Change takes Time

Well friend it is time for a change, time for something new!

New Wineskins presents something radical. Something possitive and oddly enough something familiar.

For me the familiarity comes out of 10 years of training for and doing ministry in a particular church. I want to begin to turn the topic of this blog to talking about building healthy churches.

Am I an expert. No way. Has our congregation grown - you bet. At times it has grown dramatically in numbers, at other times it has grown dramatically in maturity, it's outreach has expanded.

One of the first steps of change is getting perspective. So Pastor, Elder, Deacon, or fired up member. Do you know your church? Is what you think you know accurate.

First step is to take time to study the history of the congregation - ours is 160 years old and I have read or at least skimmed all 160 years of session records, I have read the church history, I have listened to the stories. I am not the Lorax and I do not speak for the trees but I know the history of this church and I consider it part of my job to speak for it. It is an important tool in strengthening a dying church because somewhere in every church's history is a reason. A reason for existing.

Do you know yours? Is it to glorify God and Enjoy him forever? There is the official history and the unofficial history.