"Being Faithful to Jesus"

In the interview, the Pastor was asked, “What’s your church growth plan?”

Her reply was, “All I have is a ‘Be Faithful to Jesus Plan’, which would include helping equip you to spread Christ’s grace and peace in this community. If I become your pastor, I’ll be with you for only a season. But this community is where God has called you to be the Body of Christ. This is your church, and you all know your town better than I do. There’s no way I could suggest something better than the ideas already present in your congregation.”

There is wisdom in her reply. The “rudder” of the community of faith, the Body of Christ, is Jesus Christ. As the head of his Church and the “rudder” of its mission and ministry, Jesus directs the Body to be in mission and ministry. The church is energized and motivated by a living relationship with Jesus. The claim God lays on individuals moves them toward discipleship and living like a disciple by giving generously, praying, worshiping, reading and studying the Bible, doing acts of service and sharing one’s faith.

A growing faith develops deeper understandings of how “call” brings disciples into a mutual partnership of responsibility, authority and accountability while continuing to seek the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. This deepening of faith and growth in discipleship enables the church to mutually tend to the matters entrusted by God to human hands.

One growth opportunity is coming to mutual understandings of the place the church holds in mission and ministry and the commitment to be well informed and prepared by having first tended to our personal spiritual commitments and discipleship.