Chuck Bridges Blog

I really enjoyed our “Unveiling the Vision” series these past 4 weeks. Our Worship Planning team and other support people did a fantastic job. Way to go TEAM!!! Our theme was simple but made the point perfectly. If we expect to “catch more fish” (i.e. connect people to Jesus) we have to use updated “bait and tackle.” Some of the methods we will use to get the “Message” (i.e. “bait”) where the people are will be so different that long-standing church members may think we have lost our minds. Let me assure you, we will never do anything to compromise the clear standards of holiness as prescribed in the Bible! Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, the standards of holiness handed down by ‘church people’ don’t always have biblical support; many times it is just a matter of opinion!

One of the key questions right now is whether or not God’s people who meet at Washington Avenue will “buy-in” to our Vision Strategy! The answer to this question will be revealed over the next few months by people’s response to new things. Some people seem genuinely excited about our new approach to ministry. I pray their excitement will produce fruit (or “catch some fish”). Others are a little confused because they are so accustomed to the way the church has always operated. I pray they will look intently into the Scriptures we have given in each section of our strategy and get “ON BOARD.” (or as we say, be “ALL IN!”) The third category are those who may not be able to support our new Vision Strategy because it is simply not what they are looking for. While we certainly do not want to “lose” anyone, it is a risk we are willing to take so that we can be structured and driven by one ambition — “To do WHATEVER IT TAKES, to reach WHOEVER WE CAN with the HOPE found in Christ!” There are hundreds and thousands of people who need to know Jesus Christ and I believe God will draw many of them here to Washington Avenue!

The title of this article is “On Your Mark, Get Set…” The missing word is obvious — GO! It is time to get going. Better yet, we should say to the church that it is past time to get going! We have been idle long enough. There are many great ministries rising up right now who are reaching masses of people. Like Steven Furtick said (lead Pastor of Elevation, a new church in Charlotte, NC that is growing exponentially), it is our place to tell people the Good News and lead those who respond to commit their lives to the Savior. The work of sanctification is in God’s department. The Holy Spirit draws people, convicts the heart, produces salvation, and then takes up residence in the heart of true Christ-Followers to make us Holy! It would be great in these “Last Days” for more churches to get in on what God is doing rather than trying to critique and discredit New ministries that God is using!

Several years ago I took a course called “Experiencing God” written by Henry Blackaby. One statement in that study changed my life. Blackaby says, “find out where God is working and join Him!” That’s what I have decided to do. God is in the business of Saving those who are lost. I am ready to go where He is working and be a part of “His Harvest!”     LET’S GO!!!