A Continuing Story: Pastor Jerry is Awakened to Lay Ministry
Deborah had followed the siren and the red light taking Melissa to the Weaver‑Hinn emergency room. Earlier that Sunday afternoon, Deb was to pick up her friend, nicknamed Lissa, for some Sunday afternoon shopping. When Deb heard no response to her knock at Lissa’s apartment, she tried the door and found it unlocked. “Expecting me.” Deb thought. “She must be here somewhere.” Deb walked right in and looked from room to room. “Lissa, are you here?” Not a sound. “Wait, what’s that?” She screamed as she first made out it was Lissa slumped on the bathroom floor..
Now Deb sat alone in the ER waiting room. She remembered this morning as they sat together in the church service , Lissa seemed to have no relief from the depression and agony Deb had noticed the Sunday before. “Perhaps they will let me see her,” Deb thought as she agonized about what to say. “Why didn’t I pay more attention to how badly she felt? Why hadn’t Lissa talked to the pastor or someone? What could I have done? Where can I reach;her parents or her ex-husband? “
Deb tried to ignore the notion, yet all he could think of was she had been a complete failure as Lissa’s friend, that she hadn’t helped at all. Guilt began to cloud out all other feelings. She stared out the emergency sliding door, seeing nothing but a blur, movement caught her attention. It was Pastor Flynn and his wife Lea rushing across the parking lot toward the hospital. Were they too late?
Jerry Flynn had been hired as pastor of Deb’s church a few months ago. Deb had called the Church office and left a message. Now, hair flying, and coats flapping in the chilly November wind, Pastor Jerry and his wife Lea seemed to be soaring along with the golden oak leaves toward the emergency room where Deb was waiting. .
Puffing for air, the couple hailed her at almost the same instant. “Deborah. how is your friend?”.
The pastors strained to hear Deb as she shared she knew nothing, and was waiting for someone to bring news. Gathering herself Deb couldn’t seem to stop talking as she told how she had found Lissa, the ride to the hospital, the ambulance driver and attendant, about the nurse in charge and the police officers who interviewed Deborah.
Finally, Deb ran out of words, the shock seeming to hit her at that instant. Lea reached out and embraced Deb, apologizing for taking so much time to reach the emergency room. She responded to the embrace and began to weep openly, deeply, “I didn’t know, I didn’t know. I didn’t know.”
Here and there life and death scrapes crush for awhile the peace of the average Christian. People in Deb’s spot might struggle with guilt or shame about their failure to help a friend in a crisis. Deb had taken Lissa to Church, went out of her way to spend time with her. But, like many Christians Deb and Lissa did not take the time for close, one on one chats. Nor did they know how to build a deep bond that might have helped each other in their times of need.
What is often needed in the modern church is a tool which makes it easier for Christians to begin to love each other, to begin helpful links. The sad fact is that churches with busy members and busier pastors may have limited contact outside of church services. A shadowed truth hanging over the Church is that members and staff never seem to meet all the needs of the spirit, soul and body of church goers. Also, church members are often so involved with family, business, social, and financial demands that only a portion of a congregation is present in the weekly services.
A general Church service meets certain essential needs of members and the organization, yet may not include ministry on a personal basis. Many churches have adopted a personal ministry goal and have successfully achieved their goal through smaller face to face groups. These smaller groups have a more relaxed setting in which members can talk and do things for others. Small groups turn out to be a community in which members can grow as disciples of Jesus, become an active part of the Body of Christ, and have an opportunity to learn to love one another. Spiritual growth in a Sunday service relates mostly to the basic purpose of the church service. Services are often built around form or tradition, or what the leaders think are the most important, or the most urgent needs of the people. Some churches stress soul winning, preaching to the lost the Gospel message. Others put uplifting, cheering and strengthening the members as the top motive. Various churches stress preaching or teaching. Not all are ministry oriented. What then do Christian Church services have in common? In most Churches, services include giving testimonies (Ps. 107:2), praying (1 Tim. 2:8), preaching (1 Tim. 4:2), singing and praising God (Ps. 33:1 4), and having communion (1 Cor. 11:26.). These practices come from the Bible, are helpful, and basic to the Christian service. On the other hand, if our Christianity is limited to mixing with others in a church service one or two times per week, in what setting can the Christian do all that is charged or urged in the Bible?
Are there any Sunday services wherein Christians can listen to those who have problems, pray for them and respond in care and concern? (John 13:34) How can Christians bear each others’ burdens? (Gal. 6:2) When, where, and how can Christians improve on their sacred skills and ministry abilities?. (1 Cor. 12:7) In what ways can Christians support each other (Heb.10:24) and warn each other to good works? (1 Thess. 5:11)
The “Lord’s day liturgy (the sacraments and other unchanging parts of the public worship service) occur as part of the most vital assembly or gathering in the Church. However, it most likely should not be the only gathering. In recent years it seems that a number of churches in America may have realized the limits of only one or two total church services a week. Numerous small group services have sprung up, expanding the chance for Christians to obey the Bible commands to love one another.
One can see in Christian writing and on the Internet that many churches use small groups to a high degree. Some churches use small groups as part of their regular services. They sometime break the flock up into smaller groups throughout the building. In these more intimate groups, members pray, discuss the verses of the sermon, or talk to and support each other in various ways. Others make small groups part of their special meetings during the week. A few devote their entire church to actions which include small groups as the major method.
At the time of this writing small groups appeared to be an important long term part of many local churches of all types. For example, Davis Community Church in Davis CA used small groups in their Mariner Ministry for singles, couples and families and within their learning program’s Faith Family Clusters. St. John’s United Methodist Church in Williamsport, PA had just begun their Small Group Ministries to offer Bible study and spiritual growth as a way to meet many personal and social needs of their members. The St. Charles MO Harvester Christian Church used small groups in the men’ and women’s doings to broaden contact, advance personal growth and enhance the outreach actions of the church. The Lombard (IL) Christian Reformed Church used covenant groups of 8-10 people who met for Bible study, building trust, fellowship and prayer. Divine Light Lutheran Church in Pickerington, OH cared for and reached out to members through weekly and bi-weekly small groups. The First Baptist Church in Modesto, CA had 105 adult home cell groups which met throughout the week to seek the face of the Lord through worship and prayer. It was said that as they sought His face, His purpose was fulfilled through them in world outreach. Most churches have put small group ministry and service into their week to week gatherings. Although there appears to be many benefits to small groups in a large church, the good things about small groups are almost as great for the small church (less than 200 members) as they are for the larger churches. We will see more about the size of churches and success later in these writings,
In our opening story, Lissa’s and Deb’s needs were unknown at the church they attended until Deb called their pastor from the hospital. Perhaps their needs would have been missed at most churches. Many general Sunday services are just not planned so that church goers can hear about needs and bear burdens. Prayer time and prayer requests give the flock a chance to learn of some needs within their church. On the other hand, if the Sunday service was put together to listen to one another and offer help, other key purposes of the total church meeting will be missed. There are limits to what can be done well in a single service in even the greatest Church. If a single service is aimed at certain needs, the people who attend wind up being those people whose needs are being met and who value what is happening. If an attendee’s hopes and wishes are unmet they could lose heart and look for excuses to avoid attending or being committed
Do new comers to a weekly Church service return the following week if they are ignored? Do church members feel gloomy and left out of a clergy led church service? Does it matter if members are in church or not? Where in a church are members’ talents and gifts used to the fullest? If members do not sing in the choir or act as an usher, do they have a part in the life of a church? Is a Sunday service the only time members can serve one another? Is a Sunday service the total effort of the church leaders to achieve the Bible standards for Christians? Does a good way exist for the pastors or staff to urge-on those who are afraid or don’t know how to get involved?
The author of this writing has been involved as a part-time lay leader in various levels of Church small groups in his own area for more than thirty years. The first feature in the mix of these documents will be his own know-how in small groups and his contact with management beliefs as a faculty member in a School of Business in public higher education. Part of Dr. Hoffman’s history includes serving as Chair of a division for over seven years. During this time he was also involved in a not-for-profit retail Christian bookstore as President of the Corporation and Chairman of the Board of Directors. The second source will be Christian literature and other resources that cover both management principles and experiences of small group managers and leaders.. The final feature will be the principles, strategies and tactics of organization managers and the writings of management teachers.
The reader will be given a brief outline of the purpose, function, and method of the other “small group services.” The word service is used to mean a meeting of a few people that can be carried out in small groups during the week. The planning and formation of small group meetings has been shown to build up the active interest of Church members. Interest or motivation in turn is known to help Christians become more involved in the work of service and more faithful to the mission of their Church. Values picked up from years of attending and leading church small groups will be featured. The many ways small groups can enrich the programs of most churches will be explored.
Strategy and tactics will be defined and examples given that can assist in guiding small group programs. Finally, this writing shall show staff and laymen how small groups can awaken and support Christians in their growth as disciples and leaders in almost any Church
Now, review the next page in order, If you wish to study for the Certificate of Completion go to Self Study (SS) 201, Course Outline
If you wish to study the 18 Lessons only, go on to Lesson 1.