Psalm
139:1-18
81%
of our Church of God churches average less than 100 in attendance in
America. Automatically many of these pastors never are considered for boards or
committees because of the size of their churches. I call this the “Nobody
Syndrome.” Some of these men are great pastors, leaders, and teachers, but they
just never got the right break in the eyes of men. Outsiders and even their peers often
say they don’t have good leadership skills or their churches would be doing
better. I totally disagree with that!
A
friend of mine said recently, “We make our own breaks!” That may be true to
some extent, but must growth situations in our own denomination come because of
a break-up or split of one congregation and those congregants moving to a
different location. Other churches have grown because they have taken in whole
congregations that were independent or affiliated with another denomination and
wanted to unite with one of our churches. I will be accused of being cynical
for writing this, but true growth comes by revival and a renewal of the Great
Commission. Growth includes more than numbers, although that’s what we often
judge success by in our denomination.
Some
brothers and sisters are greatly qualified in all leadership categories, but
they inherit a situation where increase is an afterthought to the people in
that particular church. No matter what they do they cannot seem to get the
congregation to press forward or to change their ideology. Therefore that
spirit that has been there for years doesn’t want to let go no matter who serves
as pastor. I’m not saying every pastor is correct in every decision, but those
type churches make the man or women of God that pastors them feel like nobodies.
Then to top it off, those individuals are looked upon with a different attitude
from those serving in churches that have significant more money and talent.
That is the “Nobody Syndrome” when those men and women who serve those
congregations are treated as less than worthy by their peers. It will happen, whether
we want to admit it or not, in every State Minister’s Meeting this fall
throughout our denomination and some men won’t even go because they feel they
don’t matter.
How about you? Do
you ever feel like a “Nobody” when it's quiet and everybody else is in bed? Or
when you're driving and you don't have to pay much attention, do you start
thinking about where your life is headed, what you've done or haven't done? Do
you ever pause and add up what your life amounts to and come up short? Do you just feel like a hamster in a cage, turning the big wheel. Life is just a treadmill
of the same-old, same-old. You're working hard, but it doesn't feel like you're
getting anywhere. You feel under-appreciated, overlooked, under-paid, or even
unnecessary when it comes to life or your ministry..
Most
pastors who take the time to reflect on their lives struggle with these
incomplete feelings and dead end thoughts. Some people wrestle with them every
day. If you take stock of your life and say, "What difference did/does my
life make? Does anybody really know or care about me?", God has a word for
you in Psalm 139. He wants to show you a different picture of your life. He
wants to give you a view from the top, to help you see the meaning of your life
from His perspective.
God wants to replace your pity party with a purposeful pursuits. He wants you to learn the true value of your investment in others
despite the size of your congregation. Men may never recognize what you do for the Kingdom, but God does. In the end that's what really matters the most.
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