Looking Forward to 2012

Happy New Year! That's the greeting going around this weekend. It is a good time to examine who we are in Christ and what He would have us to do with out lives! It has been a LONG time since my last post (on any blog), so my first New Year's Resolution as it relates to "social media" is to post more often on the blogs and sites I maintain.

Not just posts, but posts "with purpose." Some of you understand that term. It is not my desire to fill up my time with useless info. Rather, I want my posts to have some value to the reader. So, whether it be an actual blog, FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or TRBA's website, it is my prayer you will find information useful that I post in 2012.

As I have thought of what to post in 2012, I have prayed and then examined what I am "hearing" from various sources in denominational life. To that end, I have determined to focus on the purpose of the association, as well as issues related to overall church health. I will be looking a LOT to Transformational Church and Transitional Pastor as I am working with both LifeWay and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in those areas. Truthfully, I think there are things we can glean to strengthen the church and impact lostness (our purpose as an association of churches).

In a conversation with a Sunday School director today we began to discuss some information we had obtained during a Josh Hunt conference several years back. In fact, I bought a book by Hunt today that reiterated the idea of "how to double your Sunday School in two years or less."

The gist of the conversation centered on the fact that the classes seemed content with where they were and had not grown in several years. Basically, we talked about the lack of evidence in many area churches (from conversations the two of us have had with other church leaders in neighboring churches from three associations) that churches want to grow.

I think that is perhaps the first thing we need to honestly look at as we begin the new year. Do we have a genuine desire to grow closer to Christ personally and to grow both spiritually and numerically in our churches. Or are we content with where we are. I would invite you to pray and search with me this simple fact over the next couple of days. After the first of the year I will examine the idea of doubling Sunday School attendance in less than two years. I am pretty confident I will address it from the standpoint of IF we REALLY want to see growth.

I have become convinced that we have all the tools we need to advance the kingdom. We have attended conference after conference. In the YEARS we have attended, there has been little kingdom advance and virtually no SUSTAINED evidence of growth in many of our churches. Yet - we have the tools sitting idly beside us as we moan about our lack of advance.

What do we have:

1. The authority of Christ who commanded that we make disciples.
2. His Word.
3. His presence to instruct, lead, guide, empower.
4. Prayer.
5. His promise to hear, answer, empower as we walk in obedience to Him.

Then we have other tools to assist. Among the ones I have emphasized in TRBA are Link2Lead, The Mapping Center, continued training of church leadership, Transformational Church, Transitional Pastor, etc. etc. etc. Over the next few weeks, expect much info to be shared. As it is shared, pray about your participation individually and as a church.

Do you want to see kingdom advance in 2012? If you do, please join me and the other TRBA staff members as we answer the call to prayer by our denominational leaders. Pray with us daily for kingdom advance. Join us on Monday, January 23rd at 7 PM for a corporate time of prayer.

Again, I wish you the best for 2012. I look forward to walking alongside you as we set out together to strengthen His church and impact the lostness of THIS generation!

Developing A Spiritual Vision For 2011 - Part Two

I want to continue today some thoughts about our need to develop a spiritual vision for our lives in 2011 - praying for God to reveal one scripture to guide our path/prepare us to deal with life's circumstances throughout 2011. In part one of this discussion, I focused on Proverbs 29: 18, "Without revelation people run wild, but one who keeps the law will be happy." (Holman translation). I closed the discussion by revealing what I referred to as "Reality One." I stated, "The reality is - without a spiritual vision for your life, you will run wild." That's where I want to begin in this discussion.

Reality # 1: Without Spiritual vision for your life, you will run wild. That's a reality. That's what the Bible tells us. Without a spiritual vision for your life, you're going to run wild. I'm telling you we've got a lot of wild-eyed Christians right now. You will run on your own. You'll run loosely, you will run freely, you will run unrestrained. You will run shamelessly. You will run naked (Young's Literal Translation puts it), and you know one of the real tragedies of running naked? Is you don't even know you're naked. That's what John wrote about in Revelation 3, of the lukewarm church, you don't even know your own condition, that you're blind, and naked, and weak, and in need because you don't have the Word of God pouring into you.

In the Message, Proverbs 29: 18 reads, "If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed." In this case, I think we can learn from this translation as well! There seems to be a LOT of times that we are stumbling all over ourselves and accomplishing nothing for the Kingdom. Conversely, when we attend to that which God reveals to us/calls us to do in His Word, we are indeed blessed!

With a spiritual vision for your life, you will discover the good life God intends for you. I believe Jesus stated He came to give us "life more abundantly (John 10: 10)." That's a pretty exciting statement. If I can develop a spiritual vision for my life, I can begin to live and discover the good life that God intends for me. And that is true for all! Don't you want the good life God intends for you in your life? Then follow the counsel of God's Word and discover life to the fullest.

Many churches today (and we as an association) have established vision statements or purpose statements. If they set out to achieve their purpose as a church, then they are likely to achieve their goals. If they wander aimlessly - doing a little of this and a little of that - doing what "feels good for the moment" or just that which is popular to the masses - then they may last for a season but they will not achieve the life more abundantly that God has in store for those that devote themselves to following the precepts of God's Word.

As an association, Tar River has established it's primary purpose many years ago. It's purpose is to strengthen the local church. It is our aim to walk alongside our member churches and assist them/resource them/equip them through training and modeling so that the church, the Bride of Christ, will prosper as God directs. If we fail to live by that purpose, we may do a lot of things - even things that are good - but if not in accordance with what God would have us to do, then we will just stumble all over ourselves doing a lot of busy-ness stuff, but we will NOT experience the blessedness of operating in God's Will.

Some of you have heard my story of serving on the Mental Health Board many years ago. I had been appointed to represent the needs of those addicted to drugs and alcohol - a noble cause. I was honored. I set out to do the best job that I could. After a while, they asked me to serve as chair of the board and then politics entered the picture. My life became consumed with meeting after meeting; working lunched with directors and committee chairs from other public service agencies; lobbied state legislators for services to meet the needs of the people I represented and all the others with mental health needs. There were even times the regular meeting went LONG we would go into what the press reported as an "executive session (the press was released and our purpose was SUPPOSED to be dealing with issues of a confidential nature). Reality - the other members of the board ate supper while I rushed out a side door and drove to the church and conducted prayer meeting at the church. I would return and call the press back into the meeting and report, "there is no public action necessary for any items discussed while the board was in executive session.

I became so busy with the work of the board, my life was consumed! When I was not in a meeting, I was meeting with people to prepare for the meeting or talking with a reporter about what was determined at the meeting, etc. etc.

The church I served sent me on a spiritual retreat. There I went to my first session. The leader is well known NOW, but I had never heard of him. His name was Greg Laurie. He made this statement, "This was not what I had planned to say but someone in here needs to hear this; 'Noble causes do not replace God's call for your life.'" I thought - what a great saying and wrote it down.

I went to my second session. I do not remember the name of the individual that was leading the session but he began by saying: "I did not have this in my plans, but someone here needs to hear this statement - noble causes do not replace God's call for your life." I quickly looked around the room to see what individual was in my first session and needed to hear this word - which I was beginning to realize was indeed a word from the Lord.

Now it was time for my third session. I know the presenter was a member of Billy Graham's family, but I can not recall the name. You guessed it - again I heard the words - "noble causes do not replace God's call for your life." I fully realized, that word was for me and as the presenter continued to present, I wrote out my letter of resignation as Chairman of the Mental Health Board and a letter to the County Commissioners stating that I would not accept reappointment to the board. I realized I had allowed a noble cause to replace God's call on my life at that time. He had called me as pastor of Massey Hill Baptist Church, not Chairman of the Board."

Today I strive to be where God wants me to be and not allow noble causes to crowd Him out. Problem is, I still get distracted. That's why I believe we need to continually review our purpose for the cause of Christ and attempt to live in obedience to His call. If we are not careful we get super-busy with lots of good stuff - even noble stuff - yet we are operating outside of God's calling upon our lives. We need to HEAR God - that's why we really need to be in His Word. Again, I challenge you to pray and asking God to reveal a scripture to help you throughout 2011.

We will look at this more throughout our days of prayer as member churches. Until then, pray that all of us will really HEAR God and do those things that He is calling us to do as His disciples.

Getting READY for the New Year

(Special thanks to Neal Eller of BSCNC for connecting me with Don Whitney's post which is the basis for this post)

As an association we are entering 2011 with a corporate call for fasting and prayer. We are asking our member churches to commit to praying with the TRBA staff over the first 21 days of 2011. If you have questions concerning this and are not getting our regular updates regarding that, contact me at dougald@tarriverbaptist.com and I will try to make sure you get the updates.

On Monday night, January 24th we will have a time of corporate prayer at Rock Spring Baptist Church at 7 PM. This will be the emphasis of quarterly executive board meeting and we have moved to the church to allow for larger numbers to be in attendance. Please get the information out to your church family and encourage all - messengers and general members, to be in attendance.

To prepare for this time of sacrificial prayer, we have been encouraging members to be preparing themselves spiritually to participate in this season of prayer. Neal Eller shared questions from Don Whitney's post that I thought might be of help to us. To that end, I am sharing those questions with readers of this blog to use as we enter into the New Year.

"Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings. For starters, here are 10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God:

1.What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2.What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3.What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4.In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5.What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6.What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7.For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8.What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9.What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10.What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

In addition to these questions, here are 21 more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

11.What's the most important decision you need to make this year?
12.What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?
13.What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
14.What habit would you most like to establish this year?
15.Who do you most want to encourage this year?
16.What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?
17.What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?
18.What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?
19.What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
20.What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
21.What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
22.What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
23.In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?
24.What's the most important trip you want to take this year?
25.What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?
26.To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?
27.What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?
28.What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?
29.If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?
30.What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?
31.In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?"

These are great questions to ponder as we begin the New Year - as well as OFTEN throughout the year.

As we begin our season of prayer, perhaps you want to share these questions with the membership of your church family. I plan to share more of these thoughts as we pray together this coming January.

CALL FOR REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

Over the past several months my heart has been burdened about the LOSTNESS of our communities and the need for revival in the church of North America - the church of TRBA. The theme for the Annie Armstrong Emphasis dealt with the URGENCY that is before us, but I wonder - how urgent is it TO US?

Over the past couple of years my life seems to be overshadowed with meeting after meeting. Few of them relate to the URGENCY before our church as much as they relate to the busy-ness of the church. Unfortunately, much time and energy is spent preserving the status guo and little time and energy is spent in actual ministry to those around us in need; in sharing His message of hope, help, and deliverance to the Lost around us; or in equipping our churches to become engaged in the work God has called us to be to our communities and around the world. Sure, I know we can all become defensive about what we are doing, but I think God is calling us to LOOK THROUGH HIS EYES AND UNDER THE LIGHT OF HIS WORD and what we are doing as HIS church.

This summer the Mission Team went to Niger, West Africa. We commented on the lost-ness of the people and expressed our burden for the people - especially the children. We commented that the culture would never be reached unless and until men stepped up to serve as missionaries in that culture. My heart aches for the people of Niger and I pray daily that God will raise up men and women of faith to proclaim His message to the people in that country.

In one of my presentations after that mission trip, I said "men need to step up to the plate there...." and it dawned on me - how different is Niger from America? DESPITE our freedom to worship, and our opportunities to share openly our faith in Christ, we - people who call ourselves Christ-followers, are not being faithful to the task. Reality - if things do not change in North America, just like the little children of West Africa, 94+% of our little ones will grow up without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as well.

A couple of weeks back Chris Carroll and I went to New England to set up our missions trip for this summer. I experienced a "spiritual vacuum" among the people.

Last week at our Ministers' Fellowship we discussed the lack of discipleship among those who claim to be Christ-followers. In addition, in last week's e-zine to pastors I sent out a "call to prayer for revival and spiritual awakening," asking our pastors in particular and our churches in general to join me in praying for just that throughout TRBA, our state and nation, and around the world as well. I believe we have a generation to reach and God is holding us accountable.

In four separate conversations LAST week with separate pastors we have discussed that there is a feeling of spiritual oppression in their church fields. We also discussed this a little at the Ministers' Fellowship and stated that we need to recognize that we are in a BATTLE with THE ENEMY. And yes - we emphasized that there is in fact an ENEMY out there and his intent is to destroy our witness and distract us from our work as the Lord's church. Unfortunately, he has been pretty successful in keeping many of us from being engaged in the ministry of His church to a hurting and LOST world.

I could go on and on, but the above statements should be sufficient. There is a NEED before us! There needs to be REVIVAL in the church and a spiritual awakening among the people all around us. And - the revival and renewed commitment to LIVE DAILY for the Living LORD Jesus Christ needs to begin in those of us who have accepted the call to ministry and serve as spiritual leaders in our churches. God has convicted me to do just that.

Check my pastors' blog and/or church member's blog OFTEN for periodic updates. Beginning in April I will be placing information about this call for prayer on the associational website and invite the laity to join us in prayer. It is my hope that you - as pastors and spiritual leaders in your church have already announced this call to our churches and your church is taking steps to be engaged in this effort.

I will also be placing items on the TRBA calendar as I receive responses from you/your church. I haqve been somewhat surprised that I have not received much input from those of us who serve in spiritual leadership positions. I pray that will be changing as I continue to pray about this and lay out plans of action to the member churches and to you as spiritual leaders. To this point, this is the call to prayer:

1. Month of April - pastors, church staffs/leaders, churches cluster for times of prayer - pray for revival in the church. I encourage you to specifically mention this call for prayer from the pulpit and gather your people together to pray for revival in your church and spiritual awakening in your community.

2. April 27th. TRBA Spring Meeting - at the meeting there will be an emphasis on the call for prayer as we gather for a time of worship and celebration in our Spring Meeting. You will be getting additional information in April concerning the meeting. Be MUCH in prayer for Kevin Byers as he prepares to bring the message that God is laying on his heart to deliver to the people that will be in attendance at White Level on April 27th.

3. Thursday, May 7th -- National Day of Prayer Service at TRBA Center (10:00 AM): Again, you will receive more information later about this.

4. Looking for Host Churches/Pastors to host prayer meetings: Actually, I am looking for AT LEAST three(3) churches to host prayer meetings on Thursdays throughout May at 10 AM (or other times as well). There can be several churches hosting times of prayer at the same time. On May 14th I need a Zebulon area church---on May 21st I need a Spring Hope area church. On May 28th I need a Franklinton/Youngsville area church to host (but am praying for numerous places for pastors and laity to gather and pray). In reality, I am hoping that churches will come forward to host times of prayer morning, noon, and night - giving all of our people multiple opportunities to gather in prayer.

After the month of May, I will be inviting you to join me in monthly times of prayer back at the Association. Naturally, I am hoping that other members of your staff and laity from our congregations will also gather for seasns of prayer.

Certainly we can not all be at every place each time, but we can be (and I would add should be) able to host and/or attend several times of prayer for revival in our churches and a spiritual awakening among the people in our area that will allow them to sense the need for a daily walk with the Living Lord.

As Frankie shared in our devotional at the Ministers' Fellowship last week - the word "IF" is used often in God's Word. One place is 2 Chronicles 7: 14 - "If MY People......THEN I will...." We all know the verse. Join me in prayer and EXPECT to experience God as He works in and through His church!!!!!

If you/your church is willing to host a prayer meeting or will establish ongoing times of prayer, please get that information to me ASAP so that I can post it on our website and publicize it. The newsletter and e-zines for to about 1300 people and those 1300 people are in positions to share with others in our churches and in our communities.

Join me in praying for revival in our churches and a spiritual awakening among the people of our communities. Trust God to provide the harvest and expect to experience God in the days ahead.

Burden for the church in its mission

I begin this post with no title for the blog. I am burdened for the church as we set out on the years ahead. Increasingly I think of the statement I read several years back - that 65% of the existing churches in North America in 1990 would close their doors by 2035.

First, when I read it that date seemed so far off. Now, it seems to be looming just around the corner. Second, I thought NO WAY! But as the new Wal Mart Commercial says it, "Way."

In 2003, NAMB in its promo materials stated that 48 churches a month in North America were closing their doors. Though we have only seen new and unhealthy church starts close their doors in TRBA, we have decreased over 700 active members since 2000 (the equivalent of 7 churches). In addition, we are certainly not reaching the people that are lost at the rates we should. Therefore, I am burdened about the church and am beginning to realize that IF the churches of today do not change and embrace the task before us, there will indeed be 65% or better of our churches closing their doors.

It appears to me that we are at a crossroad. It further appears to me that it is high time for us to choose which path we will take. The path we are currently on, or the new path that will lead US to be the church God is calling us to be in our communities and around the world. I PRAY it will be the latter.

Why do I say such things:

1. 92% of our churches have plateaued (are declining). We are not reaching the lost nor keeping up with population growth.
2. 95% of Baptists never share their faith.
3. Churches are not discipling our members.
4. Multitudes of churches are losing the 18-22 year-olds that were churched youth because church is not essential/relevant to them.
5. We are preoccuppied with "stuff" and not concentrated on becoming the Great Commandment/Great Commission churches that God has commanded us to become to this generation.

Please begin to pray with me about something we may call THRIVE. An intentional effort as Associational Missionary, Pastors, and church leaders to "revitalize" our churches in the work that God is calling us to be. In the next several weeks, you will be getting additional information from me concerning this. Please read through the materials and pray about you and your church becoming involved with this.

If I can be of help go you, please call on me.

Call To Action As Pastors/Church Leaders

I posted a similar post on my TRBA blog this AM. I decided to also post on the "Pastors' blog" as an encouragement to you - as ministry leaders - to both join me in prayer concerning this matter and to lead your church (by example and practice) to become stronger in the Lord.

As a pastor, I often used the time between Mother's Day and Father's Day as an emphasis on the family. There is an "expectation" to at least hit the topics of motherhood, fatherhood, and "apple pie" type stuff on some occassions. About half way in the middle is an emphasis on high school and/or college grads. So - why not spend some time and effort to preach and teach some solid stuff on the family, placing God first, etc. in place of the "apple pie."

As I was reading through my mail this morning I noticed a card promoting 'PROJECT FATHER'S DAY." Normally - like you, I would have just trashed it as an advertisement. You and I get a mountain of such mail promoting some emphasis for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Race Relations Sunday, etc. all the time. There is no way we can keep up with all the promo materials we receive, so - we chunk a lot of it in "file 13."

BUT -- you will note that I said, "I NOTICED....." The "headlines" for the promotion were compelling. Sure - it is advertising a Father's Day promotion in the local church (you can go to www.maninthemirror.org and get the details). And yes - I am facilitating a men's group at my church right now with one of the books they are highlighting. And truly it is a way to "Reach every husband, father, and son in your church this Father's Day for about $1 each," BUT the words leaped from the page to my heart strings and I felt compelled to both pray over these facts in our member churches and to write this blog asking you to pray with me.

Think for a minute with me. If the men of our churches experienced the transforming power accessible to them through the Holy Spirit as a result of our fervent prayer, there would be "revival in our land." Imagine the possibilities for renewal in the homes of our church members (and thereby our churches themselves) if we "picked up" more men who would "get right with Jesus" and begin to live in obedience to the call of God as leaders in their homes, the local church, and the community.

There is an argument to be made that we - even as pastors - might need to devote time and energy to leading men (our women are engaged in Beth Moore studies galore - compare women's studies to anything for men and most of our churches come uup lacking in the men column). I would encourage you to prayerfully consider what direction you need to lead your church in its discipleship efforts for the men of your church.

What was the compelling information that was shared in this promotion? Please read it with an awareness in our churches and throughout our communties:

For EVERY 10 MEN in YOUR church.......

10 are STRUGGLING to balance work and family,
9 WILL HAVE children who leave the church,
5 will have a SERIOUS problem with pornography,
4 WILL GET divorced, and
ONLY 1 has a biblical worldview.

These facts are alarming!!!! 100% of us (and I would say this is true for men and women) are STRUGGLING to "balance" work and family. Who doesn't say 100 times a week "I am so busy" in some fashion. Our wives need us---our kids need us---and we don't have time (or energy) to devote to their needs. Our families are weakened, and - as a result - our churches are weakened and society as a whole is weakened.

I have heard for years that there is an ALARMING problem with internet pornography. To realize that 50% of the men in our churches have a SERIOUS problem with pornography (that does not include those with a "little problem" or curosity with pornography). Couple that with the statistic that between 40 - 65% of pastors throughout the United States have viewed pornography on the internet in the past week - and we see a real problem developing.

Certainly time management (or lack thereof) and problems with pornography contribute greatly to those other stats of children leaving the church; divorce rates higher than the non-churched rates; a lack of a biblical worldview, etc. As leaders in the church, we need to take note; make it a matter of prayer; and TAKE ACTION to strnegthen His Church!

With Christ as Savior and Lord - our lives are empowered through the Holy Spirit to be "more than conquerors." Yet - only 1 of 10 in our churches would even think in that frame. Serious problems exist within our curched families (hear me -- CHURCHED families) that are tearing families apart and lending itself toward an ever increasing divorce rate. 50% of our men have a SERIOUS problem with pornography (and this includes laity and clergy) that both reflects dissatisfaction and problems in their life and contributes to an abundance of other problems that exist within our homes and churches (and society as a whole). Our daily struggles to balance the demands of life rip into our marriage relationships; our relationships with our children; affect morale and productivity in the work place; other interpersonal relationships, etc. etc.

I am not writing this to encourage you to participate in
"PROJECT FATHER'S DAY. However, I am writing you to encourage you to join me in praying for this situation. I am also asking that you commit with me to be men of faith; striving to live in accordance with a Biblical worldview; and striving to balance our lives by seeking FIRST and FOREMOST -- above EVERYTHING else - His righteousness. The key to strengthening our churches lies in our personal relationships with the LIving Lord being strengthened.

Personally devote MORE TIME to "being still" and LISTENING to God in the midst of your day. Corporately - lead your church to face the realities before them and sure them up to be beacons of hope in the midst of chaos, turmoil, and despair. Pray WITHOUT CEASING -- but understand the prayers of a "righteous man" (or woman) "availeth much." So -- we begin with OURSELVES and not the church in total. Just some thoughts to consider as you prepare for a season where many churches emphasize the family - that time between Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day.

I may write more later. I just wanted to share some of my heart with you this day.