Training For Service (takes time)
How are we trained for service? In my fellowship (we tend to call it a 'fellowship', not 'church' because we are the 'Church') we do not have a pastor. We are not looking for a pastor. We have been in existence for 30 years. I have been present here for 25 of those years. The group began with some discontented malcontents from denominational churches in the area. They were fed up with the politics, lack of faith, lack of vision, etc. They wanted and hungered for more.
They formed a small group in a living room, and asked a local man who had been a pastor to begin teaching. He refused to be called pastor, but was just another of the 'brothers'. In time others were added, and the group grew out of the living room, through a warehouse, and into the present building (sold to us for a $1).
The original elders (7 at the beginning) did everything that a pastor would do. The one brother who they had asked did most of the teaching/preaching, but he always wanted the others to share in the burden, and to a degree they did, some better than others. In time he moved on, and the full weight of the burden fell on the others. For them, it was a period of growth, as the pressure of responsibility forced them to seek the Lord for direction.
Later, 5 other younger men (I was one) were added as trainees. We attended all elder meetings, discussed, studied, and spoke (oh, those early messages were horrible, and how the fellowship stayed together I have no idea).
In the years that followed, the older ones gradually fell away, moved on, left, stayed away, got mad and left, or in general vanished. Every one had a different reason; some for good reason, some for no reason other than they tired of it all. Only 2 brothers from the original 7 or more are still with us. It left the younger generation to carry the burden. We should now be looking for the next generation, and maybe we will.
The ministry of the Word is getting better (only slightly, I think), and we are still in business. There have been some earth-shaking situations over the years, and many have left, hurt, and some have stayed, injured, and some have come in, wounded. But we are still here. And, we are reaching out in ways the original group never did. We have friends and missionaries in countries around the globe. Many of us have been on the foreign mission field. Through the years, we are not nearly so inward-gazing. Although, a little inward is a good thing, and we need an occasional message on Romans 6, 7 and 8.
Many would not agree with the way we are structured. Some may question about authority. Who is in charge? Surely, someone has final say? In all these years, I can truthfully say, there has never been a power play between brothers. No one single person is in charge. We share, and honor each other, and listen. That does not mean we all agree. There can be some very interesting disagreements on scripture (marriage, divorce and re-marriage, for instance). But we always maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is no senior elder. There is an 'oldest' elder, but not a senior elder in the sense that one man has final say in matters of Bible interpretation or church government.
I wish more people could experience what we have.
More later....
They formed a small group in a living room, and asked a local man who had been a pastor to begin teaching. He refused to be called pastor, but was just another of the 'brothers'. In time others were added, and the group grew out of the living room, through a warehouse, and into the present building (sold to us for a $1).
The original elders (7 at the beginning) did everything that a pastor would do. The one brother who they had asked did most of the teaching/preaching, but he always wanted the others to share in the burden, and to a degree they did, some better than others. In time he moved on, and the full weight of the burden fell on the others. For them, it was a period of growth, as the pressure of responsibility forced them to seek the Lord for direction.
Later, 5 other younger men (I was one) were added as trainees. We attended all elder meetings, discussed, studied, and spoke (oh, those early messages were horrible, and how the fellowship stayed together I have no idea).
In the years that followed, the older ones gradually fell away, moved on, left, stayed away, got mad and left, or in general vanished. Every one had a different reason; some for good reason, some for no reason other than they tired of it all. Only 2 brothers from the original 7 or more are still with us. It left the younger generation to carry the burden. We should now be looking for the next generation, and maybe we will.
The ministry of the Word is getting better (only slightly, I think), and we are still in business. There have been some earth-shaking situations over the years, and many have left, hurt, and some have stayed, injured, and some have come in, wounded. But we are still here. And, we are reaching out in ways the original group never did. We have friends and missionaries in countries around the globe. Many of us have been on the foreign mission field. Through the years, we are not nearly so inward-gazing. Although, a little inward is a good thing, and we need an occasional message on Romans 6, 7 and 8.
Many would not agree with the way we are structured. Some may question about authority. Who is in charge? Surely, someone has final say? In all these years, I can truthfully say, there has never been a power play between brothers. No one single person is in charge. We share, and honor each other, and listen. That does not mean we all agree. There can be some very interesting disagreements on scripture (marriage, divorce and re-marriage, for instance). But we always maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is no senior elder. There is an 'oldest' elder, but not a senior elder in the sense that one man has final say in matters of Bible interpretation or church government.
I wish more people could experience what we have.
More later....
posted by Jeff at 6:18 AM
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