Be prepared!

Recently there has been more sharing via Facebook by people who grew up at Morrison Academy in Taiwan. This has brought back to life a number of memories. One of these was a picture of me and some friends at a Boy’s Brigade event in our school gym. Like the well-known Boy Scout motto, we were often reminded to “Be prepared,” including in our Bible lessons.

But so often in church life we aren’t prepared. We are so focused on church programs, maintenance and being in survival mode, that we don’t see the opportunities around us. At times we see possibilities, but we’re just simply lazy or fearful. Of course, we say we are too busy, but we get done what we really want to do.

Most of us know the Pareto Principle, more commonly known as the 80-20 rule. So we know who it’s best to ask to get church work done—those who are already busy. Many congregational leaders of all denominations complain about the high number of congregants who simply warm the pews, some for very good reasons, but many because they have other priorities.

So I’d encourage us to develop the attitude of being prepared as Jesus followers and church members. Often God simply plops opportunities right into our laps: to disciple others, to be discipled and to grow the kingdom of God.

In Mennonite Church Alberta, we have the opportunity to have two new congregations. South Sudanese and Chin groups have come to us, asking to join us in the last months.

Are we prepared? Are there individuals and congregations prepared to step up and help “shepherd—mentor—disciple” these individuals? Are we willing to open our doors and take the time and effort to develop relationships and share our Anabaptist theology and explain our area church culture? Are we able to cross the language bridges and learn from these two people groups, which have much to teach us? I’m happy to say that individuals and one congregation are in the process of answering these two calls.

For a number of years I’ve encouraged congregations to add an extra line to their budget. I title it “God Opportunities.” I think to have such a line in every budget is a missional statement. It’s an attitude of “Be prepared.” God is going to bless us with an opportunity or two or three that we can’t imagine when we vote on the budget. So in MC Alberta’s budget for 2012, we have $2,500 budgeted for new ministries in the missions category. We don’t have a clue at this time how this money will actually be used. But we’re expectant!

A benefit of such a line item is that, when opportunity strikes, we don’t have to fundraise for seed money. We already expect God to give us ministry opportunities to explore and we’re prepared! But most of all, we have a congregational culture of expectation that God will use us for kingdom work.

Dan Graber is MC Alberta’s area church minister.