I love the story of the conversion of Saul/Paul in Acts 9.
It has so many layers and so much to pull from that it is a continual resource for me, even a daily observation that I must refer to.
This morning, I again read it, and yet again from a different context of which I will attempt to unpack for you.
Whilst I was away visiting Willow Creek, (which is one of the most sensational churches I have ever experienced in regard to its facilities, infastructure, maturity of leadership and governance and such a great culture of generosity), I had the privilege of hanging out with a hero of mine, Bill Hybels.
The following day (after eating pizza at ‘Bill’s house’). Ps Bill Hybels began to download onto the restricted (and privileged) number of people in attendance some of his understanding of building church.
One of the many many things he said was, ‘The next level is about the quality of our people. Not strategy. Not style or culture. Not systems or programmes. People. Fantastic people are attracted to fantastic people. Where are the fantastic people? Go get the fantastic people that we need to go to the next level!’
When I was in South Wales many a young person would ask to move churches to be a part of what we were building in Cardiff. I always took the PC line of saying, ‘No, go serve in your local church.’
Now, as I look across the 1547 (to date) ‘Friends’ I have on Facebook, I see many of these young people are no longer in church and, even more painful, are no longer walking with Jesus.
When God was looking to establish the next level in Acts 9, He says something very powerful about his pursuit of ‘fantastic people’ (or it is more palatable to maybe say, ‘those called to be a part of what he was doing at that time’).
Acts 9:15 ( TM ) says, ‘Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him (Saul/Paul) as my personal representative…’
Ananias was sent with a mandate to go and get Paul!
Psalm 2:8 says, ‘Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance.’
This is my prayer. I’m not necessarily asking God for the nations (yet), I’m merely asking for the ‘Pauls’; for the ‘fantastic people’; for ‘those that are called to be a part of what we are on with here at BCC’!
I absolutely believe with a passion that God has us involved in the building of a sensational church right here in the Centre of the Universe (SoT) and I absolutely believe that there are people called to be ‘living stones’ alongside me in reaching this great city of Stoke on Trent and beyond.
Bill Hybels was right… ‘Go, get the fantastic people that we need to go to the next level!’
I have sent our Primary Leaders, Executives, Director and Pastors to go and find those that resonate with the sound of this house; those that are called to help us get to the next level. I have also commissioned every BCCer to be eccentric in their invitation to their whole world.
We are calling those who are meant to be a part of this absolutely, awesome adventure. We’re calling people from the North, South, East and West…
… if our call resonates with you… we’re praying you in! We’re expecting you!
Looking forward to seeing you soon…
Ps James, I am praying for one of those people you talk about – someone in my family who is, I believe, no longer connected to a church and is no longer walking with Jesus. Luke 15:20.