Family

Church Planting Series, Part ten

NFL quarterback and politician Jack Kemp died this month. Columnist Mona Charen, a former speech writer for Mr. Kemp, wrote a wonderful tribute to this accomplished American. At the end of her article she commented: “Though he achieved great things in public life, he managed to do it without neglecting his family. That is a man in full. He will be greatly missed.”

“A man in full.” Why? Because he was a champion football player? No. Because he overcame adversity throughout his life? No. Because he made a name for himself in the political world? No.

He was “a man in full” because he didn’t neglect his wife, his four children and his 17 grandchildren.

Being involved in church planting—-and any ministry for that matter—-can become all consuming. The excitement and constant demands can eat up every hour of the day. The plans for what’s coming next can dominate your thoughts. The needs of other people can pull you away from relationships in your life-—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

The question is: will you let your calling as a servant of Christ make you a “man in part,” an inattentive husband, a distracted father, an absentee family member, a short-fused presence around the house, a one-dimensional shell of a human being—all, allegedly, in the name of Jesus?

As ministry reached a frenzied pace, Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 6:31, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Our Savior who rose early in the morning to pray, who stuck to the outskirts of town to avoid crowds, and who knew when His time hadn’t come and when it had, was all about a healthy rhythm of life. He came to sacrifice His life, but He didn’t come to wreck His relationships. He came to put it all on the line, but He didn’t neglect the people in His life. No, He served them. He ate with them. He conversed with them. He washed their feet. He loved them.

Your primary witness of Christ’s love to the world starts with the people closest to you. It starts with your family. If you want the world to take notice of Jesus in you, it’s not going to be through a sermon or ministry program or church plant. But the world will take a close look at how you love your family, how you allocate your time and attention, and what kind of person you are when you’re not on stage.

Of course, loving your family and living a balanced life isn’t just so the world sees a good guy in action. You love your family because Christ first loved His. You love your family and devote time to them because you’ve made a commitment to do it. Most of all, because it’s joyful and delightful to cherish the gift God gave you in them.

It takes work to carve out dependable time for your spouse and children. It takes persistence and discipline to establish boundaries. As life changes, it takes trial and error to establish a trustworthy rhythm that honors your loved ones and allows you to serve God’s people faithfully. But finding this rhythm reflects the character of our Creator who rested. It also makes God’s self-sacrificial love real and demonstrable in your life.

An experienced pastor friend of mine said, “If you sacrifice your family on the altar of the church, the people of the church will not admire you. They’ll think you’re a fool.” Mona Charen might add that it is a high calling and a great legacy to end your life not as a “man in part,” but as “a man in full.”

Money, Money, Money

Church Planting Series, Part nine

I had a theology professor who never ever talked about money. He was a doctrine guy. He dug deeply into the richness of the person of Christ and mystery of the sacraments. He led us to marvel at the poetic creedal statements of the early church in the Scriptures. He dwelt in the heavenly realms and gave each of his students a glimpse of God’s glory and majesty.

Then one day—I think it was on the very last day of classes—he brought up the subject of money. Seemingly out of the blue he said, “Brothers, remember, there is never a shortage of money in God’s Kingdom. There is only a shortage of vision.”

Wow. Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever heard him speak about vision either! But this doctrine guy WAS all about the church of Jesus Christ. He WAS all about the Gospel and the need for every human being to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.

That’s why he brought up money.

We errantly believe that there’s not enough money out there, that money is THE big obstacle for ministry, that lack of money will always hinder Kingdom growth.

Hmmm, I seem to remember that, according to Jesus, even the gates of Hell cannot hinder the advance of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 16:18). So, what do you do about money?

First, DON’T BE AFRAID. As my professor said, there’s never a shortage of it-—even during an economic downturn. The Almighty God, Creator of all things, said in Psalm 50:9-10, “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.”

I love that verse. God’s portfolio has not been affected by this economic downturn. He’s got ownership papers for everything. There are no worries when He is in charge. He’s the ultimate creative Kingdom entrepreneur. He opens doors that no one can shut. Pray and trust in Him.

Second, ASK FOR IT. I’ve worked with many capital funding efforts. One lesson I learned early is that while many church leaders lament the shortage of money, not many actually ask for it. They teach ABOUT it, they dance AROUND it, but they never ask. Sometimes you know how much to ask for. Sometimes you have to give options. I remember talking with a couple who expressed the desire to help our ministry efforts by giving a memorial donation. I started by letting them know about the blessing of a $15 hymnal donation. I ended by letting them know about a $100,000 multi-media room they could donate. What did they choose? They donated the room! Who would have thought?

Don’t hide God’s giving opportunities. Some people need to hear what they can give.

Third, CONNECT IT TO THE MISSION. Money is not the goal; ministry is. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is. If the money doesn’t advance the Gospel, you shouldn’t be asking for it. If it does advance sharing the blood-bought gift of Jesus, then make the connection! People want to be part of that which impacts people’s lives for eternity. Share the vision, the dream, the heart of God.

Finally, SAY THANK YOU. I don’t mean simply writing a thank you note-—although you should definitely do that. Continue to affirm the Kingdom impact of people’s gifts. If you’ve shared the vision, then keep making the connection. This will lift up true stewardship. Years after the couple donated the multi-media room in memory of their 19-year-old son, I saw that it became a place where hundreds of young people heard about Jesus, brought their friends to hear about Him, and grew in discipleship and outreach together. I was blown away by God’s faithfulness. Look what He did! I jotted a note to the couple about how the dream they shared had born fruit and how many young lives were being brought to Christ in that very room. And I thanked them.

Giving people a chance to give money for God’s eternal cause is worthy and good. Don’t let the devil deceive you into thinking you should avoid the topic. And don’t let a shortage of vision for God’s Kingdom convince you that God’s plans are limited by YOUR checkbook balance.