The Search for the Purposes of Church

During the time I agreed to lead our Wednesday night youth and the day I surrendered to the ministry, I was attempting to mimic other youth pastors and their methods of ministry.  I really had no budget to work with and not much money of my own to invest.  What I did have I spent on trying to make our Wednesday night youth appealing to our local students.  Honestly, that was an epic failure.    God had called me into His ministry not my ministry or the ministry of someone else.  My failure was trying to fulfill and mimic what others were already doing.  I was not seeking what God wanted to be done. 

It is funny how we have it in our heads that God needs all the fancy gadgets and latest technology to reach the lost.  The irony was in what I did have.  The digital projector was broken, I had no laptop, and the youth building was and still is the old church with no pews.  We did have an old pool table, a ping pong table and one basketball goal.  The floors were and still are bare.  The walls are just a plain white with grungy smudges everywhere.   No fancy lights, no fancy décor, no band, and no cool place to just hang out. What we had and still have is the blah boring bare minimum, a scratchy sound system, and an old school plastic sheet projector.  Most youth would walk in and think “really, are you for real!” and walk out.  In spite of all this, we are blessed beyond measure, we really are.  Today we do have a working computer projector and a somewhat working laptop. 

After several weeks of leading the youth, reality set in.  God wanted something different than what I was attempting to create and mimic.  If He really wanted what I was trying to do He would have provided for those needs.  So the big question was; “What was it that God had planned?”

The first night I led youth, there was 9 students in attendance.   Several weeks later there were 12-15.  Obviously something was wrong.  Please do not be mistaken, it’s was not about how many kids you can draw in and entertain.  It is about making an impact in the life of a student for Christ.  If you have a hundred or even a thousand and not one life is reached for Christ, then it is all in vain.  If you only have one and that one life is changed for Christ, then it is all worth every effort you have made. 

One fact I knew for sure was; we had more than one in our community that needed to meet the Lord.  I also realized that what I was doing really wasn’t what The Lord wanted.  The kids I was ministering to were the kids of parents who had been attending our church for years.  They all grew up in the church and they were expected to be a part of the youth group.  Not that this was a bad thing, because it was not.  The problem was our youth ministry was bound by the walls and membership of our church.  God never intended it to be that way. 

I began to pray faithfully, “Lord, what is it that our youth need? How do you want me to lead and minister?”  As I became more faithful in praying and more in tune to listening to God’s voice instead of making sure God heard my voice, I began to hear what He desired.  I began to realize that what God wanted was not entertainment it was church.  I began to see what God’s church looked like.  It had no walls or fancy comfortable interiors.  God’s church was the people.  With that in mind, I began to focus on what we did have and not what I thought we should have.  I no longer sought after the images of other youth groups; I sought after the images of Christ’s church and its purpose.

God began to put things on my heart and my mind of what He wanted.  It seemed like every time I asked He would respond “Church!”  As I would read His word and pray, I began to realize what Church was suppose to look like and what its purposes were.  When we make church what we want it to be and not what God has called it to be it may look attractive and nice on the outside, but in the inside, it is dead.  In my next post I will share what God showed me, and how He confirmed the purposes of His church. 

 

The picture is of a church in Romania.  the inside was absolutely gorgeous.  The outside was surrounded by homeless people with great need. There is something wrong with that. 

Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ’s love!

Baptized in a Lightening Storm, Now That Takes Faith

I was baptized at the Church of the Cross in Coral Springs, Florida.  To say the least I was very nervous, being that I was rather timid and shy.  Baptism was a huge event for me.  All eyes were on me as I stood before the church.  I remember being afraid that I would have to give a speech or something like that.  I really had serious fear issues back then, so for me to go before the church and be baptized was certainly a God thing I assure you. In-spite of my fear, I knew that my new life in Christ was so significant that I was willing to go beyond my comfort zone to make sure others knew that Jesus Christ was Lord of my life.  I was not going to be ashamed so going public was the way to prove it.

Right before my baptism, I remember my heart was racing, my breath was short, and I just knew I was going to die.  You may be thinking, that sounds just a little dramatic.  Well maybe it was.  On top of all the other fears I had about being a public spectacle, there was a fierce lightening storm going on as well.  Storms should not be a problem unless you were going to be baptized at the Church of the Cross.  Their Baptismal was outside.  The entire congregation gets to sit in the safety of the indoors, while the guy getting baptized has to go outside.  

Behind the pulpit was a large set of sliding glass doors leading to the outdoor baptismal. As the pastor was preparing me for what to expect, all I could hear was loud earth shaking rumbles of thunder and see intense flashes of light.  You would have thought the battle of Armageddon had started.  Yes, I was shy timid and hardly ever spoke much, but this was insane my life was at stake.  You do not ever; I repeat ever stand in a body of water when lightning is striking the ground all around you.  God granted me the strength and courage to speak.  With a cracked up voice that was fluttering because of the pounding inside my chest I asked the pastor, "Is this a good idea since the lighting is so close and intense?"  Without hesitation he replied, "Son, If God kills you, He can't use you anymore.  I don't think He is finished with you yet, let's go."  

Before I knew it we were in the baptismal, and the skies had parted.  I am serious the storm broke up like there was some kind of planned intermission going on.  I was submerged symbolically as a dead man in sin and then I was raised out of the water as a new life in Christ cleansed and redeemed by my spiritual birth.

I shared this story for two reasons.  One baptism is a command from God.  Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  If we have truly given our lives to Christ, Then we need to be obedient to Him.  Baptism in itself is nothing magical and it does not save you.  It is a celebration and testimony of your new found faith in Christ.  If you have accepted God's gift of eternal life through His son, then you will want to be baptized.  The second reason I shared this story was for what my pastor said to me, "Son, If God kills you, He can't use you anymore.  I don't think He is finished with you yet, let's go."  That statement has always stuck in my head.  Although I had a lot of fear, I always hoped it was true.  I had no idea of the magnitude of what God was going to do through a nobody like me.  God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. 

In accepting God's gifts of being Lord and savior, redemption of sin, and eternal life I was given a second life.  I can honestly say for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

I Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 
    

This is a picture of my cousin
being baptized recently

My plan is to continue sharing how God has not just changed my life, but how He has brought me to where He has me today.  God was certainly not through with me then.  It gets sweeter and sweeter as I have learned to surrender even more and more. 

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ's love!

A Brief Encounter, There Is A God!

There is a God; at least that is what I thought for a moment. Little did I know that a brief encounter with a beautiful blue eyed blonde would change my life forever. Let me start by saying, no one really has a clue how much God can use just the little things in life. Just a simple intentional smile or even a genuine hello can make a life changing difference. Most people have no clue what the person next to them is going through. Chances are they have things they are dealing with that you can't even imagine. It never fails; just when you think you have it bad, you find out someone has it even worse. Think twice before you react negatively or even ignore someone who for some unknown reason gets your attention. It may be the kid sitting all alone, it may be the single mom trying to buy groceries, it may be the stranded traveler, it may be the angry co-worker, it could even be the sweet old man eating lunch all alone. I'm just saying, opportunities await us every day to make a huge difference by just saying hello. All we need to do is simply open our eyes.

Going back to my sophomore year of high school:

My friend, Joe and I are walking into the high school on a cool fall day. As we entered the outer doors by the gym and locker room, my eyes were immediately fixed. "Wow!" I thought, "she is absolutely beautiful. What I wouldn’t give to date her." There she stood leaning against the far wall. White sneakers, blue jeans, yellow Wyoming hoodie, face like an angel, eyes of blue, hair blonde like the sands on the beach, and a smile that just makes your heart melt. In addition, she is the captain of the flag corp. "Wishful thinking you moron," I thought, "why would any girl like that even give you the time of day." Ok, stupid thought, but I can at least dream. Then I turned to joe and said "Hey Joe!" " What?" " Do you see that girl over there?" With a puzzled look on his face he replied, "Which one?" "The one leaning against the wall in the yellow hoodie." Joe grinned and said, "what about her?" "I am going to marry her someday." Joe replied "I'll let her know." "No you're not." "Oh yes I am…Hey Carri" Joe shouts. Of course I ran.

A few weeks had gone since my heavenly dream. As usual, I went to meet Joe by his truck after school. He was usually my ride. As I got close enough to the truck I suddenly realize, there stood that girl. You know the one I said I would marry someday. Before I could turn and Joe shouted my name, and called me over. "Bill this is Carri, she is a good friend of mine." With my head held low and with a nervous voice I said, "um hi."

Conveniently, that day, Joe just happened to have too many people to take home. Two of us had to ride in the bed of the pickup. You guessed it, Carri and me. I had never felt so nervous in my life, my heart was pounding for fear and excitement at the same time. I remember thinking "What do I say? Note to self, do not say a word she will think you are an idiot and never speak to you again. Besides she is gorgeous, popular, and way out of your league." The engine cranked and Joe slowly drove out of the parking lot. As we came to the exit from the school, Joe looked back in his rear view mirror and then proceeded to floor the gas and turn as sharp as possible. Carri went flying across the bed of the truck and just before she is launched into the atmosphere, she grabbed a hold of my leg and latched on for dear life. Immediately I thought, "There Is a God!" Our eyes met for the very first time. With a totally embarrassed look on her face Carri said "Hi! I'm Carri. It's nice to meet you, Bill."

Carri became my best friend from that day forward. I do not say that loosely. Every day she would ask how I was and give me a real hug. Short answers were never good enough for her. If I didn’t give her a genuine answer, she would not leave my side until I did. For the first time in my life, someone who was not family really did care. She would smile every time she saw my face. I could not even attempt to pass her unnoticed in the hallways of school. If she was anywhere close by, I would always hear, "Hey, Bill, come here." Most of the time that was always followed by a hug.

What I was looking for I finally found. My heart felt good every time I was in her presence. Why, because she was real and she truly cared. She always wanted to know how I really felt and she always wanted to give me a hug. I looked forward to seeing Carri's face each day. Why I would even skip the beach just to go to school and get a least one hug.

I did not know what it was, but there was something very special and very different about that girl. Just the thought of her being my friend made my heart feel good. Whatever it was, I wanted it and I wanted more of it. I now had a reason to live. No matter what, I was not going to mess her life up. I was going to be treated Carri like a queen, even though she had a tad bit of tomboy in her. I found that cute.

One person is all it took to give me just a hint of hope and joy. A chance encounter, probably not. God knew what He was doing. I just was not able to see His light, yet.



The picture is my AMAZING wife Carri, serving on the mission field in Nicaragua.


Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
At the time I saw the light, I just did not know what it was.

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ's love.