What the Spirit Is Saying to the Church
WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH
WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH
A Twenty-First Century Progressive Ministry Vision Plan for the
Church-in-the-Black Experience
By Anthony Kelley
WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH
A Twenty-First Century Progressive Ministry Vision Plan for the
Church-in-the-Black Experience
Copyright Page
Copyright © 2016 by Anthony Kelley
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright 1952 [2nd Edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS
Preface 8
Acknowledgments 10
INTRODUCTION /11
CHAPTER 1 /16
DESCRIPTION
Chapter one utilizes the prophetic sermonic method in the tradition of the Church-in-the-Black-Experience to emphasize the urgency and need for her to return to her unique forms of spirituality and sacred heritage that includes celebration and adaptation along with liberation in light of the many voices raising the question of denominational relevancy and efficacy.
A Return to Celebration, Liberation and Adaptation as Unique Forms of Spirituality
Return to Your First Love /16
It’s Time to Make a Change-Self (Part 1) /22
It’s Time to Make a Change-Family (Part 2) /27
It’s Time to Make a Change-Church (Part 3) /37
The Last Night in Town: Consequences of a Bad Choice /54
CHAPTER 2 /64
DESCRIPTION
Chapter two challenges pastoral leadership in the Church-in-the-Black-Experience to return to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that inherently demands a cost of discipleship; and provides evidenced-based sermons to substantiate said challenge and biblical-theological assertion.
Leadership from the Pulpit: A Return to Preaching of the Gospel That Has a Cost
Parables of the Kingdom: Seeking the Kingdom at a Bargain /64
(Less Than You Expect and More Than You Imagine) (Part 1)
Parables of the Kingdom: Lambs in the Midst of Wolves /70
(The Character of the Harvest) (Part 2)
Parables of the Kingdom: Everybody Who’s Talking About Heaven /78
Ain’t Going There (Part 3)
How to Get from Broadway to Strait Street /84
Spiritual Warriors Empowered by God /88
CHAPTER 3 /97
DESCRIPTION
Chapter three challenges pastoral leadership in the Church-in-the-Black-Experience to return to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that acknowledges that there is a cross which believers must carry and endure as a result of following Jesus; and provides evidenced-based sermons to substantiate said challenge and biblical-theological assertion.
Leadership from the Pulpit: A Return to Preaching of the Gospel That Has a Cross
The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat /97
Expecting One Thing, and Getting Another /104
Out Of the Same Mouth Came Blessing and Cursing /109
Soldiers of the Cross: A Challenge to Remain Faithful /115
CHAPTER 4 /122
DESCRIPTION
Chapter four challenges pastoral leadership in the Church-in-the-Black-Experience to return to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that reminds believers that there is a crown for believers who remain faithful to the cause of Christ and awarded beyond death; and provides evidenced-based sermons to substantiate said challenge and biblical-theological assertion.
Leadership from the Pulpit: A Return to Preaching of the Gospel That Has a Crown
The Crowd that Wouldn’t Quit! /122
The Right Church /131
The Future of the Church /144
CHAPTER 5 /156
DESCRIPTION
Chapter five challenges pastoral leadership in the Church-in-the-Black-Experience to equip and train parishioners and lay leaders to engage in a relevant and healing ministry to make the wounded whole, i.e., to cease from being reactionary and become revolutionary in leading and serving people by addressing the social ills that affect the quality of life of churches and whole communities; and provides evidenced-based sermons to substantiate said challenge and biblical-theological assertion.
Service from the Pew: Equipping the Saints for the Work of Ministry
A Discovery that Defies Reason /156
Living in the Comfort of the Holy Spirit /160
New Wine for New Wineskins /167
Loving God /175
How to Have a Church Meeting /181
CHAPTER 6 /192
DESCRIPTION
Chapter six is a continued call for engagement by the Church-in-the-Black-Experience to take her rightful place in leading and engaging her leaders and Christian workers in the task of reclaiming and restoring incarcerated persons of color back into their communities. It focuses on overcoming the insurmountable disenfranchisement, disillusionment, and disconnection caused by the disproportionate mass incarceration of people of color which is the most pressing problem in the Twenty-first Century that threatens the quality of life and survival of African-Americans. It provides a model evidenced-based in-prison ministry of relevance to incarcerated persons of color in particular and others in general, as they prepare to return to their families and communities (See author’s book titled, How Shall They Hear: Effective Preaching to Prisoners for Evidenced-Based Ex-Prisoner Reentry Ministry Models, Townsend Press, Nashville, TN).
A Wide Door of Opportunity: A Ministry of Relevancy
Celebration in the Shadows Pledge /195
The Gathering /196
The Journey /199
The Arrival /205
Determination at the Gate /205
Get Ready for the Screening /206
Dress Code for Visitors /207
The Dinner Fellowship /208
The Worship Celebration /209
The Road Home /219
Let’s Do it Again! /219
CHAPTER 7 /224
DESCRIPTION
Chapter seven asserts that in the context of change in the twenty-first century, we must truthfully acknowledge that many people are looking for alternative ways and structures to share the essence of their faith and practice despite denominational affiliation, tradition, culture, ethnicity and racial background. With this in mind, it presents a short term and long range progressive ministry vision plan for pastoral leadership and service for the Twenty-first Century Church-in-the-Black Experience. It focuses particularly on how newly called pastors should prepare to enter a new ministry field and set structures in place to build upon a legacy and raise a standard for the future.
A Model Twenty-First Century Progressive Short and Long Range Ministry Vision Plan for Pastors Called to Service in the Church-in-the-Black Experience
Individual Leadership Assessment /224
Joint Leadership Strategic Planning and Development /225
Leadership Advisory Council /225
Diaconate Ministry /226
Trustee Ministry /228
Congregation /228
Preaching and Worship /229
Teaching Ministry /230
Healing Ministry /230
Pastoral Team Assignments /231
Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor /242
Community Outreach and Evangelism /244
Ecclesiastical and Denominational Affiliation /244
Traditional Church Ministries /245
Non-Traditional Church Ministries /248
Pastoral Services Agreement for the Twenty-First Century Progressive Church /255
CHAPTER 8 /268
DESCRIPTION
Chapter eight provides a model ministry resource where participating organizations use mentoring as an evidenced-based practice and reduction strategy to mitigate risk factors for boys and young men of color in at-risk situations ages 6 to 24 to include: Students who may reside in neighborhoods with high rates of crime and poverty and who may have low performance in school; Children in Foster Care, Children of Incarcerated Parents, Out-of-School Youth, and Incarcerated Youth to be released to target area. The intent of the Project is to help boys and young men of color facing tough odds stay on track and reach their full potential by seeking remedies through networks of local faith-based, community-based and government agencies to help make their outcomes more positive and productive.
An Evidenced-Based Model Ministry of Relevance: Ready4Life Manhood Training and Mentoring Project for Boys and Young Men of Color
Project Abstract /268
Project Description /269
Purpose, Goals and Objectives /270
Method of Evaluation /274
Need for Project /274
Accessibility of Services /278
Numbers of Eligible Boys and Young Men of Color in Project Target Area /279
Results and Benefits Expected /280
Approach /282
Staff and Position Data /293
Organizational Profile /296
Appendices
Job Descriptions-I /299
Mentor/Mentee Recruitment and Marketing Plan-II /308
Sample Monthly Desk Audit-III /316
Manhood Principles, Boys to Men Covenant and Social Skills Training Curriculum-IV /324
Weekly Program Schedule-V /330
Illustrative Sample Budget Narrative-VI /332
Project Timeline-Activities-VII /343
Volunteer Mentor Application, Contract, Behavior Policy and Training Schedule-VIII /363
Preface
This book is designed to foster conversation, cooperation and collaboration for and within the Church-in-the-Black-Experience to develop strategies, even through rebranding herself, if necessary, in order to return to her first love which has always been revolutionary, radical and relevant in terms of her mission to make the wounded whole. She must return to her unique forms of spirituality and sacred heritage that includes celebration and adaptation along with liberation and find her way back to relevant, righteous, and ready leadership and service for the twenty-first century.
There are many voices that are calling for a change and redirection in the Church-in-the-Black-Experience’s denominational life, oftentimes not giving any real suggestions, but more often than not, what is seen is a surrender to a lethargic blended and multi-cultural religious experience, which although truer to the biblical presentation of the church universal, focuses more on praise and worship (celebration) and ignores the call for adaptability and liberation. In my community when you talk about blended and/or multi-cultural churches what you actually see are African-Americans filling congregations of what is traditionally the Church-in-the-White-Experience, and abandoning the church of their ancestors.
In this context of change in the twenty-first century, we must truthfully acknowledge that many people are looking for alternative ways and structures to share the essence of their faith and practice despite denominational affiliation, tradition, culture, ethnicity and racial background. Some have said what’s appealing about the Church-in-the-White-Experience, which attracts and appeals mostly to the Black middle class, is the organizational structure, logical and practical strategic planning, and intellectual content, and have found the Black preacher, who is too emotional and unorganized, unable to attract, equip and retain them in their churches. When praise and worship on the mountain, with all of the props and presentation is over, the work of the church must continue in the valley. I remember hearing an old Baptist sainted mother of the church say, “Son, it’s not how high you jump, but it’s how you live when you come down.” The Church-in-the-Black Experience must return to be that church where Jesus is truly Lord, the gospel is faithfully and prophetically preached, the spiritual disciplines are wholeheartedly practiced, the beauty of Christian Fellowship is joyfully experienced, and the people of God are highly favored.
The late Dr. Howard Thurman has a quote in his book entitled, Disciplines of the Spirit, that tells this allegory. “An old mother duck brought her young ducklings down to what had once been a pond. Since her last brood of ducklings, the pond had become nothing but baked mud. But the mother did not realize this. She stood on the bank urging the ducklings to go down, swim around, and disport themselves on the chickweed where there was no water and the chickweed had long since disappeared. While she was doing this, her ducklings with their fresh young instincts smelled the chickweed and heard the water way up above the dam. So they left their mother beside her old pond to go to quest of other water…They said to her as they left, “mother, for you and all the generations of your ducklings before us, this may have been good water, but, if you and yours would swim again, it must be in other waters.” [1] It should be understood at once that in responding to the inner urge, there is no intention to be destructive or irreverent; it is simply a response to a basic urge upon which in a very large since, the continuation of life depends. It is for many, if you will, the will to live, and such an inner urge must not be ignored with neither a slow response nor no response, but indeed honored. Otherwise, the beat goes on!
TO Nancy
AND TO
The faithful members of the congregations I have been honored to serve and lead as the Shepherd and CEO over the course of my now more than 30 years in the pastoral ministry. I’m so grateful for the grace, as both unmerited favor and opportunity, given to me to serve as your Pastor and Teacher. Many of the individual relationships with members of these diverse ministry fields are still in tack and provide thoughtful, provocative and wonderful reflections of working in the Lord’s vineyard and producing fruit together. All that I am and have become is because of your willingness to accept God’s Will in your Call extended to me to serve and lead you into challenging and life changing ministry.
Each unique setting allowed for my personal growth and development and understanding of the life, work and place of the Church in the context of controversy, challenge and change in both the twentieth and twenty-first century society. These extraordinary congregations include: King of all Nations Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois; Union Missionary Baptist Church, Danville, Illinois; Van Buren Missionary Baptist Church, Gary, Indiana; Mount Zion First Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Greater First Church Baptist, Baker, Louisiana. As a result of serving these congregations, some have said that I have come to be, “intellectually sound, culturally sensitive, prophetically centered and spiritually anointed,” as the Reverend Dr. Charles G. Adams, Pastor of the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan and former President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., have said of a new generation of relevant and prophetic preachers who have “come to themselves.” [2]
INTRODUCTION
According to Dr. Wilbur M. Smith Professor of English Bible, Fuller Theological Seminary, a contributor to the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, all of the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia in the book of Revelation follow the same sequence. Each begins with a phrase descriptive of the exalted Christ, who is addressing the churches. And each descriptive phrase is found in the preceding chapter in John’s account of his vision of the risen Christ. In each letter, with the exception of the ones to Laodicea and Sardis, Christ’s first words are those of commendation. This commendation is always followed by some details regarding the condition of the church, leading to a rebuke and warning with the exception of Philadelphia and Smyrna, which received no rebuke. Each letter concludes with a promise to those believers who overcome.[3]