I have been sharing the following thought with churches over and over lately.
The Church is not the Building, the Church is the People, and the building is only a TOOL of ministry. We all agree, I have not had one disagreement. In fact, most responses have been, "that is exactly what we've been saying". So why do we put so much focus and money into building these facilities?
The reason lies in the last line of the statement. "the building is only a TOOL of ministry". Without the proper tools a mechanic cannot fix a car properly. Without the proper tools a house would not stand as strong. Using the tools God has given us allows us to be most effective in the work that we do. In ministry we must examine what the mission and vision is of the ministry. Based on the established mission and vision we then must take the tools we have to best reach people with the Gospel.
Today churches are converting ancient churches, office buildings, car dealerships, movie theaters and restaurants into high tech worship spaces to effectively deliver the message of the Gospel to our culture. In countries like Sudan and Honduras, churches are being established around the local water wells to maximize their influence in their culture. It is the responsibility of each mission field leader to identify the tools that are available to them and develop a plan to effectively reach, teach, and disciple the people that they encounter in the mission field. Whether in a wealthy suburb, a downtown area, or a third world village, we must recognize the tools we have and sharpen the tools to be used for the Glory of God.
What tools are you developing in your ministry?
For more on developing your facility for today's ministry REGISTER for the [re]cycle Church Conference at http://www.recyclechurch.com/
