Day: February 26, 2013

Foie Gras in Church


That’s right bro – most pastors in eastern suburbs independent churches want their shop to be like most high street shops so they can attract the largest possible crowd thus maintaining their job security.

And so, pastors put on the usual menu items. Missions make you look sincere and serious so it is a must-have on menus. Sort of like a foie gras – makes the church looks serious and like “a player”. The more serious and “a player” a church is, the more the pastor is likely to secure his job. Never mind that to feed and clothe the congregation with a diet of Great Commission obedience, a different model of missions is probably there for the taking. Foie gras is more fashionable for a high street church wannabe.

If one is ignorant it is almost excusable. But when the alternative model – one that is biblical and more responsible – is presented clearly but rejected or sat on, I can perhaps be excused for saying: “he just wants a good looking prominent cornershop.”… LOL

Do the right thing over time and people will come. Pretend often enough and people will leave.

How to keep church growth constant la like that…

Regards

IAN TEH

 

From: [ ]

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013 11:35 AM
To: Teh, Ian
Cc:
Subject:

[ ] 

 

On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 11:07 AM, Teh, Ian wrote:

HE HOR, HE HOR, HE HOR, he hor … cannot speak one leh…

 I remember writing to TF more than a year ago, about missions from a different perspective. Missions in Melbourne churches is often supporting one or two FT workers overseas and then sending a short term team every year or every other year, have a missions week or month, etc.

 I said to him all these are nice to have to-do list but for a church in Melbourne to galvanise and move the whole congregation, something like reaching out to the harvest field which have come to our shores, is a more relevant and necessary pitch. Reading a book (JD Payne) exactly on this point recently confirms this view as a valid one. Alas, the Cornershop people don’t particularly like to be known as a migrant church (remember Melissa’s remark that she could not bring a friend to church because it is a migrant church??!!!)

 So yes, concentrate on mission but if one insists on doing ministry through the local church, that insistence can only be supported if the local minister demonstrates diligence, humility, communication and hard work otherwise he forsakes the right to ask that ministry be conducted through the local church.

 In other words, JY’s advice needs fleshing out as to how mission should be worked out. Can you have TF provide leadership on such matters? Shudders.

 Regards

IAN TEH

 

 

From: []
Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013 10:57 AM
To: Teh, Ian
Cc:
Subject:

On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 10:44 AM, Teh, Ian wrote:

Post partum blues is a difficult condition to manage bro. LifeGate is something you helped birth. To leave its nurturing and growth in the hands of people we have little faith in, is challenging but like we said constantly, God is in control (it is His church) and the ever relevant story of Balaam should also make it less difficult to leave it all behind us.

 Walk away from the issues of planning, governance, management, structure, vision etc etc. We only need concentrate on the people we come into contact with, who care to hear what we have to say.

 

Regards

IAN TEH

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