Ten Reasons I Am a Pastor by Joh MacArthur

I remember reading Iain Murray's excellent biography of Jonathan Edwards. I found much to identify with, especially the personal heartaches Edwards endured as pastor of the same church for twenty-three years. After all that time his flock voted him out.

I've been the pastor of Grace Community Church now for forty wonderful years. While I don't envision a fate like Edwards's, I know what it is to be the subject of controversy, both inside and outside the church.

Have I ever contemplated leaving the pastorate? Admittedly, there are times when even the prospect of digging ditches for a living has a certain appeal. But I know God has called me to be a pastor, and I have never seriously considered bailing out.

Someone once suggested that I could leave my church if I wanted to and still have a fruitful ministry preaching on the Bible-conference circuit and through radio, thereby avoiding the hassles of leading a church. I could never do that. In fact, I can think of at least ten reasons I remain committed to church ministry.

1. The church is the only institution Christ promised to build and bless. He said, "I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it" (Matthew 16:18). Christ's purpose in the world is to call to Himself a redeemed people who would live to the praise of His glory. He is building the church. In that I take great comfort and confidence, thankful for having a small part in our Lord's great work.
2. The corporate functions of the Body all take place in the church. The church is where God has ordained His people to meet together to celebrate the Lord's Supper, to worship Him, and to encourage and edify one another. It's my joy to call God's people to worship, just as the psalmist said, "Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand" (Psalms 95:6-7).
3. Preaching is the chief human means God uses to dispense His grace. The apostle Paul commanded Timothy to "preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:2). I have the privilege each Sunday of proclaiming God's message to His people-a message of grace, by which God saves people and transforms lives.
4. I can be consumed with study and communion with God. There's a public side to me that the congregation sees, but there's a private side to me that only God knows. While I might preach three hours a week, I study thirty. And those hours spent each week in God's presence are a high and holy privilege.
5. I am directly responsible to God for the lives of the people He has given me to shepherd. Teaching on the radio and the internet, I'm not as personally accountable for how people apply God's Word. But as the pastor-teacher of a congregation, I have a relationship with my people like that of a shepherd and his sheep. I watch over their souls as one "who will give an account" (Hebrews 13:17).
6. I am also accountable to the people in my church. Everything is exposed to them: my life and family, my personal strengths and weaknesses-everything. I cherish that accountability. It is a constant encouragement for me to reflect Christ in everything I say and do.
7. I love the challenge of building an effective leadership team from the people God has put in the church. When someone starts a business, he can hire anyone he wants. It's another thing entirely to build with the people God has called, when few of us are wise, mighty, or noble by the world's standards (1 Corinthians 1:26). God reveals the greatness of His power by demonstrating that the world's nobodies are His most precious resources.
8. The pastorate embraces all of life. I share the joy of parents over the birth of a child, as well as the pain of children over the death of a mother or father. I help celebrate at a wedding; I also offer comfort at a funeral. There is an inevitable unpredictability that accompanies my calling-an incredible adventure may begin at any given moment. It is at those times that the pastor goes beyond his sermon to stand in the gap for God in the lives of His people.
9. The rewards in this life are marvelous. I feel loved, appreciated, needed, trusted, and admired-all a result of being an instrument God has used in the spiritual progress of His people. I know my people pray for me and care deeply about me. I owe a debt of gratitude to God for that. I am honored to be a channel through which the grace of God, love of Christ, and comfort of the Holy Spirit can be made real to people.
10. I'm afraid not to be a pastor. When I was eighteen, the Lord threw me out of a car traveling seventy miles an hour. I landed on my backside and slid 110 yards on the pavement. By the grace of God I wasn't killed. As I stood up on that highway, having never lost consciousness, I committed my life to serving Christ. I told Him I would no longer resist what He wanted me to do, which was to preach His Word.

God has called me to be a pastor-teacher "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service" (Ephesians 4:12). The reward of being a pastor far surpasses any frustration I will ever feel in ministry. And so I say with the apostle Paul, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).

SOURCE: http://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/ten-reasons-i-am-a-pastor-11599219.html

© Copyright 2009 by Grace to You. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Article originally appeared February 5, 2009.

Why People Leave and How to Bring Them Back by Thom S, Rainer and Sam S. Rainer

Do your neighbors go to church? If not, do you know why? Their reasons are probably not the ones you’d expect. New research reveals why people leave churches and what you and your church can do to bring them back.

The e-mail subject line simply read “uh-oh.” Hesitant to open the message from his friend Justin, Erik reluctantly clicked to see only a link. Again, he clicked. Up popped an article on a popular news Web site about yet another controversy in the evangelical Church.

Erik wasn’t angry. In fact, he was well acquainted with his friend’s cynicism about the Church. Quickly, he typed a pithy response: “And what are you going to do about it?!”

But before he hit “send,” a nagging feeling in his gut suggested that his clever reply wasn’t the best response. Instead, he took the high road and once again ignored his friend’s quips.

Justin is like many people. While he once faithfully attended a local church, he no longer goes. He claims he’s a Christian, disillusioned by the problems he’s seen in his local church and other churches. He hasn’t darkened the door of a sanctuary in several years.

Recently, LifeWay Research (lifewayresearch.com) conducted a survey of formerly churched adults in America, hoping to uncover certain trends about the de-churched. While our results gave a great deal of insight into the minds of the formerly churched and why they left, they also revealed some common themes on how to bring them back. Our findings were cause for both worry and encouragement.

Most of us know someone like Justin who no longer attends church. And it’s no surprise that the U.S. Church is in a general state of decline. The magnitude of the decline, however, is staggering. Of the 300 million people in the United States, fewer than 20% regularly attend church. And our research suggests that close to 7.9 million people may be leaving churches annually. Crunch the numbers, and you realize that our churches are probably seeing more than 150,000 people walk away each week!

WHY DID THEY LEAVE THE CHURCH

The overwhelming numbers of this exodus motivated us to discover the reasons behind it. Our research revealed several common themes as to why such a sizable segment of the local church body is choosing the exit door.

Change in life situation

The number 1 reason for leaving church is a life change that prompted people to stop attending worship. In fact, almost 60% of de-churched people said that some adjustment to their lives is the primary reason why they no longer attend church.

Specifically, one-third of the formerly churched believe they are simply too busy for church. To them, life changes—often family or home needs—are as important or more important than attending a local church. Several people reported that family responsibilities were causing them to feel too busy to attend church. And women (64%) are more likely than men (51%) to feel this increased pressure from home responsibilities.

One of the more surprising results about the formerly churched was the tendency to blame a physical move away from their home church as a reason for not returning to any church. About 28% of those reporting lifestyle changes said that a move to a new location caused them to stay away from the Church. Such a reason for leaving the Church demonstrates a great need for more outwardly focused churches. When a person or family moves to a new place and feels no motivation to join another church, it’s up to congregations within that community to reach out to them.

Disenchantment with the church

Like Justin, a number of the de-churched claim they’re disenchanted with the current state of their church. And 37% say this disillusionment is one of the primary reasons for leaving. Perhaps even more surprising than this percentage are the reasons for their cynicism. One major factor is their view of the pastor. They perceive the pastor to be judgmental, insincere, and lacking good preaching abilities.

It’s interesting to note that only 15% of those who feel displeasure with the church say it’s due to a moral or ethical failure of the church leadership. While the local and national press often have a field day with moral breakdowns of pastors, that’s not a major contributing factor to people deciding to leave the Church.

The unloving church

Not only is the pastor a contributing factor to discontentment within the church, the way the formerly churched perceived the people within the church also motivated their leaving. Of the formerly churched who expressed dissatisfaction with those in the church, 45% said the other members were judgmental and hypocritical.

In 1 Cor. 1:10, the Apostle Paul urged the church to preserve unity, having “no divisions” within the body. Our research shows that unity is key in the success of a church maintaining a healthy percentage of its members. If church members hold grudges against each other and don’t seek to sustain harmony within the body, people will leave. In fact, of those who said the church is unloving, many left because they didn’t believe God was at work within it. Clearly, for God to use a local body for His glory, it must keep a balance of unity and love.

Not Christians

One of the biggest mission fields may be the people sitting in your church every week. While no one will ever know exactly how many attending worship are believers, many are leaving the Church because they were never Christians in the first place. Our survey found that about a quarter of people leaving the Church expressed a change in beliefs or simply lost interest in religion. Of that group of people, 62% stated that they had stopped believing in organized religion altogether.

Don’t miss the enormity of this issue. Not only are people leaving the Church, but many are coming in and out your doors without meeting Christ. Inevitably, some will simply refuse to accept Christ no matter how evangelistically healthy a church becomes. But a large group of people, possibly tens of thousands who could be reached for Christ, are leaving the Church.

BRINGING THEM BACK

Without a doubt, the American Church has a major problem as millions of people leave each year. But we think there’s a reason to remain optimistic. The second portion of our research focused on how the Church can bring these people back into a local body. What we uncovered were some simple, yet exciting factors that could help people return to the Church.

First and foremost, a considerable number of the de-churched said they’re willing to come back. While many are not actively seeking a church now, a large majority (62%) is open to the idea of returning. Conversely, only a small minority (28%) of the formerly churched is unlikely to consider returning in the foreseeable future. So these findings should be a huge encouragement to you. The question is what specifically can we do to see them return?

The power of the invitation

Perhaps one of the most underestimated reasons people return to the Church is that someone simply invited them back. Overall, 41% of the formerly churched said that they would return to the local church if a friend or acquaintance invited them. Younger adults are even more influenced by the power of the invitation. Approximately 60% of those 18–35 would consider returning to church if someone they knew asked them to come back.

A simple, yet powerful invitation is all it may take to prompt a homecoming for the dechurched. Is your church equipping people to invite others back? When someone strays from the church, friends and family should be there to encourage him or her to return.

Make a difference

Almost a third of the formerly churched mentioned that if they were to return to church, they would want to be part of a local body where they can make a difference. By and large, people within the church are more fulfilled in ministry when they sense that God is using them. And churches with high expectations of their members are more likely to draw people back into the fold. The de-churched may have left due to insincerity, but it’s the high standards and expectations that draw them back. People want to serve and know that they are contributing something significant. Making new members aware that the bar is set high for their contribution does not deter but rather motivates them to be a part of the local church.

TOP THREE MOTIVATING FACTORS

While simply inviting a friend back or letting someone know he can personally make a difference are practical ways to bring people back to the Church, two of the top three motivating factors for returning are spiritual in nature. First, almost half of those who are considering returning to the Church said that they would do so because they feel it will bring them closer to God. Second, not only do people return to the Church because God is working in their hearts, but also because they sense a void in their lives. Over a third of the de-churched said that they would return to fill the emotional and spiritual gaps they’ve felt since leaving.

The third motivating factor for those returning to the Church is to be around those who hold similar values. Almost one-third said they’d want to return to a church in which people held the same moral standards as them—something to think about if your church is wrestling with how it will stand on moral issues. A church that compromises in that area only deters anyone who’s looking to the Church for both high standards and people with similar values.

The present reality is that too many people are walking away from our churches. But we’re optimistic about the future. We frequently hear about churches that are actively seeking ways to bring people back into a local body. And we know that while de-churched people like Justin are all too common, they may also be only one small step away from being de-churched to becoming re-churched.

6 SURPRISES ABOUT THE DE-CHURCHED

1. The de-churched are not mad at the Church. While many within the Church might view someone’s departure as a sign that they’re angry, that’s not the case. Very few of the formerly churched expressed hostility toward the local body.
2. Young adults return out of obedience to God. Almost half of those aged 18 to 35 cited that reason. Today’s younger generation is sometimes viewed as rebellious or shunning God. While rebellion certainly applies to some, a large segment of young adults are returning for spiritual reasons.
3. The de-churched don’t feel awkward about coming back. Only 15% mentioned that they would feel awkward. So the Church shouldn’t feel awkward about seeking out those who have left and asking them to return.
4. Denominational preferences do not change among those who have left the Church. Fewer than 20% prefer to attend a church of a different denomination. Conversely, 64% of those who have left would prefer to attend a church of the same denomination. Clearly, denominational preference is not the impetus behind those who leave.
5. The second visit is crucial among those returning to the church. Almost two-thirds of the de-churched maintained that they would like to remain anonymous until their second visit if they were to return. While our churches should remain amiable and open to all guests, perhaps we should focus on second and third-time guests as much as first-timers.
6. Application of biblical teaching is important to those who return to the Church. Many within the de-churched camp affirmed that if they were to return, they’d seek a church that offered engaging and realistic dialogue about God and life. So the de-churched aren’t concerned with ancillary items, but rather sound biblical teaching that applies to their lives.

_____________________________________________

Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources (lifeway.com). Sam S. Rainer III is the president and CEO of Rainer Research (rainerresearch.com). LifeWay Research conducted the study among 469 non-churchgoers in September 2006.

Year 2011: The Year of Something BIG

This year is all about receiving and experiencing BIG things from God. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) says: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Three important things that we need to have in order for us to experience BIG things for God:

1. Beautiful Vision - we need to use our spiritual eyes to see the beauty of the vision God has given us in His Word which is encapsulated in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
2. Intense Passion - we need to have a fiery heart which will achieve the impossible. We need to believe that God can do it through us.
3. Glorious Mission - we need to fulfill God's command to us because it is the only thing that will give him the glory due his name.

Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for ride of your life. Be ready to receive the BIG things God has in store for all of us!

2010 is the YEAR of GREATNESS!

GREAT THINGS are being prepared by God for all those who are FAITHFUL!

For 2010 we will...

• Experience Great Power
• Win Great People
• Travel Great Places

John 14:12 (New Living Translation)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me

will do the same works I have done,

and even greater works,

because I am going to be with the Father. ...”

A Prophetic Word for Year 2010

Before reading the words of this prophecy

please READ and LISTEN

to the message of 1 Peter and 2 Peter....

This is the prophetic word for all of us this 2010...

Great things will happen this year. There will be great revival for all churches. Great restoration of relationships, finances, physical deformities, emotion and of life. There will be great hunger for God's Word. So go out to reap the harvest all you reapers for the harvest is plentiful. Get your sickles ready and run after them. Miracles upon miracles, healings upon healings, signs and wonders upon signs and wonders will take place, you will see and experience for the glory of the Lord will be greater than the former.

So enlarge the place of your tent; lengthen your cords, stretch out your tent curtains wide; strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left. Do not be afraid anymore. For I will continually uphold you with my righteous right hand. My favor will be with you always. It will surround you as with a shield.

You will no longer borrow rather you will lend to many. This is the year when I will lift you up as high as never been before. My great peace will dwell in your house, now and forever. For I have chosen you. I will be with you. You will be victorious!

ISAIAH 43:18-19 (NIV)

"Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up;

do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland."

This is really a GREAT YEAR to START SOMETHING NEW!

AN OPEN LETTER FOR ALL FJC OUTREACHES

Sa lahat ng mga “Faithful” Pastors, Ministry & Cell Leaders, Workers at Members,

Isang mapagpalang pagbati mula sa mga Leaders, workers at kapatiran ng FJC central church.

Ngayong araw na ito ay sabay-sabay nating ipinagdiriwang ang unang pasko ng pagdating ng ating minamahal na Panginoong Jesus sa ating mundo. Ito ay taimtim na panahon ng papuri’t pagsamba, panalangin, pakikinig sa kanyang Salita, pag-aalay ng mga ikapu at love offerings, at lalung-lalo at pasasalamat sa kanyang pagdala ng kaligtasan at kaginhawaan sa ating buhay at sa buhay ng lahat nating kapatiran. Minarapat namin, mula dito sa central church, na mailapat ang tema ng ating pagdiriwang sa pamagat na “Think RED.” At ang talatang gabay ay hinango natin mula sa Lucas 2:11 na nagsasabing: “Ito ay sapagkat sa araw na ito sa lungsod ni David ay ipinanganak sa inyo ang isang Tagapagligtas. Siya ang Cristo na Panginoon.”

Ito ay pagpapaalala sa atin ang Mabuting Balita (o Gospel) ng ating Panginoong Jesus. Ano ang Gospel? Ayon sa 1 Corinto 15:1-5, “1Mga kapatid, ipinaalam ko sa inyo ang ebanghelyo na ipinangaral ko sa inyo na inyo ring tinanggap at inyong pinaninindigan. 2Sa pamamagitan din nito kayo ay ligtas, kapag nanghahawakan kayong matatag sa salitang ipinangaral ko sa inyo, maliban na lamang kung sumampalataya kayo nang walang kabuluhan. 3Ito ay sapagkat ibinigay ko na nga sa inyo nang una pa lamang ang akin ding tinanggap, na si Cristo ay namatay para sa ating mga kasalanan ayon sa mga kasulatan. 4Siya rin ay inilibing at siya ay ibinangon sa ikatlong araw ayon sa mga kasulatan. 5Siya ay nagpakita kay Cefas at gayundin sa labindalawang alagad.” Bottom-line: “Ang ating Panginoong Jesus ay Diyos na nagsakatawang tao na napanganak ni Maria, lumaki sa pangangalaga ni Jose, nagpatuloy sa gawain ng kaharian ng kanyang Ama, ipinako sa krus, namatay para sa ating kasalanan, nabuhay muli, at muling babalik sa mundo natin upang iligtas ang lahat ng tapat sa kanya.” Mga kapatid ang Gospel na ito ay para sa lahat ng Cristiano--bago man sa pananampalataya o matagal ng tumatangkilik sa Diyos. PARA ITO SA LAHAT!

Kahit wala ang katawang laman namin diyan, tayong lahat ay magkakasaman sa diwa at espiritu sa pamamagitan ng patnubay ng Banal sa Espiritu. Ipinamamanhik namin na sa paghahanda ng pag-celebrate sa kapaskuhan at bagong taon huwag nating kalimutan ang tatlong mahahalagang bagay:

1. Ayusin, palakasin, at pagyamanin natin ang RELATIONSHIP natin para ating mga kamag-anak, kaibigan at mga ka-church
2. Ipasok at ibahagi natin ang GOSPEL sa ating mga reunion, parties, celebrations, atbp.
3. Ialay at i-dedicate nating ang ating sarili sa buhay na puno ng HOLINESS.

Kaya don’t forget to THINK RED by focusing on the Gospel this CHRISTMAS and expecting a YEAR OF GREATNESS for 2010. God will make us Experience GREAT POWER, He will lead us to GREAT PEOPLE, and he will send us to GREAT PLACES!

Ang inyong mga Punong-Lingkod,

Pastors TOTO and MITCH

(SIGNED)

KULAY NG PASKO, Ang Nais Ko Ay... by Ate Lotts Fabellore

Green, yellow, red, orange, gold at blue, ilan lamang sa mga kulay na nagbibigay buhay at sigla sa iba’t ibang bagay at aspeto ng kapaskuhan… kadalasan pangit ang husga sa walang masyadong kulay at matindi pa diyan tingin dito’y patay. Sa kabila ng ganitong impresyon sa totoo lang hangad parin ng marami ang Puting Pasko. Kakatuwa talaga ang tao. Pero kung iisipin, kung kulay nga ang Pasko, ano nga kaya ‘to?

Meron kayang ayaw ng White Christmas? Sabi nila’y, Paskong masaya, malaking bonus, may Christmas tree, maraming regalo at pagkain, kantahan, may snow, malamig at pamilyang nagdiriwang na may mainit na samahan. Idagdag mo pa ang mga batang ayaw magmimintis sa kanilang aginaldo. At sino’ng nag-iisa ang di naiinggit sa mga nagmamahalan?

Ngunit minsan, kahit na gaanong paghahangad at pagsisikap, bakit kinababagsakan parin ay ang Blue Christmas? Kung kailan naman magpapasko nu’n pa nawalan ng trabaho, nu’n pa nagkahiwalay, meron ngang mapagsasaluhan wala naman yo’ng gusto mong makasalo. Sa pamilyang may kanya-kanya nang lakad kahit wala ka mang pupuntahan iiwan mo rin ang tahanan, sino’ng gustong mag-solo’? Ito marahil ang malalim na hinagpis ng maraming magulang, ng maraming lolo at lola. Meron namang kumpleto ang pamilya, ang totoo, sobra pa nga! kaya lang mas ramdam ang kalam ng sikmura kaysa sa saya na sila ay magkakasama… nauuwi rin sa wala.

Party! Party! Parties! Sa sobrang enjoyment dito, maaaring Yellow Christmas na nga ito! At sa mga bumubuhos ang peso, dolyar at marami pang “suwerte” , sila marahil ang may Berde o Gintong Pasko. Bakit sila lang? – Ang umaalingawngaw na ungot! Minsan, maririnig mo rin ang inggit sa mga katagang,“ Sila lang ba ang anak ng diyos? ” Pusong may labis-labis na paghahangad ay kahungkagang napakahirap mapunan.

Sa bagay kung tutuusin, ang Pasko naman talaga ay bunga ng masidhing paghahangad ng isang Ama. Tama! Ang masidhing pagnanais na maipadama sa mga tao ang di masukat Niyang pagmamahal. Pambihirang Pag-ibig! Di nga ba’t ibinigay ng Ama ang nag-iisa niyang anak para sa ating kaligtasan. Habang ang mundo’y nagdiriwang sa pagsilang ng Tagapagligtas, ano kaya ang nararamdaman ng Ama na nakakaalam ng pasakit na tatanggapin ng kanyang Anak? At ng Anak na Siyang mag-aalay ng buhay para mabayaran ang ating kasalanan?

Emmanuel, ‘yan ang Kanyang Pangalan, gustong gusto ng Diyos na makapiling ang tao kahit sa mga pagkakataong lumalayo tayo. Pambihirang Pagmamahal! Lahat ay para sa’yo, para sa akin, para sa atin. Ito ang Pasko, Pula ang Pasko…, ang Kanyang paghihirap para sa ating kaginhawaan…., ang Kanyang pagsilang at kamatayan para tayo ay mabuhay ng masaya at kaigaigaya.

Salamat! Salamat! Salamat Ama! Walang humpay na pagpapasalamat at pagsamba ang dapat nating tugon sa Kanya at hindi ang makasariling mga hiling sa kaarawan Niya. Pula ang Pasko, hindi ipinagkait na pinadama ng Ama sa’yo ang kulay na ito upang maipadama mo rin sa mga taong naghahanap at nangangailangan ng Kulay Pasko. TARA MAGKULAY TAYO!