engagement with movement leaders from a variety of denominations across the USA/Canada has led us to ask this question. The answer appears complex as we read and listen to experts. Considering these things and with much prayer, I want to share four shifts the Evangelism and New Church Development Department will embrace as we transition from motivation to movement. They are: 1. A shift from our kingdom to Christ’s Kingdom: We must see His kingdom as more important than our own. Jesus helped us when He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). 2. A shift from maintenance to missional: We must care for those in our communities who don’t know Jesus, even as we love those who do. Many of our churches focus on maintaining things as they are. That which is good must be maintained; however, Scripture suggests we can do both. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. That is, we can care for the flock and reach the lost at the same time. It is not either/or but both/and. Jesus modeled this perfectly. He discipled the Twelve while also seeking the lost ones of His day. 3. A shift from safety to sacrifice: Ravi Zacharias said, “Unless I understand the cross, I cannot understand why my commitment to what is right must take precedence over what I prefer.”1 If we are to shift to become a movement, we must allow God to help us take up the cross as our guide in every decision and action we pursue. We are, generally, riskaverse people. Faith presumes risk. If we are to become a movement again, we must begin to operate with sacrifice as a perceived reality. 4. A shift from intentions to actions: Many Nazarenes have never really made a disciple, yet that is Jesus’ commission to every believer. The Church of the Nazarene (USA/Canada) is poised to move forward with exponential growth in the next decade. To do so, we are developing tools that will train every Nazarene in the process of evangelism and
If we are to shift to become a movement, we must allow God to help us take up the cross as our guide in every decision and action we pursue. disciple-making. We pray for and long to see each Nazarene making at least one new disciple each year. We must regain traction in our historical embrace of the priesthood of all believers. As we begin to think movement over maintenance and push past our abilities into His, we will begin again to dream bigger dreams than we can accomplish on our own. Together, we must reach for the things we cannot yet touch, look to things we cannot yet see, and step into places where we see no footing, as Peter did: “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (Matthew 14:29). I’m excited about our future as the Master continues to lead His Church. MARK J. BANE has served in the Church of the Nazarene as a pastor, a district superintendent, and is currently Director of Evangelism and New Church Development for the USA/Canada Region. 1. Ravi Zacharias, I Isaac Take Thee Rebekah (Nashville, W Publishing Group, 2004), 43.
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