The State of the Church Address General Conference 2006
- By General Superintendent Preston Heath
- From The Messenger, October 2006 Issue
Introduction
There is a Chinese proverb that says, “If you desire a different destination, you must take a different road.”
In the year 1996 when I became
your General Superintendent,
the general conference mandated
changes developed from the grass roots of our church. Our people knew what was needed and where they wanted to go with this movement.
In the year 2002 I came before you with a vision for our church. That vision was long term, with some short term wins.
As the Chinese proverb states, there has to be a different road if we want a different destination.
The Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church has signs in many areas that we are taking a different
road. Let me speak to five of those areas.
I - Where We Are and What We Know About Church Planting
We know that during the 1990’s American churches lost 2,765 people annually, while America lost 72.11 churches per week and opened only 24 per week.
We know that “No county in the US has a higher percentage
of churched people
than it did 10 years ago.” (Charles Arn)
We know that America ranks third behind China and India in the number of unsaved people. We are the third largest
nation in the world in need of evangelism. There are more than 200 million un-churched people in America. We are only second to Brazil in the number of missionaries received. (Arden Adamson)
We know that when most of our churches started, 85% of the American people lived in the country and small towns. Only 15% lived in cities. Today the opposite is true. Recent generations
have moved to the city to go to college and to find work.
We know that new churches grow faster than older churches. C. Peter Wagner said, “The single most effective way to evangelize is to plant a new church.”
We know that the priority and the mandate of God for the Pentecostal
Free Will Baptist Church is the “Great Commission.” It is Jesus
our commander-in-chief that commands and commissions us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. The PFWB Church has stretched and pushed our people to give financially and will continue to do so, that we might preach the Word and plant churches in foreign lands. God had honored us with an abundant harvest
in mission ministry. Now our mission fields are sending
missionaries to other countries to evangelize the lost. What a harvest God has given to us.
For us to continue to grow globally we must grow locally.
Lyle Schaller said, “There are two primary reasons evangelical church organizations in America have started; to plant new churches and to send out foreign missionaries…. Whenever a church organization moves away from one or both of these missions; without exception it goes into decline.”
In 2002, I called for a Church Planting Task Force to be formed under the leadership of the World Witness Department.
Together we developed a strategy we call, “Bridging the Gap.” Five years ago, “Bridging the Gap” was just a vision. Today, God is helping us to “Bridge the Gap” in several areas.
We targeted the five fastest growing population centers that are near our existing churches and began to bridge the gap between those existing churches by planting new churches. Let’s see what God has done in the last few years.
In the Raleigh, North Carolina area, Randy and Gwen Carter have launched Rolesville Community Church (formerly WakePointe Church).
In the Wilmington, NC/Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area we have seen two churches planted. Tony Phillips has launched Eternal Life Church in Little River, SC and Jerome Bullard is launching Bridge of Life Community Church in Leland, NC.
The General Board of Directors has approved the establishment
of the State of Virginia as a District. In the District
of Virginia we have Theresa Ramsey that launched Hosanna
Fellowship in Stafford; Michael and Gloria Howard that have started Solid Rock Ministries in Mechanicsville. Charles Jury answered the call to begin New Christian Life Fellowship in Clearfield, Pennsylvania which will be part of the Virginia District.
God in His sovereignty called Lynn McLauren to plant a church in his home community of South River, near Fayetteville,
NC.
Where are we going with Church Planting in the next two year? We are increasing our concentration on planting churches in Virginia.
Pastor Jim Wall and the Western Branch Community Church are stepping forward to become more involved with church planting in Virginia. They have assisted Michael and Gloria Howard in planting Solid Rock Ministry in Mechanicsville,
Virginia and currently have begun meetings with Theresa Ramsey and the congregation at Hosanna Fellowship to poise that congregation for 21st century ministry.
World Witness Director Dock Hobbs is discussing with ministers ideas of planting churches in Lumberton, Chadbourne,
and the Charlotte areas of North Carolina and more.
Brother Hobbs will focus on three areas of Church Planting. First, he will continue to give overall supervision to the World Witness Department and church planting efforts.
Second, he will continue to lead the Church Planting Task Force in developing and adopting strategies for church planting and see that those strategies are successful. Third, he will continue to scout for and develop church planters in our movement.
We must remember that big changes are accomplished best by small changes.
The biblical principle of sowing and reaping is being realized in church planting even as we speak.
II-Where We Are and What We Know About Church Life
We launched an in-depth, on-going church revitalization process a little over one year ago with a proven professional
advisor. We brought to our ministers quality training,
and to our churches an opportunity for training at a cost every local church could afford. No where could our ministers have gone for training and exposure to practical ministry as economically as they have had an opportunity to attend in the last year.
Some of our churches are comfortable with their current church congregation and it is uncomfortable to them to add new people to the congregation. We must remember that it is this way in all denominations. The church did not get where we are overnight and we will not change over night.
I am more than ever convinced that continual re-development
of the local church is urgent and essential if we are to carry out the great commission. However, “change will occur in many local churches only when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.”
For the last twelve months I have seen ministers drink in the knowledge, have their minds stretched, pour their heart out to God in devotion and prayer time as they have seen the potential of where their church can go through self study and strategic planning.
They believe their church could reach a cutting edge ministry. Some pastors are implementing the revitalization process and seeing positive results, but others need more time for their congregations and must move at a slower pace to see change. Some will not see change due to resistance
within the local church.
We must remember and help our people to understand that “To resist change is to remain relevant to a world that no longer exists.” (Gerald Kelly)
Change takes time, but time alone does not produce change. Mike Woodruff said, “Technical advancements, scientific discoveries and cultural shifts have silently conspired
to place us in a world that is almost unrecognizable to the one we were born into.” I want to remind you that most change will not be your enemy, it will be your friend, bringing “a new way for a new day.”
Where are we going with church revitalization? Redevelopment
of the local church must be seen as a priority second only to Church Planting. Church Planting can never be an option and neither can Church Redevelopment be an option for PFWB Churches. The PFWB Church must have church planting and a way of breathing new life into our churches. Both involve the Church and the Kingdom. Both are necessary for systemic, long term health. Revitalization
is immediate and urgent. Church Planting is present fruit and future viability.
We must always be breaking new ground and trying new approaches, and going back to the Scriptures to show our churches how to be relevant and effective.
Healthy churches grow... Growing churches change... Changing churches Challenge people... Challenging
Churches force people to Trust... Trust forces people to submit and obey... Obedience makes people healthy... Healthy Churches grow.
It was Leonard Sweet who said, “If there was ever a time for on the edge, over the top, and out of the box leadership,
it is now.” Pastors, as difficult as it may be we must continually seek new life for our churches.
While we will make adjustments as necessary in the church new life process that you are more comfortable with, there will continue to be an ongoing development of new life within the PFWB Church. The emphasis on local
church life must never grow dim or be lost in the many things we will do as a denomination.
III-Where We Are and What We Know About Crusader Youth Camp
In 1948 our youth camp was founded with 21 boys and girls at Watha, NC. In 1962 it was moved to Dunn, NC on the approximately 38 acres of land owned at that time. Since that time our denomination has provided, through salaried employees and many volunteers, a successful annual
youth camp ministry for PFWB churches and other churches. It has been, and is, one of the more rewarding ministries of our church. Only heaven will reveal how many young souls have been won to Christ, received the experience of sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and been called into ministry and gone on to Heritage Bible College, and on to a fruitful career.
Our youth camp has evolved often only when there were demanding needs, and then it was through the sacrifice and love of friends. It is time that a more thoughtful approach be taken to the future development of our youth camp site.
We must begin to think of a multi-purpose building that can be used for worship, training, have an indoor recreation area, and be used for classrooms. It would be made available
to all of our ministries as well as outside groups.
With the additional 50 acres of land purchased by our denomination there is room to gradually move Crusader Youth Camp back, farther off of the highway, thus making more room for the future development of Heritage Bible College. The additional land provides an opportunity for us to begin to look forward to developing campsites with RV hook-ups that will be used by Royal Ranger groups, girl’s ministries, and other groups. We have once before shared with you the vision of a water recreational area, if feasible, with cottages build around the area suitable for families, and small group retreats. The concept would be for a year round usage of the campsite and would include additional outdoor recreation areas with paved paths and streets, making
it inviting to other groups.
Our vision includes a much needed outdoor amphitheater
to be used for outdoor worship services and other events. If designed professionally and with a campsite atmosphere I believe it will be an attraction for marriage retreats, family reunions, and ministry retreats for our churches and other church groups. The future is before us, and for us to remain successful as a youth camp we must reach out in order to minister.
Crusader Youth Camp facilities and the camp site are gifts from God to our denomination that must be developed for His Kingdom. While this vision will exceed the tenure of the current General Superintendent and his leadership team’s ministry, this church must begin to focus toward the future with lofty goals. We must be dream driven, we must develop the dream, and we must deliver for our future generations.
IV- Where We Are and What We Know About Credentialing
Ministers
There is a great need for the Pentecostal Free Will Baptist
Church to revise the Credentialing Process for all levels of ministry. This will be completed and implemented upon proper approval by January 1, 2007.
The basic concept for credentialing will remain in place. The area of modification will address the education and training at all levels of ministerial credentials.
Our first priority in training our ministers is through Heritage Bible College. However, it is recognized that for whatever reason all cannot attend Bible College and some simply choose not to attend.
The changes will be large enough that they will bring a significant improvement to our system. Once they are implemented, our ministers and laity will appreciate the results
we will realize in coming years.
Here are some of the changes I will ask the Ministerial Council to implement regarding new ministers and renewing
credentials of licensed ministers.
For new ministers: 1) I will ask the Ministerial Council to establish minimal educational requirements for those seeking ministerial recognition. 2) I will ask the Ministerial
Council to approve a list of Colleges and schools that will be recognized by the Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church for both the new applicants and transferals. 3) A background, credit check to be preformed on all applicants. 4) A background, criminal check to be preformed on all applicants.
5) There will be more personal academic studies plus a requirement to attend seminars.
For renewing license of ministers: 1) a continuing education
requirement with an exemption for those ministers nearing retirement.
The Ministerial Handbook will be reviewed and updated to meet all requirements.
V- Where We Are and What We Know About Communication From Ministers to General Superintendent
In 1996 we heard from the grass roots of this denomination
and sweeping improvements were made.
I am very busy and it is easy for me to become so involved
in the work of your conference that I might fail to hear your voice and ideas. I never, never want to miss hearing from you. I want to take this conference where you feel it must go in the 21st century. This can be accomplished
only if I listen to you.
I want an old fashion, sit-down, fire-side talk with our ministers. Along with your Regional Director I will be having informal small group chats within your district. Each minister will be invited to attend one of the several dates within your district. You have something to share with your superintendent and I want to hear from you in these chat times.
Conclusion
As the Chinese proverb states, there has to be a different
road if we want a different destination. The Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church has signs in many areas that we are taking a different road. A different road is not to be feared so long as we travel it together; for we can comfort and strengthen each other as we journey to the Kingdom of God.
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