“…of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do,…” I Chronicles 12:32
Israel was in a time of transition and change. Saul had just been killed in battle with the Philistines and David was in the process of taking over the leadership of the nation of Israel. Everything was in a state of change. In this passage of scripture, the different tribes are being named and mention is being made of some aspect of their numbers and abilities that they were known for, to assist David in his challenges to face the enemy and bring stability to the nation. Right in the middle of this, you have this statement of the sons of Issachar – “they were men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”
What does that mean to us in our day and time?
As we look at the world around us we often ask, “What in the world is happening? What is happening to our family, to our church, to our community, to our company, to our country? And the answer is really quite simple as complicated as it might seem.
What is happening?
Change!!!! Extraordinarily difficult but absolutely necessary change.
Change is an unavoidable part of life. Without change life would soon become intolerable dull. We welcome the different seasons, variety in foods, new experiences, and the coming true of dreams. When the status quo becomes intolerable, we do everything we can to initiate change.
At the same time, we hate change brought about by deteriorating health, social upheaval, and intrusions into our comfort zones. Sometimes we react so strongly against the changes we dislike that we either try to ignore them or use all our resources to reverse them.
Change would be challenging enough if each person were an isolated island unconnected to anyone else. Life becomes enormously more complicated by the fact that everyone and everything is changing at the same time.
What happens to individuals and families also happens to groups of individuals. Schools, churches, businesses, organizations, and communities are composed of changing individuals, but they also have a changing corporate character of their own. The group certainly changes as a result of the members, but the corporate character can also control changes in the individuals.
All of this is to say that we cannot do our changing alone or assume that others will wait for us to catch up. Everyone and everything is in motion. Each church member is changing while the church is changing while the society is changing.
Change is not the choice!!!!! But how we handle it is!!!!!
It is been my prayer over the years that the leaders of our church will be like the men of Issachar and have an understanding of the times in which we live and know what to do.
The church has a responsibility to understand people and the culture in which we live. This means that the Bible must be made relevant to today’s culture in order to benefit today’s people.
Life is difficult and disappointing, and typical churchgoers are struggling to survive. They come to church overflowing with needs – family, marriage, job, money health, relationships – and are looking for answers. They need hope and meaning and have turned to the church because they can’t find it elsewhere.
I am so thankful for our current leadership team that has been praying and working very diligently for years and especially the last several months to begin to initiate a response to the evident changes going on in the world around us.
These Responses Include:
• Incorporate a contemporary service (called “Resonate”), in order to be more effective in our “in-reach”, i.e. youth and young adults, along with others who would be more engaged to that style of worship; and “outreach”, un-churched community who would better connect to that style of service.
Starting Sunday, September 12th
o We will offer 3 different styles of worship, with equal attention given to the overall plans and purpose for each. In other words, we want all three services to be high in quality, and effective in purpose.
Heritage (traditional) 8:30 / ADC-202
Resonate (contemporary) 9:30 / FLC
Celebrate (blended) 10:50 / Sanctuary
• The goal, and we’ll be working very hard on this; for the length of services are: 1 hour for the Heritage service, 1 hour 10 minutes for both the Resonate and Celebrate services.
• I will continue to preach at all three services, with Pastor’s Nathan and Mark occasionally preaching during the Resonate service. This doesn’t necessarily mean that alternates won’t fill in from time to time during the other services as well.
• Children’s Ministry schedule:
o Basically, the overall children’s ministry structure on Sunday mornings will remain the same, we’ll just move our scheduled time from 9:00 to 9:30, and 10:40 to 10:50.
o In addition, we’ll be offering paid childcare for infants – kindergarten during the 8:30 Heritage service, on a trial basis. If the number of children who attend paid childcare is relatively low and can be managed with minimal paid childcare staffing, then we’ll continue the coverage with paid childcare during the Heritage service. If the Heritage service grows, and the number of children who attend at 8:30 grows; we’ll consider staffing with volunteers and adding a curriculum for the children at that hour.
• Student Ministries will move their time to meet from 9:00 to 10:50, allowing them the opportunity to attend Resonate.
• Each adult Sunday school class will have to determine what time works best for their class to meet.
I know that change affects everyone’s lives and schedules differently. Some may personally benefit from it, and some may not; even though that’s not the purpose or the point.
As a staff we understand that change is not easy, but is sometimes necessary; and we’ve truly been sensitive to everyone’s needs, their feedback, their likes, and their dislikes.
As we take all of that information, we also want to be sensitive and discerning to God’s leading, in deciding what works best in fulfilling His overall plans and purpose. Without a doubt, there will be challenges along the way, and more than likely; a few tweaks as we go through the process, so I’d ask that you’d continue to be faithful in praying as we make this transition.
Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool to give up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
Jesus said, “Save your life for yourself and you will lose it. Lose your life for my sake and the gospels’ and you will find it.”
God never changes! The Bible never changes! The Message and Principles of the Bible should never change, but the methods and means that we use must change to take full advantage of the opportunities and new tools that have become available to us in the twenty-first century!!!
Thank you for your prayers and support and willingness to adjust to help us all be more relevant and effective in reaching our generation for Christ!!!!!
God bless,
Pastor Mike
