About a decade ago, an evangelist who was often used in the prophetic spoke a word over our church. He said that C3AG would be a sending church. In theory, that sounds like a great thing, but in practice, it is tough. In fact, there have been many times that I wanted to call that evangelist and give him a piece of my mind. He is now with Jesus, and honestly, his word for the church has come true repeatedly.
Being the pastor of a sending church is an emotional roller coaster. I live in the tension between excitement and dread. I am always excited when a new family comes to our church, but in the back of my mind, I wonder how long it will be before God calls us to send them out.
Though this tension exists in my mind, it is also fed by others in the American church who do not understand. They do not understand what God has called us to do. Right or wrong, the American church is obsessed with numbers. “How big is your church?” is a question believers and non-believers frequently ask me. I want to respond with, “Well, do you want the today number, or the number yesterday, before we sent out an entire congregation of our African brothers and sisters?” Tension!
Because we focus so strongly on numbers, we have wrongfully developed a belief that large things are always healthy and that small things are not. Health has many factors, and yes, it is true, numbers are a big part of that. I have had to shift my thinking…many times…many, many times, and will likely have to do so again. Over the years of my ministry, I have come to realize that true health in the body of Christ brings growth to the Kingdom, not just the local church.
In a recent teaching, one of my great friends reminded me that sending is an integral part of God’s plan for His Church. The church in Antioch was a sending church. It was a diverse church. It was a generous church. It was a Spirit-filled church. It was a healthy church that helped shape the spread of the Gospel across the known world. Essentially, it was a Kingdom-focused church.
I recognize that many do not understand our approach to ministry, but I believe we stand on sound theology when we send out. Some of you may be wondering why this is a big deal. Well, we are not a large church, but over my years of being a pastor (12 as of today), God has called us to send out nearly 200 people, including groups, pastors, and missionaries.
If God has called you to send, send. Not everyone will understand. Not everyone will agree, but if it is what God has called you to do, be faithful, be willing, and be ready, because you will send out again very soon.
Let me take just a moment to encourage you, Pastor. I know what it is like when a fellow pastor says that you are hurting your church by consistently sending out. I know what it is like to wrestle with God over numbers that you can’t seem to get to. You, like I, will live in tension. You are excited to see what God will do, but discouraged by the prospect of losing another faithful family. I know this firsthand, not just as a pastor, but as a dad. Several months ago, my wife and I sent our oldest daughter out to live on the other side of the globe.
Pastor, be encouraged. Be faithful. Be honest with a friend when you are discouraged. Celebrate the sending. Embrace the tension.
Through Time 