Holy Spirit

Highlight Baptism as the Celebration It Is.

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One of my highlights of pastoral ministry has been baptism services. I have had the joy of baptizing children, one as young as nine years old, as well as a senior who was around ninety years old. I have baptized in rivers and lakes and horse watering troughs and baptismal tanks. I had the privilege of baptizing my daughters! Every baptism has been a great celebration of God drawing an individual to Himself and that individual responding by faith and a public declaration of their commitment to serve Jesus!

Baptism is one of the acts that Jesus challenged his followers to do as part of making disciples. Along with teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded, disciples of Jesus are to make disciples of others, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28: 19-20). As the water runs off, the baptismal candidate is reminded of their sins washed away. My practice has usually been to immerse the candidate, so when they come out of the water it is as if they have been buried and now raised to a new life in Christ.

Baptism should always be a great celebration! I have been disappointed to be in services where baptism seemed like a side issue. One church baptized people off to the side of the stage as the rest of the congregation continued with their worship service. We heard no testimony from the candidates or the words spoken over them as they were baptized. Baptism is one of the few expressions of discipleship Jesus instituted so let’s make it a priority in our services. Let’s show everyone present that we believe this is an important step in obedience to Jesus by highlighting the whole of the baptism.

I have heard of some baptisms that happened in someone’s backyard with only the family attending. Again, I think the church is missing out when a member of their community is not baptized in the presence of the whole church, as it is a celebration of their discipleship, and discipleship must happen in community with the local body of Christ! The baptismal candidate is also missing out because they do not have the support and excitement of their church celebrating this momentous moment with them. We have celebrations for our physical birth and for wedding anniversaries, why not celebrate our spiritual birth and life too!

Baptism is important because Jesus told us to do it. It is an initial step in discipleship, so let’s not only practice it but also highlight it as the special priority it is. Let’s invite the whole congregation to gather around, whether it is in the church, or out at a lake or river, or even in a hot tub in someone’s backyard. Let’s allow the candidate to share a testimony, whether live or recorded, where they declare their allegiance to Jesus! Let’s invite unbelieving family and friends to come too, so they can experience this occasion and recognize the commitment the person is making to Jesus. Maybe the event will be an occasion for them to commit their life to Jesus, too!

Pastors can use the baptism service as a time to remind the church of God’s love, of Jesus’ sacrifice for them in His death and resurrection, and that the Holy Spirit wants to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus. Highlight baptism as part of discipleship. Those witnessing the baptism can see Christ’s incredible love and fall more in love with Him, too.

I hope you have many baptism celebrations as many come to faith in Jesus and connect with your church!

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Persistent Prayer

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Believers have the wonderful privilege of talking to their God. We can pray and expect that God hears us. We can pray and expect that God will speak to us as we listen. What a privilege!

Many believers pray. May churches have prayer meetings and prayer in their services. But how long do we pray? Do we pray once and then go on with life? Or do we continue in prayer until we hear from God?

One day, Jesus told a story:

“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” – Luke 18: 1-8

Jesus uses this story to show the value of persistence in prayer. A persistent  resulted in the intervention of a judge who “neither feared God nor cared about people”. The judge finally gave in and helped the woman because of her persistence.

Jesus applies this story to the Christian life: “So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” (Luke 18:8)

Jesus wants us to understand the value of persistence in prayer – not to have a reluctant judge or a reluctant God respond – but because we have a God who is much better than a reluctant judge. God loves us more than that reluctant judge. He wants to help his people; he honours those who persist in prayer.

Jesus continues in verse 9, “I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!”

Jesus wants his disciples to recognize God’s willingness to answer prayer and encourages them to keep on praying and not to give up. As followers of Christ today, we can similarly apply this message in our lives and persist in prayer.

Unless you have a clear answer from God, continue praying. The Apostle Paul wrote about a problem he had that he wanted God to clear up. He describes how he persisted in prayer three times and then stopped. “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Corinthians 12: 8-9) Paul didn’t stop praying until he heard God’s answer.

Keep praying until you get an answer from God. Persist in prayer.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

God Draws People to Himself in Creative Ways!

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A few years ago, I asked one of our members why she started attending our church. Her answer went something like this: “I read my horoscope, and it told me that I am a religious person, but not in the conventional way, so I thought I would go to church to find out.” Our creative God can use a horoscope to draw people to Himself!

I am preparing for a baptism service in a few weeks. A lady who is preparing to be baptized on that Sunday sent me a copy of her testimony of how she came to the place of surrendering her life to Jesus. It was a very well-written story explaining that she came from a family that had no interest in God, but God began to work in her life. She explained how she lingered a little longer than usual on a social media post about Christianity. The algorithm picked up on that and began highlighting other verses and Christian thoughts for her. She realized she was against the Bible without ever having read it. She started reading the Bible. She met other Christians and had meaningful conversations with them and started attending a church. God drew her to the point of surrendering herself to God through faith in Jesus. She described how she had just recently burned her tarot cards and is truly trusting Jesus. Our creative God can use social media algorithms to draw people to Himself.

I don’t know how God drew you to Him, but He is creative in how He works. We see this in scripture as well. God sent Philip to meet an Ethiopian official who was reading Isaiah in his chariot, and the official surrendered himself to Jesus. Peter preached to a crowd on the day of Pentecost, and three thousand people gave their lives to Jesus. The Lord knocked Paul off his horse and blinded him to draw Paul to Himself. Zacheus was up in a tree when Jesus noticed him, and Zacheus’ life was changed as Jesus went to his house and opened his eyes to a new reality of faith in God.

Jesus said in John 6:44, “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me.” We are told that the Father draws people to Himself. But we are not told how that drawing may take place. God is creative and has all kinds of ways to break into hard hearts and draw people to Himself.

The examples I shared of people I have met make it clear that God doesn’t need you or me to begin bringing people to Him. In both cases, once they were interested and searching, God arranged for them to meet people who could help them along their new journey of developing a faith in Jesus and growing in relationship with God. We, as people, do not, and cannot, make anyone believe in Jesus. We can share stories about Jesus, and we can pray for and with them, but it is God who opens their hearts to faith in Him.

We have a role to play in people coming to faith in Jesus. We may encounter people at various stages of their journeys and have opportunities to be a part of their journey whenever we encounter them. Some may not have heard about Jesus, and we have the privilege of sharing the story of the Saviour of all people. Some may have heard about Jesus but never realized they needed to surrender their lives to His Lordship. Others may already have been drawn by the Father and are looking for someone to help them understand the decision they have made.

Whatever stage we encounter people, we can pray for them, we can share what we know about Jesus, and we can invite them to make a decision to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. We have an amazingly creative Father God who invites men and women and boys and girls to faith in Jesus in whatever way He chooses. Let’s be aware of people in our life who are searching and whom the Father has been drawing so we can help them understand and begin their eternal life of faith in Jesus.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Persevering Through Leadership Challenges

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Leadership is not for the faint of heart. Leaders can expect to face challenges from those they lead. Church leaders are not exempt from this reality.

I recently met with a church board who were facing these kinds of challenges. Some of the congregation were complaining that the board wasn’t leading well, others said they would never submit to the board’s leadership, and others said they didn’t even know who the leaders on their board were. Leaders can expect to face condemnation from every angle, facing criticism for being both too controlling and at the same time not leading strongly enough.

The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:1: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.” It is a good thing to desire to be a leader, but Paul immediately follows up that statement with a list of qualifications a godly leader should measure up to. Not just anyone can be a leader.

Once you are a leader, you are entrusted with the care of those you are called to lead. It doesn’t matter how you came to your position; you have to believe that you are there because God wanted you there. Whatever system your church uses to select leaders, the assumption is that the church trusts God to guide that process. That means you are not just there because some people in the church wanted you there; you are there because God wanted you there. This is important as you face challenges from those you are called to lead. If you believe God put you in that position, then you can persevere with His strength, no matter the challenges.

How can you face these challenges and continue to lead?

Believe you are called to your leadership position by God.

When you are called by God, you can trust Him to help you persevere through tough leadership challenges because He will empower and equip you to do so.

Pray and read scripture.

As a church leader, you need to be in tune with God and to hear from Him as you navigate the hard seasons. Take time to talk to God about your challenges. Ask God to help you understand those who criticize you. Listen for God’s direction, either directly to you in prayer or through scripture.

Read the Bible with the desire to find answers to your challenges. This could be through examples of good leadership in scripture. It may be that you are encouraged by Paul’s letters to churches and leaders. Read so you can be encouraged by the Word of God.

Learn and grow in leadership.

I have found that reading leadership books, attending seminars or conferences, and listening to podcasts has encouraged me and helped to equip me to tackle various challenges I have faced as a leader in the church. We can learn from the stories of others. We can gain knowledge, skills, and encouragement from others who have faced similar situations.

Leadership can be exciting when everyone is working well together, but it can be difficult when people you are called to lead do not trust you and question every step. I hope you can find encouragement in your calling, find direction in God’s Word, and hear from God in prayer. Continue to persevere as you face challenges.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Preaching to a Summer Crowd

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Preaching to a summer crowd can be a different experience from preaching throughout the rest of the year. Often, the attendance is lower. Sometimes family, friends, and unexpected guests visit. Many regular attendees may be away camping or on vacation on several Sundays so that the crowd may vary each week.

Preaching is not just a monologue. Speakers tend to feed off the crowd, at least to some extent. If you notice one or two people dozing in the audience, your energy can drop; whereas if you see a few people smiling and nodding or fully engaged in what you are saying, your energy can increase. Preachers are also affected by the size of their audience; it’s just a fact. It’s not so much about how big the crowd is but how big it is in comparison to what you expect or what you are used to. If you are used to speaking to a congregation of 200 people, there is a natural let-down when you see there are only ninety people in the audience. If you are used to eighty people and there are only forty some on a given Sunday, you notice.

How can you preach with the same passion and joy throughout the summer?

Remember, God has a message for those present, no matter how many there are.

Pastor, you have prepared your sermon all week. You have been praying and listening to God as you have done your studying and writing. When you arrive on Sunday, you have the message ready that those in attendance need to hear. Yes, it would be nice if all the members of the church were present and heard this sermon you worked so hard on, but trust that the people who are to hear this message you prepared for this Sunday will be present.

Plan stand-alone sermons.

Many pastors like to preach a series from the Psalms during the summer because each Psalm is a separate unit and does not build on previous information the same way many of the other books of the Bible do. Summer may be a time to preach more topically. Choose some topics that speak to concerns in the church or the culture. Announce them ahead of time so that those who want to hear a certain sermon can plan their vacations and camping trips so that they can be present.

Experiment with something new in your preaching.

Summer may be the time for you to try something different. Things already feel different because many people are gone and the numbers are down, so people may be open to something different in the sermon as well. If you have never used an object lesson as part of your sermon, the summer may be the time to try it. A few weeks ago, I preached a sermon on Psalm 150 about how we are to praise God and to do it loudly. I handed out a variety of cheap noisemakers at the end of the sermon, inviting the congregation to use them as we would practice some loud praise. I invited them to shout out the names of God, so we could praise God for who He is. And then as I read the list of names, everyone made their loud noise. Pastor, maybe it’s time to bring out the kazoos.

Invite a member to share a testimony as part of the sermon.

Sometimes, when you are preparing a sermon, you will think of someone in the church who has a great story to tell that would reinforce the point you are making. Prepare the one sharing their story so they keep it to the point and share the part of their story that fits with the sermon you are preaching. Include a member or two in your sermon.

Remember that everyone who comes to church on that Sunday deserves the best you can offer as a preacher. Do not focus on who is absent, but determine to give your best for the ones who are present. Don’t be afraid to change things up a bit and experiment. And find joy in your preaching to the summer crowd.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Is Your Church Declining or Growing?

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You may have heard some of the discouraging statements about church closures recently. A study by the National Trust of Canada “predicted that one-third of Canada’s 27,000 faith buildings, most of which are Christian, would likely close permanently in the next 10 years.”[i] The narrative around church closures includes conversations about the decline of religious affiliation in Canada. A January 8, 2022 Global News Report stated: “Religiosity in Canada is at an all-time low, with recently released data from Statistics Canada showing only 68 per cent of Canadians 15 or older now report having a religious affiliation. It’s the lowest it’s been since they first started tracking this statistic in 1985.[ii] The Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research, in a 2024 article, stated an opposing view, saying “overall the Canadian Christian Church had only 2% fewer net congregations in 2019 (23,675) than they did in 2009 (24,138).”[iii] While pointing out that there are only a few fewer churches, the article acknowledged that religious affiliation is indeed down.

I understand that churches do sometimes close. The church I started in as a youth pastor no longer exists. At the same time, I am very encouraged as I think of the churches I have served as a transitional pastor over the last 5 years.

I have served seven churches, of which three were growing even during their transition, and all the rest were stable. Not one of the churches was in continual decline.

So what might this mean for us as pastors and church leaders?

There may be times when a church should close. Some of our rural communities are declining as people move away for school and jobs, which may mean a church closes for lack of people. Some churches may need to close because they have lost their mission and are no longer serving as a church, but a Christian club for a few dedicated members.

So what does this mean for church leaders?

We need to remind ourselves that we are serving God’s church. It is His church. While we can definitely do our part, we need to ask God to step in and bring revival where necessary and grow the church. We need to remind the church of our mission to make disciples who make other disciples. We need to give people hope and joy in their relationship with Jesus. We need to look for ways to bring spiritual renewal and transformation into our congregations, beginning with us.

We cannot lead people where we aren’t going first. Are you hungry for God? Are you digging into His Word, hungry for more of Him? Are you reading books on spiritual renewal? Are you praying and inviting others to pray with you? Are you loving your neighbours and those in the community around the church building?

Pastors, God wants us to use our gifting and calling to draw people ever closer to Jesus. I am convinced that when people fall in love with Jesus again, they will come alive. They will experience Him at work in their lives. As we ask for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, He will fill us and empower us for holy living and bold sharing of the gospel.

Quit preaching “self-help” sermons. Preach Jesus from the Gospels. Preach about the filling of the Holy Spirit. Introduce spiritual disciplines and invite your church to practice them. Show your members the full life that can be theirs.

God is still at work. He is still drawing new people to Himself. New believers are asking to be baptized. Some of your members are hungry and searching for more of Jesus. Encourage those who are already searching and ask God to open the hearts of others.

Are churches closing? Yes, some are, but yours does not need to be one of them. Be proactive. Do not assume the decline of your church is inevitable. God is still at work, renewing believers and reviving churches. May yours be one of those.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

[i] New report suggests opening churches to the masses as attendance dwindles

By The Canadian Press

Published: June 22, 2025 at 7:43AM EDT https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/new-report-suggests-opening-churches-to-the-masses-as-attendance-dwindles/

[ii] [1] ‘Gone by 2040’: Why some religions are declining in Canada faster than ever

By Ashleigh Stewart  Global News

Posted January 8, 2022 5:00 am

 Updated January 17, 2022 3:21 pm https://globalnews.ca/news/8471086/religion-decline-canada/

[iii] Hope For the Future: The 2021 Canadian Census

Rev. Dr. Lee Beachhttps://flourishingcongregations.org/hope-for-the-future-the-2021-canadian-census/

Discerning Truth

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New ideas challenge our understanding. What do we do with new ideas? As a young man, I wanted things to be black and white. I wanted to know right and wrong. I accepted the teachings I received in my church and at home, as well as those I learned at Bible College. I held strong views about beliefs and practices of other churches based on what I had grown up with.

As I ventured into the world, I discovered speakers, authors, and churches who presented ideas I was not comfortable with because they were different than what I thought was right. There were times when the teachings I came across made sense. There were times I had to adjust my thinking because I was wrong, or at least not fully informed, about a certain belief.

How should we respond to new ideas? Let’s look at a couple of ways we often respond to new teachings.

It is new, so it is wrong.

There are some people who are convinced, as I was in my early years, that anything new and different must be wrong.  And if it is wrong, it must be avoided. These people will not accept anything new as true because it is not what they are used to or comfortable with. They will ban those books from their libraries and caution others not to listen to those speakers. In their desire to hold to the truth, they assume that they already have the truth and don’t need to be confused with new ideas. While well-meaning, this is a naïve attitude that prevents many good followers of Jesus from growing.

It is new and I don’t know if it is right or wrong.

Some Christians, when exposed to new ideas, aren’t sure if these are right or wrong, and either don’t want or don’t know how to determine if it is right, so they just choose to ignore the new idea. Maybe it’s too much work to figure out if it is true. Maybe they aren’t sure how to assess it’s validity. Maybe they are comfortable and don’t want anyone to rock the boat. Life is good, I know where I stand, I know what my church teaches, and my friends believe. I don’t need to check out anything else.

Again, this attitude keeps followers of Jesus from growing in their relationship with Jesus as they never struggle with new understandings of God or scripture. Spiritual growth assumes a deeper or further understanding of and obedience to God. This may include accepting something new.

It is new, but is it true?

Other followers of Jesus are aware that they do not have all the answers. They may have already experienced times where a new teaching has given them further clarity about who Jesus is or how He works in their lives. They are willing to do the work to find out if this new teaching is truth or not, and willing to accept and apply the new teaching if it is true.

Their attitude is “I don’t know if it is true, but I will check it out.”

And so they study scripture to see if what they have been hearing is consistent with scripture. They read other authors or listen to other teachers they trust to get advice from other believers. They take time to talk to God about what they have discovered, asking God to give them clarity about what they are hearing. They might consider how this teaching has been accepted by other churches or by some of the older writers.

These followers of Jesus do not just jump on the bandwagon because friends are or because a certain speaker endorses this teaching, but they take time to consider it carefully before accepting it.

I have benefited greatly from discovering teachings that were not part of my childhood or that of my church. I have learned to appreciate teachings on the gifts of the Spirit and learning to listen and hear from God. I have appreciated being challenged on my beliefs about the kingdom of God. I have come a long way from my theological roots, continuing to carefully learn and grow in understanding God and how He works in us. In my pursuit of a deeper intimacy with Jesus, I have had to grow in my understanding and learned to accept new truths along the way.

Discerning truth is not a quick and easy process, but it may be of great benefit to you and your relationship with God as you get to know more. Be willing to do the work of assessing the validity of new teachings you come across without discarding them too quickly.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

What to Do When You Have Nothing to Do

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The life of a pastor is usually a very full one with many expectations placed on us. There is always another sermon to write or lesson to prepare or meeting to lead. There is another report that needs to be written and an appointment to keep. Even when no one else is placing requirements on us, we have priorities that we want to address. It is not often we experience a period of having nothing to do, but it can happen.

Summers are often slower times. Many programs break for a few months, and there are fewer demands from people as many are on vacation. There may also be fewer sermons to prepare as guest missionaries or ministry partners visit to share updates.

So what do you do during less busy times?

Take a vacation.

Summer might be the perfect time for you to take a vacation with your family or friends. Because there are fewer demands on you at this time, it is easier to get away. Fewer of your responsibilities need to be covered by someone else if you are gone.

Take an extra day off.

Most pastors work much more than a 40-hour work week, putting in many more hours than you are compensated for. When you have a slow day or week, why not take an extra day or afternoon off and surprise your family with a day trip?

Spend time with God.

All of us can benefit from more time with God. If you have time, book off an afternoon, or a day for a personal retreat. Read scripture, pray, go for a prayer walk, or practice a spiritual discipline or two. Ask God to speak into your life, showing you where you need to grow. Ask God to give direction for the next year.

Remind yourself of your priorities.

A slow day allows you to remind yourself of your priorities. It may be a time to evaluate how you have been spending your time. Maybe you need to realign your schedule or refocus on areas that have been slipping. Make sure you are doing the job God is asking of you.

Clean your office.

This may sound like a meaningless task, but there is something therapeutic in cleaning one’s space. Organize papers, throw out stuff that is cluttering your desk or shelves. This process helps you present a more organized feel to those who enter your office and also helps you to remove distractions.

Take your spouse on an impromptu date.

Has it been a while since you went on a date? Take advantage of the time you have and do something on the spur of the moment. Go out for a special meal or enjoy a picnic by a nearby lake or river. Take time to go for a slow walk, talking together about life and the family and your relationship with Jesus.

We are so driven as pastors that we sometimes find it hard to enjoy a slow day. Don’t let it go to waste or fill it with busy-ness. Do something meaningful and refreshing.

I hope you get to enjoy some slow days this summer!

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

I Can’t Do What God Can Do

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I can’t do what God can do. God can do what I can’t do.

As a pastor, as a leader, I have come to realize that there are not many things that I can actually do to make people come to know Jesus, grow in their faith, learn to serve, or continue to pursue Jesus.

I can’t make a seeker surrender their life to Jesus.

I want people to come to know Jesus and put their faith in Him for forgiveness and salvation, but I cannot make them surrender their lives to Jesus; however, God can. John 6:44 is clear, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” God can draw people to Himself. He can soften the sinner’s heart and create a longing in them for a relationship with God through faith in Jesus.

I can’t make anyone fall in love with God.

Many Christians possess extensive knowledge about God and Jesus and could pass a test on the Bible and their understanding of who God is and what Jesus did to provide salvation. Unfortunately, I am realizing many of these same people do not have a real, alive relationship with God.  I can’t make anyone fall in love with Jesus or with the Heavenly Father, but God can draw them and open their hearts and spiritual minds to get to know him personally and learn to love Him. God can reveal Himself to them in personal ways that deepen their love for Him.

I can’t disciple people on my own.

I can teach people and do my best to lead them by example. I can try to disciple them in the way that Matthew 28:19-20 calls us to. But it is only God who can work in their hearts, and it is the Spirit at work in them that helps Christians continue to grow in their faith.

I can’t make people serve.

I can try to guilt people into serving, I can push people, but ultimately, for them to serve with God’s love, God must show them the need to serve and use their gifts and passions and skills for Him.

I can’t make a Bible lesson change someone’s life.

I enjoy teaching, but I have recognized that the impact of a lesson on the hearts of the students really depends on what God chooses to do in their hearts in that moment. God is the one who can use the words of the teacher in ways that He chooses.

I can’t make a church grow.

I love to see new people added to the church. I love to hear stories of churches that are running out of room because so many people are attending. I can try to use various church growth techniques, but I have realized over the years that growth depends on what God does in the hearts of people.

I can invite people to do something, I can try to inspire them in a certain direction, but I cannot make people do anything they do not want to do. Yet as I trust God to work, He does. He works in me, and through me, and in others, as I faithfully do what God asks of me. I need to serve Him faithfully, and I need to recognize the results have little do with me and are all about how God is at work in people’s lives.

Yes, we need to work hard and do our best, recognizing that we need God to work. There are many things we can’t do, but if God is the one who does the work in people’s lives, we can pray urgently for God to work in our church and the people we serve.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe

Remembering the Priorities of a Church Board

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For something to be a priority, it must be most important. When I see a company proudly displaying a slogan on their work trucks declaring, “Safety is our number one priority,” I know they don’t really mean it. It’s not true. If safety was their top priority, they would leave their work trucks at the shop and ask their work force not to leave the building. Their top priority is their business, but they do want to be safe in doing it.

Number one priority marked with red circle on math notebook

When I think of church boards, I wonder if we too have lost an understanding of what is truly priority? Board meetings begin with a welcome, maybe a devotional and a quick prayer, and then it’s on with the business of running a church. Much time is spent on financial discussions, reports, and budget. There is talk about the facilities and what maintenance is needed. There may be reports from different ministries highlighting their recent accomplishments. The board discusses, debates, and makes decisions. And then, after three hours of discussion, the meeting ends and everyone goes home.

The question is: did the board members focus on the priorities?

Too many church boards model themselves after a corporate board of a business. Yes, there are certain “business” aspects church boards need to handle such as managing insurance, paying bills, and ensuring the church functions in an organized way. But could it be that there are priorities that get shoved to the end of the meeting so they get less time than required?

There are a few items that I have noticed are not receiving the attention I believe should be given to them as priorities.

  1. Connect with God

Central to engaging with God is time spent in prayer. A church board is not first responsible to it’s “shareholders” (congregation) but is first responsible to God. It is God’s church, so the board needs to check in with Him to ensure that they are hearing His voice and being led by Him. Board decisions cannot be dependent on consensus alone but need to be guided by God. Along with asking God for direction, the board should talk to God about the people they are called to shepherd. A church board needs to pray for people’s health and life situations, but more importantly, pray for them to grow spiritually. A board has the privilege of interceding for their congregation.

2. Emphasize Discipleship

A church board is called, with the pastor, to lead a church in “making disciples.” (Matthew 28:20) This requires church leadership to regularly review their discipleship process to ensure people are coming to know Jesus and growing in their relationship with Him. Discipleship is about ensuring appropriate ministries are available to those who want to grow in their faith. When discipleship is a priority, it will influence other discussions during the board meeting. For example, if a board recognizes that their budget is falling short, they may want to encourage the pastor to preach about how God wants us to handle finances. The Board may want to plan a study on financial stewardship, not just to meet the budget, but to help their members to honour Jesus in their finances. Boards are easily caught up in many other decisions that it is easy to forget their role in making sure people are growing in their relationship with Jesus.

3. Pursue their God-given Vision

God has called every church to a unique role in the setting they find themselves in. Their vision needs to come from time with God. This may seem like a daunting task, but once the vision is clarified they can move ahead with purpose and clarity. Once they have determined their vision, church boards need to do everything they can to align all aspects of their church services and ministries to the vision God has called them to. This is about being responsible to what God has called them to

While there may be other priorities, these are three that every board needs to remember. A board that remembers these will do well.

Keep looking up,

Andy Wiebe