First Baptist Church of Ojai, California

194 Days...

On Sunday I announced the target date of October 5th for launching the second worship service.  The second service will help us facilitate continued growth and more effectively reach the unchurched of our community.  The reactions of people have been interesting.  Most express a healthy impatience as they desire to get started right away.  In contrast, I am a bit overwhelmed by all that has to happen in the next 194 days to do this right.  We've got a lot of work to do.  Fortunately, we have the unlimited resources of our God to get the job done.  So, spread the word.  Something very special is coming October 5th. 

Is It Safe?

I found this on the blog of my friend Dennis who found it on the blog of Mark Beeson (www.markbeeson.com).  Isn't the blogging world amazing?  I found this post very challenging:

"Here's the plan.  (This picture of my son will help you imagine the scenario.) We'll tie a rope to a speed boat.  On a serpentine course, we'll power ahead, churning a vicious wake.  You hold fast to a tube we'll attach to the end of the aforementioned rope.  You'll be whipped so violently that a careless rider could be dislodged.  It'll take everything you've got: focus, effort and tenacity.  Your heart will race.  You may be battered and tossed like a leaf on the wind.  Safe? Who said anything about safe?

It'll be the ride of your life.

Sometimes I wonder if we've misunderstood our life in Christ.  I wonder if we've tried to tame the Lion of Judah. Jesus is not simply our "Forever Friend," as so many little children refer to Him.  Jesus is the One who calls us out of the boat. He is the One who ties our lives to His great redemption story.  His story-line pulls us into a life that is not our own.  He sets the course. He sets the speed.  He sets the agenda.  Safe?  Who said anything about safe?

Jesus honestly directed his followers, "Abide in me." He declared, "I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves." I assume that meant we better hold on tight cause we're in for an exhilarating ride. 

You may ask, "Why would people agree to this?  Is it safe?"

In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis portrays Mr. Beaver telling the children about Aslan, the great lion.  When Susan asks, "Is he quite safe?" Mr. Beaver responds, "Safe?  Who said anything about safe?  'Course he isn't safe. But he's good.  He's the King I tell you."

Stop looking for security more than opportunity.  The King is calling you to a life that is truly good.  Will you agree to this? 

If you do you're in for the ride of your life."

Why Do We Do What We Do?

The process of decision-making intrigues me.  Why do we do what we do?  What motivates us?  This question is especially interesting when it comes to decision-making in churches.  I believe that churches make the decisions they do for one of three primary reasons:

1. Tradition - "We have always done it that way."  Tradition is not necessarily bad.  It can provide a firm foundation and consistency during uncertain times.  But tradition becomes a problem when there is no biblical support for that tradition.  Sometimes traditions even become "sanctified" as if they came directly from God.  We must always check our tradition against the Truth of Scripture.  When a tradition is not biblical, we should always be open to change it.

Mark 7:8 (NIV) "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

2. Preference - "I want it done that way."  We all have our likes and dislikes.  Left to our fleshly selves, we want (even demand) things our way.  But the church isn't about us.  It is first and foremost about God who's character is love exemplified through sacrifice.  Too often churches become religious clubs that make decisions based upon the desires of the constituency.  Unity is only possible when the club becomes small enough that everyone has the same wishes.  The club becomes exclusive and insensitive to the needs of others.

Luke 9:23 (NIV) Then he said to them all:  "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

3. Mission - "God wants it done that way."  God is love.  The incarnation of Jesus Christ was about God taking extreme sacrificial measures to save lost sinners.  The Church is the Body of Christ.  We are to be Jesus by likewise taking extreme sacrificial measures to save lost sinners.  When God's people make decisions based upon mission, an amazing sense of unity results.  The church isn't to be about traditions or preferences--it is to be about the mission of God.

Luke 19:10 (NIV) For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Here are two questions through which to filter your thoughts on change:

1. Are my thoughts about change in the church motivated by tradition, preference, or mission?
2. Am I able to support these thoughts biblically?

Vision Statement

We are committed to the expansion of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ through strategic church planting locally, nationally, and globally.  It is the vision of First Baptist Church to regularly plant daughter churches which will themselves plant reproducing churches.

Caution: Mission Statement Under Construction

Much work is being done in writing a fresh mission statement for First Baptist.  Here is where we are right now in the process:

Mission Statement:  The First Baptist Church of Ojai is a movement of God’s Spirit which seeks to give full expression to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ here on earth.

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We seek to give full expression to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ by fulfilling the following objectives:

·        Worshipping God in thought, word, and action.

·        Healing hearts, minds, bodies, relationships, and social structures.

·        Building a community characterized by faith, hope, and love.

·        Training followers of Christ to make a Kingdom impact.

·        Serving others by using our unique gifts, passions, and personality.

·        Going into our community and world to share the message of God's love.

Each ministry of First Baptist Church is entrusted with the responsibility of fulfilling this mission in their own unique context and describing the method in doing so through their own mission statement. 

Breaking the Rules

So I am about to break a cardinal rule of church "promotion."  Common sense would say that if you are counting on using a blog such as this to attract newcomers, then you should make your church look as strong and healthy as possible.  While First Baptist Church of Ojai is growing and healthy, strong is not exactly who we are right now.  We have some very real needs, especially in the area of leadership.  On April 15th we committed as a congregation to pray for 6 strategic emerging leaders:  (1) Children's Director: (2) Youth Director; (3) Worship Leader; (4) Operation Blessing Leader; (5) Homeless Shelter Site Coordinator; (6) Financial Secretary.  While some of these positions presently have leaders who are doing fantastic jobs, we all agree that there will be the need in the future to hand off the baton to an emerging leader.  So, we have made this a very public matter of prayer.  We would humbly ask you to join us in crying out to God for His provision in these areas. 

Now for a little P.R.:  First Baptist is an absolutely exciting congregation to be a part of right now.  We are in the midst of a building project that has nothing to do with a building.  We are are building (God is building) a fresh, relevant ministry that has the potential to impact many lives in Ojai and abroad.  We are completely dependent upon God to bring to completion the good work He has begun in us.  In my humble opinion, there is not a better place to be.  Come and join us. 

Multiplication vs. Addition

The process of working on the church's mission statement has me thinking a great deal about the philosophy of ministry.  I believe that we can all agree that we want to absolutely maximize our impact for the Kingodm of God.  But, what is the best way to do that?  Most churches consciously or unconsciously operate according to the philosophy of addition:  bring as many people into the Kingdom of God through the ministry of this particular church.  But as I learned in grade school, multiplication results in a much greater impact than addition.  Perhaps we are to operate according to a ministry philosophy of multiplication rather than addition.  What I mean is this:  What if instead of growing one church as large as possible, what if we made it our mission to strategically plant churches that will in turn plant other churches locally and globally?  Such a philosophy would result in exponential growth and have the potential to make the Gospel relevant in a wide variety of cultural contexts.  In addition, I believe that such a philosophy would ensure that the church operate as a movement rather than as an institution.  There would be a constant sense of mission, faith, and adventure.   What do you think?

What's In A Mission Statement?

I sat down with a small group of people last night to begin the process of writing a mission statement for the children's ministry at First Baptist.  The project became much larger in scope as we determined that we must first redefine the church's mission statement.  When we first came to Ojai a year and a half ago, I wrote a partial mission statement for the purpose of emphasizing the great need for the church to embrace an outward focus for ministry.  That statement, however, is not a comprehensive description of what a church's mission is to be.  I find that to be true of most church mission statements.  They tend to emphasize several facets of what a church is to be about while neglecting so many others.  So, how do you in one memorable sentence encapsulate the complete mission of a local church? 

I have really been wrestling with this.  I truly believe that the church's mission has to do with incarnating Jesus--being Jesus, being the Body of Christ, doing all the things Jesus would do if He were with us (and He is) now.   The mission has to do with God's purpose of re-creation--bringing the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.  But how do you say this?