A Meeting Filled with Hope - Sullivan Illinois

I met with the leaders of the Church of God in Sullivan earlier this week.  I was so encouraged by the topics of discussion.  You see, several years ago the topics of discussion were so typical of what I usually hear:

1)   We need a new program

2)   How are we ever going to turn the decline around

3)   How are we going to get new people

4)   We better keep the people that pay the bills happy

5)   We better keep the new people

6)   This family will leave if…

7)   I remember when…

But last week we were talking vision, discipleship, growing budgets, new families, assimilation, missional community outreach.  How cool is that?

It’s all about leadership and Pastor Brandon Zoll’s strategic thinking  - that has been bathed in prayer, study, and good preaching.   They have a long way to go to reach what their vision communicates but they are moving; just like the Church of God is suppose to be – movement!  They are reclaiming souls that the enemy had stolen.  They are reclaiming their city for Christ. It was a meeting filled with smiles and encouragement.  Even the oldest lady (that I thought was going to struggle with any change) was full of hope and excitement.

Many skills make for an effective pastor but there is one that must never be forgotten – we are disciple-makers.  Without making disciples, it doesn’t matter how good your personality is, how powerful your attractional model of worship is, how amazing people say your pastor preaches… it’s over if you don’t make disciples.

1)   Are you making disciples?  Are you reproducing yourself in someone else on a regular schedule and a strategic manner? 

2)   Is your church a disciple making church? Can you look at your congregation and point to someone that 10 years ago was not even a believer?

“But we don’t have a program”!  Discipleship is not a program.  It’s about being intentional to teach others how to read the Bible – the way you read it.  To teach someone to pray like you pray.  To tell people about Jesus and then teach them to tell people about Jesus.

The other day a friend and I were traveling in two separate cars to Springfield.  He was following me.  He called me and asked if we could meet at a restaurant once we arrived in Springfield.  I said, “yes, follow me as I follow Christ.” We laughed.  However, I couldn’t get the remark out of my mind.  I said it as a silly statement but what a powerful thought.  Can I really say to someone, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”  That’s discipleship!

Should we have a program of discipleship? 

Check back tomorrow at

 illinoisministries@blogspot.com