“Transformational Churches, part 2″
October 11, 2011
At the Learning Community conference, Bishop Matt Thomas spoke on 20 qualities of a Transformational Church. If there was anyone qualified to speak on this subject, it is Bishop Thomas. He oversees the Western region of the FM Churches in the USA as well as all of ASIA. That’s quite a few churches he has visited, wouldn’t you agree? We did the first 5 last week. Here are characteristics 6-10.
#6 is that outside ministry is celebrated most. In the non-Transformational churches, the inside ministry is celebrated most. Those churches that are NOT “Transformational” get excited and proud that they bought a new organ. Let’s be a church that celebrates all the ministry that is happening outside, such as the fact that we have a jail service, someone came to Christ this week, and now we are planting a ministry in Isla Vista! Those are the things that are truly worth celebrating AND as I alluded to last week, will create the contagious and enthusiastic buzz in the church more than anything else.
#7 is that people in Transformational Churches pray with people rather than pray for them (in the Non-Transformational Church). We have all experienced this, haven’t we? We announce that we will pray for someone else and we never really do. Instead of doing that, offer to pray for that person or that particular situation right then and there. Wherever you are! If you are in the middle of a crowded restaurant, pray out loud. That will turn some heads, won’t it?
#8 is that most prayer is spontaneous, rather than planned. This doesn’t mean that prayer meetings are bad things, it just means that prayer is happening more outside the prayer meeting than within it. Just as most ministry is done outside the church rather than in it for the “Transformational Churches”.
#9 is also related to prayer and it is a characteristic of the prayer meetings and times of corporate prayer. Non-transformational churches spend more time talking about prayer requests than actually praying. The transformational churches spend waaaaay more time actually in the work of prayer.
#10 is that the church leaders are engaged in the community versus involved and engaged almost exclusively in church. I had heard this from Bishop Thomas before. This was my motivation to get involved with other pastors, serve on the board of directors for the Christian School and the alumni board for the seminary, and join the Goleta chamber of commerce. It is paying dividends in relationships and opportunities for more ministry.
Questions, comments? Post them on my blog at davidgoss.wordpress.com
