Most churches want to reach people, spread the Gospel, and to grow. While God causes the church to grow, He utilizes His people to facilitate and propel that growth. So why is it that new people aren’t showing up to your church like you hope and pray. Here’s six reasons:
Your church isn’t for them. I know you think everyone is welcome at your church, but your service, environment and people communicate otherwise. Saying that you’re welcoming doesn’t mean that you’re welcoming.
You don’t expect guests. You’re greeters and ushers are helpful to who is there, but they are not prepped and on the look out for new people. You’re not ready to receive guests, because deep down inside, you don’t expect them.
You don’t acknowledge guests. When new people show up, they aren’t welcomed. In your preaching, you reference Bible stories assuming everyone knows what you are talking about. In discussing church business, you act like new people aren’t in the room.
You don’t advertise. There’s a reason that Coca-Cola and McDonalds advertise – even they have billions of customers. There are strategic things you can do to get new people to come to church, but you’re not doing that.
They haven’t been invited. Personal invitations are the #1 way new people end up at church, but you’re not challenging (or equipping!) your people to invite.
You’re not talking about what they care about. You’re talking about Bible stuff, church stuff, and Christian stuff, not the things that people struggle with in their daily lives. Maybe you’ve let the fear “watering down the Gospel” keep you from talking practically.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Here are few things others are saying about Restoration Church:
Donna Ward-Pastor Mark, wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed service yesterday. You and our Praise Team showed out. We love you and are so proud to have you as our Pastor.
Stephanie W. Treadwell- your word this morning=awesome!
Krislyn Harbin-Awesome sermon today just what we needed to hear from the starting movie clip to the ending. Thanks for letting God use you to minister to his people.
Paula Cox Sykes
Excited about the Financial Peace University Series with Dave Ramsey tonight at Restoration Church Auburn :) !
Amy Andrews Thomas- the Shepard's flock doesn't grow unless he is obedient. I am SO blessed by your obedience it makes me want to run and tell about the presence that everyone at Restoration ushers in! I love Restoration but even more so the committed obedient staff that are there for the purpose of the hurt and broken.... not for their own! MUCH LOVE! The Thomas'
Debbie Moreland
Pastor Mark today when you were given the Lords word with such passion the presence of the Lord was awesome. I am so excited and encouraged that we are a part of the move of what God is doing. THANK YOU for your faithfulness to our Lord and His sheep. YOU ARE A BLESSING
Rita Smith Still reflecting on the "awesome" service Sunday! There is so much more to come..so many miracles to witness...so many testimonies to hear of how the Holy Spirit moved and changed each and every single one of us for "his" Glory!.....you can feel it with every service...anticipating a great move of God!
Stephanie W. Treadwell- your word this morning=awesome!
Krislyn Harbin-Awesome sermon today just what we needed to hear from the starting movie clip to the ending. Thanks for letting God use you to minister to his people.
Paula Cox Sykes
Excited about the Financial Peace University Series with Dave Ramsey tonight at Restoration Church Auburn :) !
Amy Andrews Thomas- the Shepard's flock doesn't grow unless he is obedient. I am SO blessed by your obedience it makes me want to run and tell about the presence that everyone at Restoration ushers in! I love Restoration but even more so the committed obedient staff that are there for the purpose of the hurt and broken.... not for their own! MUCH LOVE! The Thomas'
Debbie Moreland
Pastor Mark today when you were given the Lords word with such passion the presence of the Lord was awesome. I am so excited and encouraged that we are a part of the move of what God is doing. THANK YOU for your faithfulness to our Lord and His sheep. YOU ARE A BLESSING
Rita Smith Still reflecting on the "awesome" service Sunday! There is so much more to come..so many miracles to witness...so many testimonies to hear of how the Holy Spirit moved and changed each and every single one of us for "his" Glory!.....you can feel it with every service...anticipating a great move of God!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
people matter more than money
In our ministry we spend a lot of time thinking about how to navigate through with the financial resources we have and how to even increase said resources to do more ministry. It’s not so difficult to figure out that the level of resources your possess is equivalent to the amount of ministry you can do. It just is what it is, like any business really.
YET, People resources are THE MOST IMPORTANT. And I am constantly hoping that I am a blessing to people and never treat anyone as someone to be used for a purpose. However, I do believe every person does have talents and giftings and it kills me when they don’t put them into action.
I love my beautiful family, I am so blessed.
I am thankful for the people who are in my life, all of them. Every single person is there for a reason. I have made some great friendships this last year.
I do not have all of the answers. I am thankful for this one for many reasons. One of the main ones is that I am typically VERY self reliant and I have learned that with what we are doing, it simply isn’t an option to rely only on my strength, I’m learning.
I enjoy learning new things. A LOT!
The greatest blessings I’ve received this year are from unexpected places.
Much of what I assumed, was wrong, for the most part.
NEW LEARNINGS:
If you truly love people and give of yourself, people notice.
Never take a friendship for granted or any relationship for that matter.
People matter more than stuff, or ideas, or even plans. It’s always about people.
To do what you want to do it’s going to take a lot more money than you thought.
It’s not only OK to take time away for yourself, it’s imperative. Someone is going to set your schedule, it might as well be you.
Actions always prove personal values.
The number of hurting people in our community is astounding. I’m not trying to be naive, but I’m not kidding. This is unique because in our community it’s not the “thing” to be hurting or need help. So, it is VERY difficult to discover these needs.
What Seth Godin said in his book Tribes about people is true to the nth degree in our community, and then some.
Lastly, when you follow after Jesus, most people won’t understand and some people will get upset.
Invest in people..Pour urself into people..Money and everything money can buy will rot .. But...People r Eternal...Love People!Leaders set people up for success while taking responsibility for their failures!Blessing comes from trusting God's ability, not my own.
YET, People resources are THE MOST IMPORTANT. And I am constantly hoping that I am a blessing to people and never treat anyone as someone to be used for a purpose. However, I do believe every person does have talents and giftings and it kills me when they don’t put them into action.
I love my beautiful family, I am so blessed.
I am thankful for the people who are in my life, all of them. Every single person is there for a reason. I have made some great friendships this last year.
I do not have all of the answers. I am thankful for this one for many reasons. One of the main ones is that I am typically VERY self reliant and I have learned that with what we are doing, it simply isn’t an option to rely only on my strength, I’m learning.
I enjoy learning new things. A LOT!
The greatest blessings I’ve received this year are from unexpected places.
Much of what I assumed, was wrong, for the most part.
NEW LEARNINGS:
If you truly love people and give of yourself, people notice.
Never take a friendship for granted or any relationship for that matter.
People matter more than stuff, or ideas, or even plans. It’s always about people.
To do what you want to do it’s going to take a lot more money than you thought.
It’s not only OK to take time away for yourself, it’s imperative. Someone is going to set your schedule, it might as well be you.
Actions always prove personal values.
The number of hurting people in our community is astounding. I’m not trying to be naive, but I’m not kidding. This is unique because in our community it’s not the “thing” to be hurting or need help. So, it is VERY difficult to discover these needs.
What Seth Godin said in his book Tribes about people is true to the nth degree in our community, and then some.
Lastly, when you follow after Jesus, most people won’t understand and some people will get upset.
Invest in people..Pour urself into people..Money and everything money can buy will rot .. But...People r Eternal...Love People!Leaders set people up for success while taking responsibility for their failures!Blessing comes from trusting God's ability, not my own.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
What I learned from my pastor Rudet Adkinson
Last week Restoration had the privilege of hearing from my pastor ( from age 11 to18) Rudet Adkinson. I wanted to reflect on a few things he has taught me about ministry and life from just observing him.
1. Almost everything I learned from Rudet was by his Example. Almost like osmosis, you absorb traits of Godly wise people into your life by just being near them. Seldom do mentors sit you down and lecture you instruction by instruction what to do in a situation. Old School say "watch and learn" . Rick Warren says, " if your not leading by example, you're not leading.
2. The way you earn peoples trust is with integrity over a long period of time. Anyone can be wowed for a few months by someone talents or charisma, but they will finally see the real you. You better be REAL. Without other's trust you aren't a leader.
3. The way you manage God's money shows your character. He lived sound financial principles in his personal life and in bled over into his professional life. Show me a pastor who is failing and out of control in his personal life and I'll show you a church that is about to be in big trouble.
4. He raised us to be Biblically sound, use common sense. Never be ashamed of your Pentecostal heritage, but you don't have to participate in every fad or be Charismatic crazy to prove to others you love the Lord.
Even thru the crazy 80s, he wasn't afraid to shy away from the weird stuff and the weird ones. ( every pentecostal church had their share of weird ones.)
5. His reputation was as great outside the church walls, as inside. Of course the people that go to a particular pastors church is going to think well of him , or he needs to hit the road jack.asap. Rudet was respected by everyone who came in contact with him , either the lighthouse christian bookstore or his home building contractor company. 95% of the people you meet will never set a foot inside the door of your church, but everyone who meets you forms an opinion about your church off of how you act and behave.
6. Don't be a one man show. Rudet never desired to be the center of attention. I never remember seeing his name on any signs or even newspaper ads. He strived to be a good preacher in a great church, rather that a great preacher in a so so church. Preaching alone doesn't grow a church. God's presence along with a pure purpose does.
7. If you were around Rudet he wanted to be like him. A mans man. athletic, hard worker. Even in ministry, I recall over 7 young people being called into ministry, within a two years, and following in his footsteps. We had at times 6 students training for ministry at Southeastern college. ( the same college he attended in the 50s?) What church do you know of today that can match those numbers?
8. You knew that he loved you and your family. In a day of self serving pastors climbing the political ladder, He was called to a city. Even 20 years later after his last full time position, he is admired by those he served, I doubt many will remember any of his sermons, but they know they were loved and always a priority in his and Sis. Betty's life.
1. Almost everything I learned from Rudet was by his Example. Almost like osmosis, you absorb traits of Godly wise people into your life by just being near them. Seldom do mentors sit you down and lecture you instruction by instruction what to do in a situation. Old School say "watch and learn" . Rick Warren says, " if your not leading by example, you're not leading.
2. The way you earn peoples trust is with integrity over a long period of time. Anyone can be wowed for a few months by someone talents or charisma, but they will finally see the real you. You better be REAL. Without other's trust you aren't a leader.
3. The way you manage God's money shows your character. He lived sound financial principles in his personal life and in bled over into his professional life. Show me a pastor who is failing and out of control in his personal life and I'll show you a church that is about to be in big trouble.
4. He raised us to be Biblically sound, use common sense. Never be ashamed of your Pentecostal heritage, but you don't have to participate in every fad or be Charismatic crazy to prove to others you love the Lord.
Even thru the crazy 80s, he wasn't afraid to shy away from the weird stuff and the weird ones. ( every pentecostal church had their share of weird ones.)
5. His reputation was as great outside the church walls, as inside. Of course the people that go to a particular pastors church is going to think well of him , or he needs to hit the road jack.asap. Rudet was respected by everyone who came in contact with him , either the lighthouse christian bookstore or his home building contractor company. 95% of the people you meet will never set a foot inside the door of your church, but everyone who meets you forms an opinion about your church off of how you act and behave.
6. Don't be a one man show. Rudet never desired to be the center of attention. I never remember seeing his name on any signs or even newspaper ads. He strived to be a good preacher in a great church, rather that a great preacher in a so so church. Preaching alone doesn't grow a church. God's presence along with a pure purpose does.
7. If you were around Rudet he wanted to be like him. A mans man. athletic, hard worker. Even in ministry, I recall over 7 young people being called into ministry, within a two years, and following in his footsteps. We had at times 6 students training for ministry at Southeastern college. ( the same college he attended in the 50s?) What church do you know of today that can match those numbers?
8. You knew that he loved you and your family. In a day of self serving pastors climbing the political ladder, He was called to a city. Even 20 years later after his last full time position, he is admired by those he served, I doubt many will remember any of his sermons, but they know they were loved and always a priority in his and Sis. Betty's life.
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