GlocalNet

In the past, if a person was a pastor, all they needed to do was shepherd the flock and preach the word.  That was deemed sufficient, though it really wasn’t.  Pastoring & leading in a global 21st century context requires so much more than that.  One of the things I’ll be writing on later is the 5-fold ministry - Apostle - Prophet - Evangelist - Pastor - Teacher.  Not as positional ministry but as functional.  For now you can listen to my sermons if you like at northwoodchurch.org under the media section.  I’m always amazed at how the Bible is always transnational in its approach and relevant to various centuries throughout history - ours included.  There are some key roles I believe are critical for pastors to obtain in this century.  I was just with a gathering of pastors in Dubai from expat churches from around the world.  It was amazing to me how so many cornered me and were excited and challenged because in the expat church, all their members are being “globalized” while the church still tends to act in a “western worship service” kind of approach - which leads to irrelevance and ineffectiveness.  Here are some things I’ve observed and try to do in my own life. 

First, Interpreter - Wayne Grudem - and more recently his son Elliot - have impacted my understanding of theology in a broad way.  In my estimation they give broad pictures and yet freedom in how they interpret theology to contextualize locally.  When I read theology - however, I don’t read it just in a historical or even systematic way, but in a current global stew pot where it’s all mixed up.  Having traveled the world and working with governments, leaders, businessmen, young people, universities - you see the world from a perspective that is beyond your own location and tribe.  The role of the pastor as interpreter of the “world”, as we know, is critical because the Gospel impacts every single area.  This is why following the news, reading books, meeting with local nomads from around the world in your area and traveling are absolutely critical to your understanding of the world and how it works.  If you can’t interpret your times - then you will miss massive opportunities and what things you do focus on run the risk of being a waste.  So many pastors I see contextualize locally really well - but absent from the world - that won’t last long I assure you.  The world is coming of age - you look at what is going on in the Middle-East - the young people are connected and, frankly, I’m excited about it. 

Facilitator - the role of seeing the opportunity, recognizing the players, and then connecting them is the present/future of ministry.  In the past staff drove ministry and engagement.  That is changing radically.  The whole term “Business as Mission” was a recognition that the players were shifting from the preacher to the disciple, but the response was very organized and institutional.  Religious leaders recognizing the opportunity, have sought to funnel disciples into their programs and agendas.  I disagree with this - the people should be released.  Our job is to equip, and help them engage.  That doesn’t mean there should be no form and order and clarity and direction, and overarching strategy - but almost every activity we do in Vietnam has come from the jobs of our members - not us pastors coming up with ideas and then signing people up.  The good news is, when you release people - you don’t have to fund it, and you don’t have to promote - it’s theirs so they do it.  But your role as a connector is HUGE - if you can get the world, learn a little protocol - get over your call so that the first thing you do is “preach” – then the world is at your door step and people want to have a relationship with you.  Your greatest ministry will not be people around the world downloading your sermons, but your members having face to face relationships with people around the world of different tribes, nations, religions, races - you name it - and I promise you it will enrich your church in ways you can’t begin to imagine.

I’ll be writing more about some of this in the next few days - I’ve been super busy at NorthWood and some speaking so haven’t had time to blog - but I’ve learned a lot recently and continue to learn and am reading some incredible books:  Holy Ignorance - Oliver Roy, Allah - Miroslav Volf - Our last Best Chance - King Abdullah of Jordan.