How To Stay Focused
Hey Friends,
As many of you know, we have been rocking at Faith Promise. We have had record offerings and record attendance. Two weeks ago with our million dollar offering, the local news did a story on the weekend. Almost everyone here at the church was stoked! Many experienced miracles and the anticipation of God moving has never been higher. Yet, in the midst of this marvelous movement there are those who are angry. It is ALWAYS the case and as leaders we need to get used to it.
We announced after the 1.2 million dollar offering that we were going to fund an orphanage in Haiti. The church just about shouted the walls down in excitement. Yet in our chat room on our Internet Campus the “chat” was not as upbeat. People began to gripe about funding for Haiti orphans, saying we should give all the money here at home. Others were angry that we were going to expand our current Pellissippi campus, saying God did not care if the church grew. The list of whiners, gripers and complainers was not really that long, but if we are not careful we can allow them to get all of our attention.
As a leader, I have chosen to focus on the win and not the vocal armchair quarterbacks who think they know God’s Will for everybody else. My sweet wife, Michele, was extreamly bumbed by the few complaints and missed the glory of the miracles. That is exactly what the vocal minority wants – to rob the joy of the Lord from us. Don’t let them take your focus off the wins, the team that is excited and all that God is doing. The enemy always wants to rob us of the victory and the joy of the Lord.
It really is your choice what you stay focused on! Focus on the glory of the Lord and the people who are with you. Nehemiah refused to come off the wall to deal with the naysayers. Follow his example and let’s advance forward for the King!
Just a thought,
Pastor Chris
12 Comments
I read similar complaints at the WBIR website. I inwardly groaned and moved on.
I used to gripe about this thing or the other thing that Faith Promise was doing. When I was serving in tech up in the elementary school area, I completely kicked my own tail by griping about leadership decisions that impacted tech. In my mind, it was “my turf” that leaders were screwing up. God corrected me on whose turf it was and I ended up profusely apologizing and asking for forgiveness from the leader.
I learned that leaders in the church have God-given authority. I need to support and pray for the church authorities that are over me. Yeah, they screw up sometimes, but I need to support them… even in criticism.
The blog today reminded me of what I learned then. I figured I’d share. Okay, so it’s a follower’s perspective of a leadership issue… we’re all followers under someone else’s authority in the church.
Andy Kercher.
You know the funny thing is,that it is usually the ones who eat for free that complain about what’s on the plate. I’m excited about what God is donig at FPC and can’t wait to see what’s next! Hang in there pastor we have your back.
I must admit, I was probably a little too vocal about defending our church’s decision to support the orphanage in Haiti last week. I even had to defend my decision to go to Haiti on the mission trip to several people. The thing is, if you see first hand the conditions those kids live in and yet are still so full of life, joy and happiness; I’ll defend them till I’m blue in the face! A little would go such a long way for them. I guarantee the people complaining would change their minds if they witnessed it firsthand.
The other thing that concerns me is that when did our nation become so self-centered? Where did this “take care of our own” attitude come from? We weren’t like that 10 years ago in my opinion. I wonder if it has something to do with the wars we’ve been fighting?
The Bible is also very clear in many places that we are to take care of the orphans and widows. It does not say to take care of the orphans and widows in your own country. If God had intended for that to be the case, I’m sure He would have put that part in there. Why not start where the need is the greatest?
Ryan
Great outlook, Pastor. Thanks for being honest and open. Keep it rolling!
Thanks Andy for you honesty and transparency. I pray it helps others. Sad how few trust the leadership in the Church
@Alan.. Maybe some of the ones that eat for free here in the USA complain, not as true in some countries. Even the poor are spoiled here in comparison to other countries.
@Ryan..Pastor Chris is right about Nehemiah, but the the scripture also reveals that at first he was pretty aggrivated about the whole thing and prayed to God… “Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. ”
I think it is safe to say Nehemiah was pretty aggrivated too!
Ryan,
Thanks for going on the FPC mission trip to Haiti. I’ve heard Matt, Rachel, and Michael (?) talk about the conditions during that trip and the impact that it made on the orphanage and the community. I have no doubt that God’s work was done on that trip. For any interested, there are some great blog entries from that trip at http://www.remixonline.org (Matt’s blog website). I’m also glad that our church has decided to support the orphanage.
Andy Kercher.
amen,pastor chris.I was not feeling well last weekend,and I stayed home and watched the service online.I was very upset by people complaining about the money going to haiti.I think we should be thankful for all that god is doing in our church,rather than complain.I think the enemy will do anything to steal our joy!
Whenever good things are happening to Glorify God there will be those who act on the enemy’s behalf. It is unfortunate even in the church as Christ followers that we allow ourselves to fall into that trap. I think it is wonderful what FPC is doing and I am so honored and humbled to be apart of this church. I am so excited for the growth of the church. Maybe it is because I can still remember what my life and my families life was like w/out JESUS. Yes we need to grow and spread the word. There are so many people out there who need to hear and experience the love of Jesus. Keep on rockin Faith Promise!
Don’t worry about what the others say……..It only matters what God says……
Give Michelle a hug from me.
That makes me sad that people would complain, I am sorry that it upset Michele…she so rarely gets discouraged. One thing I have learned about myself, if I’m complaining, especially when it comes to money, it means I am guilty of misusing it. I guess I’d like encourage the complainers to pause just a minute, and reflect on who or what they are really complaining about…is it truly that you are upset about the church funding an orphanage (who cares where BTW? a child without a family is just that, a child who needs someone to love them, praise God! for those people who see a need even when others can’t)? Or are they upset at themselves and what they indulge themselves with? It’s hard to struggle. It’s very very very hard to tell your children, knowing they need something, no, because you just don’t have it to give. But please take heart, people that struggle with seeing money being given away, even if it’s something you don’t believe in, we are called to spread the Word everywhere. Jesus said go into all the world, preach the gospel everywhere…how awesome is it for us to plant seeds like that? What if this orphanage in Haiti is the way God will use to rise up a new generation of light and truth to someday shine where darkness reigns? I have no doubt, because even when we as humans make terrible choices (I have made plenty) our Mighty God makes beauty out of it that reflects His glory. This, funding an orphanage, is a good, and generous choice…it is a command in the bible that if you have spiritual gifts use them, no matter what they are…one of those gifts is if you have the money to give, GIVE generously. To the critics that dampened the beauty of this gift, it just says GIVE, not to whom or what…how can you not see that this is obedience? Thank you for reminding us how human and broken we all are, Chris. Thank you for your service, and that you help lead a church with a heart of giving. Thank you for whomever listened to the call to help these children…I know this will be a tremendous witness to our Awesome God.
~Blessed
Just read the blog about the complainers, etc. The enemy is always at work and of course is behind all this. My hope is that we as a church family will do what Faith Promise does best – just love them and my prayer is that they will be blessed beyond measure and take in a breath of God’s amazing grace!