New Philadelphia News Across the Pastor’s Desk
In his book, “Good to Great,” Jim Collins defines “the Hedgehog Principal,” as “doing one thing and doing it well.” He contrasts the hedgehog with the fox. The fox keeps coming up with new ideas to eat the hedgehog, but the hedgehog handily defeats him by doing his one trick: rolling into a thorny ball. Collins says that good to great organizations---whether businesses or non-profits or churches, reflect a deep understanding of three intersecting circles: 1) What they are deeply passionate about; 2) What they can be the best in the world at; and 3) What drives their economic engine. Where are we in our understanding of those three intersecting circles? 1) There is no question that the historic Moravian Church is passionate about Jesus Christ. The God we worship is “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The one essential in our World Wide Unity is “a heart relationship with the Triune God who reveals himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Moravians aren’t good at drawing lines in the sand and sorting people out. We are not as good as some at doctrine and theology---though we believe our truth. We are at our best when we witness to what God has done for us in Christ. We welcome all people who believe in Him into fellowship with us, and we seek to introduce to Him all those who have yet to believe. We have a history to live into! 2) We are best at being Moravian. When we try to be something else it doesn’t work. People come to us from unbelief and from all the different denominations. They come not to make us like them, but to become one of us. Many are attracted by our motto: “In Essentials; Unity; In Non-Essentials; Liberty; In All-Things, Love.” 3) The thing that drives our “economic engine,” is just as simple---it is nurturing and making disciples. When we do that we succeed; when we don’t do it we fail. I think the Moravian experience is one of focus, but it is not exclusive to us. The late E. Stanley Jones had focus. Jones wrote in his autobiography that when he went to India as a missionary for the Methodist Church, he found himself defending a long line that stretched from the Genesis to Revelation, to the history of the Church and Western Civilization. He said, “I spent all my time bobbing up and down the line defending this and defending that before the non-Christian world.” He
was soon exhausted, and he felt that the main thing was being left out---Jesus Christ.” Jones concluded: “There are many points of question about the the Bible and the Christian faith, and when we decide what we believe about them, we don’t decide anything at all, for God decided those things long ago. It is only when we decide for or against Jesus Christ that we make a real decision, a personal decision, a decision that affects us in time and eternity. He is not a point of question; he is the Point of Decision.” Jones decided to shorten his line, and take his stand at Christ. That I think is a perfect example of the Hedgehog Principal applied. I believe that if we truly did likewise, we would see a Renewal at New Philadelphia, and in our Moravian Church as a whole. I am not being simplistic. I am looking at the simplicity that lies on the far side of all complexity, the Eternal Word of God who was with God in the beginning, and who invites us to join him Today, and forever.
Blessings, Pastor Green
Pastor John Writes:
Our youth have begun another incredible year! We had a huge turnout for our opening cookout and September 8, and we welcomed Daniel Muto, who has begun working with our Sr. High Youth. Ross McNeil continues to lead our Middle High Youth, and both groups have started planning for the year ahead. We attended a movie night at Macedonia Moravian on September 21, along with other youth from our Regional Conference of Churches, which includes Clemmons, Unity, Macedonia, and New Hope. Our youth had a great time spending a day at Carowinds, following worship on September 29. Coming up in October, we will be attending a movie event at Trinity Moravian -- this event will benefit the repair of the slab at Laurel Ridge, a project being led by members of New Philadelphia. There will also be a day to explore a corn maze, and our Middle Highs will have a lock-out on October 25. Don’t forget that our youth will be selling smoked pork shoulder butts through October 16, with the proceeds benefitting our upcoming youth programs and mission trips. I look forward to seeing you in October! In Christ, The
Rev. John G. Rights