Atlanta North Church

Last week I talked about how it had been 95 years since Ellen White's death and she said very little about Atlanta except that the train stopped here.  We can work together to set Atlanta's future.  Much of our calendar was set for us my first 9 months, but we have a chance to set a course for the future.  I know there has been much emphasis on evangelism this summer, but am always available for pastoral ministry.  I've also been doing a lot of weddings, premarital and marital counseling, baby dedications, administration, and nominating committee this summer as well.  However, I want to explain my philosophy of ministry as 100% pastor and 100% evangelist.

 

The Old Testament model of ministry was the earthly preist and he was do the ministry as people were called to "come" to the sanctuary.  For the New Testament church Christ is our High Preist in the heavenly sanctuary and pours down gifts through the Holy Spirit on all of us.  The primary call given to the twelve apostles was "GO YE THEREFORE, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20).  Preaching and baptizing is the primary call for those paid by the tithe. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" (Romans 10:13-15).

The word "pastors" is only used once in the New Testament "And he gave some .... pastors and teachers; For the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11,12).  Even to visit the sick and anoint them is the job of the elders.  "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14,15).  The pastor's primary responsibility in this last day church is to coach and equip the members for ministry.

 

Listen to some powerful quotes from our founders:

 

Ellen White: "There should not be a call to have settled pastors over our churches, but let the life-giving power of the truth impress the individual to act, leading them to labor interestedly to carry on efficient work in each locality." (Atlantic Union Gleaner January 8, 1902).  

 

HMS Richards, Sr.: "When I was baptized and later became a young preacher, we looked upon churches that had to have settled pastors over every flock as being decadent. Most of our preachers were out on the firing line, holding meetings, winning men to Christ, and raising up new churches." ( Feed My Sheep, p. 156).

 

Elder Wilson's sermon on Sabbath, July 3 to 70,000 at the Georgia Dome was the second greatest declaration given by a GC president.  Below is the first:

 

"We have not settled our ministers over churches as pastors to any large extent. In some of the large churches we have elected pastors, but as a rule we have held ourselves ready for field service, evangelistic work and our brethern and sisters have held themselves ready to maintain their church services and carry forward their church work without settled pastors.
 
And I hope this will never cease to be the order of affairs in this denomination; for when we cease our forward movement work, and begin to settle over our churches, then our churches will begin to weaken and lose their life and spirit, and become paralyzed and fossilized and our work will be on retreat."  GC President A.G. Daniells March, 1912

 

In 1910 our church in North America was growing at the rate of 10%+, but now only 1.76%.  Ellen White died 3 years after Daniells' declaration and soon the Adventist church followed the popular model of the "professional" preacher doing it all.  The result has been paralyzing and fossilizing in North America.

 

Atlanta North will not be part of the problem, but the solution.  I will continue to be 100% pastor and 100% evangelist.  Together we can turn this city upside down.