Beloved
Once upon a time there was a small church serving an extremely poor community. Very few people had jobs. Food was mostly restricted to porridge – when available. Every second house in the street tried to sell something – exhibited on a small piece of cloth in front of the house – 6 tomatoes, 3 avocado pears, 4-6 pieces of wood selling at about 20 cents per piece for outside cooking. Children running around in worn clothes in the dust roads.
But – a pastor with a vision. The pastor realised that sometimes the church and pastors stand in the way of the Kingdom by hiding behind their titles – being busy with only so-called spiritual activities – always being “spiritual” to their people.
This church’s pastor:
Understands that he has to take spiritual responsibility not only for his members, but that he is sent by God to where he stays and moves. He purposefully went to his neighbours and built relationships with them – sharing in their everyday ordinary human activities – today many people in his street are members of his church. If they are sick they come to his house – he has a (old) car and takes them to hospital. When he visits the police station to obtain official documents and learn that police officers missed their lift home he offers to go many kilometres out of his way on bad roads and give them a free lift home – serving their practical need with the aim to build relationships with them for the sake of Jesus.
Three of his members are former prostitutes – he loved them by giving them money to start small businesses. Helped other ladies to start a small catering business. Whilst praying that God will provide financially he got the idea of starting a shop – this business today employs three former jobless people. With the proceeds he takes care of 8 children – some of them his own – at university and at school. Part of the shop is a small office where the pastor don’t miss early morning conversations with God.
With the mind of Christ he accepted a senior leader back – some time ago this person was extremely critical of the pastor – left the church and tried to take as many as possible with him in an attempt to start a new church. This breakaway guy came back some time ago – apologized to the pastor – who immediately restored him back to senior leadership of the church.
In a context where church numbers are declining or staying stagnant this church is growing. Especially with men in a culture where men are very scarce in the church. On Sundays many couples attend. The pastor serves them by organizing marriage-enrichment events. Four new daughter churches were planted recently with local discipled leaders – some of them as young as 26 years. Four years before the pastor was despised as being very poor and having no standing in the hierarchy – very soon he will be appointed as bishop of his region – the denomination recognized his anointing.
Once upon a time…. – except for the fact that this is a real story – I met this pastor and church myself – and when I asked him what his secret is – he confidently says : “Disciplemaking!”
Be blessed
Johann Theron