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Show The Net or The Hook? In the fifth chapter of Luke, Peter is instructed to ''I..oc''1unch out into the deep, and let down your net for a r. If Growth Training Project News How would we react to that instruction? Peter draught. '''''''''''''''''-'''''''''''''''''''''' said, ''We have already tried that." But he did have the faith to try something out of the ordinary. The result, of course, was near Friends, that they caught such a multitude of fishes that the net could not contain As many of you already know, the than. region and many of its pastoral units The lesson for Peter was clear. He henceforth became a great fisher of are about to begin a two-year program persons. That was his calling and continues to be our calling. of training and planning for Yes, we have been fishing and have occassionally caught expansion, As I sit quietly amid the a fish on our hooks. Contrast, however, the hook with the ;:' hectic preparations for the initial net. If we are to truly fulfill the calling to be fishers !4 event the Pastor's Conference to be of persons, we must adopt the methods of net fishermen. I held here in Denver this weekend We must let down our nets, not throe in our hooks catching :::/::. different can visualize two f - Jt one and nc in awhile. It - taks faith. to let cior..n:l ur nets, '1;:----:-:--c. the exercase of fai.th that we wi l l grow l. through and expand. Now! ae you ready, or at least willing, to launch out m fai.th mto the deep and let down vour net for a draught v">, \2?!..: ' l.S J of souls? ':<" It is not +.- _. _. uncommon . : ' '/ \ \ __ to ,' _ see congregation begin fn,;"'Ul point zero and grow These quite rapidly. because groups grow they a new have dedicated members excited with the potential of their church and vry aware tha if their congregation is going to Ddnister to its city, they are the ones responsible to God for its these young groups effective leadership. In their new set t ing or unproductive traditions are unemcumbered by inhibiting A can church brand new programs. usually get off to a flying start. But for an older congregation, the stocy is quite often , different. In each issue of the "Hotline" ve will look at obstacles" which soae be key "growth-restricting understood and cvercoae for plateaued or declining congregations to experience zeneeed growth and outreach. (Adapted fran an article of the _ might came from this milestone program. / J -r Y-' . very results that I can branches and missions see our literally catching fire with the desire to share the good news of the Gospel. I can see us helping hundreds of people become disciples of Jesus Christ. see so many new souls that being many people are available and trained to share the I can won ministry load that has been carried in I can see many cases by so few. alncst expl.osive expansion. I can see a growth in the quality of our discipleship. Of course it is possible to see We may resort to another result. business as usual and fail to reap the harvest that God has placed before I, for one, possibi.l.i.ty. cannot I pledge myself to make exciting the most of the great and opportunity at hand. would challenge you, this region, to do the must same. God calls and we must us do so Likewise) I people of the respond, direct and bless our efforts. Sincerely, The older congregation In infancy and adolescence, once was young overriding desire to see the church grow and mature. .rs worked long, hard hours making evangelisn calls, inviting friends, going house-to-house, knocking on doors, There was a dynamic, a magnetic cohesion, a C<lIIIlOU goal which knit them into a working fellowship. And , members had an success now to cane-growth sufficient work so hard. Take a to carry on a comfortable program. Bill Gardner Growth Training Project Director ATTEND -- N:> need breather; enjoy the fruits of labor; relax and take your ease in Zion. So the period of relaxation, canes, much like semi-retirement. Just enough evangelism work is done to maintain a comfortable attendance level. But it is done mainly by the pastor and a fe\v faithful. 'This is the time to enjoy all that we've worked on so zealously- the beautiful sanctuary, the lovely organ) the soft pews; it's U It takes strong leadership and strong desire to guide a their turns congregation out of the "country club" ment al.i.ty and back onto the battlefield of soul-winning, BASIC GROWTH SEMINAR IN ·YOUR A Let in confidence that He will by John Uhlig) ras "GIURCH-(llJB" A'IMl)I'lIffiE us. live with that DISTRICT (CONTACT FOR YOUR FURTHER PASTOR DETAILS) |
