Pastor of The Big Screen?

         Mountain Lake had made the decision to go Multi-site with our mission. Our goal is to launch 4-5 new campuses of MLC in the N. Georgia region over the next ten years. However, I will NOT be broadcasting MYSELF to any of those campuses via video. We have mad a commitment to utilize LIVE, IN PERSON teaching at each of these campuses. Why? Here are my reasons:
        First of all,  I am concerned that the "Video Venue" movement is pressuring many Senior Pastors to perpetuate "doing the ministry"  instead of "equipping" people for ministry when it comes to teaching. The Bible is clear as to what our role is to be as Senior Pastors: "He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT). We apply this Scripture to every area of our church. Why not to teaching?
        Last night, our newest Student Pastor, David Isbell, taught for the first time at Mountain Lake. He has been teaching for years to Students, but it was the FIRST TIME a Senior Pastor had ever given up the stage for him. By the way, he did a GREAT job, and has a definite teaching gift. That gift would have never been discovered, or developed, however, if he hadn't been given the opportunity. What did I do this past week instead of prepare a message? I helped him prepare. I coached him. I critiqued. He will tell you it wasn't all fun. But when it was all said and done,  this young pastor had been equipped well to teach. This weekend at MLC simply confirmed the calling I have felt God put on my heart for some time: to spend my life raising up and equipping young leaders to lead His church in the future. A big part of that equipping will be the need to help them "fan into flame" the gift of teaching" by becoming better communicators. How can they do that if they're never given the opportunity? If they're never given any coaching and encouragement in this area of ministry?
        Another reason I am not a proponent of  the "Pastor of the Big Screen" is because I am committed to NOT building our church around one person or personality. For far too long, churches have been built by, and then crumbled due to the absence of, a GREAT communicator. I have watched over and over again, while a great church goes into steep decline after a highly gifted preacher or teacher moves to another church, or retires from the ministry.  I literally believe it is poor stewardship on the part of the Senior Pastor, NOT to have a succession plan for someone to take his job when he leaves a church. I believe it's even a bad idea to NOT have a plan for the leadership of the teaching ministry, in case something happens to us when we HAVEN'T prepared for it!
        I was once speaking to a pastor of a large church who was getting ready to launch two new sites of their campus via "video venue". I asked him: "Aren't you concerned that this is  a step toward building the church more around you as a great communicator? What if something were to happen to you suddenly? What would happen to the church?" His answer was (I'm not kidding): "What do I care? I'll be in Heaven!" Yes, he laughed when he said it, but I have been troubled by that exchange, ever since. Therefore, I am committed to working as hard as I can to see that the day I disappear from the scene at MLC, the ministry and the teaching will be better THE NEXT DAY! To me, THAT'S success! We all know that there's no success, without a successor. Why aren't  Pastors applying this principle to teaching?
         Currently at MLC, I am teaching 55% of the time. Rodney Anderson, our current Teaching Pastor that bears a large percentage of the teaching load behind me, had NEVER TAUGHT in church six years ago, when I gave him his first opportunity to do so. This year he will have a half dozen speaking engagements all across the nation, including Big Stuf Camps, this year! This is one reason why we have a plan at MLC to raise up and equip up to 18 Pastors who have the gift of teaching over the next ten years, and utilizing them at our various campuses.  Can you imagine the impact this "equipping" can have over time?
           The last reason I'll give today for our commitment to reproducing communicators is...me! I am committed as a Lead Pastor, to make it for the long haul: To NOT burn out; To stay married; and raise kids that don't HATE the ministry! How am I going about that task? By teaching less! By working hard, but playing hard with my family! By working as much or more on the strategic future of our church, than I am preparing for a sermon each week. When I teach less, I really do believe that my family and the church will be healthier in the long run. What more reason do we need  to raise up, equip, and takes risks on new communicators?
        Don't get me wrong. I'm not stupid. I'm totally aware our church may not grow as rapidly numerically in the short run, because I'm not up there teaching 45-48 times a year. I know there are a lot of Consumer Christians out there that expect a "!0" sermon the first time they visit a church. I get that. they may just move on if I'm not up there teaching when they visit. But here's the question: Is my job REALLY building attendance as quickly as possible, or equipping leaders to launch a movement that is not centered around me, can far out last me, and be exponential in nature over time?  You answer the question...

Comments

[Mike Little]

Shawn,

Great post! I'm so thankful that you have a vision for multiplication! Creating an environment where people can discover and develop their gifts is not easy and requires a leader who has a true desire to put others and kingdom ministry first. It also takes a person with great vision. I have been privileged to watch that vision grow and bloom at Mountain Lake.

When I planted Midtown, I would have LOVED to have the environment you envision at MLCC. Because of that experience, I actively look for other church planters/new ministers to give them a safe place to connect and grow.

What you and your team are doing is fantastic…THANKS!

- Mike

[Crystal Corn]

Shawn...we really do have one of the coolest churches in the world. I really appreciate it that you communicate to all of us that we do not attend "Shawn Lovejoy's Church" but we attend "God's church". High Five! Oh, and I hope Dave keeps teaching as he did this weekend.It was really a home-run!
So...there's my 2cents.

[Joni]

Hey Shawn, clicked over from your comment on Floating Axhead. I couldn't agree more with the concept of team teaching. It is so important to utilize GOOD teaching and to equip others. Huge, huge, huge deal to me.

[Scott]

Shawn - Thanks for the heads-up on the post. Great perspective from the Pastor's standpoint.

In some ways, the new-age Pastor's of the Big Screen can resemble those televangelists from the 80's.

While there are challenges surrounding this method, there are also opportunities. If you keep the focus on God and toward leading others to Christ, there are a lot of advantages.

We'll pray that God blesses your multi-site adventure.

[Leslie]

Shawn,
I don't know what to say to your blog except "WOW"!

God has worked through you so much and always knows what words to give you.

God Bless,
Leslie

[Jeff Mangum]

bro,

that's so rich. thanks for speaking what has been itching in my heart for a while...so, so good. keep pouring into those leaders!

[paul]

Lovin it man!

Paul

[Jason Curlee]

Wow...This is my first visit to your site Shawn and first post to read. What a fantastic heart? After reading this I subscribed immediately. Your words ring so true.

Much of ministry today is centered around one person. And that person isn't Christ. Many and I do mean many churches are set up based on the pastor personality. You laid it out so well...bravo.

[Bryan]

Great post, Shawn. I'm a student minister who loves to preach so it's no surprise that I agree with you 1,000%.

Liked your thoughts on video-venue. That's a gutsy post; be careful, the POTBS (pastors of the big screens) may unite to squash the rebellion.

Keep blogging, I enjoy reading!

[Bill]

Great post, Shawn. I have wrestled and asked for discernment regarding what is becoming one of the newest trend. All your reasons are solid and I would agree with them all. Another reason, though has grabbed my concern for video Multi-site, and that is the loss of the power of the incarnation. Preaching is more than just communicating information, there is an incarnational dynamic to it that gets lost when it's done exclusively via video. This thought has been germinating for some time and I need more time to tease it out. Anyway, great post.