Your Pastor’s Heart
“2011”
Dr. Harold O’Chester, long time pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church of Austin, Texas, once talked about shopping malls. He pointed out that malls were filled with all kinds of specialty or affinity shops. Places that sell only jeans, jewelry, or shoes. Each side of the courtyard is lined with stores that sell books, candy, or electronics. He noted that as popular as those stores were, the mall’s health was really determined by it’s anchors, the big stores on either end. Huge, multi-story departments stores like Penny’s, Macy’s, or Dillard’s. Without these anchors, malls could not survive. Unless the big stores are healthy, the specialty shops would not be able to keep their doors open.
Dr. O’Chester said, “The Church is similar to that shopping mall. Not in a consumer kind of way, but in her structure.” He went on to explain that the church is filled with affinity groups. Men and women’s groups, youth groups, children’s groups, choirs, clubs, and special events all fall within that category. These various programs, ministry teams, and committees are all too important to the health of the congregation. But without her anchors, the Church will never be the source of strength and power the Lord intends for her to be. So, what are those anchors?
As I consider the ministry, the vision, the calling of our congregation, I keep coming back to the two things that reflect the ultimate health of our fellowship: Worship and Sunday School. The Big Room and the Classroom.
THE BIG ROOM: In our Worship Center, we connect with God. He is the Audience of One in whose presence we gather. In those moments, we are able to express our great love for Him, with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Without Worship, we become nothing more than another community group. Without Worship, without our connection to the presence of God, we lose our anchor.
THE CLASSROOM: If we connect with God in worship, we connect with each other in small groups. As we study the Bible together, pray together, and fellowship together, we find out what it means to love each other like ourselves. And when Sunday School is at it’s best, there is no other growth agent like it. When our small group ministry, Sunday School, is healthy, we are constantly looking to include more people in our fellowship. We make disciples. We go and share Jesus with them. We baptize them into the family. We teach them the amazing truths of living the life of faith. Soon, they too become part of this disciple-making process as they grow in Christ and begin to influence their world for Him. Without small groups, we become nothing but a collection of individuals that simply sit together on Sunday mornings. Without Sunday School, without our connection to each other, we lose our anchor.
It is now time to evaluate and consider what happens in those places. As Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2011 awaits us, my friends. These are exciting days, aren’t they? And more to come!
It’s a joy to be your pastor!
Bro. Dave
