We were never told to grow big(ger) churches. We were commanded to make disciples. Logic would tell us in order to make disciples for generations to come, we must make disciple makers.
Our church took a faith leap this past week as a part of the strategy to make disciple makers, not just disciples. We moved from a centralized Vacation Bible School (VBS) to a decentralized Backyard Bible Clubs model. We moved from 1 location (at the church building) to 27 locations (in our members’ homes and yards). There are many benefits to what our people did. You can hear more on that at the beginning of my 07/17/2011 message here when it is posted in the next couple of days.
For the purpose of this space, I want to point to only one … the main one in my mind. Had we done VBS as usual, we would have had some great volunteers (as usual) and a great group of kids (90%+ members of ours or someone else’s church). We would have had a great week. Our children and preschool ministries always do a great job with this week. But then, everyone involved would have moved on to the next thing on the calendar. There would have been follow up to the kids making decisions for Christ (which is obviously very important no matter the model). And we would have done it again about the same time next year.
But as a result of doing it the way we did this year is that we already know of at least 2 homes that are beginning kids bible clubs in their homes as follow up to this week. These are ONGOING, off-campus, non-staff driven ministries to families who need Christ!! Do you see the difference?! Now, our people know they can do this without staff having to plan it or drive it. Sure, we are helping to support it. Our children’s pastor is helping to find appropriate curriculum, etc. The staff now act as resources and coaches as needed. But the initiative for these bible clubs belong to these families. How awesome is that?!
Instead of making disciples among the children of our VBS only, we are making disciple makers (the families who have started the bible clubs). They, in turn, will make disciples of the children in their bible clubs. If this becomes as contagious in our church as I pray it does, we can have an infinite number of disciple makers. I can see a day when our children / preschool ministries have an infinite number of locations (rather than only at 537 Franklin Road). We won’t be begging for volunteers. We will be supporting a growing stream of people who are focused on making disciples of the people in their neighborhoods and workplaces.
Imagine, when this moves beyond our children / preschool ministries to our adult ministry. Oh wait, we know of those starting small group bible study for their adult lost friends …
Now, this is fun! (and biblical)
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