Today it sits alone. Mostly it is used to hold the weight of
more important items that are needed on a regular basis. Occasionally it is
opened in search of an obscure implement known to exist but seen only on rare occasions.
It holds no real monetary value or material worth. It’s my stepdad’s toolbox.
Newer storage systems have replaced the old metal clunker. The
new containers are shiny, well planned and ergonomically strategic. They have a
place for everything. No longer are the tools just tossed in a tray and laid in
the chest; there is a method for tool storage. Toolboxes have gone high-tech.
Effective Church ministry requires tools. From website to
nursery, from parking lot to media presentations, from first impressions to
lasting impressions, from seating arrangements to event planning, the healthy
local church requires multiple tools to reach all people groups. Sitting in the
Sunday morning service are newcomers, participants, engaged members, and all-star
servant-leaders. Pastors must reach into the toolbox and locate a tool to craft
something for everyone. The message must inspire, educate, motivate, and bring
everyone closer to Jesus. It takes a
full toolbox to do that Sunday after Sunday.
Data shows that the newcomer is most likely to visit a
church via an initial visit to the church website. In 2009, roughly 40 percent
of visits to church websites came from newcomers. In 2012 the number increased
to 91 percent (State of the Church, 2012. Monk Development. www.monkdevelopment.com/mediafiles/2012-state-of-the-church-online-v1.pdf
). Research shows that people make
choices about what church to visit based on preference rather than a
denomination (State of the Church, 2012.
Monk Development. www. monkdevelopment.com/mediafiles/2012-state-of-the-church-online-v1.pdf
).
The Church toolbox in 2013 must be mobile. The communication
culture has moved past the desktop computer to the mobile device. People want
to find your church location on a mobile site with directions that are easy to
read.
Activities and events that provide fellowship and social
networking are important devices in the Church toolbox. Discipleship,
evangelism, and worship all connected to an anointed biblical message are
foundational to build a healthy church. Printed bulletins, email newsletters,
postcards, and mailers all go in the toolbox. Twitter and Facebook must be
essential instruments.
There are so many tools to fit in the toolbox. Just taking
care of the tools can become a full-time job. The focus can become taking care
of the tools, polishing the tools, sharpening the tools, and admiring the vast
array of tools.
Then, one old toolbox is ignored.
There remains one necessary tool that requires its own “box.”
PRAYER.
Prayer is the toolbox that holds all the others in place. Without
it, they all fall apart.
Once in awhile I open my stepdad’s old toolbox. I think
about the times we worked on pipes, fiddled with the car, got a little greasy,
and worked on a project. We were closest when we were working out of that
toolbox. We were happiest when we were using that toolbox. We were more productive
when using that toolbox. We saw a lot of things happen when we used that
toolbox. We even saw things eye to eye.
No comments:
Post a Comment