God Is in the Details

One would think that over the years we have finally got planning an event right. That we understand how to improve the planning processes, have created a well-oiled machine that —barring acts of God— would run fairly smoothly. However, the opposite seems true. Churches in general seem to lack the general professionalism of planning events. One reason may be the constant change at the core orchestration of the event as the leadership for planning the event keeps changing. Instead of developing a sense of continuity and familiarity with the planning process, they instead spend a lot of time rehashing and revisiting the same issues from previous years. Members may shutter at the very idea of having to plan the annual special event again because they feel a lack of consistency in a systematic planning model. I have been present when members groan and look at the person next to them with dismay when the annual event is announced or the call for volunteers is made. You can almost hear them say in a not-so-discreet manner, “Has it been a year already?” “Can’t we say it’s an annual event, but don’t hold it yearly?” Another seems to momentarily regress into a comatose state as memories of the last annual event surfaces. Who can forget when Sister So-and-So was in charge? The memories of tense meetings, role confusion, snickering among members and backbiting seem so fresh. The frustration of the late night assembling of registration packets was only matched by the early morning disassembly of the same packets because someone inserted the wrong program. People not showing up as promised or arriving late and leaving early. And who can forget the near all out brawl between the two new members who, if it weren’t for pastor walking by just in time, would have made headline news in the local paper? Oh, No! You made up your mind then that it would take more than a burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea or a light from heaven to get you to say, “Here I am, Lord, use me” for any event again. It appears that the only person who is interested in the event is — well, actually no one. The pastor seems to dread having to impose on the congregation once more for their individual time and financial obligation. He too remembers being bombarded with complaints from members not wanting to work together, the conflict and near revolt of some of the membership threatening to leave if a certain chairperson did not step down. Committee leaders find reluctance on the part of members to volunteer. No one wants to fast and pray and then wonder why the event lacked the spiritual anointing they had hoped for. The many details that need to be addressed seem overwhelming. The declining economy has not helped as many are working with leaner household budgets and members seem to be keeping their wallets and purses closed and zipped, if not left at home on purpose. The enemy with all of his subtlety has succeeded in making church and religious events appear a chore and not worth all the trouble. Someone asks, “Where are the results of my hard work?” “Where are the new members?” “Where are the financial rewards from the fundraiser?” Without understanding that we are engaged in a spiritual battle when planning a church or religious event, we will constantly fall prey to the enemy’s devices. Knowing that any thing done for the Lord will be met with opposition, we must ready ourselves for the battle that will ensue (Ephesians 6:10-12). Know this that God will provide the help you need to succeed will get you through the difficult times of the planning process (Philippians 4;13). Remember, that the event provides a venue for God to speak to His people, encourage and strengthen those who may need His reassurance, and draw the unchurched to Him. Once we realize the event is more important to God then to us, we can step back and let Holy Spirit do the planning. How does the Holy Spirit lead us? There is sensitivity to the spirit that we must have. If all committee members strive to walk according to the Spirit and not according to their flesh, seeking God through prayer and supplication making our requests made known unto Him. He will guide us. Romans 8:1-10 says, 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.