ESV). Or as another translation says, “Then many people will thank God…” (2 Corinthians 9:11 CEV), as a response to the generous, on mission Christian.
- Who is giving thanks today, because of you and your investment in God’s kingdom?
- Has your life on mission & in obedience to God produced thanksgiving in others?
- Is the community giving thanks for your church because of the on mission members scattering for their good?
A goal for next year: Produce Thanksgiving to God in others by following Jesus into life ON MISSION.
10 Reasons to Attend the Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention
Looking forward to being at the Alexandria Riverfront Center with many partners in the Gospel from all over Louisiana. If you’re on the fence about coming, here’s 10 reasons to consider:
10. Bread Pudding in the Exhibit Area! (Also heard there would be Jambalaya at the DR booth, probably more)
9. Reunite with friends and network with new ones.
8. Inspirational preaching in every session.
7. Free stuff you could actually use in worship and ministry.
6. The election of a new president.
5. Ed Stetzer (he’s also speaking at my team’s luncheon, Tuesday at noon. It’s full, but you can beg me for a ticket & I might let you in).
4. An opportunity to get away from the grind of ministry and to be ministered to!
3. Inspiring music – from traditional, to contemporary, to bluegrass.
2. The 2020 Final Report on Monday evening (calls for 300 church plants, which is cool).
1. Hundreds are praying for awakening, revival and resurgence in the LBC.
Full schedule & other info HERE.
The Solution for Church Health and Revitalization
The people that have left your church are not coming back.- Your sponsor church is probably not going to send you any more people.
- If you have denominational funding, it will not flow forever.
- You might attract a few people from another church with a “night of worship” or “Deeper Bible Studies” or “the best ___ ministry in the area” but there’ll eventually be more attractive shows than yours.
- There are not likely to be an influx of evangelicals move into your community.
The answer for the questions, “How do we grow?” “How do we survive?” “How do we turn it around?” AND “How do we grow the kingdom?” “How do we obey Jesus?” IS:
“GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of ALL nations…” Matthew 28:19.
The solution Jesus gives us for church health, kingdom growth, world transformation is REACHING NEW PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL. And it’s a solution with “ALL AUTHORITY” backing it (Matthew 28:18).
Not new or better staff, facilities, music, kids ministry, etc. Those are steps along the way of a churches obedience to Jesus’ great solution.
What solutions are you seeking? If it doesn’t include taking the gospel to unchurched people in your community and beyond, SCRAP IT & start over at Matthew 28:18-20.
3 Keys to Breaking Growth Barriers: Bedico Baptist Church
Sunday night two churches connected that are on the opposite sides of a couple of church growth barriers. The church that’s broken those barriers was Bedico Baptist Church. Located in a fairly remote, rural area on Hwy 22 between Ponchatoula & Madisonville, LA, the church has grown from 27 to near 400 in regular attendance in about 15 years. Last night three lay leaders from Bedico got together to share what they thought were keys to breaking growth barriers & growing a rural church beyond expectations. Here’s what they said were the keys:
Prayer & Faith.- Putting the needs of the unchurched ahead of our own.
- Intentional processes for developing people.
I’ll add a couple of keys from personal involvement & observations with Bedico:
- Increased Missions Involvement.
- A Culture of Yes.
Prayer & Faith
When asked what was the number one key to growth, the answer was PRAYER. Glenn Sanchez, retired school teacher who ended up serving on staff with Bedico, said the most important thing that happened was starting a prayer partner ministry that got people praying together for the spiritual needs of the church & community. He said, “When we involve God, we get what God can do, not just what we can do.”
Margaret Wedgeworth came to the church in 1970 & served as a leader during several stages of growth, talked about how many issues came up that there was no human answer for, but God provided when people prayed.
Caleb Miller, who was 10 when he came to the church & now serves as Youth Minister, also said that from a young age he saw how important prayer was to the ministry of the church.
Putting the needs of the unchurched ahead of our own
Margaret Wedgeworth said that she remembered a meeting where the former Pastor Leo Miller, said to the church, “If we’re going to reach this community, we’ve got to look past what people wear, look like, & the color of their skin.” She said she believes that was the point when Bedico began to grow. The condition of the heart & soul became more important to the church than outward appearance.
According to Sanchez, the church put a real emphasis on the unchurched. The clear mission of reaching unchurched people for Christ became a filter for decisions & event planning. Some church events were even moved off site just because unchurched people might not attend if it was at the church. Members were challenged to host home Bible Studies not inviting friends at church but unchurched neighbors, friends, & relatives. Then when they came, not feed them coffee & cookies, but steak & fried fish.
Bedico also had the goal of becoming known in the community. The church is in a fairly remote area & many people didn’t pass by so to become known they focused on community outreach. At one point the church sent out postcards to the community asking if they needed any repairs on their homes. Hundreds of members served specific needs of the community. They conducted Block Parties, Crawfish Boils at members homes & local community centers, etc. “When we got out, people began to come in” said Sanchez.
Intentional Processes to Develop People
Margaret Wedgeworth recalled intentional efforts to connect with guest & people in need in the community through sending cards & praying for them. The church also started a New Members Class & a Meet Bedico Baptist Church Info Meeting to introduce church life & membership to those new to church. The church restructured internally from committees to ministry teams that were focused on getting everyone involved. Sanchez said, “When we were able to get people connected with a small group & a ministry team, we found they stayed with us for the long haul.”
Leaders also emphasized daily quiet times as a part of growing the church. Intentional effort was made to reach new people & then help them grow.
A few other things I’ve noted as keys to growth as I’ve been a part of Bedico’s story over the past 4 years:
- Increased Mission Involvement. In 1997 & before, the church reported on it Annual Church Profile a big zero under mission involvement. Beginning in 2002, that began to change. In 2002, 40 people participated in missions. In 2007, 68 participated in missions & in 2010, 136 participated in missions. Along with an increase in missions participation, Bedico sent out 12 people & over $60,000 to start a new church in a neighboring community.
- A Culture of Yes. I can say that I’ve experienced a “can do” spirit from the people of Bedico Baptist Church. As a congregation they see the possibilities, they’re not afraid to make sacrifices & face challenges. And over the past few years, I’ve asked some crazy questions: “Can I borrow 100 tables?” – “Can you house 100 volunteers in your SS rooms?” – “Can we park four trailers in your parking lot?” & more, but have always gotten, “Yes, we can do that!”
Today Bedico is working on breaking the 400 Growth Barrier but continue to reach unchurched people in their remote community. In a state where 82% of the churches are 125 & below, we need more breakout stories like Bedico’s if we’ll continue to push back the darkness into the next generation.
What have been keys to growth at your church? Does your church have prayer, reaching the unchurched, & intentional discipleship as part of its makeup? Growth takes intentionality.
Community Impact AND Church Growth = Success
- “What difference does it make if your church grows but the community stays the same?”
- “If community transformation became the measure of our success, how would our churches and our communities look different?”
- “If the church were absent from the community would anyone miss it except for its own members?”
- “If you asked someone in your community who doesn’t go to your church what your church is known for, what would they say?”
- “How sad we’ve settled for a growing campus instead of striving for a transformed community.”
Challenging questions/quotes from Bob Roberts books Transformation & Multiplying Church that have pushed me to measure more than just the nickels & noses on Sunday’s at church. It’s easier to count nickels & noses & its more instantly gratifying. Now, after four years of insisting on community impact along with a growing crowd on Sunday, we’ve found the community tallying up our success for us.
A 2012 Graduating Class from Project 180.
This week officials from our local sheriff’s dept called to confirm some of the numbers from our ministry called Project 180. It’s a 26-week Discipleship/Recovery Course that seeks to prepare men in local work releases for re-entry into society after incarceration. We currently have over 125 men in the course in two facilities. We’ve had over 500 men participate since 2010 & 210 have completed the course & been rewarded with time off their sentence by the Dept of Corrections. The sheriff’s dept informed us that these numbers mean that our program has saved tax payers around $238,000 since 2010. They’re also tracking a decrease in recidivism (inmates returning to jail after release, which costs on average $24,000 per year) & credit programs like ours for helping with that. Great to see the community measuring the impact of the body of Christ!
And for us, we’re still tracking the church growth stuff as well. 30+ men have been baptized, over 100 have been saved, over 100 have participated in a Sunday morning Bible Study at the jail each week, and over 100 volunteers have served at the facility.
How is the community measuring the impact of your church? What is a big need in your community that your church could begin to address? Where is the church not, & how can you go there to bring community transformation?
Missional Pastor’s Appreciation
What do you get the Pastor of a Missional Church when Pastor Appreciation Sunday falls on a weekend that the church SCATTERS instead of GATHERING? A Mean Tool Belt! One of the best Pastor’s Appreciation Gift I’ve ever gotten. Only problem is, now my wife thinks I can fix all the stuff around the house myself :/.
And a few pics from our Faith in Action Sunday. We worshiped at a local park, did home makeover projects for elderly residents & a single mom in Covington, & sponsored a family day for inmate families at a local jail:
Before & After for an elderly couple in Covington
Before & After for a single mom in Covington
Father & Son moments
Block Party for inmate families at our local jail.
Church Planters Never Quit
The Church Planting journey can be lonely and discouraging. My journey has had its moments. Few friends have kept me going like Larry & Pat Badon. Larry would often call just at the right time to say, “How’s the family?” “How’s the boys?” “You been hunting lately?” And other questions that make you feel again after tough times. Yesterday was Larry’s last day as Church Planting Strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He retires after planting church in New York state & training hundreds for the church planting journey in Louisiana. I’ve learned a lot from Larry & have appreciated his passion for the unchurched & for doing life at full speed. When asked yesterday what he’s going to do in retirement, he just said, “I want to do what I can to reach more people for Jesus.” Church planters never quit, but hopefully they’ll get the chance to retire with as much fruit to look back upon as Larry has.
True or False: “We are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord”
2 Corinthians 4:5 HCSB
What thought do people walk away from our churches with? “That church does cool things” or “Jesus Christ is Lord”? In today’s world of ministry design & branding, which I love, I don’t want 2 Corinthians 4:5 to be untrue of my church. If people walk away with knowledge of how to weave through our church system, but without Jesus, we fail. If I spend more time talking about how cool my church is than I do about Jesus, I fall short of giving them something of eternal value. If I invite people to church, but not to Jesus, I may be just another of millions of sales pitches a person hears along their journey through life.
Logos, signs, T-shirts, websites, Facebook banners, Series graphics will fade away. So lets be sure our ministry design doesn’t overshadow & points people directly to the truth: Jesus Christ is Lord!
