Thoughts on life, leadership and the movement called the church by Brian C. Hughes, Senior Pastor

by Brian C. Hughes, Senior Pastor

Monday, January 7, 2013

Great Changes Happening!

Some people wouldn't put the words 'great' and 'change' in the same sentence.  But change is constant.  It happens.  It's always happening.  You can either embrace it and capitalize on it...or you can lament it and, ultimately, succumb to it.  It isn't a matter of whether you will or will not accept change.  The real question is what you will do with change.

All of us have a certain level of control over some of the change.  Many people get to decide if they want to change their family by adding another person to it, for example.  Others can decide to take a job  that requires a move.  You get the idea.

The real question when it comes to change is: What is your guiding principle?  How you will treat the changes that come to you will be determined by your underlying principle, even if you've never named it.

Jesus knew this, and told a powerful story in Matthew 25:14-30 about this.  I encourage you to read it. It has formed the guiding principle for me and many others about how we will handle change.  The bottom line is this:  I am responsible for being faithful towards God with anything entrusted to me.

So, with anything under my influence, I approach any potential change by asking the question:  Which of the options in front me will bring the most benefit to the mission that God has entrusted to me (us)?

At PCC, that is the charge that our team carries all the time.  As potential changes are in front of us, and we weigh out our options, we know that there are so many great things we can do.  Almost weekly, we have opportunities in front of us, changes and potential changes coming to us.  Each of these has potential to focus us and potential to distract us.

As my job has evolved, one of my primary roles has become Chief Focuser.  I am regularly, gently reminding someone in leadership or on staff why we cannot do something that we have said 'yes' to.  We cannot do 100 ministries.  We cannot do 50. I remind folks that the most successful churches - and non-churches - in the world today are very, very, very focused.  They know exactly what they do...and it's all they do. So do we.

PCC exists to reach those who have been untouched or unaffected by traditional churches and guide them to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 

We may not like change, but we're going to make change work for us, not defeat us.  The world is changing, but people still want to know God.  And we can make the introduction.  Let's go get 'em!

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