During my first full-time pastorate, I learned a very important
and valuable lesson as our church sought God’s will in constructing a new
building. The Building Committee had worked very hard and we paid a good deal
of money to a renowned architect.
During my first full-time pastorate, I learned a very important
and valuable lesson as our church sought God’s will in constructing a new
building. The Building Committee had worked very hard and we paid a good deal
of money to a renowned architect. Finally, at a specially-called business meeting,
we were ready to proceed with the vote. Shockingly, the recommendation for this
building passed by only a slim margin. Those of us involved in the process were
dismayed.
Then, a very interesting thing happened. One of our elderly
deacons stood up and addressed the gathering. He said that although the motion
passed, it would be unwise to proceed given the small margin of victory. We
dare not undertake such a weighty endeavor, he explained, without the vast majority
of members behind it. He then made a motion that we not proceed with plans to
construct the new building. It passed overwhelmingly.
In subsequent weeks, we learned what was the real heart of
our people for a new building. More importantly, we learned what God’s
perfect will was for our church.
Eventually, the Building Committee recommended a completely different direction
for a new building. At this special business meeting, it passed unanimously.
What a blessing that church now enjoys with its marvelous multipurpose building!
And … what a valuable lesson I learned about church people,
voting, and God’s will. Although we “won” and got a majority
of the vote, it was obviously not God’s will to proceed. I can only imagine
the disaster that would have come if we were arrogant enough to proceed because
we “had the vote,” but failed to stop and ask if this was really the
perfect will of the Lord. This is an important lesson from which all of us can
and should learn.
Matthew D. Wohlfarth
Senior Pastor
FBC, Hammond