NOTE: This paper is being reprinted as a possible aid to church leaders and all active, interested believers.  What really is a church?  What are we to be doing?  And how do we get there?  (This extensive paper will be presented as a series of postings over several days.  Follow carefully the master outline.)

PASTOR’S PROSPECTUS

By

Harold Ewing Burchett

AN IMPORTANT FOREWARD

Many have wondered what makes our Church differ somewhat from other churches. Some who visit or attend here are not aware of any uniqueness.

One thing is certain, we have not dealt in mere novelties or human innovations. Rather, I have sought to guide the church in such a way as to correct the inverted concept of church life which is so common today. Let me define this “inverted concept.” You see, God has assigned certain ministries to his people as they live together in their spiritual assemblies. Through the years, as men attempted to do what God outlined for them, they tried various methods of ministering and fellowshipping. Gradually, certain routines and programs developed. In time, these approaches became “evangelical traditions.”

Now, carnal men invariably cling harder to tradition than to truth. Therefore, many churches today are locked into the drudgery of sustaining and building up these various programs which have now become institutions within their local churches. This is exactly backwards. We are ordered of God to edify and evangelize and we are given in Scripture the minimum structure necessary to make up a local church. The order of the public services, the Sunday School, youth work, the choir, the missionary conference, etc., etc., are not the divinely revealed ends but only the means that men have hit upon in more recent years. We not only have the right to question how all these functions or the assembly fit into God’s plans for us today, but we have a solemn obligation to do so.

The purpose of this paper, then, is not to discuss the various departments of our church. Nor, is it to cover each and every ministry. For instance, I have not set forth the large need to develop a ministry to the unfortunate ones in the many kinds of institutions over our area. This along with many, many other excellent works should be the normal by-product of a church developing in the Spirit. Ahead of you in this plan paper are those goals and guiding principles which, hopefully, will see us moving ahead with new vigor, fulfilling God’s plan for our lives. May we be willing to surrender all our programs on the altar of His assigned ministries and not sacrifice His spiritual service in order to build our works.

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MASTER OUTLINE
Pastor’s Prospectus

INTRODUCTION

I. GROWTH AT THE CENTER

 1. Edification of the Center

• 1. General
  2. Development of gifts of the Spirit
  3. Intensification of the Pastoral Functions

 2. Evangelism in the Immediate Area of our church

 1. Visitation Evangelism
2. Radio
3. Neighborhood Evangelism

 Provisions for Bringing New Converts into Full Church Fellowship

II. EXPANSION INTO OUR SECONDARY AREAS AND MORE DISTANT REGIONS

 1. Outgrowth from our church

 Development of neighboring Christian Fellowship
Purposes for bringing this fellowship into existence

 2. New Church Groups Formed by a Commissioned Member of Our Fellowship
3. Missionary Endeavors via Various Christian Agencies

Principles Governing Financial Investment in Workers Moving Here and Going Out from our Fellowship

III. FURTHER STEPS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUING GROWTH AND
EXPANSION

 1. Clearer Philosophy of Christian Service and Upgraded Plan for Training

 1) General Thoughts on Gifts
2) Our Training Program

 Our Special Emphasis
For Whom Is This Training?

Proposed Courses of Study
Additional Observations

2. View of Financial Support of Workers
3. Further Development in Organization and Administration
4. Sharpen Definition of Church Membership

 a. How does one become a part of a local fellowship?
b. Why have a written membership list?

 5. Book Store

 6.  The Tape Ministry

 7.  Printed Messages
8. Restructuring or Enlarging our Facilities

CONCLUSION

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PASTOR’S PROSPECTUS

INTRODUCTION

It is heartening to see how much has been accomplished right on target since our earlier planning paper. Indeed, in many regards, we have grown beyond the vision of that paper. Now it is time to restate things and offer new goals so that we may continue to grow and fulfill larger purposes for our God.

Let all these means and ends be adjudged and adjusted to fit the Divine orders for a local church. Our commission is stated in Ephesians 4:11-16.

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works or service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the full measure of perfection found in Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. In- stead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ” (NIV)

It will be observed that the various Epistles addressed to the churches and their leaders lay heavy stress upon edification or upbuilding within the church. Out of this inner growth, of course, is to come healthy expansion outwardly. Acts 1:8 gives the pattern of Jesus’ expansion plans:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

We might apply this to our situation as follows:

Jerusalem             =       Our city

Judea                     =       Our state

Samaria                 =       Contacts scattered over adjacent areas

Ends of the Earth =      More distant sections of country or other lands

                                          reached by sending commissioned individuals

                                          or by making special trips to offer help.

The foregoing is no ethereal idea. Church, as a local assembly of Christ, must take seriously this commission. The body of this paper will discuss those plans and developments which, if carried through, should move us toward our goals of edifying the main center of the church, expanding its influence over our area, and evangelistically reaching into new areas to plant Christ’s church. Prayerfully study the paper with these objectives in mind. Keep the Master Outline before you as you proceed through the daily postings.

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PASTOR’S PROSPECTUS – PART 2

I. GROWTH AT THE CENTER

The healthy development of any large, growing tree requires more than an expanding limb system. It needs a strong taproot. Our church also needs to be strong at the very center. The more we reach out the more it will be necessary to reach down, that is, to be strong at the center of things. This will require two types of effort: Edification and also Evangelism in our immediate area. Let’s subdivide each of these for closer study.

1. Edification of the Center

1) The general development of edification (both planned and spontaneous) in the larger public gatherings, smaller groups, and individual person-to-person meetings. This will mean continued emphasis on brightening and deepening our regular services; stressing daily family devotions and training, our entire Bible-centered Sunday training by classes, neighborhood prayer gatherings, the individual Spiritual Life Studies.

      2) Development of gifts of the Spirit.

a. Ministries using God’s Word to edify and evangelize.

b. Ministries of practical service to one another and to the fellowship as a whole.

c. The so-called sign gifts are not essential where there is the full-orbed ministry of God’s Word in the power of the Spirit and the practical helps. It would be a regression to go back to sign gifts after tasting the advantages God has granted us.

Training and continuing aid in discovery and development of each one’s gifts and place in the body must be amphasized.  The Board already counsels with those who are seeking to find their slot of service, and we offer training which will be discussed more at length later in this paper.  We must aim at getting an even larger number of fully participating in the Lord’s work, employing fully their gifts.  This will prevent a few from carrying on too many different responsibilities.  As still others are involved, it will allow all to limit themselves to their most fruitful areas.

A strong core of men, women and young people trained in spiritual warfare and earnest service for Christ (those who know how to use His Word in a sharp, effective manner and to engage in powerful. intercessory prayer) will not only cause us to grow up together in the likeness of Christ but will prove to the community that God is among us.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” -John 13:35

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” -Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

In addition, our very meetings together will be obvious times of intercourse with God–far beyond the mere exercise of human talent and striving. Already, this is taking place. As an outsider comes in among us, it will happen as I Corinthians 14:25 indicates:

“as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Teachers and leaders for our various youth activities and throughout the larger Bible school should all be trained according to these principles of edification. Their objective should not be to build up a particular class or organization but rather to carry out a deeply spiritual function for Jesus Christ, winning others to the Savior, leading them into our fellowship and building them up in the Spirit.

3) Intensification of the Pastoral functions

The development of our present pastoral team has evolved as a plan over the past several years. The stages of this development have been as follows:

• Pastoral staff – As the church grew, more money was made available to increase the number of pastors and/or staff workers to lead the work. This is the usual approach taken by most churches.
• General enlistment of each Elder to take a proportion of the membership list as their personal responsibility thus working with the pastors.
• Commissioning three men as shepherds to share specially in the pastoral duties, the entire membership was visualized by pins on a state-wide map and subdivided into three geographical areas (North, Central, South) and assigned as separate flocks to each of the shepherds.
• After the development of the area Fellowships, the shepherding areas might need to be re-districted.

It must be understood that those assigned the spiritual leadership of the church are called in Scripture by the various titles:  elder, bishop, pastor, or shepherds, as in Acts 20:17, 28.

“And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church….’Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. ‘” (NAS)

Primary responsibilities of each pastor-shepherd are:

Watching over and developing his flock. This will mean keeping in contact with the homes. He will be concerned with those in the hospital, or shut-ins, inactive and discipline cases and others with special problems.

Promoting the Spiritual Life Studies. This is a core responsibility and will be more fully written out elsewhere.

Developing leaders to share with him in the various ministries. Hospitality — Not only share in it but train others to do so. Hebrews 6:10; 13:2; I Peter 4:9.

Assisting families to more faithfully perform their home duties.

Overseeing the home prayer meetings and developing other emphases in the various residential sections.

Hospitality — not only share in it but train others to do so.  Hebrews 6:10; 13:2′ I Peter 4:9

It will be apparent that the shepherds will share a growing responsibility in stimulating evangelism in their areas.

The pastoral team will meet and pray together on a weekly basis and report in to the larger Board.

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PASTOR’S PROSPECTUS – PART 3

NOTE:  The reader is reminded of the two previous postings noticing, particularly the master outline page so as to keep aware of our progress on the development of Christ’s living Body, the Church.  As you will see, today’s posting brings us into the discussion of how a church grows at its heart and center — not only through intensive upbuilding (discipling) but also through a vital life of evangelism.

2. Evangelism in the immediate area of our church building

Although a large number of new people are brought into our church fellowship each year–many by baptism–many more should be added to this number. “Evangelism” should not be thought of as involving only more distant outreach, nor is Edification complete without including Evangelism.

• Visitation Evangelism

Continuous effort is being made to upgrade our visitation evangelism.  All new-comers to our church are visited at once. Other prospects are derived from neighborhood surveys and listings of new rental or home purchases.

Sunday School records allow us to locate and visit the unsaved in order to win them. Strengthen the bus routes. All parents will at once be followed up by the visitation teams.

Develop a growing corps of committed men and women who realize they have the gift and calling of personal evangelism. Use them to stimulate others to share in the visitation outreach and to witness generally.

• Radio

It is hoped that our radio ministry will stimulate new interest in our church and, in turn, provide more contacts for visitation.  The emphases will include: Bible messages, home and family, and possibly Christian counseling for personal problems.

Its immediate use will be to make the larger area more responsive to our entire ministry as a church. Every home is being made aware of the broadcast through mailed publicity. The radio publicity helps people identify representatives of the church and makes them more receptive.

• Neighborhood Evangelism

Neighborhood evangelism needs further development. Three approaches might be:

(I) raise up more neighborhood Bible studies.

(2) employ an outreach emphasis even in the home prayer meetings–leading into Bible studies.

(3) encourage all members to develop relationships with their neighbors so that witnessing will be more effective. (“Cold turkey” evangelism is cold , )

Even though the main purpose of a church meeting is not evangelism, many are converted in the services and we should work at increasing the attendance. Especially effective are Guest Sundays. Considerable evangelism should also take place in and through various programs within the church building.

PROVISIONS FOR BRINGING NEW CONVERTS INTO FULL CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

• Each new believer will be cared for individually, being helped through initial studies, scaled to meet his needs. Spiritual Life Studies should be provided in each case. Each convert should desire baptism and membership and thus be encouraged by those helping him to seek full membership.
• Ideally, we should give counsel prior to formal enrollment in the membership class. Plans to care for this need is to be effected. (Note: Children below teens are taught separately and should be given, upon their decision, the special home-study booklet which also forms the core of their membership class studies. The general approach here is to impress upon the parents that they themselves must take spiritual responsibility for the child. If this is not done, then the baptism ought to be delayed until the Spirit has clearly indicated that those normal lines for feeding the young life have been cared for in some other way, e.g., a “foster spiritual parent.”)

After membership class, Elders or Shepherds now interview each candidate, usually in the home. Where there is some problem or question regarding their Christian life, the interview then takes the form of a session to help them. As needed, other counseling sessions are arranged.

• The full Board of Deacons is then informed of:

a. the candidate’s personal studies.

b. participation in the membership class.

c. home interview.

d. and finally, the Board conducts their own interview with the candidate.

• Upon recommendation by the Board, candidates are presented personally to the church at one of its meetings for official vote. Baptism and/or hand of fellowship will follow.

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PASTOR’S PROSPECTUS – PART 4

 

II. EXPANSION INTO OUR SECONDARY AREAS AND MORE DISTANT REGIONS

Often overlooked but very important is the question: By what authority? New works should not spring up simply from individual concern. Establishing Christ’s body on earth should be done in the manner He prescribes.

It would appear there are two regular plans which God uses: First, local assemblies may expand outward in normal, living cell development, forming new outgrowths which become self-sufficient nucleuses eventually. The other means of establishing local churches, which would have Biblical authority, is by the work of missionary evangelists, commissioned by a sound church to do that particular work.

1. Outgrowth from our Church

• The development steps of our first outgrowth fellowship might be listed as follows:

 1) Beginning a separate Saturday morning prayer meeting for men of that area.
2) Looking for distinct evidences of the Spirit’s blessing and leading toward the formation of another church fellowship.

a) mutual agreement between believers at the main church and those of the new area.
b) development of adequate leadership.
c) evangelistic results coming directly from the new fellowship — proving its rooting. This came in the services through their separate visitation program and in the various home studies.

3) Development of a full agenda of services, beginning with weekly prayer meetings in the area. (Emphases on neighborhood home meetings.) Evening services  were next, following by morning services some months later.

4) Throughout the process, leaders began to take over more responsibilities.
5) A new work to the east should begin to take place as an outgrowth of the new fellowship.
6) Disengagement of administrative and financial matters.
7) Continued vital fellowship between the main church and the new fellowship with at least monthly meetings together.
8) Pastor Burchett will always be on call and will continue to have  spiritual relationship with the leaders and believers of the new fellowship though he will in no sense be a ruling elder of that assembly.

 • The very large purposes for bringing the fellowship into existence might be stated as follows:

1) Make a center for fellowship more available to believers of that area.
2) Develop more leaders.
3) Use many more believers in diversified ministries.

4) Shed the Gospel light more intensely in other areas–not only at the main meetings but where all the home gatherings and Bible studies are held. Such outreach would be much more difficult to govern from the main church.

 Other such outgrowth from the main church might take place, but flexibility needs to be maintained. As residential fellowship is stressed throughout our constituency, unity will be very important and it is to be expected that the main church will tend to get larger. However, we should at all costs press the emphasis on neighborhood gatherings and the development of area leadership. Already a new Saturday morning prayer group has been formed in the more southern section.

2. New church groups formed by a commissioned member of our fellowship.

Pastor Burchett will plan to play a part in this, using his particular gifts in strengthening such works. In time, it is hoped that numbers can be sent out directly from the main church to set God’s work forward in more distant areas.

3. Missionary endeavors via various Christian agencies.

The church should seek to make these as accountable to us as possible. Maintain close ties with the individual whose support we share. Keep to the guidelines previously printed.

Following is a paper presented recently to the Board and to the Missionary Action Committee:

PRINCIPLES GOVERNING FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN WORKERS MOVING HERE AND GOING OUT FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP

The general rule shall be that our Church will enter into financial relationships, if it so chooses, with those who are responsible to us in an ongoing manner. This shall involve, first of all, membership with us. We shall not in the future enter into permanent financial relationship with those who do not choose to unite with us.

Those who might be selected for regular annual support should meet two requirements:

1. Serve with us sufficiently to prove their ministry.
2. Have proper confirmation here of their calling.

 Those who are members but do not qualify with the two requirements mentioned might be given, if the church so chooses, a one-time cash gift for their work.

Any exception to the foregoing should have to prove itself.

Nothing here should be interpreted as bearing on the matter of our sharing offerings with those who minister in our church from time to time.

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Pastor’s Prospectus – Part 5

III. FURTHER STEPS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUING GROWTH AND EXPANSION

1. Clearer Philosophy of Christian Service and Upgraded Plan for Training

• More and more we should move toward recognition of the Scriptural teaching on gifts. Those who preach should have that equipment spoken of in I Corinthians 14:3. Teaching personnel should be those with the definite spiritual gift of teaching. Evangelistic efforts should be led by those who have a gift in evangelism– public or personal. Practical service and helps, by those so gifted. Administration by those equipped of the Spirit to lead the church family in an efficient, peaceable manner. Finally, the establishment of new assemblies of believers should be led by missionary- evangelists with gifts for church-planting. (Of course, others who have the gifts of evangelism might assist.)

Our Training Programs

Our special emphasis is on involvement in service and not merely on classroom instruction in ministry or technical subjects. Courses will be offered, but always supported with a great deal of practical expression and guidance from spiritual leaders. The Summer Christian Service Team is one example of this.

For whom is this training? It is for our own church leaders and workers, for our young people who are entering Christian service, for other young men and women moving here to complete their practical training in our fellowship, or, Christian workers visiting here briefly for fresh insights into church fellowship and ministry. Those moving here for a protracted time ought not to be relied on too much to conduct essential ministries of our fellowship. On the other hand, we do have a responsibility and opportunity to share with them, especially those who are open to become a vital part of things here. At present, we are applying gentle pressure against too many coming at any one time, but we need God’s guidance here. A more regular plan needs to be put in writing to care for those who come for an intense, brief exposure of only some days’ duration. In all cases, whether brief or long, those coming here from the out- side should be assigned a host sponsor by the Deacons to see that they are warmly welcomed and introduced into things properly. 

Proposed courses of study:

BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION AND BOOK SURVEYS

   -by self-study with printed guide.

   -group instruction provided from time to time as feasible.

CHURCH HISTORY

-given in conjunction with Sunday School cycle each 3 years.

-other intensified assignments in a textbook.

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

-same as above

APOLOGETICS

-same as above

Handling heresies – taught concurrently with Apologetics in Sunday School cycle or extending on afterwards.

PREACHING

Beginning Basics for New Students–lasting 6 weeks.

Looking Ahead–3 or 4 weeks of ongoing study, adapted individually but taught as a group to all who are already in the work of preaching.

BIBLE LANGUAGES (especially Greek)

Fundamentals – lasting several months as required to gain facility with the Lexicon.

Advanced Studies – as feasible.

HERMENEUTICS

PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH LIFE

Step 1. Shared with the entire church through message series or at a special time.

Step 2. Continous upgrading through on-the-job training and admonition.

Step 3. New-comers given group instruction summarizing the main course and/or individual training, using a printed syllabus and guide. Assignments in select texts.

COUNSELING

-same as “Church Life.”

Additional Observations

For some, regular Christian College or Graduate Training will seem desirable. Others will use the institution only to fill out their training obtained here, choosing special courses of study, commuting or moving on a campus for brief periods. Still others will find the church training alone is sufficient or is all that their schedule will allow. In any case, our Church should be aware of its responsibility to share in the discovery and development of spiritual gifts among its members. Men and women need guidance in discovering their life-calling. It is the local church’s high responsibility to confirm and commission them to such service. It is to be hoped that all will see clearly that leaving home and going elsewhere is not always necessary in order to go into “full time” service.

2. View of Financial Support of Workers

Central in the thinking of all believers should be their involvement in the various ministries of Christ’s body. By and large, this should be without financial remuneration.

For purposes of efficiency, the church employs several individuals. These, technically, might be called “staff.” It is never the function of paid help to replace members in their voluntary service. A church is not merely to raise money and hire the work done by paid staff, but there are certain routine matters which are effectively conducted by staff workers. A modest-sized staff can adequately serve a growing church, provided the church is indeed growing and not just simply adding non-functioning individuals.

Still further, Scripture would clearly distinguish between such workers and those who make up the “pastor-teachers” and “missionary- evangelists” of the church. These are not merely hired and paid for services rendered. Their relationship is described in I Timothy 5:17,18 and I Corinthians 9:7-14.

“In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”            I Corinthians 9:14 (NIV)

Those designated by the Spirit for so much involvement in the ministry of the Word that they have insufficient time for earning a livelihood should then be assisted financially by the church. This would apply to those helping in the pastoral functions and, also, those sent to establish other groups of believers. Loving concern on the part of the congregation would then make us aware of their needs and also of their fruit.

It is generally best if a worker establishing a new assembly does not receive help from that assembly. Rather, he should be supported by those who are helping send him forth, and the new church should assume obligation for its own preaching elders. The church planter is not the first pastor.

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PASTOR’S PROSPECTUS – PART 6

3.  Further Development in Organization and Administration

Our church is being led by officers who are filling out the functions of the Biblical elders and deacons. These Scriptural offices should be fully explained to the congregation and, after there is agreement, these concepts should be introduced into our Constitution and By-laws. The elders would then be the pastors, and shepherds serving with other qualified men known as deacons. These would be set apart by the church for their office. The purpose of all this is not necessarily to change personnel who are filling the various official responsibilities, but to change their titles to be more in keeping with Scripture. Renewed attention, however, should be given to the Scriptures describing the qualifications of these offices.

4. Sharpen Definition of Church MembershipHow does one become a part of a local fellowship?

Ours is a fellowship of believers in this given, local area. We are related to one another in a way which is not true with Christians living in more distant sections. We belong to each other in a family sense with a common leadership and government.

How does one become a part of a local fellowship?

• He must be chosen by God. II Thessalonians 2:13
• He must, himself, choose that fellowship. Acts 9:26-28
• He must be chosen or recognized by that church. Galatians 2:9 Why have a written membership list?

The early development of the church as described in Acts should be studied thoroughly. Acts 2:42-47; 9:31; 11:21,24; 14:21-23; 16:15; 17:4; 18: 8.

Why have a written membership list?

• Practically speaking, it appears unavoidable – need of a mailing list and other  efficient contacts.
• It aids the shepherds in performing their functions.
• Corporation votes in our present legal form.

There are dangers in making the “enrollment” itself a spiritual step. Sometimes we hear one referred to as “a believer but not a church member.” Obviously, such a one could not be living under the law of love, if they are resisting authority and disturbing the existing order of the believers. It is, furthermore, wrong to link baptism to popular false notions of “becoming a member.” Also, such terms as “the membership” or “the membership class” are apt to be misleading.

As these concepts are made more clear to us, their application to discipline should be considered carefully. Are the long-standing inactives from past years a part of our fellowship? Certainly not, if they are not truly regenerated believers. Yet, their name is on our “list.” Perhaps we should give serious thought to employing an inactive list for those who are delinquent but who have prayerful support and concern on the part of relatives and friends still in the congregation. Other inactives, who are simply out-of-touch and we have no further contact possible to us, should be dismissed from the membership. The inactive list should, of course, be reviewed from time to time.

If’ “membership” is interpreted in the proper sense, it should not be separated from baptism for a new Christian. Those who say they desire baptism but are unwilling to enter into a full covenant relationship with other members of the congregation either lack information or do not have a truly repentant heart. Repentance brings openness to authority.

5.  Book Store

At the present this growing ministry serves a single, main purpose of making selected, quality literature available to our area. A second large purpose might be to make the material available at reduced cost. However, experience has shown this to be difficult to do without going into debt. If growth continues, this should be reconsidered later.

Probably advertising should be continued and even intensified.

Area pastors should be contacted either in person or by mail regarding the setting up of displays for their missionary conference, other conference, with our logo “Help for Heart and Home.” These displays could offer all kinds of devotional helps, Bible study aids, and books on the Christian home. If a standard display arrangement is designed, perhaps a photograph and description could be shown to each pastor.

The Tape Ministry 

Further organize and expand this growing work. Print an adequately indexed catalog of all our offerings. This should include listings, both by scripture reference and subject matter.

7.  Printed Messages

This new ministry should be begun without any undue promotion. Certain messages are especially valuable printed, to use in handing out or mailings to friends. For the present, a good plan might be to declare a fund open for such a purpose and print the messages as designated gifts make it possible.

8.  Restructuring or Enlarging Our Facilities

Now that the new Fellowship members are meeting separately, it is time to take further stock of our overall future and determine what facilities we will require. Probably, a small committee of about three should be appointed by the Board to work with them and counsel with the Pastor in making a preliminary survey.

Efforts to enliven our services will result in better attendance with a more serious loyalty as the Spirit works. We shall be aiming at more spontaneity, life and participation in the morning services. Consideration of monthly or periodic union services with the new outgrowth Fellowship should be considered. If this were done, it might mean that it would be impossible to hold that particular meeting in our church and it would have to be located elsewhere. The prayer service should aim at an atmosphere of joy, serious intercession and definite constructive sharing.

In determining our future direction, several options need to be considered: a) An enlarged auditorium by either remodeling the present structure or building a new unit. b) Handling the attendance problem at least temporarily by scheduling larger, united meetings in outside auditoriums. As the present auditorium capacity fills, other area meetings could be developed, such as Sunday evenings with a special format and agenda–to meet simultaneously with our main meeting.

Regardless of how we are led, we should not simply sit by and let things happen. Rather, we should prayerfully seek God’s wisdom and keep ahead of the situation as best we can, being exceedingly grateful for each such challenge.

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CONCLUSION

A few remaining words of instruction. In all our efforts to evangelize, remember the Spirit’s inclination to work down family lines and through normal ties. When one is converted, primary attention should be given at once to his entire world of relationships–blood, residence, acquaintance, occupation–all contacts.

As other centers of worship and fellowship develop, remember always to avoid the two very real extremes: On the one hand, that set of mind to delay costly, real outreach until arriving at some goal of perfection and strength. (Proper outreach is part of true growth!) At the other extreme, the failure to exercise effective leadership over all the outreach efforts and home Bible studies thus allowing eventual fracturing.

As a local church, where are we now in God’s scheme of things?

We are on target–as prescribed in Acts 1:8. Keeping on track will mean continuous strengthening of our local center of fellowship as we spread the Spirit’s influence over our state.

God’s vital plan also directs us to expand beyond our state into other sections of our country. The influence will move outward through the expanding impact of new church groups, and in print and tape, through those workers revived and trained here, and through some sent from our church.

Other parts of the world also are clearly within the scope of our commission. We are now geared to a more meaningful backing of our missionaries through the Prayer Teams. Then there are the letters, printed materials, tapes. Refresher helps to furloughing missionaries is a significant ministry. Other workers will be sent directly from our fellowship for temporary or more permanent service abroad.

Scripture says that we are…

“God’s children, blameless, sincere and wholesome, living in a warped and diseased world, and shining there like lights in a dark place. For you hold in your hands the very word of life.”   

-Philippians 2:15, 16  (Phillips Translation)

Our Lord promises…

“I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.”

-Matthew 16:18 (NAS)