Evangelism - are there still Lost People ... (CLM 480)

Thu, 9 Oct 1997

Hi Rowland: Just wanted to respond to the latest letter I received from you. When we speak of the growth of =churches or lack thereof and why some have stopped growing we often use =terms like, "afraid of change, ministry changes required, new ways of =connecting and penetrating communities". I've been down that road so =many times. It is not my experience. I've come to identify the problem =as something a little more severe. =20 We have become a church that is consumer driven and commission driven. =In other words we are a wealthy church that can afford programs to =minister to ourselves. Incredible youth ministries, fabulous music and =worship teams, eloquent preachers, decorative buildings, and easy access =entrances. When a church puts it's budget together it looks at internal =ministries like kids programs and educational ministries, not to mention =all the ones I've listed already. How many of our churches would put =the salary of a full time evangelist on our church budget before a =building project or a youth ministry. A nearby church here paid nearly =$30,000 to have all the pew padded and isle runners put in. That would =have paid the salary of one evangelist for a year to devote to =evangelistic efforts in a community. But as usual it's our money and we =what the biggest bang for our buck, namely a ministry which enhances the =quality of my life. This is what is meant by consumerism within the =church, the brunt of the church work goes into educating Christians who =have been educated beyond their obedience level and generally padding =our pews, "adding to the quality of our lives". Part of the reason it is so hard for a servant of God to label =themselves as "evangelist" is because it means poverty. They have =financial needs like any other yet they are always last on the list for =budget concerns, unless your and "oversees" missionary. The reason they =are last, because it is not going to dramatically enhance the quality of =life for the person in the pew. It would be interesting to do a study =on the following... how much does it cost the evangelical church to =convert one sinner ... From my own denomination it's about $40,000. =While staggering think about it. The church exists for the purpose of =fulfilling the great commission, in essence every church carries on =business to do that one thing. So all of our ministry costs, divided by =the number of conversions. Hmmmm. I think you get the point.=20 Please don't label me as a cynic, I think any idiot can find fault, it =takes Godliness to make a difference. I was once told the church is =like Noah's Ark, "it's got a few holes but it's the only thing floating =and you best be onboard". As I travel from church to church when my own =lets me out the door, I make a habit of calling our churches to the =following.... 1. A renewed vision to the great commission 2. A commitment to think first of the lost and their conversion before =we look at internal ministries. "this one always bugs the pastor and CE =director". But hey what ever happened to "parents train up a child in =the way.....". 3. A significant and maintained evangelistic thrust each calendar year. 4. The goal of a full-time staff person called "evangelist". 5. That reproduction of our church be hailed the heroic rather than =redecoration. Thus ends the ramblings of one Jeff Sensenstein. ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail and most fax destinations. Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact. A PastorNET ministry: manager@pastornet.net.au

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