Embracing Change
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. - Isaiah 43:19
At our last BLT (Bridges Leadership Team) Meeting, we introduced the idea of Embracing Change, primarily through a podcast by Craig Groeschel of Life Church. The gist of the podcast was that there is a feeling out there that people hate change. He disagreed. People hate the way change is forced on them sometimes, but generally people like change.
Like ...
...Winter becoming Spring.
....school being out for the summer.
....new clothes, a new tv, a new, really good restaurant, new furniture (we like change when it means something new and improved)
...the birth of a baby.
Well, you get the picture. Change can be good.
Change can be hard though too. Sometimes we have to say goodbye to something or someone we love or when the change isn’t for the better.
One thing he mentioned that helps people embrace change is to emphasize the “why” before the “what.” Being clear about “why” the change is coming helps people see the good that can come out of it. It also helps people to see what might happen if things don’t change. Sometimes we have to change; it is the only way to move forward.
God is always doing new things – creating new lives, new hearts, new perspectives, new opportunities. It is for the good.
At Bridges, we are about to go through some changes, good changes, but they will require some letting go’s and some adaptions.
This week we are going to 1 Service at 10:30am, it will require some changes for all of us. We’ve had 2 services almost from the beginning of Bridges to have a service for our volunteers. This will take some getting used to.
However, the “why” is compelling. We need to be together, to be one, to build relationships, to worship together, to encourage each other. We can sense God leading us this way to build the body of Christ. For now, it is something we will try for the entire summer to see how we adapt and how the effects of the change affect us. It will be good to be together, though. We need each other.
This change will bring changes in our Family Ministry. Going to one service will create some challenges for them, especially in having enough volunteers to make it possible. The “why” of this is to help open up more opportunities for people to serve and to help children find and follow Jesus. The “why” includes making it possible for our volunteers to be able to come to the worship service to be with us some weeks. This means there is a need for additional volunteers who love children and who love Jesus. Perhaps, that means you.
Speaking of change, we will be experiencing some changes when the new deployed initiative happens in June when the Peaks, Fields, and Gilchrists head out to reach new people. The “why” here is to help people who may never come to an established church like Bridges find and follow Jesus. If that means even just one more person coming to Christ, then it will be worth it; though we are praying for multitudes to come to Christ this way. This is an exciting change, but one that will bring some loss as we say “goodbye” to these families. Some changes are good but still bring some sadness – that is part of life.
This will create opportunities for additional people to get involved in the Worship Band, the Tech Team, and the Meal Train Ministries. Perhaps that means you. If God has gifted you in these areas, perhaps He wants to do a new thing through you.
Change is coming, and we have been praying and planning for a while. We ask you to join us in this.
Change is coming. God has good things for us. Good things are coming. Be ready and expectant to see what God will do.
The change starts this Sunday, June 1 at 10:30am – see you there.
Are you ready?