I Dream Of A Church . . .

Bethel Assembly of God
Annual Business Meeting
Pastor Dan Qualls
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

I DREAM OF A CHURCH . . .
Note: This “I Dream” article has been presented each year at Bethel beginning in Feb. 2008

Dear Members of Bethel,

Tonight, allow me to reflect a few minutes with you on the dream that I have for Bethel Assembly of God.

It is a dream rooted, of course, in God’s plan for His people, the church — those who have been “called out” by the Spirit of God to know Him and make Him known.

When I think of Bethel I think of two churches—One, the wonderful church that we all get to serve in right now, and, Two, I think of the church that God wants us to become.

You and I know there has never been a time in history like this one. People are frightened, people are searching with an unprecedented thirst and we have Living Water.

What a time to be the church!

What a time to stand out like “shining stars in the universe” as Paul puts it in Phil 2:15, “holding out the word of life” — the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord.

It makes me dream.

I DREAM OF A CHURCH . . .

That is constantly reaching out to their neighbors . . . not as a project that we have to do, but because we really love our neighbors! A place where the broken, the beaten, the traumatized can find healing.

I dream of us being a place where the skeptic and seeker, the person with doubts and fears about God can come as they are and discover maybe for the first time that they really do matter to God.

Dick Alexander says this about the deep needs of men and women in our day—-

“Raw. It’s a word I have never liked. Raw carrots, too hard; raw oysters, too slimy; raw humor, too dirty; raw skin, too painful. In fact, raw applied to anything human sounds painful. But we live in a world of raw human need. It’s all around us. With the raw human need touching us every day, the church can scarcely afford business as usual. In practice, many churches view their mission as holding Sunday services, satisfying the members, doing a little good here and there. Such churches are on the way out. Within a few years they will be dinosaurs, not because their doctrine is bad, but because they have lost their mission. Only churches serious about rescuing the hurting will survive and make a difference.”

I dream of a church like that.

I dream of a spiritual trauma center where the raw and broken hundreds of our community can come and be healed. Where the discouraged can come and be lifted up, the addicted can come and be set free.

Where those searching for love can come and be transformed by the unconditional, unfailing love of God. I dream of a church like that.

I dream of a church that is packed with believers and seekers who are growing in the knowledge of God, who are allowing the “Word of Christ to dwell in them richly,” and are being equipped and empowered to go into their world and dispense the grace of God.

I dream of a church . . .

That is a church of the —–
GREAT COMMANDMENT, Mt. 22:37-39
THE GREAT COMMISSION, Mt. 28:19-20
THE GREAT COMMITMENT, John 10:10

Dedicated to obeying
“The Great Commandment” — LOVING GOD, LOVING PEOPLE
“The Great Commission” — LOVING PEOPLE
“The Great Commitment” — LOVING LIFE

I dream of a church . . .

That honors and reveres God’s Word and is committed to orthodox truth but passionate about communicating it with the best means of communication available.

That gathers in excitement and anticipation to celebrate God’s goodness and to experience worship, teaching and fellowship that will shape our lives more and more into the image of Christ our Lord.

I dream of a church . . .
That is committed to excellence in all that we do but at the same time is sensitive, caring and loving toward people.

That builds “Big People” — equipping them, empowering them to connect vitally with God’s purpose for their lives; releasing them to fulfill His calling for their lives.

I dream of a church . . .
That attracts young families, partnering with them to train their children to be fully devoted followers of Jesus, launching those children to become a generation who loves God, obeys His commands and is radically committed to knowing and serving Him.

I dream of a church . . .
That is mobilizing resources to meet the needs of the under-resourced of our community.

That strengthens and enhances marriage by providing teaching, mentoring and resourcing to help singles and couples discover and experience God’s best in marriage.

I dream of a church . . .
That coaches husbands to love their wives so they feel cherished, protected, honored and valued.

That mentors wives to respect their husbands, affirming them as leaders, protectors and providers.

That equips parents to have parenting skills marked by: a. great love—lots of affection and unconditional love; b. great guidance—lots of firm discipline and clear boundaries on acceptable and unacceptable behavior and attitudes.

I dream of a church . . .
That values and experiences the full operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit so that the Lord’s people are edified and the church is effective in accomplish God’s desire to reach and impact people.

That is passionate about reaching and winning the lost in our community. A church where people are praying to receive Christ—-in the weekend services, in small groups, in men’s and women’s meetings, in youth gatherings, in children’s classes, and more.

That is engaging in ministries of compassion—to shut ins, to the hospitalized, to nursing homes.

I dream of a church . . .
That does not forget about its elderly, but remembers and honors them as individuals to be listened to and respected.

That experiences the presence and power of God when we gather for worship; an earthly taste of what happens in heaven 24/7 as cries of “Holy, holy, holy” rises to the throne of God.

That supports world missions—giving monies, providing resources, communicating with and developing relationships with missionaries.

That is committed to good stewardship; a core of dedicated members who honor the Lord with His tithe, then give gifts beyond that for special needs.

I dream of such a church.

It is a big dream. It is a dream that will take time and effort to come to fruition.

But we must begin now, we must begin where we are.

In the immediate future, here is how I see the dream unfolding—–

This year, by God’s grace, we will . . .

1. BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN OUTREACH AND EVANGELISM

Will ask – “How can we give our congregation opportunities to invite people – COME AND SEE OPPORTUNITIES . . . and at the same time keep a focus on equipping all of us to be effective as witnesses for Christ — the GO AND TELL DIMENSION.

Easter Weekend – Breakfast and Service
Father’s Day Event – June 20
Block Party – September 12
Children’s Christmas Program – December 19, 6:00pm

2. CONTINUE TO BE A GREAT MISSIONS CHURCH

3. WORK ON THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS WE MAKE ON GUESTS

Landscaping
Parking Lot
Signage – inside and outside the building
Improve our follow up

4. BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN MAKING DISCIPLES
Encourage and the gifts of teaching – equipping teachers to teach with excellence in all ages.

New Members Class
Water Baptism

5. CONTINUE TO USE AND IMPROVE OUR WEBSITE

6. SMALL GROUPS
April 11 – “FEARLESS – Imagine Your Life Without Fear”

7. STRENGTHEN MARRIAGES
“Family Month” emphasis with sermon series and other means of strengthening marriage and family.

8. CONTINUE TO MAKE SUNDAY MORNINGS THE “HUB” OF ALL OUR MINISTRIES

9. PLEDGES TO “JOURNEY OF FAITH”

I dream of a church . . . I close with the words of John Maxwell.

John Maxwell—
“The other day a pastor asked me, ‘What motivates you to stay in battle for the souls of men and not give up?’ My quick reply was—“I have a dream.”

“History tells us that in every age there comes a time when leaders must come forth to meet the needs of the hour. Therefore there is no potential leader who does not have an opportunity to better mankind. And those around him also have that same privilege. Fortunately, I believe that God has surrounded me with those who accept the challenge of the hour.

“My dream allows me to give at any moment all that I am in order to receive all that I can become. My dream allows me to sense the invisible, so I can do the impossible.

“My dream allows me to trust God’s resources. Since the dream is bigger than all of my abilities and acquaintances, my dream allows me to continue undiscouraged, for where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.

“My dream allows me to attract winners because big dreams draw big people. My dream allows me to see myself and our people in the future.

“Our dream is the promise of what we shall one day be. Yes, I have a dream, it is a God-given one. It is greater than any of my gifts. It is as large as the world but it begins with one. Won’t you join me?”

PASTOR DAN QUALLS

Share on Facebook