Church ReImagined

[Pastor Gary]

All the ones we have built and co-built and released the titles back to them are still with us..Some after 10 plus years.

Of all the churches that have been pioneers by our ministers and students we have only about three that have left. All under good terms.

Some of our graduating students, which we support have went to work for other ministries with our blessing. It is and must be about relations.

Pretty much as I expected. Thanks.

You know how I feel about this, and yes, relational connections are far stronger than hierarchical connections.

[Pastor Bill]

Paul honestly as Christians it should never be a problem, and what you are doing is perfect. US churches could learn alot from the attitudes of Christians elsewhere in the world.

[paul]

but will never happen until the heart attitude towards others changes.

Am I missing something or is this article not talking about changing the heart?

Me TOO. Has nothing to do with Outer Package!!

Actually I thought it was hitting it on the head exactly like Joey and Kenya were talking about.

And its coming from someone in the Int. Offices..

The title of the thread is reimaging the church. The article quoted was talking about how the 20 something crowd was being lost and how it could possible re-capture them. Refferecing the church being more family and less organizational.

This along with the talk of name change, which is also a form of reimaging the church is the context of my reply. No matter how much we seek to change, stop the exodus of the young couples ( any organization) it must be more than style, form, it must be substance and that substance must come from the heart. I am not implying that the article was not written from his heart. I am sure it was.

To often churches can be quilty of believing that just a form of change will answer the problems. Having the best youth program, best childrens director, best praise and worship team, or the best form of service. If we had any of these or a number of them. Our problems would be solved. Reality tells us something very different.

I thought the article was good, find no fault with it, and is encouraging being from IO official..

[Pastor Gary]

The article quoted was talking about how the 20 something crowd was being lost and how it could possible re-capture them. Refferecing the church being more family and less organizational.

I realize that our local church seems to be among the exceptions, but I am just not seeing the exodus of the twenty-somethings referenced in the article.

[paul]

Paul honestly as Christians it should never be a problem, and what you are doing is perfect. US churches could learn alot from the attitudes of Christians elsewhere in the world.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I certinally don't think our organization is anywhere near perfect. But I do know that we continually seek to develop realtionship with our people around the world.

Our approach came not with any great wisdom on our part but seeing churches and pastors going to the highest bidder. Realizing that they had absolutely no relationship with the overseas organization apart from money. We bagan to develope those relationship.

Recently our director in Indai had an opportunities to go with an organization out of New Zealand. A great deal of more money was offered, more facilities....yet he declined, his response was that I was his father in the Lord, and if the organization wanted to work with him it would have to be through wmof. Which they have. Not pointing to me personally, but the power of personal relationship.

so it has been a result of learning what has not worked as much as what will work.