We live and minister in changing times. The world around us is rapidly changing and we need to re-examine how we do ministry. Leadership is about many things key among them,
- Influence others
- Inspire them
- Help them to grow
- Understanding the Times
Chronicles 12:32 “…The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command”
Haddon Spurgeon’s Story
Charles Haddon Spurgeon first went to Park Street Church in London when he was 19 years old. There he found a church with a seating capacity of fifteen hundred but with an attendance of under two hundred.
Nine years later, the Metropolitan tabernacle was built to accommodate the crowds that came to hear him preach. His sermons were published in Newspapers around the world; a school had been established to train new pastors, and a Corporate business was started to print evangelistic booklets. It is said that over 23,000 people had heard him preach during those years.
Spurgeon pastured the Metropolitan congregation for thirty-eight years. His congregation included six thousand worshippers and added fourteen thousand members. The Metropolitan Tabernacle was one of the most influential churches of the 19th Century.
In the year 1972, seventy-five years after Spurgeon had retired, some pastors visiting the Metropolitan Church counted only eighty-seven worshippers present for morning service. What had happened? The problem is that the world around the metropolitan Church had changed. The people had changed; but the church’s approach to ministry had remained the same. This made the ministry of the church ineffective to the people around it, and thus the fluctuation in attendance.
Change Agents
John C Maxwell, a writer and Christian leader has rightly said, “Everything rises or falls on leadership.” It is true that leadership determines success. The true measure of a leader is the ability to influence others, inspire them and help them grow. The true test of leadership on the other hand is causing and sustaining positive change. These are the kind of leaders God is looking for. Men and women who are ready to be used of Him as change agents in the world. People that are ready to cause and sustain positive change.
Church ministers are:
Salt of the Earth
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men
Matthew 5:13
Light of the world
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
This is to mean that what brought you here may not take you there; What has worked in the past may not work today. Some honest, intelligent, well-meaning, sincere people continue to pursue ministry with methods and programs that once worked well, but today are not as effective. We need the wisdom of the sons of Issachar here.
There is Much Negative Change in Our Times
Change, even transformative can be positive or negative. Evil people influence people in the wrong direction. Satan is a good example of a negative transformer. However the Bible is very clear in calling us not to conform to the times Romans 12:1-2
- Following the trends and forgetting where you are going
- Expecting worship leaders to be like the ones you see on Facebook
- Paying for big graphics and promos and suffering financially
- Going for celebrity styles when you are not one: bodyguards, guns, walkie talkies and sirens, etc.
- Changing spouses because the one you have is not measuring to the status in your head, etc.
- Our mission here is to talk of positive change
What Do We Mean by Change?
Change means to make or become different, to replace or exchange, to transform into, to bring variation or modification. All these can happen in the context of the church.
The church today stands at a point where it needs to become different and change the ways in which we have been doing ministry, transform the old ways and modify them to suit the new needs of society. This will require that we understand new variation so that we understand the trends and change with times, like the sons if Issachar
Why do need change? What necessitates it?
- Culture change
- Generational change
- Education and technology
- Economic change
- Social change
Why People Resist Change.
- People resist change due to several reasons, some of these are listed below;
- Fear of unknown. People become comfortable with old problems (The devil you know than the angel you don’t know)
- Challenge of new resources or skills. People fear the great cost that comes with change
- Taking comfort in what worked before. We become satisfied with the ways things are.
- Fear of losing control. Fearing to be losers in the event of change.
Areas To Consider Change In:
- The way we communicate or deliver messages
- Relevance
- Showing yourself approved in ministry by studying the word of God
- Facilities – Sometimes the location change what needs to be changed
- Personnel and skills combination within the church
- Expansion of individual capacity (2 talents -4, 5 to 10 into 2)
- Courageous leadership, this could even call for you as the leader to move those who need moving.
- Location – When the ground moves, you need to move. When the ravens stop bringing bread and the brook dries, it is time to move to Zarephath (there is another kind of provision there)
Becoming a Change Agent
There are many guides on steps that one could take on to begin the journey towards becoming the change agent in the society; however real change only occurs when an individual looks inward, to examine areas they need to change first. Be courageous enough to begin with yourself – Look into the mirror and see who you are, then check what you want to be. Just like enthusiasm, change is contagious. If change can begin with us, God will use us to impact the world.
Key Things in Bringing Change
- Have the vision of what needs to be done – Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. See where you are (insight) & see where you ought to be (foresight).
- Decisiveness – Make and implement decisions which will bring positive change
- Courage and Inspiration – You need Joshua’s change: “Be strong and Courageous”, and bring change where it is needed. Courageous leadership is contagious
- Assurance of God’s calling – If it is God’s project, you will not worry what men will say or do
- Be sure to bring glory to God – Submit to God not institutions or people
- Ability to take the initiative – Make things happen
- Creativity – See what no one else is seeing and find ways to present them to other people
- Think and devise in the mind then come up with plans to transform the church or any other institution you are leading.
- Ability to inspire and persuade others – Be able to mobilize others and lead them towards desired destiny
- Change agents are motivators and persuaders – Persuade others to be involved in bringing about desired change.
- Willingness to pay the price – You will be resisted, rejected; Be ready and willing to sacrifice time, resources, and comfort
- Change has risks – You will need the ability to persevere
- Refuse to give up in on undertaken endeavor – Have the ability to last long, to persist
- People will resist change –stay on and refuse to relent in the event of opposition, be tenacious and stay to the end.
In part two of this blog post, we close with a personal story of my calling as well as tools for change, challenges that growth brings, an how to keep your eyes on the vision as a leader.
