If you walk into my office, you will see a sign that says “SIMPLIFY”. It is a concept that the leadership of North Side embraced a number of years ago.Our thinking was to do less in order to do more! Boy, 4 years later we are still working through it. I do believe it may be a life long process in the local church.
If we can simplify the expectation, of the institutional church, on our people; we then can free them up to do the work of the ministry. Yes, we do have to put the tools in place to “equip the saints”. However, we must dispel the notions that all of our people must be at church when the doors are opened and that all service must be done through a church program.
Our pastor Jeff, teaches us to live with their eyes wide open. That’s it, plain and simply. God is at work all around us, we just have to pick the opportunities to join Him where He already is at work. We do not need an institution to direct us, however, that is the way we have been led. Too many times the institution of the church develops the program to serve, then the program gets bigger and bigger. Issues of space come up, child care, refreshments (we are Baptists), and transportation. It gets complicated real fast. I like to say “it grows legs”.
We do not need the church to develop a program in order for us to serve at the Hospice House once a week, help build a Habitat for Humanity House, deliver Meals on Wheels, or help our next door neighbor. Let’s just go do it! What if, we did the service as a family? Takes care of the childcare issue. What will it teach our children when they see Mom and Dad serving?
Simplify…less programs, less events, less organization, less resources, less staffing, less volunteer leadership…more MINISTRY, more opportunity for sharing our faith.
