UPPER ROOM DAILY DEVOTIONS

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

MATURING

Ronald Bell, Jr.

A few months ago I bought my very first guitar and taught myself to play. I imagined myself at an Israel Houston or Hillsong concert and being called out of the crowd to come on stage and lead worship. What an eye-opening and frustrating moment, to start playing and realizing that ”I sucked”.  The whole thing felt silly and uncomfortable:  I didn’t know any chords, the tips of my fingers hurt from griping the strings, and nothing sounded clear because I was touching more strings than. I’d watch DVD’s and YouTube videos of my favorite worship leaders and they all seemed so smooth, so poised and relaxed. It was completely different from what I was expressing and experiencing.   The desire to sing and worship God, to express my love and gratitude in praise and worship was so natural and fluid; however, this level of maturity was not reflected in my novice playing skills. I was totally frustrated because I but couldn’t play the chords.

There are many who sit either in the folded metal chairs in our multi-purpose spaces, or in the pristine padded pews of our sanctuary who suffer from this same kind of experience. They want to worship, want to engage, want to express, want to connect but don’t have the experience or understanding of how to do it. Often times as mature Christians we take certain skills and levels of understanding for granted, things like participating in communion, understanding baptism or the trinity, finding books in a bible, owning a bible, singing/reading a hymn. All of these things and more are specialized skills and understandings that come from maturity gained from time spent engaged in church. Many of the people we minister too have not achieved that same level; they are still new in the practice of searching, reaching,  and seeking God for everything. Let’s not misinterpret their lack of commitment; affect or disposition to what is going on in the life of your church as uncouth. Instead seek to find ways to train, mentor, connect with and help them practice these skills and find their voice.

What I’ve learned over the last two months with my own guitar playing, is that I’m not Israel Houston, even when I finally mastered the chord progressions of one of his songs or Michael Smith’s song I still sounded like Ronald singing and playing it. The exciting part is that that’s ok. Our goal as ministers of the gospel ought to be to mentor and disciple others to the point where out of their own expression and experiences, out of their own gifts and talents, out of their own nuances and personality they are able to freely, and with full confidence, express the same gospel. Now that’s maturity! 

FINDING PLANTERS

She grew up in the area, moved away several years prior to pursue a successful career in business, and now returned in her mid-50’s to help her ailing mother transition. She’d forgotten how much she missed the area, and as she drove through the streets she began to weep over the difference the many years had taken on her once beautiful town. The same shops, with the same owners and families she’d grown up with, were still there; but now there was a pronounced presence of liquor stores, check-cashing vendors, fast-food stores and pawn shops. “This once stunning town was now hijacked by slum,” she thought as she drove.  “Something must be done.”

He had served 10 years in jail in the mid 80’s for a crime he had since repented for. Since that time, he had worked with the prison system as a counselor and minister, as a social advocate and has even written and co-authored several books on the prison industrial complex. He is known nationally as a leader in prison reformation and within five minutes of talking with him, that’s all you’ll here. His car is littered with brochures, pamphlets and stickers about that cause.

For most of her teenage years she traveled the state as a regional track and field superstar. It was widely expected that she’d become an Olympian one day; and so, no one in her immediate circle was surprised when she matriculated to college on a full track and field scholarship. What was surprising was her decision, after one semester, to stop running track and focus on her college major, early childhood education, and to begin substitute teaching at one of the local elementary schools.

All of these stories share some consistent elements. Each person is passionate about something that passion has been nurtured through a specific set of experiences. Each person is also connected into a network; they have a base of support and an affinity to a certain group of people.  Lastly, each of these people are self-starters; they are independent thinkers who see a problem and attack it. They aren’t afraid of making grand, bold, and often dangerous decisions, if it potentially means meeting their intended goals. But, here is the other more pressing truth. None of these people are New Church Planters.

These skills and stories are great fodder or tools to have on hand. In fact, when looking for planters, these skills and stories would be great foundational checkmarks to look for. The one burning element that each of the stories is missing, and that is largely missing from a lot of proposed new church starts, is a spiritual calling. In the Black church, it’s known as “when you know that you know that you know.” It’s an intensity felt, often an even audible spiritual affirmation, that the work you’re about to embark on, is God-ordained. There are many people who are passionate about causes and others who draw and are drawn to certain groups. There are a number of persons who are talented at marketing, speaking, finances and business. Even some dynamic folk who are great at worship leading, teaching and preaching. What’s important to remember is that it is the Holy Ghost, it’s God that becomes the glue that holds all those pretty pieces together, and if that spiritual calling is missing from the deck then the second a major bump comes up (and there will be bumps in launching new ministries) that entire house of cards will come tumbling down.

 

Strengthening the Black Church

           Worships God

                 Ignites Congregations

                      Nurtures Communities

                           Seeks out the Lost