Paul Clark
Recently, Larry Henderson our AGWM Europe Region Director, shared these profound words before a gathering of European missionary church planters. This statement stimulated my thinking and here are the results in an article which I posted on my pastor’s web platform in German speaking Europe.
“Dreams are not what you see when you sleep, but true dreams keep you awake at night.” (Friedhelm Holthuis)
“If a person feels too important to carry out small tasks, that person cannot to be entrusted to carry out larger ones. (Leo Bigger)
“Some people find it ten times easier to give a speech than to keep their word.” (Unknown)
The idea of dreaming big and doing small things well causes my mind as a leader to think in two directions.
First, when dreaming big, I would ask what is big?
One pastor might say big is having 200 people attend a special event Sunday morning and another pastor would be thrilled to have 40 people attend a church baptism.
Big can mean numbers but I am thinking in a totally different dimension. Here is what big might be:
- Leading one of my neighbors to the Lord.
- Seeing one of our own new converts begin leading the church’s youth group.
- Two of our children or grandchild decide to follow Christ.
- Experiencing a breakthrough in our marriage in an area where we have struggled for years.
- Seeing a church member who has a reputation for always being negative and full of contempt, experience the joy Lord, in such a way, that our church family truly witness, God has done something big.
I am sure you can add your thoughts to the list.
Doing small things well is the key to success in local church ministry.
- When I promise to call someone back, I make a note and call them.
- Making sure the church building is orderly and especially, that the restrooms are spick and span clean.
- Newcomers always feel welcomed and we remember their names when they come again. Also, we introduce them to other church members
- Taking time to genuinely listen, especially to those going through difficult times. A listening ear is more important than advice.Doing small things well is the best way to
Doing small things well is the best way to do big things even better.
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together,” said Vincent Van Gogh, highlighting that small actions, details, and moments constitute the foundation of a meaningful life. Small things matter because they accumulate, acting as the foundation for significant, lasting change.
When it comes to a dream, it is the vision from God that moves us forward. Without vision, we tend to drift aimlessly like driftwood, not knowing what we are doing, where we are going, or what the true meaning of our lives are. May God protect you and me from a driftwood existence. A driftwood existence is fatal for a marriage, a family or a church.
“Don’t be fearful of change. Be fearful of being stuck where you don’t want to be„ (Janannes Proverb)
As Jesus said, no one should put thier hand to the plow and look back. No famous evangelistic or world renowned apostle is coming to reach the lost in your village, city or area. We are to work with our giftings and work with those who are a part of our church. It’s not a coincident that you and your church are where you are today!
I heard Craig Groeschel once say: “We will do everything imaginable – except sin – to reach those do not know Jesus. To reach people whom no one has reached before, we must do things that no one else has done before.”
May God help you and me to be creative in our outreaches. Methods that worked well in years past, generally no longer work today. Our message never changes however methods do.
In conclusion, there is so much written and said about success. I love this simple definition I heard many years ago: “Success is knowing God’s will and doing it.” The results of our doing, we leave to the Lord.
Continue to dream big whatever that might mean for you. May you and your church also find ways to improve doing the small things you do well. In the end, small things are bigger than you or I can imagine.