Since Lynda and I have been in ministry, I have been
asked several times if I would ever consider being a pastor or starting a
church. My answer is that, even though an apostle can operate in any
of the other ministries (prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, etc.), I am
currently doing the work of an evangelist. Also, there are already too many churches.
In most places, you can find five or six churches of the same denomination
within a couple of miles of each other. They are divided over
non-doctrinal issues or issues of minor import. They are using more
resources with less effect by maintaining separate buildings. It is a
misuse of God's resources. For this reason, I am making the following
proposal.
If ten churches within a five-mile radius will agree to
shut down and consolidate themselves into one ministry, I will pastor it.
Out of the ten, the building with the greatest seating capacity would be
retained until a new facility could be constructed, if necessary. The best of the
resources of the ten churches would be kept and used in the new consolidated
ministry. The rest would be sold off and the proceeds used for several
specific reasons. Examples of these uses are:
-
Clearing all remaining debts
-
Construction costs for the new facilities (debt-free)
-
Set-up costs for food bank, clothes closet, homeless
shelter, etc.
What, you may ask, will become of the current pastors,
board members, etc. While many things would be determined on a
case-by-case basis, the pastors would take positions as elders. These
elders would not govern the ministry, but would confer together with me
concerning ministry issues (Acts 15:22-29). The elders who desired to
do so would still teach, since I would be away most of the time.
However, I would still be overseeing the ministry. We would clear away
all traditional doctrines that do not line up with the word and focus on
perfecting the saints for the work of the ministry by teaching principles of
faith and personal evangelism (Ephesians 4:11-12). This is the
end-time. We have too much to do to be bickering about things that
just don't matter.
If this proposal sounds good to you, there is one more
thing that you might want to consider. The meetings would be a little
different than what you're used to. You see, the early church did not
meet in pretty buildings with steeples on top, sit in rows of pews and
listen to a preacher. They went from house to house, breaking bread
together and ministering to one another according to their gifts (Acts
2:41-47). Since we can expect that the combined congregations of ten
churches would not fit in most people's homes, we would, by necessity, have
to have a facility that would accommodate a group that large. In that
facility, you would find tables and chairs instead of pews and all meetings
would center around a meal. As a Christian family we would break bread
together while we learn about the kingdom of God. All would be welcome
since, as you know, you can't out-give God. And while there would
certainly be elders who would teach kingdom principles, there would also be
occasion for orderly worship as described by Paul and the Holy Spirit would
be in charge (1 Corinthians 14).
Well, those are the basics. Anyone who would like
further information concerning this proposal is welcomed to contact me.
I will be happy to discuss it with you. Just return to the home page
and use the contact information listed there.
God Bless You,
Bill Willis
Apostle
