Introduction
Jesus said to “see the harvest but pray the Lord of the harvest for laborers”. Truly the harvest is great, however, what are the laborers for and where is the shortage? The harvest is not just about harvesting the “wheat” during harvest time but rather a whole
process that not only culminates in harvesting but further to bring the “wheat” into the “mill” for
processing so that it will be useful for various consumption.
This process is complex and is made up of different departments, people, process flows and equipment all flowing together
to produce a product for public consumption. When this process breaks down, the
efficiency and effectiveness deteriorates and they go out of business.
How much more complex is the “harvest of the Lord”? The harvest
for the lost is the Church’s primary objective. The process is “discipleship”. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations.
Exactly how the Church is to do this is left to the Church with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit.
Bethel’s purpose of the “building project” is to build
a structure that is efficient and effective in the “harvest of the Lord”.
This structure uses the concepts discussed here to better fulfill the Church’s overall objective of “winning
souls for Christ”.
Imagine, the Church as a physical manufacturing plant. It receives new
believers; process/nurture them into Disciples of Christ. There is attention
to detail and processes to effectively and efficiently produce quantity products and still maintain quality. This attention to detail allows individuals to be productive.
When there is no organization, it becomes ineffective. How odd would it
be to see workers coming in and out to work when they want to, they don’t listen to management. People are put into positions without training but because they are available, they get to operate the
machines. They wait until management does the work and then watch them.
This scenario doesn’t look right.
The new believer will never be properly nurtured; it may even spoil and die.
It would have been just as good not to have harvested them in the first place.
The laborers that Jesus states that are needed is needed in the “mill”; the Church. The Church is in great need of skilled laborers. Yet
the work of the ministry has been left to the pastor or to paid staff. Slowly,
the Church has been declining in lay leadership and lacking involved members.
The mill also has equipment and processes that need to be tuned and working properly and it must work together. There needs to be organizational effectiveness.
The Church needs the gift of “operation”.
Different ministries often compete to recruit that newest member into their ministry so that they can be replaced after
being burnt out.
Ministries are like the different parts of the processing plant that needs to cooperate rather than compete. Everyone must work together to nurture the believer.
Purpose
The purpose of the project is to create a systematic approach for the Church to effectively and efficiently bring souls
into the kingdom and properly nurture them to be effective Disciples of Christ.
To improve methodologies and ministries of the church to promote quality growth as the church grows in quantity.
It will establish key areas that are necessary to nurture a believer.
Objectives
There are four areas of emphasis to be developed. These areas are equally
important and dependent on each other. They must all function properly and interactively
with each other to insure proper nurturing of a believer. They are:
Spiritual Growth
Church Community
Member Care
Evangelism
