GOD WORKS

First I must offer huge accolades to Linda Scott, Stacey Kendall, Candi Moran, and crews for another outstanding, fabulous, terrific VBS. A special thanks to Bob Herndon and a team from the South Brooke congregation who joined to assist us. I had 13 second graders yelling in my ears, tugging at my pant legs, and thinking it fun to put glue on their fingers and then feel my hairy arms! But their eyes; their eyes of “Does anybody love me?” came from so many. What a week! What an important week! And, my glow-in-the-dark tattoo? It doesn’t wash off and still glows in the dark! Yeah! I got a good one! Mom will be proud!

Second, what many wouldn’t know is that a dozen to fifteen years ago Memorial was nearly going under. We had no children’s program. We had very few children. Families were peeling away because their child had no one in class with them. One of the two halls was dark on Wednesday nights because there were not enough kids to have classes. So when you read of our VBS being great, don’t brush it off as, “Well, that’s what big-city churches do.” Sorry, but it wasn’t always that way. It should have been what we were doing, yet we were in big trouble.

What changed? A lot of things; for me to name them is possibly unsafe as I will not have totally clearly seen the handiwork of God in front of me. Yet, here are some developments which took place:

· A group of women began studying Blackaby and Kings’ EXPERIENCING GOD. The news of seeking God where He is instead of creating works and asking Him to endorse our ideas began to permeate the Memorial family.
· We were well into beginning to believe the Holy Spirit of God worked actively among us.
· The elders reached a point where they determined to have no ears for the critics.
· A large group of those who didn’t agree with Memorial’s leadership moved to where they felt they could be better used. At this juncture, to be honest, it did not look like we were gaining ground.
· Simultaneously, the elders reached another point of freeing the congregation to articulate and practice their God-given gifts without having elders’ meetings to discuss if such was acceptable. If our members had an idea and it did not conflict with the church calendar or the budget team’s arrangements, they were permitted to move full steam ahead, immediately. And, they did!
· The elders brought on a worship leader full-time and later added Linda Scott as part-time Children’s Minister. God seemed to be leading the way as the congregation made a complete turn-around. Contributions, which had been in trouble, suddenly arose. The number of children increased to the point Linda had to add Stacey Kendall as the second part-time children’s staffer.

In pointing out any of the above it must be clearly understood the fundamental reason anything worked (works) is only due to the Spirit of God moving among His people. Yes, we made a few decisions here and there and I share them so you can possibly put legs on your plans, but it must be repeatedly reiterated it is God who builds; not the ingenuity of man or a team of men. God works beyond our imagination, He promised, and He has. It is all about Him. Our job is to believe Him.

So when I say we had a big VBS I want you to hear it with the backdrop of a church going nowhere but down, down, down. The above listed items are not a formulaic method to church growth. It is merely a thumbnail sketch of what one small brain can recall as a part of the scenario leading up to this week. My point is I feel sure many readers are trying to work in a setting which could use a spiritual B-12 shot. Turning a congregation around is one business God is in. Look to Him. Pray for Him to show up. Delight in His touch. Testify to others of His glorious entry into your ministry. Then, and this one is a big one, GET OUT OF THE WAY.