Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, I prayed with the largest group of pastors with whom I have ever prayed. For an hour, between three and four thousand pastors spent time praying together for those all over the world who were being impacted by the Covid 19 virus. They had gathered from every part of the country for this one event, and the amazing thing about it was that it was all organized in a matter of minutes.
Yes, it is true that adversity has its advantages, and this prayer meeting was one of those advantages that enabled me to do something that I had never done before. How, you might ask, did this event all come together so quickly? The simple answer is that it happened by a click of the finger.
Let me explain. I am part of a network of pastors who belong to “Renegade Pastors,” a team of pastors who want to do ministry better and “advance beyond average.” One click of the finger on “send” and the word of our prayer meeting traveled to thousands of pastors from all over the world. No travel needed, no costly arrangements necessary, and I didn’t have to leave the comfort of my living room to attend. And the only resource needed was my phone.
Just last night several people from our church hastily gathered for a prayer meeting. We had learned that one of our family members had been taken to the hospital and needed prayer. At 4:30 pm the message went out-“Prayer Needed”- and at 8:00 pm concerned friends from all over the area were on the phone praying together for a sister in need.
This evening our church is being mobilized to pray for this pandemic crisis, and once again we will be not be gathered in any church but in our homes, with Zoom as the vehicle that brings us all together.
Little in my wildest imagination did I ever think that this pastor who long ago had shunned the Face Book ‘frenzy’ would be “zooming,” or whatever the technical name for it might be called. All these recent events have transpired because crisis is creative. The dictionary defines crisis as a time of intense difficulty and danger. A medical doctor might see the word as a turning point when one can get better or worse. And the Greeks would simply call crisis a time of decision. When you put all three of these definitions together, a crisis becomes “an intense time of difficulty requiring a decision that could become a turning point that makes a difference.”
A crisis requires adjustments and adaptability. It compels us to think outside the box. A crisis opens our eyes to new ways of doing things. It has been said that “Success in life comes not from holding a good hand but playing a poor hand well,” and this is just what we are trying to do as we explore new ways of doing ministry.
Good coaches are separated from great coaches by one thing; it is their half time adjustments. It is these adjustments that will spell the difference between victory and defeat.
As we look forward to what is quickly becoming the new normal, let us be quick to adjust and make changes in the way we perform ministry. Let us pray for a spirit of flexibility as we ask God to show us ‘new’ ways of doing ‘old’ ministry.
Life never stays the same; it is constantly changing, and as we face these changes, may our prayer be, “God, show us how we can change in the midst of a changing world so we might share the unchanging message of our Jesus Christ to a world that is desperately in need of change. That's a lot of 'changing,' but that's what you and I and the world so desperately need.
Want to be part of that change, that is the “new normal” that is already upon us? Why not become a “zoomer” and join us tonight as our church gathers for a good old but newly fashioned prayer meeting? Watch your computer screens-more details to follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!l.
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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