Subject: How to "win the world" ? |
Bible Note: Tim Then let me state what your doing is the exception and not the rule. I also suspect the discipleship and mentoring you received is what influenced you to go into the ministry. Of course there is always a core group in every church the old 20 80 principal but as Mommapbs said she attends a church of 1000 and 5 or 6 show up for prayer. As for the Willow Creek church again I can not say what they are doing first hand but I have had experience with people coming out of a similar background. We knew one man that attended a rather large church with many home groups patterned directly off of Willow Creek. His son got into a little trouble and their attorney suggested that his pastor be present to offer character references. the family attended the church the 5 years regularly and the previous 3 years on and off. They had been in the home study program. The son attended both youth group and youth church. When the father went to the church to see the senior pastor he could not. As a side bar the father saw the pastor that very day out riding his Harley Hog motorcycle with his black leather vest that shows he is a "regular guy." He then asked the youth pastor to serve as reference. The youth pastor said he could not remember the son therefore could not stand for him. He went to the home group pastor and asked for his support we was turned down and told his home group leader was advised due to liability conflicts not to get involved. End result after attending 5 years solid and the 3 years previous to that on and off he could no one in the seeker church that would stand in court as a character witness of the son. I knew the boy an can say he was in fact a good kid. I'm I saying Willow creek and home groups are wrong no. But they aren't the panacea of the church that many make them to be. It takes disciple makers to disciple and make a group of committed individuals. I would guess if asked the same question to the clergy of this country, "Are you making disciples?" An honest answer would result in less than 5 percent saying yes. The "experts" tell us that since 76 the church has not grown and any new grow experienced in the church is merely the trading of people. That new converts merely replace those that die or leave. Be blessed my brother EdB |