The eight reasons given for being “stuck” as churches and not growing miss two essential ingredients: Prayer that opens us to Jesus’ heart for our communities, and the equipping of evangelists (Ephesians 4:11-12). When a church is devoted to prayer and regularly seeking the Lord together and in groups, sooner or later Jesus shares His heart for a lost world.

“Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God,” is a prayer that needs to be prayed until we DO have broken hearts for a lost and hurting world. Only this kind of heart will compel us into seeking the lost anyway, anytime, for as long as it takes.

At New Wine this summer I heard Mick Duncan speak from the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. His wonderful, quirky, challenging style pulled us all up and pierced our hearts about being “runners” who, like the Father in the prodigal son story, run towards those coming home, and also being those who never cease to proclaim Christ, even when we are hurting deeply. This is how evangelists equip the body, challenging us beyond our comfort zones.

More, much more, seeking prayer and challenging input from insightful evangelists are essential ingredients for us to become missional churches again.

– Kath Wells
Upper Hutt