Obliterating the Pastorate & Multiplying Impact

October 8, 2008

A friend of mine was just messaging me about their church’s inability to find an additional pastor. The church is currently fixated on finding someone to maintain existing programs, while he would like something much more expansive.

Here’s an idea, and I challenge any church to seriously consider take this up.

How about rather than spending 30 thousand dollars a year filling up another position, the church gave 30 people a thousand dollars each to do something kingdom advancing with?

Imagine the ideas and innovations this could birth in your community. Imagine what this would say about your church as a community of faith.

What would 30 people affirmed and empowered in your community look like? What people might they rally? What causes might they honor God with?

What do you think? Would this fly?

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Posted in Cause, Church planting, Leadership, mission

Comments to “Obliterating the Pastorate & Multiplying Impact”

Jake Belder said:

October 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pm

My church tried something along these lines. They gave out $4000 in $10s, $20s, and $50s and after a sermon on the Parable of the Talents, told people to go and do something with it essentially for the good of the Kingdom. They wanted people to at least return the $4000, but we ended up nearly doubling it. Proceeds went to the church’s budget. The point was to get people’s hands dirty and involved in the work of the Kingdom.

But I think it’s important that we don’t just give people money and say, go and do something. I think first we need to really help them hit the ground running, so to speak. They need to learn what it means for the Gospel and for faith to be something real, how to understand it as something living and dynamic and vital. The Gospel transforms everything in life and creation—what does that mean? How do we, as the instruments of God’s hands, make that known to the world?

Just some thoughts. Does that make sense?

Lon said:

October 11th, 2008 at 7:58 am

Hey Jake, thanks for the feedback and sharing your church experience.

I definitely don’t want to randomly give out money and say go and do something… and you’re totally right, it needs to be grounded in something much deeper, otherwise we might as well be just some foundation that gives out grants.

the gospel absolutely ought to transform everything in life.. this would just possibly be one step towards affirming that, amongst many others of course.