new song, same theme
met with a pastor from Russia yesterday (not really but in the general vicinity to protect his name). anyway this guy pastors a church that is about 20 years old. attendance somewhere around 500. God has given him a vision to do something new in worship, discipleship, and church planting. the conversation was very interesting.
he told me that some of the issues he faces are, guess what, 1. why are you changing worship, what’s the matter with the old ways, the old hymns, the old preaching, etc, etc, etc, his answer to me – it’s boring. (sound familiar). 2. why do you plant churches, the ones we have are not full, we are licensed by the state, why upset the officials, etc, etc, etc., his answer – is because God calls.
i am so humbled when i talk with a man such as my new friend. i gave him the teaching material we use here in our school of church planting. i thought he was going to cry. humbled. i quote a lot of people. this is not original material for the most part. it cost me nothing. it may cost him everything.
the other thing that impressed me was his passion. he had been trying to get an opportunity to get his ph.d. but has not had the money. i offered to help him contact some schools that may be able to fit his needs. he said to me that since God has given him this vision of church planting that he no longer has time to consider giving time to those academic pursuits. in his country (and in ours) time is short, people are going to hell and people worry about what hymns you sing, how you do discipleship, what name you use, and that my building is not full but you’re starting another church….AAARGH!
thank you my brother for blessing me with your story yesterday.
on another note, congratulations to Daryl Price, the new church planting director for the South Carolina Baptist. Daryl starts August 1. i’ve known Daryl since he graduated from seminary and started his first church. GA Baptist loss is South Carolina’s gain. i’ll miss you in GA, but anytime i can be of help, give me a call. Blessings.
