GlocalNet

I’m always asked this. What are we going to do with all these dead and dying churches. My response--not much. You can’t make a church want to live or be vibrant. Only those local “disciples” can make that call for a local church. Why?

First, the church is an institution--an entity. It’s not the lowest common denominator. The LCD is the disciple. What you see in that church is a direct reflection in the lives of the disciples that influence that local church.

Second, the church is made up of disciples. If you revitalize anything--it’s the disciple. That’s personal and organic. If you revitalize the disciple, you revitalize the church. It doesn’t start church and go down--it starts disciple and works up. This is what Masterlife with Avery Willis and Experiencing God with Henry Blackaby are about--personal, organic, living out your faith by responding to what God puts in front of you. They wisely don’t get into church strategy, programs or structures. The idea is if you’re listening to the Father, then each church is called to do specific things so the focus is on living the life and recognizing the activity of the Father around you. Only the disciple is viral--not a “church.” A church is only as strong and as “vital” as the disciples. It can’t be a “church program.” It has to be a disciple focus.

Third, there are such things as Ed Stetzer writes in Comeback Churches. BUT, that generally happens through a pastor who is ignited and gets the hands of the membership dirty in the community or in a “project” where faith is being lived out, not just spouted out.

Fourth, discipleship is the life--not the program. The community of believers comes from living out the life of Christ. The best form of discipleship is engagement. Something happens from engagement of the poor, the suffering, the least which changes the disciple unlike information transfer.

My first book from a marketing focus was towards pastors due to publisher marketing and concerns. The reality is, it’s a discipleship book. T-life is living out your faith through an interactive relationship with God (worship), transparent connections (community), and glocal impact (serving the least through your vocation). You have to have all 3 to see transformation. Hearing God’s voice is key. Opening up another box of goodies from denominational headquarters doesn’t make that happen.