Mergers of Ministries: Things to consider

From time to time I am asked to give input to ministries considering a merger with another ministry. While I was a pastor of a three year old church that I started in 1980, we were a part of a coming together of two congregations. It was an exciting time and a scary time for a couple of years. Our end result was a plus and a gain for the Kingdom of God. A merger of churches or ministries can be a wonderful thing, and a sign to a community of unity in the Kingdom. However, it is a very delicate process and must be approached with much prayer , thought, dialogue and courage.

Pros:
1. The benefits of a larger congregation or ministry
A. More people to serve, improving ministries at all levels.
B. More finances available to expand more ministries
C. More competent leaders to help bring the people to a greater place of service.
D. Positive effects of increase “in the house and in the community”. Success breeds success.
2. The benefits of increasing the sphere of ministry overall.
3. The benefits of increased effects of a greater anointing created by unity. Psa. 133

Cons:
1. The challenge of bringing two congregations into one.
2. The potential of strife caused by a perspective that, “we have lost our closeness and/or idenity”.
3. The challenge of competition among leaders. Determined by how it is handled.
4. The fear of loss by some. (Loss of position, influence, etc)
5. The possibility of losing some who can’t make the shift.
6. The challenge of merging possible different government styles.
7. The challenge of doctrinal variations or interpretations.

Suggestions and Questions:
1. Spend much time in prayer
A. Senior Leaders first come to an agreement that this is the will of God.
B. Make sure you are in agreement doctrinally and philosophically.
C. Get leadership teams together for fellowship and prayer.
D. Senior leaders must be completely clear about lines of authority.
E. Don’t fear an open discussion among leaders regarding all aspects of the merger.
F. Go slow. Think through all aspects of the process. Try to see 3 years down the road.

2. What are you most excited about regarding the possible merger?

3. What concerns you most about the possible merger?

Hopefully, these suggestions from experience will help you as you navigate the waters of merging two congregations or even two businesses.

Dealing with Distractions

Being an old golfer and one who loves the grand old game, I have learned that one of the most important aspects of the game is focus. It has been said that the game has to be won between your ears first before you can win on the course.

In any endeavor, one has to learn to block out everything that is in competition with the task at hand. I was thinking about the leadership of Toyota. While it is important that the company deal with their quality control issues, the primary leadership team must stay on point remembering that their job is planning and building arguably the best cars in the world. The President of the company has to address the problems and lead through this season but he better not lose his focus on his main goal.

Leaders must learn this valuable lesson. We all have to deal with crises on a daily basis. It's a part of the job. However, the quicker you can diagnose the problem, get a fix in place and get back to your primary responsibility, the better. As spiritual leaders, we must know that there are enemies that are bent on doing nothing more than distracting us. In the old days of the cold war and communist aggression it was difficult to understand the thinking behind the agenda of communism. What could they possibly gain by stirring up trouble all over the world. If they would see a dissatisfied sector in a society, they would make an appeal to help them overthrow their government or leadership. Then I got it. They believed that chaos in itself was a plan. If they could cause a distraction, the government in power would be forced to stop what they were doing and be forced to deal with the chaos. Then in the midst of the storm they might gain access and control. Control is what all enemies want to gain.

In the church world it is important for leadership to learn this lesson. Stay on point! I gave this example to a great young pastor recently. As a word of encouragement to him I said, "don't let the distractions on the sidelines keep your head out of the game and cause you to lose on the field". Being a lover of sports, he got it!

Let me encourage you to focus and stay on point with that which the Lord has called you to do.

Intimacy or Intimidation

It is easy to see why newcomers to the Christian faith might have some struggles trying to understand the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. The God of the Old Testament seems so harsh and demanding while the God of the New Testament seems so loving and forgiving. What’s the deal?

Regardless of how different they may appear, the God of the Old and New are the same God. The Old was a preparation for the New. God, from the beginning of time, wanted to live in intimate relationship with man. When man sinned, that sin was a barricade that kept sinful man from enjoying the presence of a perfectly Holy God. Jesus came and died in man’s place and removed the barricade between God and man. Now through the individual’s acceptance of Jesus, man can come with boldness right into the presence of Father God. It is to be a relationship. For all Christians, that relationship should be one of intimacy. Yet, all too many believers seem to live in a relationship of intimidation rather than intimacy.

The great problem here is that intimidation limits and causes the relationship to remain on a powerless plane. The Christian at this level never moves beyond that first level of introduction. Every time he encounters God, he is uncomfortable and gets little from the experience. On the other hand, a person who has an intimate relationship with the Lord is at peace in God’s presence. That connectivity of intimacy transfers spiritual power that leaves the believer on a higher level than before.

The church was built on a revelation that the Apostle Peter received through that connectivity of intimacy, “thou art the Christ”. Jesus said to him, “flesh and blood did not reveal that to you”. As Christians, we need to move beyond “flesh and blood” Christianity. We need to move beyond only keeping the rules and regulations and enter that place of intimacy with the Lord.

Intellect and Spirit

Can a person who has a higher educational level have a deeper relationship with God? I have known people who had an earned doctorate and maintained a wonderful faith in God. I have also known adults with an eighth grade education that had deep spiritual knowledge of God and His ways. This is a very important subject because some would think that faith in God and higher education seem to conflict. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

It has been said that no human being has ever attained to the same intellectual capacity of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden prior to their fall into rebellion and sin. In that state before they chose to sin, these two perfect specimens of creation had a powerful relationship with God. It was after their fall from grace that everything around them deteriorated including their intellectual abilities. It is through faith in God that man can experience restoration in every area of life. That includes spirit, body and yes, the mind. As a matter of fact, the Scripture teaches that through the process of regeneration, the mind of man is also renewed. This renewal process would involve greater intellectual capacity. Even more importantly, spiritual renewal brings the mind of God and his ways to the forefront in the mind of man. In Romans 12:2, we read of this process called “the renewing of the mind”. The Greek word here for renewing actually is translated “renovation”. By putting your faith in God and what Jesus did by his supernatural act of redemption on the cross, a renovation takes place in the life of the believer that includes the mind.

What are the benefits of such a renovation? Obviously, there is a new illumination of thought and ideology that brings man into union with the mind and thought of God. Intellectual ability that has been redeemed and renovated by God now is on the right track and working in unison with the Creator of the universe. The outcome will certainly be great discoveries in science, medicine and every field of endeavor. If a person rebels against reconciliation with God and tries to press ahead seeking to develop the intellect alone, the outcome will be something much less than could have been achieved by experiencing God. Many have produced great things in our day without a renewed mind through God. However, how far short have they fallen? What could they have realized with God working in and through their already gifted intellect?

Some of our greatest discoveries have been attained by men and women who knew God personally and depended upon Him for guidance and revelation. Intellect is not a doorway to God and lack of education is not an obstacle to knowing him. Arrogant intellect choosing to ignore God has limited itself to a small sphere. In truth, God is not known nor realized by intellect but by the spirit of man. Nonetheless, when a person comes to know and experience God in a personal, way he will be expanded in all areas of life. This will especially apply to intellectual expansion. True faith and true education should run hand in hand. All should benefit from their union.

Living Faith

Nothing hinders God’s work more than dead religion. What is dead religion? A religion that has all the answers but does not believe God is actively working in daily life. Dead religion is interested in the environment even to the point of worshipping nature but gives no praise to the Creator. It is passionately devoted to human rights with no regard for Divine purpose. It puts total faith in intellectualism, and proves it with active pursuit while growing more and more indifferent regarding the things of God.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we see dead religion in our day. It’s nothing new. Jesus found it and was persecuted by it in his ministry. The Pharisees challenged the living faith of Jesus with all their knowledge, social standing and political correctness. These religious leaders looked good in every outward way. However, rather than hope, they only offered more of the mediocre. Rather than life, they only brought bondage and death. Rather than power, all they could muster was a form of godliness.

Before we begin to cast stones, let us examine our own lives. I am not referring to any group or denomination. I am challenging all who are called by the name Christian to evaluate who we are and what we offer to those around us. Jesus came offering a better way. He came bringing life, hope and a way of escape. The religious community in Jesus’ day was more interested in protecting their buildings, their programs and their personal interests than they were in bringing deliverance and help to those hurting around them. While I deeply appreciate all that God has done for us, let us never forget why we are here. We are not here to perpetuate a religious system. We are here to carry out the same ministry Jesus established when he said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” May our Lord Jesus help us to shake off the blinding effects of comfort and help us to see those who are looking for the hope we offer in Jesus.