Pastor’s Column in The Informer (FBC’s newsletter) – published May 2007

In my May newsletter column last year, I recalled our “Envisioning FBC” town hall meeting that we had in which we discussed a three-year plan for charting our church’s future. We agreed that during the first year, we will focus on connecting with one another through intentional fellowship. In the second year, we will center ourselves, learning who we will become as a church. And the third year will present the challenge of making that new identity a reality.

Even though we still have work to do in connecting with one another, this year, we are focusing on “centering,” in which we will affirm our church’s identity, core values and beliefs, and discern God’s mission for us. Helping us do that is a team of twelve people who have covenanted with me to meet periodically perhaps for the next six months to pray and discern God’s direction for us as a church. This team consists of George Carter, Ken Copeland, Gail Cave, Peggy Cave, Jack Davis, Jim Davis, Tammy Dunning, Don Kyper, Anita Lynn, Farrah Schmidt, Gene Watson, and Nancy Vick. There are many others who are well-qualified to be on this team, but twelve is a good stopping point! I also believe these folks represent all segments of our church while bringing a diversity of perspectives and concerns.

As a way to begin this discerning process, we are reading Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger, who make the case that many churches have become too “cluttered,” consumed with activity, busyness, and even conflicting programs while overlooking God’s simple process for making disciples. Church members and clergy alike become burned out by “doing things” with little idea as to how each activity fits into the vision and mission of the church.

On May 6 and 20, this team will meet after worship to discuss the ideas of this book. If we find that the book’s ideas merit further investigation and implementation, we will continue to meet in the summer, with the goal of prayerfully clarifying our church’s mission, communicating and instilling this mission to all members of the congregation, designing a discipleship process that supports our mission, and aligning and focusing all our ministries and programs into this discipleship process.

As you can tell, this is a big undertaking! It will take work. It will take faith. It will take many honest conversations with the congregation. But I believe it will be worth it. And you can do your part by praying for this team as we meet. I firmly believe that God has some incredible things in store for Farmville Baptist. May God honor our attempt to take a step of faith to begin this grand adventure!

Journeying on, Michael