Creating A Major Cardiac Event

I read a recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that chronicled the surprising fact that many people don’t make significant changes to their lifestyles following a heart attack or stroke.  The article referenced a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, which shows one in four men do not make ANY (as in none) lifestyle changes after a heart attack, stroke or other major cardiac event. 

I was amazed to read that a near-death experience was not enough motivation to bring about a change.  In addition to that, how many symptoms or indicators of poor health was ignored prior to these major cardiac events?  Why are we so slow to make the necessary changes?  Is it denial, apathy, or a symptom of how difficult change is?

Thom Rainer estimates that about 40%, or around 150,000 churches in America, are very sick. He writes, “They are one stage away from being terminal.”  As pastors who are serving in these churches or churches that are beginning to show signs of illness, what can we do to help shake up our churches enough to get them to make the necessary changes that will not only avoid death, but also restore life and vitality?

In a recent conversation with Dr. Lyle Pointer he made the following observation: “I think leaders have to create a cardiac event.  Most churches die because they ignore the symptoms and nobody has the courage to sound sufficient warning to serve as a crisis.  Losing members and decreasing numbers are accepted as a part of the normal cycle—it’s not alarming to them.”

One of our jobs as leaders in church renewal is to be truth tellers, to tell the truth about the current reality of the church.  This “truth telling” can serve as a cardiac event in the life of the church and serve as a wake up call to the congregation that change is necessary. 

A useful tool in this truth telling process is the Nazarene Missional Church Assessment.  This tool measures the churches health/vitality in six key areas (Spiritual Vitality, Worship, Discipleship, Leadership, Missional Outlook, Missional Partnership).  This assessment can help a church begin to look at its current condition and develop an action plan to make the necessary “lifestyle” adjustments that lead to a healthy church.

Some, even a majority, may look at the signs of sickness in their church and still choose not to make any changes, but there is hope for those who are willing to face reality and make the changes necessary.  God can still heal and restore the church today if we are willing to allow him to shape us into the missional communities He’s called us to be.

To use the NMCA please contact:

Rich Houseal

Research Services

Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center

17001 Prairie Star Parkway • Lenexa, KS 66220

rhouseal@nazarene.org

1-800-306-9928 • direct 913-577-0652

Advantages of Persecution

Act 1:8 quotes Jesus as saying, “… you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  A few chapters later, in Acts 8:1, the church historian records,  “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”  After Saul gave consent to Stephen’s death as the first Christian martyr, the church scattered because of persecution.  God’s people scattered, but they were not silent.  Every where they went they told the stories of Jesus.

Persecution widened the scope of witnessing.  The Church experienced geographic expansion.  The people of God also benefited spiritually.  Explore the advantages of persecution at www.missionevangelism.org.  Click on training modules and then “Preparing for Persecution.”

Contributed by Dr. Lyle Pointer

Preparing for Persecution

Christians who want to witness to their non-Christian friends and family members prefer not to.  One reason: Christians’ longing to honor God through witness is diluted by their fear of an angry or cold response.  This fear is real.  We fear persecution.  Oh, not the kind where we will be martyred or beaten.  But we know the cold stare, the snarling sarcasm or the snicker. 

So we excuse our silence with, “I do not want to drive them away from God.”   Or we may imagine, “If I said it better.”  Some ask, “How do I explain my faith without getting a negative reaction.”

The honest thing to say to that question is, “Prepare for persecution.”  Jesus assured His followers they would suffer persecution.  What are we to make of Jesus’ prediction?  He never said, “If you were really committed, you would face it bravely.” Witnessing without fear is a catchy title, but not the typical experience of most Christian witnesses.

So how do we deal with persecution?

See www.missionevangelism.org.  Click on Training Modules.  Then click on “Preparing for Persecution.”

Diagnosis is Key to Treatment

One of the most intriguing things I read this past year was a short blog by Thom Rainer titled Autopsy Of A Deceased Church.  The blog is a candid examination of the things that contributed to the death of a church that had been in decline for several decades.  Thom had consulted with this church several years earlier, but an unwillingness to change led to its ultimate demise.

The saddest part of this story is that it is the story of so many of our churches.  We know from statistical data that as many as 63% of Nazarene churches are in plateau or decline.  Many will choose to follow the path towards a slow and gradual death, but that doesn’t have to be their fate.  Steps can be taken to restore health and vitality.

As any good physician will tell you, early diagnosis is key to treatment.  The Church of the Nazarene provides a terrific free diagnostic tool called the Nazarene Missional ChurchAssessment.  The NMCA is a congregational survey designed for Nazarene local churches to help a local church assess its current ministry, and provides perspective for the task of creating a church action plan to address areas that may be robbing the church of health and vitality.

As you enter into 2014 the question is will it be another year marked by decline and the slow and gradual march toward death or will it be a year marked by changes that lead towards life and vitality?  The fist step towards life could be as simple as taking a survey that serves as a diagnostic tool for creating a healthy, vibrant church.

To use the NMCA please contact:

Rich Houseal

Research Services

Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center

17001 Prairie Star Parkway • Lenexa, KS 66220

rhouseal@nazarene.org

1-800-306-9928 • direct 913-577-0652

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”                                                 (Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT)

Why am I here again?

“It must be the diet coke!”  That’s what I tell my wife when I once again forget one of the few items she has sent me to the grocery store to retrieve.  I don’t know if it is the busyness, the seemingly rapid aging mind, or truly the diet coke, but I have a tendency to forget what I’m doing at times.  I can set out from the bedroom to the kitchen only to get there and ask myself, “Why did I come in here?”  Ever happen to you?  Do you need reminders?

I think that the same thing happens to us as we lead the church.  It’s easy for us to forget why we are doing what we do.  Are we working hard each and every day to try and make everyone happy?  Are we trying to build a bigger church?  A church with a good reputation in the community?  You might find yourself asking, “Why did I come here anyways?”

I was reminded this week by the familiar words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”  Paul explains that everything he has done, all of the hard work has been “for the sake of the gospel” that he “might save some.” 

I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder from time to time.  That reminder sharpens my focus and renews my energy.  That reminder encourages me that its worth the extra hours spent visiting hospitals and making phone calls to the wayward.  That reminder whispers to my spirit and says, “The hard work of renewal is worth the effort.”  Why?  For the sake of the gospel.

For more articles and helpful tools visit usacanadaregion.org/church-renewal.