Exciting, Spirit-led changes are happening at Fellowship Church! Sunday is one of those changes as we begin meeting in the MPC during the summer while we renovate the Worship Center. This past week I came across a blog written by Ed Young that greatly encouraged me. I think you will be encouraged as well by the following adapted parts of his blog about change…
Change. Change. Change.
We all want to be creative. But to do that, in any venue of life, we have to be willing to change. Something. Anything. And we have to do it before we need to do it.
One of the biggest pitfalls we find ourselves in is the inability, or unwillingness, to change. We lock ourselves into a style, a look, a time zone.
When you drill it down, the lack of change is all about fear. Many people and leaders resist the need to change because of the resistance of change. But there's a spin cycle of success when it comes to change.
Change. Conflict. Growth.
If you want your life and your leadership to reach the level God wants it to, you have to change.
We've discovered over the past 18 years that when we change, yes, we face conflict. Yes, people do the push back. Yes, some people even leave the church! But as we stick through the changes, we also discover tremendous growth on the other side.
So what does change really look like here?
Change Your Preparation
I vary the books I read, the articles I research and the people who help me craft the weekend messages. If I stick to doing things the same way, I fall into a rut. And there's no less effective place to be than in a rut.
Change Your Worship
This is one of those areas that, when it's "working," people are afraid to change. But it's one of the greatest ways to keep the church on its feet with its arms raised in worship rather than folded in familiarity.
Change Your Style
I'm not talking about just your clothes (though, yes, please change those as the years go by). I'm talking about the style of your leadership. In other words, change the people you have in leadership positions.
Don't be afraid of change. Instead, be afraid of what could happen if you don't change. Be willing to face the conflict change will bring. And get ready to experience the growth on the other side!
Great and true words. To read the full blog, simply go to http://www.edyoungblog.com/2009/05/change-change-change.html.
Leading for change,
Jeff Powell
