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May 15, 2008

Under The Elmtree  

The Penalty Box - - Consequences of "Numbers Only"

A  number of years ago on a return trip from Denver, we landed in Chicago and promptly parked on the tarmac for one of those 'passenger abuse' routines. A young man seated behind me was mentally challenged. However, he did understand the rigors of flying. His comment when our pilot announced the delay was "Oh No! The Penalty Box again."

The church in America is indeed "in the penalty box". This is a self-imposed incarceration. For decades the single metric focus has been numbers. More is always better. Church Growth rather than genuine effectiveness has reigned supreme. Our focus should be the transformation of God's people into the fullness of the image of Christ. There is a significant resistance to even an attempt to measure spiritual formation. To do so may energize the little boy at the Emperor's parade. He will shout with enthusiasm and integrity," the Emperor has no clothes!"

One major denomination has seen a decline in the number of baptisms in seven of the past eight years. Even more troubling is the research that revealed only 1 in 10 persons baptized the previous year could even be located. Is there not a serious flaw in our process and our theology/message when the failure rate of those considered converts is 90%?  The text of the NT requires that we make disciples, not simply elicit 'professions' of faith. To simply tally up those who enter the waters of baptism and consider them followers of Jesus Christ when there is utterly no evidence of conversion, no objective transformation in their lives, is sheer hypocrisy. Total membership is declining (review The American Church in Crisis by David Olson, Zondervan, February 2008). A denominational leader said that the decline in his denomination was due in part to 'a perception that its followers are 'mean-spirited, hurtful and angry'. As I deal with Pastors around the country, this is much more than a mere perception. It is a reality.

I Pastor an SBC church. Let me use our denomination to illustrate the point I am making about numbers. In 2007 the average worship attendance on any given week was 6.15 million. Yet, we claim a membership of 16.3 million. Do you see the glaring and obvious discrepancy? When 63% of those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, disciples, NEVER darken the door of the assembly they claim to belong to, something is very very wrong. Further, there is that mean-spirited, hurtful and angry issue. 63% are consistently absent and some/many of those who attend are devoid of the grace of God and the fruit of the Spirit. Their conduct and lack of fidelity to the clear expressions of the text of Scripture cries out- - enage the command to admonish one another (Rom. 15:14).

My fellow pastors some one needs to find that little boy and soon. Tell him to shout from the highest peaks. Better yet, tell him to climb the steeples of the edifices we call churches. Tell him to cry out to the True and Living God. We need YOU LORD! We need Reformation. We need pastors who are men of courage. They will settle for nothing less than the unadulterated Majesty of our God to reign over us and among us. Perhaps then we will escape our self-imposed penalty box.

We are called to be "stewards of the mysteries of God" . . . And the great mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." . . . And that glory is the glory of God. And "it is required of stewards that they be found faithful" - faithful in magnifying the supreme glory of the one eternal God, not magnifying as a microscope that makes small things look bigger; but as a telescope that makes unimaginably great galaxsies of glory visible to the human eye. (John Piper, The Supremacy of Preaching, 1990).

Next Issue - Preaching That Transforms
Tom Fillinger (803 776 5282)

B - L - O - G !!!!  - IgniteUS has a BLOG - Share the ministry experience and wisdom God has given you - click on the link provided here to go there. http://leadershipisigniteus.blogspot.com/ Comment on this review by going to the IUS BLOG.

Thoughts on  on Transformation

How would you rate your "Transformation" quotient (personal & ministry) on a scale of 0 -- 10? Read Romans 12:2 and Col. 1:28.

The Evangelical Manifesto - WOW! Where there is smoke there is FIRE! What have you read and what are your thoughts on this document labeled a "Manifesto". Talk to us on the BLOG. Lots of fury. Maybe some benefit will come from a dialogue on this attempt to define just what is an Evangelical!

Pastoral Participation - One of the greatest challenges we face in ministry in and to the local church in America is overcoming inertia. We are pastors ministering to pastors. We have concluded that pastors are the ideal resource in helping us overcome "status quo". How will we enlist them into this challenging and effective ministry? Read on!

Regional Advisory Councils. We plan to host Regional Advisory Council Meetings in 2008. The purpose of these gatherings is two-fold. 

• One, we will introduce the Transformation Process we offer to Psstors who attend. They will have the opportunity to hear first hand the prospect of real effectiveness in ministry. They will also have the opportunity to consider serving on our Advisory Council. You may serve as a model and Adjunct Staff member that God may use to Transform other churches through this process. Expand your ministry horizon Pastor by encouraging and equippiing other Pastors.
• Two, we will gather Christians in a given area who may desire a partnership with IUS. The church is The Body of Chirst and there are multiple dimensions to effective ministry. More to come on this - here is the date of our first meeting.  Get this on your calendar if you live in the Cincinnati area. Bring genuine effectiveness to ministry and expand your personal horizons!

September 16  Cincinnati OH Mid-West Regional Advisory Council

Home Page - Click on this link to go to the IgniteUS Home Page: http://www.igniteus.net/

Food for Thought - Persecution has contributed to dynamic growth in the church around the globe. Would persecution bring a renewed focus and zeal to the church in America? Would it benefit the church?

Americans Fine with Christians in Politics

Despite what many in the mainstream media say, a majority of Americans, and an even larger majority of religiously affiliated citizens, don't believe that Christians are too involved in politics, a new poll shows. Baptist Press reports that 52 percent of Americans surveyed disagreed with the statement, "I am concerned that at times Christians are too involved in politics," according to a survey conducted through a joint project of LifeWay Research and the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research in Nashville, said that when it comes to sharing the Gospel and also being engaged with public policy, Christians can do both. "[I]t is... both/and not either/or," he said. "You cannot stand for justice and be told you cannot speak of Jesus, nor can you love God and His word and not care for unborn children, the abused, and social justice." The findings challenge the assertion of secularists who say that Americans' religious beliefs should be purely a private matter and should be somehow segregated from weighty discussions of social issues and public policy. (Crosswalk.com Religious News Summary, May 9, 2008).

Introducing Transformation -

- "The miracle is not that I finished, but, that I had the courage to begin." That is the way John Bingham (aka the Penguin) describes his introduction to running marathons.

Pastor, perhaps the way to introduce transformation into the ministry you lead is to find the courage to begin. Let me list a few benefits of a weekend Leadership Advance for your leaders.

• Provides objective and valid ASSESSMENT of "Current Reality".
• Provides opportunity to PRAY together as leaders.
• Provides opportunity to consider a STRATEGY for maximum effectiveness.
• Provides opportunity to consider effective MODELS of Transformation

Remember, it is the courage to begin that is the miracle. Ask God for a miracle in your ministry. Contact us @ 803 776 5282 or info@igniteus.net. (Read 2Chron. 15 for a dose of courage!)

September 27, 2008 @ SEC, 1540 Elmtree, Columbia SC 29209 (www.seccola.org) We are hosting a National Simulcast on this date. This is a training event and will prepare those who attend to host The Truth Project training in their church or home. R.C. Sproul says he believes this is the finest endeavor that Dr. Dobson has produced in the entire scope of his ministry. This is Theistic Worldview Equipping at its finest. Plan to attend. Go to the web site for cost, times, registration and other details  - -http://www.thetruthproject.org/.

"Bogus Metrics" Power Point - Would you or a friend like to receive a Power Point presentation that provides a somewhat humorous and yet tragic picture of how many churches measure ministry effectiveness? Send your request to us at info@IgniteUS.net . Provide us with your name, email address and a phone number and we will get that to you promptly.

Videos - Check out the video series posted on our web site (http://www.igniteus.net/). On the Banner on the left side of our Home Page is a button labeled "Video Downloads". This is designed to provide a Pastor/Leader with accurate insight into what we offer in the Leadership Development - Transformation process. This series enables you to communicate accurately and effectively with your Board and the congregation. It is informative and a helpful tool for Pastors. (contact Tom Weber @ 803 727 7059, or, tweber@sc.rr.com).

IUS Update This Update is sent to you on the 1^st and 15^th of each month. Please send comments or questions to us at info@IgniteUS.net. Or, you may go to our BLOG on the home page of our Web Site. THANKS