09/02/2010
Author: John Powell
On Sunday August 22 we looked back through the thirty years Mary Lou and I have served the Lord here in Las Cruces at First Evangelical Free Church.
We started in March of 1980 with a desire to teach the Scriptures and equip people with what they need to mature in Christ and lead others to Him. As I look back over those three decades I see three phases.
I spent the decade of the ‘90’s developing teamwork. Pastor Gordon came. We built a new building, we went through T-Net training to help us transition to a middle sized church with small groups, sequential educational plans, and a vision for our unique place in Las Cruces. Helping people use their gifts became a clear focus.
Another transition point began to emerge as I realized people didn’t necessarily see what I saw so I would have to train specifically, not just model and expect people would be able to take hold of new ministries. I would have to help them see and develop a vision for what they could be and do. God has gifted me to be able to individualize like that so I began concentrating on helping people assess where they were and find out what I could do and what the body could do to help them on to the next phase of their growth.
The third decade came at the turn of the century and entry into a new millennium. I have been transition to the reality that not just a part, but now the bulk of my ministry is to make others successful in ministry. It is usually better for me not to be on the scene but behind the scenes, coaching others from the sidelines. It means coaching them through the obstacles they face or clarifying the vision or helping them learn to detect what God seems to be doing right then. It is important for me to be building a team of teambuilders who will make the same kinds of transitions in their ministries that I have been making.
As I look back I see that God has helped me move from fear to faith and take risks I would not have taken years ago. I have moved from feeling responsible to do ministry to feeling responsible to help others do ministry and I feel comfortable that less of me is actually more.
I appreciate being in an atmosphere where I could develop in these areas and where we could see God develop a multicultural church where principle is more important than procedure or form and grace motivates our actions. I appreciate that you have let my children be children like everyone else’s as well.
Perhaps it is clearer now why for me Missions night, when summer missionaries tell their stories of God using them and our Thanksgiving service, are my two favorite services. I can listen from the sidelines to what God has been doing among us and think through how I can facilitate in the future. I believe becoming a multiplying people, multiplying churches is on the horizon for First Evangelical Free Church of Las Cruces.
Pastor John and Mary Lou in 1980!
