As some of you have noticed, we have suffered the loss of several families in the last few months. When I am asked why, I wish I had a really good answer. There is no one singular reasons for every situation.
The best I can come up with is that our congregation seems to be in a holding pattern. We need to break free from this spiral of discouragement and negative thinking. We need to get focused on our mission again. This is going to happen and we are going to get back on a growth track.
The key is going to be leadership, and here is where your prayers and words of encouragement are essential. Pray daily for the leadership of our congregation. Let them know that you support them 100%. There are real difficult choices that need to be made and it will take courage and wisdom from God to make them.
I would also ask you to pray for Tyler and myself as the staff. There is much that we need to do together to be effective. I think we have gotten off to a great start, but more work lies ahead.
Finally, pray for the people of Crossroads as well. Difficult times in a church test the very nature of our commitment to the church and to one another. Hang on and hang in with us. I know that we are on threshold of great things as the Body of Christ. God is GOOD, ALL THE TIME!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Graduate School....
Last Tuesday evening, I began a graduate school class at Indian Creek Christian Church (The Creek). I was reminded why I did not pursue higher education. While I love to learn, I don't love it enough to spend $1250.00 for the privilege. It is a great class and will be immensely helpful to my ministry. Dr. Gary Johnson is the minister of THE CREEK and is focusing the class on the practical side of church leadership and management.
What I find to truly be a work of God is that this "free" class is exactly what I need to be studying and discussing with a man of God like Dr. Johnson. We are covering material on leadership that speaks to both my needs and the real needs of Crossroads. It is a great experience.
What has made it even greater is that one of the other students in this class is brother in Christ named Jeff. He was a member of the church I served on the south side. His education was in journalism, but his passion was for ministry. He has been preaching now for several years on part-time basis and working as a chaplain at a cancer hospital. He is taking the class because he needs more education, as well as being free. What a blessing to see that he is still serving the Lord after all these years, and to have played a small part in his life.
GOD IS GOOD!
What I find to truly be a work of God is that this "free" class is exactly what I need to be studying and discussing with a man of God like Dr. Johnson. We are covering material on leadership that speaks to both my needs and the real needs of Crossroads. It is a great experience.
What has made it even greater is that one of the other students in this class is brother in Christ named Jeff. He was a member of the church I served on the south side. His education was in journalism, but his passion was for ministry. He has been preaching now for several years on part-time basis and working as a chaplain at a cancer hospital. He is taking the class because he needs more education, as well as being free. What a blessing to see that he is still serving the Lord after all these years, and to have played a small part in his life.
GOD IS GOOD!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thoughts on our Congregational Meeting...
First off, I want to thank all of you who attended the annual congregational meeting Sunday afternoon. I also want to thank those of you who have spoken to or emailed me since the meeting expressing your concerns for my feelings. Let me assure you all that I was not hurt or offended by any comments that were made during the meeting. The purpose of these meetings is not just to vote on a ballot and a budget. They are opportunities for members to express their own feelings and concerns about what is going on in the church.
For those of you who did not attend the meeting for one reason or another, there was a discussion dealing the format of our current worship services. Part of the discussion was about the difficulty we are having in staffing volunteers for children's programming during each of our TWO (2) services. The leadership has been considering several options in this regard, but no decision has been made. One idea is to return to having only one worship service. With the new larger auditorium, we could accommodate everyone quite comfortably with plenty of room for growth.
Related to this was a discussion about the possibility of returning to a regular Sunday school program again. While it is a possibility, there are some serious logistical and staffing problems to consider before that could happen. All in all, I believe it was a good informative discussion where individuals expressed their views respectfully.
There are serious challenges facing our congregation as well as great opportunities. We need to be focused on achieving our mission more than ever. In difficult times, we need to remember that our God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Please continue to keep the elders and myself in your prayers. With our new elders, Dave Nordhielm and Scott Thatcher, serving with our current elders, I believe we have a solid foundation of leadership on which to move forward and continue to growth.
For those of you who did not attend the meeting for one reason or another, there was a discussion dealing the format of our current worship services. Part of the discussion was about the difficulty we are having in staffing volunteers for children's programming during each of our TWO (2) services. The leadership has been considering several options in this regard, but no decision has been made. One idea is to return to having only one worship service. With the new larger auditorium, we could accommodate everyone quite comfortably with plenty of room for growth.
Related to this was a discussion about the possibility of returning to a regular Sunday school program again. While it is a possibility, there are some serious logistical and staffing problems to consider before that could happen. All in all, I believe it was a good informative discussion where individuals expressed their views respectfully.
There are serious challenges facing our congregation as well as great opportunities. We need to be focused on achieving our mission more than ever. In difficult times, we need to remember that our God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Please continue to keep the elders and myself in your prayers. With our new elders, Dave Nordhielm and Scott Thatcher, serving with our current elders, I believe we have a solid foundation of leadership on which to move forward and continue to growth.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Who Stole My Church?....
I have just finished reading a book entitled "Who Stole My Church?" written by Gordon MacDonald. In the book, he writes about dealing with change in church. He approaches the subject from a different prospective. He writes about a fictional church in New England and how they struggled with the changes necessary to be a growing, thriving congregation in the 21st century. Through the characters in the book and their interaction in what they call "the Discovery Group", we see a transformation taking place in how they deal with and eventually embrace needed changes in the 150 year old church.
What I found most interesting was not how they all, actually almost all, came to accept the needed changes in the church. Every congregation has to deal with change. Even Crossroads has undergone changes, and still has more change coming. What I found most interesting was how this group evolved into an intimate and caring group experiencing authentic community and real spiritual growth. What began as a group of congregation members opposed to the leadership of the church ended up being a perfect example of a small group.
Over time these people find that they are not really connected to each other even though they have been members of the same church for decades. As the trust level of the group increases, individuals became transparent about their lives, their struggles, and their failures. They share things about themselves that no one else ever realized. They begin to pray and encourage one another, and even those outside of their group.
This is the vision I have for our congregation's small groups. People living in intimacy with God, community with other believers, and influence with unbelievers. When we are in those kinds of small groups, dealing with change is not as difficult. We have our eyes on the right things, and little things like instruments, styles of worship, and such are that important.
What I found most interesting was not how they all, actually almost all, came to accept the needed changes in the church. Every congregation has to deal with change. Even Crossroads has undergone changes, and still has more change coming. What I found most interesting was how this group evolved into an intimate and caring group experiencing authentic community and real spiritual growth. What began as a group of congregation members opposed to the leadership of the church ended up being a perfect example of a small group.
Over time these people find that they are not really connected to each other even though they have been members of the same church for decades. As the trust level of the group increases, individuals became transparent about their lives, their struggles, and their failures. They share things about themselves that no one else ever realized. They begin to pray and encourage one another, and even those outside of their group.
This is the vision I have for our congregation's small groups. People living in intimacy with God, community with other believers, and influence with unbelievers. When we are in those kinds of small groups, dealing with change is not as difficult. We have our eyes on the right things, and little things like instruments, styles of worship, and such are that important.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sunday's Sermon...
I know sometimes people think that the preacher is preaching at them. In reality, I am, often times, preaching to myself. Studying the Scriptures brings one face to face with mirror of God's Truth. It challenges me and my thinking and my actions as much as anyone.
When I said that I understood the apostle Paul and the choice he made to separate from Barnabas I meant it. It is always easier to end a relationship than fix it. It is always easier to burn a bridge than build one. What is not so easy is to honestly and brutally look at one's own actions in the light of the Scriptures. We can be quick to point out where others have failed, while ignoring our own failures in the past and in the present.
While we should strive to be more like Barnabas in the way he encouraged others, we also need to remember that he was man with his own faults as well. Paul tells us in Galatians 2:13 that "The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray". You see one can be too focused on relationships and lose sight of their Christian principles. Barnabas who had opposed the attempt make the Gentiles disciples into Jews, was now treating those same Gentiles with disrespect for the sake of maintaining a relationship with those same Jewish believers.
As Christians, we must balance people and principle properly in our lives. That balance is found in our continued study of God's Word and in our authentic community with one another.
When I said that I understood the apostle Paul and the choice he made to separate from Barnabas I meant it. It is always easier to end a relationship than fix it. It is always easier to burn a bridge than build one. What is not so easy is to honestly and brutally look at one's own actions in the light of the Scriptures. We can be quick to point out where others have failed, while ignoring our own failures in the past and in the present.
While we should strive to be more like Barnabas in the way he encouraged others, we also need to remember that he was man with his own faults as well. Paul tells us in Galatians 2:13 that "The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray". You see one can be too focused on relationships and lose sight of their Christian principles. Barnabas who had opposed the attempt make the Gentiles disciples into Jews, was now treating those same Gentiles with disrespect for the sake of maintaining a relationship with those same Jewish believers.
As Christians, we must balance people and principle properly in our lives. That balance is found in our continued study of God's Word and in our authentic community with one another.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
What a GREAT CONVENTION!
I have always enjoyed the North American Christian Convention. However, this year was better than most. The services were great and the messages inspiring. It was also great to see friends and renew relationships.
One man, Robert Kitchen, or "Dad", as I call him, was there. I was able to connect with him after losing track of him for few years. Bob was the man who spent hours and hours talking to a rebellious teenager about God, the Church, and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. After a year or so, things began to make sense to me and I accepted Jesus Christ.
The funny thing is most of Bob's kids went to college and two of his own sons were planning to be ministers. None of them are still in the ministry. Only I remain in the ministry. I think Bob is pretty proud of that fact.
Another thing happened at the convention. MaryAnne and I were in the elevator going back to our room after the evening service. There was just us and a little old woman. When I look at her, she seems familiar to me, but I could not figure out how. I looked at her name tag (everyone wears a name tag at the NACC), and saw her name - Lois Wool. Finally, I just had to ask her if she was married to a man named Ruby. She answered that she was, but he had passed away about ten years ago. Then she looked at my name tag and said my name. I could see the light go on. "You're Mike Duff!" she shouted. "Yes I am", I said, "Your husband baptized me!"
Her husband. Ruby, was an elder in my home church. One summer Sunday morning, when the preacher was gone on vacation, he preached his first sermon from the pulpit of the South Redford Church of Christ. Not only that, but I think I was his first baptism as well. He looked pretty shocked when I came down the aisle of that auditorium. One thing you should know about Ruby. He was short. Like Dave Nance short! I was as tall then as I am now, maybe even taller. He struggled baptizing me, but he got the job done.
All this got me to thinking. You know my conversion was the product of the efforts of several people, many of whom, were not paid staff. Now in fairness, the minister of the church had also worked with me and was an important factor, but it was a team effort. From Sunday school teachers, to youth sponsors, from caring church members, to leadership that was not afraid to step out of their comfort zone, all these people were used to reach me for Christ.
To often, church members forget that evangelizing the lost is EVERYONE'S job. There are people in your life right now who need to hear about Jesus Christ. Some of them might just need a ride to church. Some of them might just need a friend. Some of them might need someone to ask the question, "Do you have a daily relationship with God through Jesus Christ, His Son?" Reaching the people of this community is a TEAM effort. Why not get in the game?
One man, Robert Kitchen, or "Dad", as I call him, was there. I was able to connect with him after losing track of him for few years. Bob was the man who spent hours and hours talking to a rebellious teenager about God, the Church, and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. After a year or so, things began to make sense to me and I accepted Jesus Christ.
The funny thing is most of Bob's kids went to college and two of his own sons were planning to be ministers. None of them are still in the ministry. Only I remain in the ministry. I think Bob is pretty proud of that fact.
Another thing happened at the convention. MaryAnne and I were in the elevator going back to our room after the evening service. There was just us and a little old woman. When I look at her, she seems familiar to me, but I could not figure out how. I looked at her name tag (everyone wears a name tag at the NACC), and saw her name - Lois Wool. Finally, I just had to ask her if she was married to a man named Ruby. She answered that she was, but he had passed away about ten years ago. Then she looked at my name tag and said my name. I could see the light go on. "You're Mike Duff!" she shouted. "Yes I am", I said, "Your husband baptized me!"
Her husband. Ruby, was an elder in my home church. One summer Sunday morning, when the preacher was gone on vacation, he preached his first sermon from the pulpit of the South Redford Church of Christ. Not only that, but I think I was his first baptism as well. He looked pretty shocked when I came down the aisle of that auditorium. One thing you should know about Ruby. He was short. Like Dave Nance short! I was as tall then as I am now, maybe even taller. He struggled baptizing me, but he got the job done.
All this got me to thinking. You know my conversion was the product of the efforts of several people, many of whom, were not paid staff. Now in fairness, the minister of the church had also worked with me and was an important factor, but it was a team effort. From Sunday school teachers, to youth sponsors, from caring church members, to leadership that was not afraid to step out of their comfort zone, all these people were used to reach me for Christ.
To often, church members forget that evangelizing the lost is EVERYONE'S job. There are people in your life right now who need to hear about Jesus Christ. Some of them might just need a ride to church. Some of them might just need a friend. Some of them might need someone to ask the question, "Do you have a daily relationship with God through Jesus Christ, His Son?" Reaching the people of this community is a TEAM effort. Why not get in the game?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Memories of Church Camp!
As most of you know, I worked a partial week of church camp at Hanging Rock. I am still recovering from my two and half days of working with the kids. I have not work in camp for almost ten years. I forgot how tiring it all can be. It was great to see children from our church involved. You need to congratulate Emma Thatcher for being the most valuable girl on her team at camp.
I am sorry that I have not been posting lately. Things have gotten really, really busy this summer. In fact, I am right now preparing to leave next week for the North American Christian Convention in Cincinnati. It is a great time to renew friendships and build new ones. I also enjoy the awesome worship services they have.
This does not mean that I am not enjoying our services. Tyler has been doing a tremendous job since starting June first. I can already see a difference in our services. We are blessed to have him here working with our congregation. I encourage you to offer him your help. He has a TWO very important ministries to manage, Worship and Student. I know he needs all the assistance he can get.
In closing, I have noticed that attendance has been down in the month of June. This is understandable because people travel on the weekends to enjoy the nice weather. However you need to be careful that you don't get "out of the habit" of being in church. Spirituality is as much a habit as anything else in our lives. Please make every effort to be in church during these summer months. Remember, also, that our expenses continue even when you are not there. Your faithfulness in giving regularly is how we are able to minister to each other and to our community.
I am sorry that I have not been posting lately. Things have gotten really, really busy this summer. In fact, I am right now preparing to leave next week for the North American Christian Convention in Cincinnati. It is a great time to renew friendships and build new ones. I also enjoy the awesome worship services they have.
This does not mean that I am not enjoying our services. Tyler has been doing a tremendous job since starting June first. I can already see a difference in our services. We are blessed to have him here working with our congregation. I encourage you to offer him your help. He has a TWO very important ministries to manage, Worship and Student. I know he needs all the assistance he can get.
In closing, I have noticed that attendance has been down in the month of June. This is understandable because people travel on the weekends to enjoy the nice weather. However you need to be careful that you don't get "out of the habit" of being in church. Spirituality is as much a habit as anything else in our lives. Please make every effort to be in church during these summer months. Remember, also, that our expenses continue even when you are not there. Your faithfulness in giving regularly is how we are able to minister to each other and to our community.
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