609: A Purposeful Reformation

Rick Warren's book, The Purpose-Driven Life, sold more than 30 million copies! I think that says something about people's interest in what I have come to call the purpose craze. Yet with all that interest, I don't think our churches have changed that much to accommodate this phenomenal movement.  When people bought the book, they 'voted' to hear about purpose, but it made little or no difference in the life of most churches that I can see.

One advantage (if you can call it that) of getting older, is that one gets more reflective, and hopefully insightful, based on the life experience one has had. Today I feel in a reflective mood (which indicates my age). While I was reading over my manuscript the other day for my book, Changing the Way We Do Church (which I see is for sale on Amazon for 88 cents!), I ran across what I call my seven steps to a purposeful church reformation in the 21st century, which were included and explained in that book. I thought I would share those seven steps with you this week, for these are my ideas of what must happen if churches are to take full advantage of this purpose craze to extend God's kingdom and equip people for meaningful work and ministry. We will discuss some of these seven steps in upcoming weeks.

Here they are:

1. Raise up an army of purpose-led men and women who have faith to do the impossible, freed from trying to be who they are not and released to be the fullest, best expression of who God created them to be.
2. Equip people to perform missions (both domestic and foreign), to launch business ventures and to carry out any other activity their purpose dictates and faith allows.
3. Help leaders be productive in their purpose as they oversee Holy Spirit chaos created by people pursuing and fulfilling their purpose.
4. Help leaders and governing bodies move from attitudes of ownership to attitudes of servant-leadership and stewardship.
5. Develop services, Sunday Schools, kids church, youth meetings and even committee meetings that people want to attend because there is a spirit of excellence and the unexpected.
6. Move from fads, copycat programs, and trite and phony rituals, traditions and doctrines to innovative initiatives in the Spirit of (but exceeding the results of) the early church.
7. Address and meet the needs of the poor, ethnic minorities, and women around the world.

There is the list.  Feel free to comment on any of these points on the site where this is posted, or feel free to suggest additions. Then be watching as I expand on these in the coming weeks.

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KENYA HELP: Alice appealed to me last week for some food money to help feed the children at EOTO Orphanage. Please read her appeal here and then give as the Lord leads you through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

KENYA FUNDRAISERS: I am hosting two events in the next six weeks to raise awareness and funds for Kenya. The first is a breakfast meeting here in Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 29 from 10 AM to 11:30. Come out and hear from people who have been there and let them tell you firsthand what impact we are making there.  Then on Monday, July 29, I am hosting an event at PNC Park for a baseball game, just like I did last year. The tickets cost $1,000 and all proceeds go to the Sophia Fund.  Last year we raised $9,000. This year we are going to raise even more.  You can read more about the game here.  Just send me an email if you would like to attend the breakfast.