The Kingdom Call of the Church
It is hard to believe that we have been at Bailey and Pleasant Grove for ten years. Throughout this time, we have faced many challenges together, including COVID, disaffiliation, and being pioneers in a brand-new denomination. We have been very busy, and in our busyness, we rarely took the time to pause and reflect on our journey and to consider where we are headed. This month, I want to begin looking ahead for Bailey and Pleasant Grove and share a vision for where I believe God is leading us as a united community.
Over the years, like many of you, I have attended numerous conferences seeking inspiration for myself and the congregation I serve. The church growth and attractional models from the 1970s to the early 2000s simply do not work. These models often focus on seeker-sensitive programs designed to draw people to the church. However, they are frequently driven more by the leader's personality than by the Holy Spirit. Such approaches suggest a ministry that relies heavily on a pastor or key leaders, which can fail when those individuals are no longer present in the church.
Instead of looking outward for answers to fulfill the kingdom's call, it is essential that we look within. This introspection should begin with scripture. When Jesus established the church to continue His work and ministry after His ascension, He provided us with the model for doing so. He exemplified this throughout His earthly ministry, and the apostles and early church continued this work when empowered by the Holy Spirit.
A great starting point for this discussion is found in Mark 1:35-39, which states:
35 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, 'Everyone is looking for you.' 38 And he said to them, 'Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.' 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons." (ESV)
From my study of this passage, I identify three key practices that Jesus models for us: prayer, preaching, and casting out demons. Jesus establishes a pattern for ministry that the church must replicate. We can summarize this as discipleship, evangelism, and mission. These become the three primary avenues through which the church can effectively continue Jesus’s work, regardless of circumstances. In fact, these three paths are integral to the DNA of the Methodist movement; they define who we are. Unfortunately, this understanding has been overlooked for over a century.
Now that we are part of a revitalized Methodist movement that respects our heritage and future, we must revisit these essential aspects of following Jesus's kingdom call.
Over the next several months, we will work to clarify what this means for Bailey and Pleasant Grove. Our objective is to ensure this process is lay-independent, not leader-dependent. This means that the foundation of Bailey and Pleasant Grove will emphasize discipleship, evangelism, and mission. Everything we do must incorporate at least one of these elements. Excelling in these areas will help us fulfill the kingdom call and spread scriptural holiness throughout our community and beyond.
