The Alabama Baptist
Ministers must work harder to reach people in the 21st century because of changes in beliefs and less loyalty to churches, says an Alabama pastor.
“We’re living in a different day, in a different world,” said Roger Willmore, during a workshop at the Alabama Baptist Leadership/Church Growth Conference held April 17-18 at First Baptist Church, Birmingham.
Willmore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Weaver, said there are more and more gray areas these days concerning biblical teachings.
Willmore made his observations during one of 14 “breakout workshops” held during the conference. Participants had the opportunity of attending three workshops during the conference, many of which were presented each time.
In addition to Willmore’s workshop on “Ministering Ministerial Success in the 21st Century,” workshop topics included “Small Group Ministry Models in the New Millennium,” “Conflict Management — Now and Future,” “Men’s Ministry in the New Millennium” and “How to Create and Cultivate a Healthy Women’s Ministry in Your Church.”
Cultural issues
Willmore said statistics by researcher George Barna indicate 66 percent of Americans in general no longer believe in absolute truth. He said even more alarming is that 73 percent of church members no longer believe in absolute truth.
Because of the move from absolute truths, he said the church is ministering to an element that no longer has a frame of reference. “We’re battling some significant cultural issues in ministry,” he said.
Culture today, according to Willmore, is sending out a message that there are many ways to God, and that message is making its way into the church.
Willmore said another factor that will continue to hurt churches in the 21st century is the mobility of communities. He also said people tend to shop for churches more now, instead of remaining loyal to one church.
Leading another workshop on “Lead Into the Future as a Kingdom Builder,” Mike Miller, director of leadership services division for LifeWay Christian Resources, said the church often fails because it is not focused on the big picture.
Narrow focus
“We tend to focus so narrowly on church that we forget our work is part of the church worldwide,” he said.
Outlining three aspects of leadership ministers have to work on, he said the first is a call to ministry. Miller told those assembled that the church doesn’t need leaders who cannot articulate their call to lead.
He said the second aspect is character, pointing out it is refined during difficult times. “The only way you get character is to have trouble,” Miller said.
People can lead in sports, politics, business and many other occupations without character, according to Miller, but not in ministry. “It can’t happen as a Kingdom leader,” he said.
Miller defined character as “the development of what nobody sees but us and God.”
Discussing the third aspect — competency — Miller said he doesn’t believe in categorizing people in terms of best or worst. He said God gives people talent based on their call and character.
“Do you know your giftedness and are you using your giftedness in your leadership work?” Miller asked.
He said ministers have to know their talents and be in touch with who they are.
Leading a workshop on “Worship in the New Millennium,” Ray Burdeshaw, director of worship leadership/church music with the State Board of Missions, said churches need to meet needs of “everyone who meets in our churches to worship.”
To accomplish that, he said churches should focus more on what worship is, rather than style.
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