Pastor Mike's Corner

Jesus’ number one leadership attribute: Humility. Though He is a king, he led like a servant. His actions were in the best interests of those that followed Him, yet many of those that followed felt the need to criticize Him, like Peter; abandon Him, like all of His disciples; and even help to crucify Him, like Judas.

That’s what we need in a leader. Humility. I’m not at all impressed with those that seek a position of leadership for their own glory. If I feel for a moment that a leader is about his/her own kingdom, I will abandon them and let them build it on their own. I will not follow. If I feel for a moment that a leader is about the acclaim of those who follow, they will lose my personal approval. I will not bow in servitude.

A leader must have the interests of those that follow him/her ahead of their own. A leader must be willing to accept the criticism from the very ones he/she serves. A leader must be willing to sacrifice their time, their money, their very being for the sake of some of the very ones who wish to depose them for their own self-interests and their own misunderstanding of what a leader must be about. In short, God raise up for us a leader who knows how to define humility by their actions alone. God raise us up a leader who spends their hours and their days looking and searching for your direction so that their fellow sojourners be blessed.

Don't tell us of your humility. Show us. Words taint; actions prove. This, I believe, is why Jesus said that those who wish to be first must be last.

When I find this leader who sacrifices for the good of those who follow; I will follow for it is in my own and others best interest. When I find this leader who abandons their glory for the sake of others; I too will follow in humble submission for that is the example my leader has given.

I praise God that He has sent His Son to be that leader. I praise God that I have had leaders who have displayed this leadership attribute. And I pray for that ability to lead as my Lord has lived. In humility.

When the foundation was dug for the “Salt Shaker” (church building) that I now serve, the Salt (Christians) didn’t have enough money to pay the men who were hired to do the job. They knew one thing: This was God’s will. With that knowledge they pressed forward. They met each obstacle. And God worked mightily through their faith in Him.

What a striking contrast to some of today’s thought concerning God’s will. We get a so called vision of a ministry or a project and we preface the work with a certain condition before we agree to move. If it is God’s will, then He will provide a way. Or, if it is God’s will, then He will open the door. Sure. I agree, if God wants a new church start in Mansfield, IL then, by Him, He’s going to do it! He will make the money come. And He will supply the land. And He will rise up the leaders. And blah, blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-blah….

If the ministry or project doesn’t come to fruition, then obviously it wasn’t God’s will—right? Maybe. Or, in many cases, maybe it’s the fault of the so called people of faith. God gave them a vision and they put Him to the test. They gave Him a to do list. That isn’t faith. That’s pathetic.

Maybe, just maybe, the only thing we need to ask is, “Is this truly God’s will?” If it is, then move in a way that assumes that He will work. Take a risk! Build a ship in the middle of dry land! Put your talents to work! Meet an overwhelming army with 300 men who lap like dogs! Take a step into the water before the water parts; not wait till it does (if you’d like I can find hundreds of biblical examples).

The quick point is this: God gives us a vision. The next step is often for us to make. His job is to provide something for our foot to step on, even if that step cant be seen. That’s what makes us a people of faith. That’s what sets us aside as His people whom He works mightily through. The question is and should be this: "Is this God's will?"

I was disappointed to read about the city's talk to close down our community pool. I understand the need to be fiscally responsible with the people's tax dollars. I agree that the pool's yearly $50,000 deficit is unacceptable. However, the lack of income the pool generates and the number of people using it is part of a much bigger problem and not the problem itself. In short, it is premature to even discuss closing down the pool. To close it down would be another strike at the one group we need the most: young families. And that, my friends, is the bigger problem.

The pool is a draw to our community for young families. The last thing that we need to do is take away some of the very few things that makes our community attractive. In the long run, and let history testify, you repel home buyers new to our community and even drive away existing community members. A question a friend recently asked, “Why come to Farmer City when Leroy has all the amenities that you could possibly want...and more?” After all, my friend asserted, they invested a fortune in a community recreation center. “Invested” was the key word.

I'm all for cutting expenses. Especially waste. I'm all for getting rid of infrastructure. Especially if it is dangerous and unappealing. The pool is neither of these. It is safe, appealing, and an investment.

If we really want to do something about the dilapidated road and sewer conditions, maybe we ought to look into increasing the number of families this community has. I suggest that we leverage what resources we do have and make this town more appealing to the one group that we seem to be losing.

Invest in our community. Don't take away infrastructure, add to it. Make it more palatable for young families. Make it more attractive to new businesses. In this way you increase the number of people you can draw from. And, quite frankly, increase the number of people who might frequent our wonderful pool.

Let's not treat the symptom; let's attack the disease. Just dealing with the symptom is detrimental to our community and in the long term, fatal.

...Let me ask those of you who are attending a small community church (or a small church): How much money is designated to outreach/evangelism in your budget? Barna reports that amongst Southern Baptist evangelism is one of our top priories (it's top amongst most denominations). I would imagine that evangelism is preached from the pulpit and reinforced in your Sunday School or small groups. Now, check your budget. Does the money that you spend per year reinforce what is being preached?

Dont count monies being sent away to foreign missions! These are important, yes, but not relevant to the point I want to make. Many churches spend a fortune in missions but are disobedient to the call to reach the lost in their own communities. I personally believe that before you send one dollar away to your locally supported foreign missionary your own community needs are being met...or you need to start funding someone who will come into your area and reach the lost next door for you.

And don't count your pastor's pay either. It's not their “job” to be the evangelist for your local body (though they should be a witness). They are there to equip you to do what God has told you to do, and that, my friend is to Go, find, baptize, teach, and send. As a pastor I know that I can reach many more people by investing a few hours into the congregation that I serve then I could on the “front line.” (though I do love to be on the front lines)

I want to know how much is being invested in reaching and serving the people in the general area that God placed you. I would imagine with many of you the answer is our budget doesnt match our words. I would imagine many of your churches are great at talking “smack” but dont back it up with deeds and resources. Dont get mad; deal with it.

Hey, I understand people's argument (or excuse). Let's face it, many of our churches are on life support, especially in the small community. Everything they bring in must go to pay the pastor, the light bill, mortgage if they have one, electric bill, and so on. There are limited dollars to spend! Well, and here's where I draw a hard line, I'd rather your power bill go unpaid, the pastor's pay be cut or even dropped, and you lose the building you are in then for one person in your community to go to their grave and then to hell because your church didn't reach out to them because your church cared more about existing then its calling. Ezekiel said, "There blood is on your hands." Why keep the church alive if it will not obey? Reaching the lost is more important then keeping your little social club open.

"Well we're worshiping Jesus!" Good. He says that if you love Him, you will do what He says. Now Go.

Let's face it, most of us agree (I hope) that this is highly important to reach the lost. Jesus loves them so much that He was willing to exchange His glory, His position, and His life for them (Philippians 2). He wants a relationship with them. Personally, if I'm going t invest money to save a church, I'm going with the one that is reaching the lost. This is the main reasons State and local associations are so bent on helping new church plants before they will invest in an established church! Far more people are won to the Lord in church plants. Why? Because they have to focus on outreach or they will die.

* Jesus on talents
* Investing
* Seeking funds from larger bodies to reach small communities
* The role of Leaders
* 3 changes that can be made now

Rough draft on a excerpt from a book I'm working on

....Furthermore, a society that is based on consumerism, as our society is, weeds out those businesses that are sloppily ran and/or presented to the public and rewards those that reflect a sense of excellence in the way that they run and the way that they are seen. My favorite pizza place is clean, the food is very good, the service is excellent, and the cost is very reasonable. I will continue to go there as long as they keep up this level of service. Had they not provide this service from the start, I may have never gone back; if they cut back, I will, and many others I would expect, will frequent the place a lot less, or even stop going.

Do people bring this demand for excellence into the church? Are some churches rejected flat out, even before they taste the Truth being offered, because they present their building, their ministries, their sermons, or their worship services sloppily? Yes. I know several locals who drive 30 to 40 minutes each and every Sunday because the churches in the larger communities are offering the Truth (and even less then Truth) in a professional and in a most excellent way. In addition to that, the more these churches draw, the more ministries they are able to offer (which makes them even more attractive) and the more they are able to reflect this sense of excellence that our culture demands.

The smaller churches, who may or may not be offering up some of the purest Truth, cant compete and do everything that they can just to survive. Updates are not made. The only ministries offered are those that maintain the status quo. As visitors come in they see a “Salt shaker” that hasn't been updated in 40 years plus and wonders if this church can even relate to where their at. One local professional confided in me that when they first came to the area they looked for a local church first. They visited the church that I serve at now and was less then impressed. Her kids looked up at her and said, “Not this one mom.” And now this profession is worshiping and serving far away.

“This is not fair!” our small church members shout. We're not talking about fairness; we're talking about the way it is.

To be honest with you, I would say why not just let the smaller churches die and let the more relevant churches survive. What matters is that there are some churches that are presenting the truth. Darwinism, which I reject on a biological level, may work in regards to churches in America. The effective ones live; the ineffective ones die. But I cant say that. The church is not just a place to worship or fellowship or consume (though this is what many have become), but it is a local mission to a dying people. Much smarter people then myself I have pointed out that the church is the only organization that exists for it's non-members. The church exist to Glorify God and to serve Him in the greatest rescue mission ever conceived.

In smaller communities the local churches need to do what they can to survive because they are the ones called to minister to the community in which they exist. They must be viable. They must be available to minister to the people who cant or wont travel 30 minutes to go to a church to hear Truth. The Gospel must come to them. And, it means that the smaller churches in smaller communities must have workers.

The old playground is being removed as I write. Installation begins Soon! Glory to Him!

We have a lot going on around here! And, that, is a praise.

At the beginning of the year we were looking at John, chapter 14, where Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing...And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so the Son may bring glory to the Father.” It was just after this we also began to look at reaching the lost. What we saw in that study was that Christians need to make there presence known in the community in which they serve. Unfortunately, and I challenged you to ask around, FBC was not well known!

So, we named it. “In the name of Jesus, FBC will be known in this community in 2009 and start being known in the surrounding communities.”

You will notice the first part of that John 14 verse again, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing...” Several key words there! One, “faith.” This means that we trust in Him. Two, “doing.” Our faith is displayed by our behavior (go ahead and read James!).

FBC is going to be known in this community because God is faithful. We've heard His call to get into people's lives. We are obedient to His call to care so much that we act. We trust Him enough to do what He has called us to do! Now we are seeing the promise come to light! FBC is becoming known in our community and we're pointing to Him because we asked the Father in Jesus' name to make it so.

Last part of this verse says, “...so the Son may bring glory to the Father.” This brings us full circle my friends: We have a lot going on around here! And, that, is a praise.

God Bless,

Pastor Mike

With several groups involved, we have raised the money needed for the first phase (over 25k). The playground has been ordered and we plan to install the piece on May 29th and May 30th. We've chosen blue and white to match the school's colors.

I have begun planning for a dedication day in which we can raise funds for phase 2 and 3. I've entitled the dedication day "Saturday, in the Park." The event will take place on June 13th.

Friends,

As many of you now know, Dallas Baker of Farmer City, 19, was killed in an auto accident yesterday afternoon. Many in our small community are still in shock. My prayers and sympathy go out to the hundreds that knew and love Dallas. My heart is with the family.

We’ve been in contact with the Baker family and they are in great need. No one really plans for this, especially this young. They need our prayers and compassion. They are also in need of our immediate financial support for the burial expenses are going to be high. FBC has set up an account for them at the Farmer City State Bank. Information follows.

Dallas Baker Memorial Fund
Farmer City State Bank
PO Box 200, Farmer City IL 61842

Would you please help in anyway that you can? Any support, be it your prayers, your friendship, or your financial support will go a long way in this new normal for the Baker family.

It is not by accident that some communities flourish, some stagnate, and some die. The ones that survive have people who are internally motivated to sacrificial serve their community and dedicate their very lives to see the people in their town thrive regardless of any external reward.

These are the people whose heart breaks when another local business fails. These are the people that don’t just gripe when they see trash blowing across the street; they reach down and pick it up. These are the people that don’t see other likeminded people as a threat, but celebrate when others stand up with them for a cause greater then the both of them. These are the people that know that another person’s success is for the benefit of the entire community. And I am convinced that this community, which might not be rich with material resources, is blessed with plenty of these people that I’ve just described.

My friends, we can’t be content with the current status quo. It takes a brave soul to stand up and state the obvious: the town is stagnated. It’s no one person’s fault. It just is. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Several groups have bonded together to restore and improve Weedman Park (weedmanpark.com) for our kids. Support them in the upcoming months with your resources. Many of us agree with the City. Something needs to be done with the rubbish that is piling up in some locations. It drives home values down; it’s dangerous, and unbecoming of our town. I’m personally doing what I can to get up a crew to help those that physically can’t clean their property. All of this is just a start.

Mark my words: Farmer City can be better then you remembered it. You don’t have to compare times now to times then. You don’t have to drive past a highway sign that can only communicate the past because the present state is so bleak. Heritage is important; but our children live in the future. Let’s build it for them and future generations together.

http://weedmanpark.com/index.html