Churches Are Not Meant To Be Clearinghouses

Not for Local Ministry

The eager visitor who was checking us out for her own ends asked, “Why do you think God put your church right here where He did?”  Obviously, she already knew the answer; it had something to do with the ministry program she was involved with in the community.  

I could barely begin my response before she began to educate me about God’s will for our church.  I listened politely and attentively under the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit until an opportunity was my turn to speak.  

Then, I started to explain who we are and what our calling was as a church, hoping I could win her over to the larger vision, and the vision of the team.  She quickly glazed over and excused herself never to return to our church, probably searching out another place to plant her agenda.

This is a cynical way to tell the story of this ten-minute encounter with (if I got to know her) probably a nice Christian woman eager to serve the Lord.  However, she is but one example of many misguided people I have met who confuse their personal calling with everyone else’s calling, or a whole church’s calling.  

Not for Global Ministry

Many pastors cringe when the missionary shows up to speak.  Unfortunately, in their passion, they often present their missionary project, agency, people group, or whatever as the most important and strategic thing that we all should be doing.  

Then, pastors have to sort through all of the information, counsel their congregations, and direct them back to their broader vision and goals as a church.  This is not as uncommon as you might think. 

Part of the problem is that our prevailing practice of missionary calling is built on an overly individualistic understanding.  A person receives a calling from God, then their church is supposed to confirm this and follow the person.  The agency checks in with their church like checking on a resume reference, then hires the individual ratifying their calling and using that person and their churches to further their own goals.

When Churches Lead, People Will Follow

This illustrates why churches need clarity of vision and specific goals accompanied by clear strategic planning.  It is when churches know their calling, where they are going and what they are doing, that individuals will be inspired and start finding their calling within their church’s calling.  This is when ministry gets really exciting and a whole lot more fun.

Local churches should not function as clearinghouses for every good ministry idea that comes along.  If allowed to be so, there are least a few every week that will accost pastors and church leaders.  Some churches actually think being a clearinghouse is the path to unleashing ministry and influencing the world with the Gospel.  But, simply promoting a flurry of ministry activity does not lead to long term effectiveness. 

A church must have a strategic and compelling vision.  This is what energizes people and focuses ministries for success.  It leads to more fulfilling and effective partnerships.  And it provides church leaders with more people coming up with more good ideas who desire to be guided more successfully in their work abroad and at home.