Couldn’t pass this up…

World evangelism statistics: What would our world look like?

Raw population statistics overwhelm you. Here’s one way of visualizing the world and its economic, housing, health, religious and educational needs: Shrink the earth’s population to one village of exactly 100 people. Apply the earth’s racial, economic and other ratios to these 100 people. Here’s how this village would look:

Origins:

• 60 would be from Asia
• 12 would be European in origin
• 15 would have come from the Western Hemisphere (9 Latin Americans, 5 North Americans, and 1 from Oceania)
• 13 would be from Africa

Source: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, “World Population Prospects: The 2000 Revision.”

Sex / Gender:

• 50 would be female
• 50 would be male

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census International Data Base, Table 094 : Midyear Population by Age and Sex 2001.

Skin color:

• 80 would be non-white
• 20 would be white

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census International Data Base, Table 001 : Total Midyear Population 2001, assuming the populations of South America, Asia, and Africa are “non-white” and those of North America, Europe, and Oceania are “white.”

Religion:

• 67 would be non-Christian
• 33 would label themselves as “Christian”

Source: Britannica Book of the Year 1999, “Religious Population of the World, 1998,” reprinted at infoplease.com , using numbers from the “Christians” heading only for the Christian percentage.

Economics:

• 20 people would be receiving almost 90% of the village’s total income

Source: The International Herald Tribune, February 5, 1999, cited in the World Income Inequality table.

Housing:

• 25 would live in substandard housing

Source: Habitat for Humanity International, “Why Habitat is Needed.”

Literacy:

• 17 would not be able to read at all

Source: UNICEF, “The State of the World’s Children 1999.”

Nutrition:

• 13 would be malnourished

Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization report, cited at OBGYN.net.

Life and death:

• 1 would die within the year
• 2 would give birth within the year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, World Vital Events Per Time Unit 2001.

Education:

• 2 would have a college education

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, World Education Indicators, Gross Enrollment Ratio by Sex.

Technology:

• 4 would own a computer

Source: UN Human Development Indicators, “Access to Information and Communications 1995.”

Research by Rekha Balu, Christine Engelken, and Jennifer Grosso (http://ow.ly/xGuL).

This list is not presented to cause guilt; it is simply the picture of reality.

Many churches are in a place of needing to make some decisions regarding how to develop the leadership structure.  I prefer to call it a chain, or architecture, of care.  Following are some basic definitions and descriptions of function…

Greek Words for Deacon, Bishop, Elder, and Pastor

1. Deacon: Gk. DIAKONOS. Used 57 times in the New Testament. Translated various times (K.J.) as serving, ministry, administrations, service, and servant. Strongs Concordance defines DIAKONOS as, “an attendant; or one who runs errands.” The function of a deacon is to serve (Acts 6:2). Bishops, elders, and pastors (see below) are directive in ministry function while deacons are directed. The office of a deacon may or may not be a “stepping stone” to eldership. 1 Timothy 3:13 states, “for those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

The next three words seem to be used interchangeably in Scripture…

2. Bishop: Gk. EPISKOPE. Used 11 times in the New Testament. The function of a bishop is thought by most scholars to be administrative in nature. The word EPISKOPE is translated in Hebrews 12:15 (K.J.) as “looking diligently.” Two additional synonyms for bishop are overseer and superintendent.

3. Elder: Gk. PRESBUTEROS. Used 70 times in the New Testament. The function of an elder is to impart counsel, unity, and doctrine as one who expresses the character of the message of reconciliation. In the Greek, PRESBUTEROS literally means older or senior.

4. Pastor: Gk. POIMEEN. Used 18 times in the New Testament and usually translated in many versions as shepherd. The Greek word POIMAINO is used 11 times; 7 times translated (K.J.) as feed and 4 times translated (K.J.) as tend. The function of a pastor, then, would primarily be to feed and to tend the flock of God (Pro. 27:23). One author states that, “The pastoral ministry is not so much an ‘instructing-in-the-principles-and- precepts-of-God’ ministry as it is a personal ‘guiding-in-the-way’ ministry. ” 43

Historical Perspectives of Church Government (or Polity)

There are basically three forms of church government, with variations on each.

1. Congregational: Congregationalism can be traced back to the Pilgrim societies of the United States in the early 1600s. Congregational polity strictly forbids pastors from ruling their local churches by themselves. Not only does the pastor serve by the approval of the congregation, but also committees further constrain the pastor from exercising power without consent by either a particular committee, or the entire congregation.

2. Presbyterian: With the emergence of John Calvin’s ministry around 1530AD, came the form of government in which elders had the authority and governed the church. The word Presbyterian is adapted from the Greek word PRESBUTEROS (see above). Each Presbyterian church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called a session or consistory.

3. Episcopal: Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local church resting in a bishop – or lead pastor. The word Episcopal is adapted from the Greek word EPISKOPE (see above).

Historic Vineyard Polity
Historically the Association of Vineyard Churches has functioned with an episcopal model of church government. The prevailing belief is that it is most in keeping with the model of the early church. The pastor of the church functions as a bishop. S/he is called of God and functions with multiple elders, deacons, and staff. (Additionally, it is thought that Martin Luther, who is credited with initiating the Reformation around 1521AD, functioned episcopally, but the Lutheran church became far more congregational when it came to America — which it remains.)

Upsides and Downsides
Congregational polity is not seen as a viable option, primarily because it is thought to be a reaction to the abuses of the church government in England from which pilgrims and Puritans were escaping. Congregationalism places the power into the hands of the voting members and the pastor can be reduced to functioning as an employee and spiritual leadership can be reduced to personal preferences and political pressures from various members.

Episcopalian and Presbyterian polities have opposing upsides and downsides. With Presbyterian polity there is strong accountability yet it can take a long time to get things done. This is reversed with Episcopal polity – there can be insufficient accountability for the “bishop,” yet decisions can usually be made quickly.

As Acts 6 seems to indicate, there needs to be some form of “team,” pragmatic fluidity, those who direct, and those who are directed, prayer and the ministry of the word, and some process/es wherein the congregation can have input to signify approval. Each church should thoroughly study the Scriptures as well as seek the input of whatever network, or denomination, they are a part of.

I really enjoyed Ken Fish‘s message last weekend. I believe he spoke some very important words to us as a church. This Sunday I will attempt to connect some dots for us as a church. See also my interpretation of the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5. I see them as stepping stones – one is a kind of prerequisite for the next…

The Cycle of Revival

• Outpouring/renewal/infilling (Acts 2:1-13; 4:23-31)
• Fellowship/prayer (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37; 5:1-11)
• Healing/Signs & Wonders (Acts 3:1-11; 4:31; 5:12-16
• Preaching/proclamation (Acts 2:14-40; 3:11-26; 5:14, 19-25, 26-32)
• Persecution (Acts 4:11-23; 5:17-18, 33-42)

Five Key Takeaways

• Our greatest strengths must be cleansed/purged just like your greatest weaknesses. Submit to it. Offer it.
• Don’t hold back
• God is committed to having a church living in transparency and purity. He will expose hypocrisy and shouldn’t be surprised (or offended or stumbled) by this.
• A pure church can be an empowered church, but an empowered church must be pure. No purity = no power.
• Persecution follows power.

Here’s a question to consider: What’s the connection/s between The Cycle of Revival, The 5 Key Takeaways and the Beatitudes????

THE BEATITUDES: A LIFELINE TO SPIRITUAL FORMATION
As we move toward a Sacred Assembly, let’s make good use of the Beatitudes as we prepare our hearts to be honest, humble, and yielding to God’s plans. The Beatitudes (Mat. 5:3-12) describe eight qualities that characterize the life of Jesus Christ, and therefore our life in Jesus Christ. Following is an overview of how one unfolds into the next…

• Blessed are the poor in spirit… To enter into God’s kingdom, we are invited to admit that we have come to the end of ourselves and are in need of God’s help and care.

• Blessed are those who mourn… As we are honest about our own sinful tendencies there will be a transforming grief, or repentance, that surfaces – not only for our own lives, but also for the injustice, greed, and suffering that grips our world.

• Blessed are the meek…Grieving over sin and suffering places us in a humble learning posture (disciple means learner).

• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…Spiritual hunger and thirst is the desire to be empty of those things that don’t reflect God, and initiates a deep longing for wholeness in our lives.

• Blessed are the merciful…As we receive God’s mercy we begin to give mercy – to ourselves and to others.

• Blessed are the pure in heart… Mercy cleanses our heart and restores purity to our lives.

• Blessed are the peacemakers… Purity gives way to a personal serenity and peacefulness. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the absence of anxiety in the midst of inevitable conflict – and when others encounter it, they want it too.

• Blessed are the persecuted… Living life from a kingdom of God perspective will place us in conflict with those that oppose it (often times it’s “religious” people!).

I serve on two ministry teams – PRISM Leadership Group (with Kevin & Suzanne Springer) and reTURN (a sub-ministry of CRM, with Dave Miles and a few others). A few weeks ago we met for a team meeting and came up with several “deliverables” that I wanted to pass on here. It will help MPVCC know what to expect in the next several months…

What is reTURN? reTURN creates pathways of hope and reconciliation for churches that find themselves in the middle of some kind of transition or crisis. The transition could be positive or difficult.

What can reTURN do? reTURN  gives churches the opportunity to become what Christ created them to be by:

Working towards biblical community.

• As we develop godly communication skills and practicing the one another commands, dealing with triangulation, gossip, and other communication issues that undermine the spiritual life of the church.
• As we focus on resolving conflict within the congregation.
• As we develop small group life focused on building community.
• As we equip leaders by creating church wide leader development systems as needed.

RESULT: Greater sense of peace and connectedness in the church

Working towards surrender to Christ as we make him the center of church life.

• By preaching gospel oriented Christ centered sermons.
• By pondering Christ’s vision for the church through a planning process.
• By asking, “What is the Spirit saying to this church?” and intentionally seeking to discover that.

RESULT: Sense of moving towards God’s preferred future.

Working towards spiritual, emotional, organizational, and relational wholeness.

• As we address issues related to anger, fear, grief, or historical issues that keep a congregation from being what it could be.
• As we introduce and practice the spiritual disciplines (silence, solitude, Daily Office, etc.) related to spiritual formation.
• As we attempt to set in place important organizational systems that make for the smooth and effective operation of a church (example: financial systems, training systems, etc.).

RESULT: Sense of personal, spiritual, and corporate stability amidst the presence of God.

Working to live out the Christian life in culture via a missional life-style.

• By defining what living a missional life style is for the church and creating an awareness of what that looks like in the situation a church finds itself in.
• As we encourage people to activate their gifts and skills to serve each other and the community at large.
• As we encourage and model what it means to live out our faith in Christ in culture among friends and relatives at work and in our neighborhoods.
• By encouraging and identifying opportunities to serve the greater community; aligning the needs of the community with the strengths and assets of the church

RESULT: Service in the community and people often coming to Christ.

Working to identify and deal with the obstacles that hinder the ability to embrace all that Christ wants the church to be.

• By doing diagnostic assessment that asks and answers, “What is keeping us from being what God wants us to be?”
• By activities that lead towards changing its mind (repentance) about destructive sin or behaviors that keep the church from being what God wants it to be. (Examples: Sacred Assembly, public reconciliation, etc.)
• By addressing negative power, conflict, relational, theological, organizational, or material obstacles.
• As we identify and tear down (through repentance) the idols that fight for dominance over Christ

RESULT: Sense of spiritual and emotional wholeness

Will reTURN grow our church? People must surrender to Christ for the ministry of reTURN to work. We do not focus on church growth. We focus on Christ. Without surrender to Christ, there is nothing we can do. We cannot force people to change or grow or repent or be reconciled or become what God wants them to become. Nor can we make a church grow or increase in size. We lift up Christ and let God grow his church naturally and on his time line.

Sometimes churches that should grow don’t because they don’t care deeply about lost people. They are self-centered. Sometimes churches that grow in numbers need to grow in maturity. They are so outwardly focused they fail to mature. We seek to serve congregations so that they will become what God wants them to become.

Where does reTURN work? We have worked in urban, suburban, and rural churches around the US. We have worked in multi-ethnic and mono-ethnic churches. Each environment is different and demands its own culturally sensitive practices. reTURN team members have worked with larger churches (several thousand members) to smaller churches (under a hundred). The size of the church effects how the ministry is done. We work across denominational lines with congregations who are willing to adhere to the great truths of the Christian faith-the deity of Christ, authority of the Word, virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, and eventual return of Christ. We do not seek to undermine the doctrinal distinctives of a congregation.

How does reTURN work and what do you do? reTURN team members work as interim pastors, as consultants, as coaches, or as interim staff members in congregations in transition. We are more hands on and directly involve ourselves in the lives of the churches in which we work.

We have worked with congregations that have been severely conflicted or in deep decline. We have worked with churches that are in transition between lead pastors or churches that have lost pastors to moral failure. We have worked in environments where people struggled with the cultural changes that come their way or that have been split or lost a large number of attendees due to events surrounding their church life. We have worked with churches that have schools connected to them or who have had leaders who have abused their power. We have also worked in churches that simply needed an organizational tune up.

Hope this helps…