Sparking the Flame

Written By Kristin Ruther, Aspen Group Customer Relations Coordinator

I have often been taken off-guard by Dave Ferguson.  He is so unassuming and personable that you forget how many wonderful ministries he has fashioned; from Verge, Exponential, New Thing Network, and Community Christian Church, to co-authoring two books.  If you follow him on Twitter @daveferguson, you’ll see a man who has seasons of frequent travel, yet saves time to coach to his son’s sports teams.  So when he took time to speak with a group of over 80 leaders last week for the Aspen Group Pastors lunch, I knew it would be enlightening.  He didn’t disappoint.  Dave is a fire starter.

His first spark was challenging us to think differently.  Could we start something for people who won’t come to church?  This is the calling of every pastor, yet this Missional impulse is inside all lovers of God.  Dave stressed we need to recover the fact that we are a going and sending people.  But how do you accomplish this task?  Dave shared four practical ways: 

1. Find a way to ordain every Christ follower.  I Peter 2:9 talks about us as a chosen people.  Ask if there are a particular people or a particular place that they feel called.  Send them with your blessing.  Commission them to that ministry where God is leading.  Then follow up.
2. Lead with a ‘yes.’  Develop a culture with a yes reflex if you want a movement, not just a one-and-done ministry.
3. Teach people to ‘go’ not just ‘bring.’  Start with loving people and planting the gospel.  How do you plant the good news before you decide what the church program is?
4. Finally, be incarnational and apostolic, both deepening and sending.  Always bring people along side you.  Reproduction is important in any movement. 

I hope you have an opportunity to cross paths with Dave Ferguson.  You will see a spark from the Holy Spirit.  He loves God.  Until then, you can read his book, Exponential:  How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement.  It will change the way you think.