Another Church is Bucking "The American Church" Trend

Churches don't do stuff like this.  Seriously, churches are supposed to be territorial.  I mean, that’s why non-Christians HATE church, right?   According to Dan Kimball, most Americans like Jesus, but they HATE the local church.  It’s an underwritten, never spoken of, rule that too many churches operate by.  They won’t admit it, but they do.  Churches are supposed to be jealous of another churches programs, growth, ministries, facilities, success, pastors … you get the picture.

 

But recently, I read an incredible story by Matt Graybill of LCBC.  It was an eye-opening post on the “selflessness” of an older congregation in our community.   Well, I found another … or should I say, “I experienced another” self-less congregation.

 

Bethany Grace Fellowship and my church (Victory Church) are pretty much different from one another.  Not in a bad way, just different.  We are suburban, they are rural.  We started in 2000, they started in 1957.  Their background is Mennonite, ours is Pentecostal.  We have guitar and drum solo’s … and a hazer … I don’t think they do that. :-)

 

But they lead by example.  I gotta admit, I am super impressed by Pastor Adam Nagle, his leadership team, and his church.  They understand something most younger congregations, in the American church, fail to realize … “The Principle of Sowing Seeds” in the Kingdom of God.  Last week, they decided to sow a seed and bless our young, growing, different-from-theirs, congregation with a cash offering.  You read that right, CASH OFFERING.  Nothing says, "I believe in you" like cash :-)  I couldn’t believe it.  I can’t wait to share this with our tribe this week at Victory.  That mature, God-honoring congregation that meets in East Earl, PA get it.  It's not about ME or my little world, or my little Kingdom, or my little program.   It is about expamding the Kingdom of God.  It's not just about "my interests", it's about supporting and strengthening the p;aces where God is working.  God is so much bigger then my little world.

 

Their selfless act got me thinking,  “What am I doing as a pastor to expand the Kingdom that is NOT under my direct watch??  What am I giving?  Who am I blessing?”  What if we all started a revolution?   What if, instead of tearing down other churches in the Kingdom (and in our back yard), we blessed them?  Just like BGF did for us.   The Lord is working in many places.   Our question should be, “What IS He doing and how can I be a part of it?”

 

Hats off to Pastor Adam and BGF.  We need more leaders and more churches that lead in our communities like these guys are doing.  I pray the Lord blesses Adam and his church in the gracious and abundant way they have blessed us.

 

THINK ABOUT IT:   Where is God moving?  How can you sow a seed into that ministry?  Who is taking risks?  How can you bless them? 

Comments

[Donna Hurley]

Thanks so much for this post, Pastor Curt! Similarly, one of my students (Dayspring) emailed me a request to sponsor her church building fundraiser...a soccer tournament! I was thinking, "Hmmm...I'm definitely in support of ...(my student), but why would I give to HER church building fund?" Really, I had been mulling this over for the last day or two then happened upon your blog. Your posting nailed it: we are all in this together! God's good is good for all! Bye now...I'm heading back to that email to support that fundraiser!

"So we, being many, are on body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).

Yours in Jesus, Donna Hurley