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Change is inevitable, and small church ministry is no exception. Learn how to embrace the challenges that come with change in small churches.
A Testimony Of How God Used Change To Bring Greater Fruitfulness.
Raise your hand if you like change? Not very many hands go up. I totally get that.
Change Is Hard & Often Not Very Fun.
Change feels like:
- My world is out of control.
- There’s nothing I can do.
- It’s out of my hands.
This year has been full of change for everyone in all kinds of areas. Has change made you feel like you have no control?
Here’s some hopeful news: Despite how uneasy or uncertain change feels, God can use it to bring great effectiveness for His Kingdom. God will bring great fruitfulness into your ministry because of change.
If you are facing some change, feeling unsettled, or like God is calling you to something new, hang on for what God has in store.
Here’s my story!
Preparing For Change
Around the beginning of last year, God impressed on my heart that “I must decrease so that others may increase.” As a worship leader, I felt like I needed to develop others on the worship team in their skills and talents to allow them to take front and center during worship services.
As the months passed, I prayed, “Lord, if you mean something else other than developing the worship team, please let me know.” I had this stirring in my heart that something different was going to happen, but I didn’t know what it was. There was just something I couldn’t put my finger on which made me feel uneasy. It felt like the proverbial “other shoe” was somehow going to drop.
Getting Equipped
Then, wouldn’t you know it … the quarantine of 2020 happened! During the stay-at-home time with my family, an unsettled feeling continued to grow in me that something was going to change in my ministry.
Suddenly, 2 opportunities opened up before me.
- My pastor asked me to attend an online discipleship conference. When the conference was over, I knew I had to do something with this new info. My heart and spirit were inspired like never before in discipling others. Somehow, some way, I was going to need and use this essential information in ministry.
- I became more involved in Small Church Ministry. Being part of the community, getting to know others in the Facebook group, asking questions, and getting skills training in ministry from The Small Church Network all inspired me to want to do something more with what I was learning.
These 2 opportunities felt like all the puzzle pieces in my little box were all being shaken up. Everything that used to fit, no longer fit. Something needed to change, but I didn’t know what.
Then … The Other Shoe Dropped
About a week later, my pastor met with me to discuss the reopening of church services. That’s when he asked me to step away as the worship leader.
What? I never saw that one coming.
I was surprised and taken back, then again, not totally shocked. I was sad and upset but not devastated. All the unsettled feelings from the past few months began to make sense.
He then asked me to start something new.
I interjected, “I think I know what it is … discipleship.” He said, “Yes.” He asked me to step into a new position as director of discipleship and develop this new role within our church.
All the puzzle pieces clicked into place. All the impressions and whispers from the Holy Spirit, all the new information and tools I had received in the previous few weeks –– all of it locked into place, and the picture came into focus. God’s change of direction in my life finally became clear.
How Does Change Bring More Fruitfulness?
Paul tells us a seed must die in order to bear a new crop:
1 Corinthians 15:36-37 says, “What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting.”
I allowed the seed of one ministry to “die” in order for the fruit of another ministry to grow.
One season stopped so that another season could begin.
Since I surrendered to these changes that God had been preparing for me, more fruitfulness began to grow in many ministries within my church. This growth wouldn’t have happened if I remained resistant to change.
- A new worship leader came into my old position. She was ready to develop her skills as a leader and to develop newer members on the worship team.
- I started developing the discipleship ministry by taking other areas of our church into new territory, like starting 1-1 discipleship relationships, improving teacher and volunteer training, and getting our leadership team more organized across all areas of the church.
- The whole team sensed this new season of growth and more effective ministry because of my change in position. Because of this, I believe our church is ready to grow to a new level.
Fruitfulness Is Exciting!
True, change can feel uncertain. However, the possibility of fruitfulness and new growth far outweighs the uneasiness of change.
Fruitfulness feels like:
- God is really moving!
- I am part of growing the Kingdom of God!
- My church is leading effectively in our community!
God pushed me out of my comfort zone to journey into completely new territory in order to take us to a greater level of fruitfulness. God prepared me and equipped me, and changes are bringing more effectiveness and growth! It’s an exciting time!
Are you experiencing change? Is it hard and uncomfortable? Is it exciting?
What strategies and tools could you use to help bring more fruitfulness during this change? How can we help?
Join us in Creative Solutions for Small Churches where there’s a community of like-minded people who would love to encourage you in your ministry! If you want even more support and guidance for your ministry, check out The Small Church Network.
Read More
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This reading in on point to what I’m living right now. I recently was on the stage of the seed that needed to die (the place where I was) in order to grow (the place that I am now). I needed to read it like that to be able to understand that process. Change is now starting to happen and it’s transforming from being hard and uncomfortable to actually being VERY EXCITING! I am open to what God is doing in my life and to where He is leading me. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Cristine, thank you for replying and sharing part of your story wtih us!
Your story enlightened and encouraged me. I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit that there was something that God was preparing for me to do. I thought I would leave the ministries that I currently serve on in order to serve somewhere else. I, too, attended last year’s Women in Small Churches Conference and several other teachings. God had given me a heart for women’s ministry long ago. I love and ached for the sisterhood it brought. Our church did not have a women’s ministry for over four years. I discussed with my husband where I was feeling called to serve. He just asked me to put my ministry plan together and present it to our pastor.
Before I could put pen to paper, our minister of education reached out to me about teaching Sunday school. I felt like God was trying to stretch and grow me in the area of teaching. So, I agreed to teach in February. Would you not know that the subject for the month was the called women of the bible. I was so tickled by God! He continued to affirm that He was leading me to lead His ministry for our women. He would speak to me in the shower, in my dreams, and through the trainings that He placed in my path.
I developed my plan for God’s Well Equipped Leading Ladies (WELL). I, in my thinking, thought the Lord was telling me “well” like the woman at the well. But He quickly corrected me. He meant well, as in serving His kingdom in a good and satisfactory way. So, we are going to love well, grow well, serve well and lead well. I presented my goals and objectives to my pastor for approval. And, glory to God, he gave me his blessings.
Please pray for me as I launch God’s WELL at the end of this month. I will keep you and your ministry lifted to the Father. Please know that I thank God for you and all of my sisters involved with the Creative Little Church. The Lord is certainly pouring out His Spirit on His daughters through this ministry. God bless you!
Sylvia! This is an amazing story! Isn’t God awesome like that? I love the way God has led you and prepared you for this journey! He is going to do wonderful things through you and this ministry! Yes…I am so thankful for all the women God is connecting through the Creative Little Church! Keep us posted! ~Amy