Pastor’s Corner July 2007

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

“No Letdown!”

My experience as a soccer player and coach has taught me that the most dangerous time to be scored on is immediately after scoring a goal. Soccer is a marathon sport with relatively few goals scored. The field is huge and the game time, at a minimum of 90 minutes, is longer than any other team sport. To the uneducated observer, soccer games can seem boring with so little scoring. To the soccer aficionado however, a 1-1 draw or 2-1 victory can be a thing of action-filled beauty. Despite the general lack of goals scored, it is remarkable how goals come in clusters when they do come. It is very common for a game to go scoreless, then, when one team scores, the other roars back with a goal or two. All the scoring in the game can take place in a short five to ten minute window. I believe this phenomenon is largely psychological. It takes so much teamwork, effort, and perseverance to put a soccer ball in the opposing team’s net, that when it is finally accomplished, the tendency is for the scoring team to relax its effort and experience what I call a “let down”. This “let down” can cost a team dearly, as the other team capitalizes on the depleted intensity and scores almost immediately. Over the years, as a player and a coach, I have learned to call out, “NO LETDOWN !” The players know exactly what I mean. Even though we are elated, and probably tired, we are also at our most vulnerable.

This “let down” can happen in the life of a church as well. The ministry of our church is a marathon not a sprint. We are coming up to a tremendous high point in the history of our church– the completion of our sanctuary for the worship of God. This sanctuary will be a bold statement in the midst of our community concerning what we believe about the greatness of God. Hopefully, it will draw many inquirers in for a closer look; and we, as a congregation, will rise to the task of welcoming and introducing them to our Lord. I am excited about this new phase for our church and am certain that the congregation is also. There was an excitement in and around the church after the steeple was placed on June 20th. We are on the cusp of a tremendous high point in our church’s life.

Therefore, my dear sisters and brothers- “NO LETDOWN!” It might be natural to have a psychological letdown after entering the new sanctuary. A new sanctuary is an awesome blessing and an effective ministry aid, however, it does not symbolize that we have arrived. We are only just beginning to fulfill God’s directive for us. The sanctuary is a new beginning, not the end of a journey. Please commit this to consideration and prayer. We cannot “let off” or “let down” in our ministry mindset and effort. There is far more that has to be done.

Redeemer’s goal is not to become a mega-church but rather a healthy, self-duplicating, mid-sized church that maintains a sense of community and personal spiritual nurture for all of her members. As we do this, we will also endeavor, in God’s strength, to have a major impact on our immediate surroundings. This impact will occur not because of our size, but through the transformed lives of our members and consistent, faithful proclamation of the doctrines of grace.

“NO LETDOWN!” Catch the long-range vision with me! I see Redeemer members and families used by God as agents of change in our community to bring many to the Son. Beyond this, I envision paying off our financial obligation in order to free us to use half of our general budget to support local and foreign missionaries (some of whom will come from our own church). I can visualize our school growing and graduating students who go on to change their world for Christ.
I picture Redeemer starting a church-based, theological night school and biblical counseling center that gives area
Christians and current church leaders the opportunity to study God’s Word and world in a formal setting – a sort of mini-seminary right here on our property- The Institute for Reformation. I look forward to Redeemer planting her first daughter church some day. All of this to say- “NO LETDOWN!”

In the Lamb,
Pastor Tony Felich