GlocalNet

I remember Peter Wagner at Fuller once talking about how critical it was to keep a church growing.  His comment was that once it stops it takes 10x as much energy to get going again as it does to keep it going.  Momentum is far more than just the rararee of excitement and emotion - it is a consistent forward focus and motion that keeps the tachometer steady.

Momentum isn’t the bang from a gun and riding a speeding bullet - it is the consistent pushing of a swing, leaning into it, pushing forward and taking a step back and beginning the process all over again.  The one creating the motion doesn’t necessarily feel as the recipient of the push, but is in harmony with the swing making it swing. 

Momentum is built by everything working together.  The person in the swing, the swing, the person pushing the swing, the apparatus of the swing - if it doesn’t all work together, if one part is broken or not working the whole process stops. 

Momentum is built by consistency - not just enthusiasm.  “People are excited here!”  “There’s a sense of enthusiasm.”  I believe all of those statements are important - but chances are, there are several things people are excited about - and when they all come together it creates that buzz.  If all the stuff wasn’t being done behind the scenes and individually that is necessary - there would never be a buzz. 

Momentum is built by narrowing what you push.  You can’t push it all - if you focus in and push a few things really well - and master them - and people know it -from that you begin to grow.  To try to be all things to all people and do all things for everyone will lead to mediocre ministry at best.  Instead focus in on a primary evangelistic method, a primary discipling method, a primary kids ministry, etc. 

Momentum requires deep thinking.  There are two kinds of growth - one built on sheer enthusiasm that really isn’t sustainable over the long haul - and another built on strategic action that keeps things consistent, strong, and enabling you to weather those inevitable storms that come. 

Momentum requires spiritual maturity.  There is no doubt about it, in every life, in every ministry there are seasons and times when things are up and down.  It’s normal - some people panic when that happens - if you know what God has called you to, you are thinking deeply, you’re heart is right - don’t fear - know you’re about to grow internally or in other ways.  The greatest periods of growth for me personally have come out of the driest times and most challenging times of my ministry.  It’s how you handle them that allows you to move forward - or turn backwards. 

When I think of momentum - I think of how fast the world is moving and changing.  Anyone who plants a church today is planting a global church - the world is connected.  For now, pastors can ignore it - but not for long.  Most members of a church are more global than their pastor both in work and leisure.  Everything affects everything.  For that reason we are hosting the http://www.globalfaithforum.org - Church planters - we are having breakouts for you at the conference on planting in a global era, with people of different faiths, making disciples, you name - it.  It all affects all of us - already a few dozen church planters are coming - it’s going to be a blast - sign up now while there is still time!