There is an old saying: “When it is all said and done, there is often more said than done”. That would be a terrible indictment for anyone or any organization. So, let’s think about that in reference to James Island Baptist Church. When it is all said and done, what are we hoping is done? What is the goal we are trying to achieve or the target we are trying to reach? And when all is said and done has there been more said than done?
So, how would I say it…what are we trying to accomplish. Bottom line for me is to lead James Island Baptist to do three primary objectives. First, we want to cause God joy, honor Him and give Him the glory He alone deserves. The second is that we make disciples who make disciples who change their community and world. We are to be fully devoted followers of Jesus who seek to make fully devoted followers. Third, we believe God is in business to reach, redeem and restore a lost and broken world…and we are in business to join Him.
How do we do this? My goal and effort has been to use the model of a church driven by the purposes of God as revealed in the Bible. We bring people into the family of God (Membership into God’s Family). Second we help them grow to become disciples, followers of Jesus (Maturity to become more like Jesus). We help them discover their service to the local body of Christ according to their passion and giftedness (Ministry to the Body of Christ). We teach and equip them to be outward focus into the community and world (Missions across the street, across town or across the ocean). We do it all with worship at the center of our individual lives and corporate lives (Magnify His Name).
We have processes, procedures, methods to help equip, train and deploy our members to carry out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. The biggest challenge comes at the end of the day…was there more said than done? I dream of every Connection Group and every Ministry Team being driven by the purposes of God, each fulfilling their part to make disciples who make disciples who make our community and word better. We join God in His work to reach, redeem and restore a lost and broken world. And when we put our heads down at night we hear Him say “Well done, my good and faithful servants, well done!” When it is all said and done, I am hoping to hear our Father say “Well done”.
See you this Sunday as we continue the series “Family Values: Written In Stone”. Be blessed, live blessed and be a blessing!
Pastor Tom
