Pastor Pusch

With every job comes it’s ups and downs. There are portions that you love and elements that you endure. I suppose that can be said about much in life. One part my job I really enjoy, an element that keeps me coming back, is the opportunity to be a pastor to pastors; a minister to ministers. Everyday I get to work with pastors and their churches in all sorts of ministry aspects, especially in the realm of Christian Education and Discipleship, an often over looked ministry in the local church.

If there is one are in the local church where we really struggle, it is in the area of discipleship or ’spiritual transformation’. The phrase ’spiritual transformation’ was introduced to me by some friends/Christian Educators who lead in another denomination. I like the phrase because it accurately conveys the change that is to take place while on the road of discipleship. The Greek word for disciple, “ma-thay-tes”, means “learner” or “pupil”. In other words, a disciple is one who is a learner or student. In the world of Christianity, a true believer is one who submits himself as a learner or student of Jesus Christ and His teachings.

Where is the struggle? There several areas within the church that gives explanation as to why they struggle in the area of discipleship. Here are 5 situations I have dealt with the last 4 years, 1. Sunday School/Small Group is just a time filler 2. It’s all about Big Church 3. The Pastor does not care.  4. HELP 5. People just do not get it.

1. Time Filler – Sunday School/Small Group (whatever you call) is more than just “something” till fill up an hour of time. I would almost rather encourage churches not to have such ministries if the only intended purpose was to fill an hour because “that is what you are supposed to do”.

2. Big Church – One of the elements I enjoy most about church is corporate worship; gathering in one accord, the body of Christ comes together for the sole purpose of exalting the name of the Lord. The problem is that most of our attention is given to this ONE ministry in the church. It seems to be the church’s only focus so much so that more effort, time, and resources are devoted to it while discipleship, spiritual transformation suffers. For too long numerical growth has been the measuring rod to determine the success of a church. The thought is that a church must be successful if they are growing numerically. Numerical growth is not necessarily a bad thing, however, if transformation is not taking place, the size of your church means absolutely nothing.

3. Pastoral Apathy – While the pastor may never come out and say he does not care, his leadership would speak otherwise. Pastor Johnny Hunt of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA reminds his people repeatedly that if there are only going to give one hour to the church, they should go to Sunday School. He knows that is where the rubber meets the road. It is the pastor responsibility to train and equip people for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-13)

4. Help – Unlike number 3, the pastor really does care about the spiritual growth of his church, but he is having a hard time recruiting help.

5. WE JUST DON’T GET IT! If becoming a Christian means that we believe Jesus is God and by that we accept Him as Lord in our lives then how is it we can ignore the “follow me” imperatives of scripture. By accepting Christ, we are placing our lives in Him, yet the thought of being imitators of Christ is unappealing. It is as if we only want the benefits of what it means to be a Christian without having to become living sacrifices. Instead of placing our lives in His, we place God in our lives. Big difference.

Pastor Johnny Hunt refers to the process of discipleship as becoming “fully devoted followers of Christ.” When we are truly saved, the process of sanctification begins. It is a life long process of become more like Christ.

In recent days I have been asked to lead the young adult ministry at our church; a request I wasn’t totally excited about at first. Being a young adult myself causes me to ask questions regarding my own ability to lead a large group of my peers. Having served as an associate pastor and then lead pastor at a local church years ago, I’ve always enjoyed ministering to Senior Adults, Mid-Lifers, Teens, and Children more so than tackling the ministry of young adults (my own peers). Even now, as I have been given the opportunities to speak across the country, I still enjoy speaking to/with those outside my own age group as I seem to just find it easier for me to communicate with them. Today I welcome the opportunity to minister to such a unique population. Our church has been blessed with a wide range of young adults. We currently have 5 young adult connection groups that meet regularly with a 6th, maybe 7th, group on the horizon. The view from the stage during corporate worship is certainly a beautiful sight as you gaze over a congregation full of young adults. We are truly blessed as this is not the case in most churches.

According to Thom Rainer and the Lifeway Research and Development group, the numbers concerning the church and young adults are very discouraging. Research indicates that 70% of 18-22 years olds leave the church during that 5 year time frame with only 35% of those actually making their way back at some point (source: Sunday School in HD Conference, Woodstock, GA). Lifeway isn’t the only research team to discover such devastating numbers. The Barna Research Group indicates that 75% of those who were involved in youth group will leave the church within the first 5 years (Barna Research Group). Young adult ministry for years has been overlooked with most of the church’s time and resources being utilized elsewhere. While I understand that this may not be an issue with your church, the reality still exists that we are losing our young adults and it is to the detriment of the church. 

The question out there for us to answer is, “What are you doing to reach young adults.” Much attention has been given to children’s ministry (as it should as I believe this ministry to be among the most important in the church), youth ministry, and maybe the senior wild cats ministry (senior adults). The challenge is there, but be careful. Young adults are not the easiest to reach. It will take more than a visitor’s card in the offering plate or a generic phone call or letter laying out the 3 points as to why it was good to see them. Young Adults desire something real; something authentic. They desire a real relationship, not their grandmother’s religion. It doesn’t matter how young, hip, or “cool” you are. Young adults do not care.  If you have a heart for God and a desire to build real and authentic relationships, then you possess the beginnings of a well laid foundation to reach young adults.

Do it.

Creating One Family Under God
Bahai – Sikh – Hindu – Islam – Buddism - Shintoism – Christian

This is becoming more and more of the ideological thought that exists in western culture. Pluralism plagues our society and dupes them into thinking that any belief system will work by virtue of fairness. It does not matter how or what you believe as long as you do believe. Truth is left up to the believer but will never become absolute because he does not want to offend his neighbor who lives by a completely different set of truths. It’s all relative. Truth does not exist, only truths. All roads lead to heaven.

One who subscribes to such an ideology is offended by the message of Christianity as he cannot accept the fact that with Christianity, it is either/or and can never be both/and. For this person, the virtue of fairness is broken and Christianity therefore becomes foolish; foolish because it is, in one aspect, intolerable and exclusive. This man, in his wisdom, cannot accept the message of Christianity because it cannot mold into his pluralistic mentality, which has robbed him of the abilty to think resonably.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent” (I Cor. 1:18-19).