Leading a church is both a challenging and rewarding proposition on any level and in any community. The Church is the only institution that Jesus left us, and the early Church impacted their world with a life changing message. It was known as the good news, and indeed it was, to the first century audiences who heard the message of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Much has changed in the two thousand years since the Church was empowered and launched at Pentecost. The message has not changed, but the method with which the message is delivered has changed and continues to change. As a Pastor I continue to be challenged by the demands of our culture, which seeks to marginalize the message and the institution of the Church of Jesus Christ.
This is why I am inspired when I see the Church flourishing. I have witnessed this in the congregation that I am privileged to lead, and on Christmas Eve, I was inspired to witness it on a much larger scale here in Arkansas. Like many families, we were up late on Christmas Eve, and we tuned into New Life Church's Christmas program, that was broadcast statewide. I was thankful for the effort and excellence of New Life's ministry, this being but one of the visible moments from a Church that inspires and serves people all year long. As I watched and reflected on my own experiences with NLC, I thought about the specific influence this Church has had in my life and leadership.
Literally thousands of Arkansans have been impacted by the ministry of Pastor Rick Bezet and New Life Church. I am one of them. As a young pastor struggling on many occasions to find my footing as a leader I have looked to others for guidance and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that "...fools despise instruction", so I look for every opportunity to avoid foolishness. Pastor Rick and the entire New Life Church have been open with their instruction and wisdom. And although we do not agree on every point, there is much that can be learned from the methods of New Life, that have made it the largest Church in Arkansas and one of the fastest growing in the nation. There are three big ways that NLC has influenced my life and ministry and the lives of many here in Arkansas.
1. Authenticity: New Life Church fosters a culture that rewards and embraces authentic expressions of Christianity. The buildings are not ornate on purpose, they would be the first to tell you that they are more interested in "people than in buildings". Pastor Rick Bezet is not a dynamic speaker, he is an authentic communicator who connects with people. If you are looking for profound explanations of deeply religious content you are unlikely to find it coming across the pulpits at New Life, what you will find are real people communicating in very real ways the truth of the gospel of Christ.
2. Generosity: New Life Church gives and gives big. Arkansans can count on New Life Church to be the hands and feet of Christ. New Life blesses people statewide through the Arkansas Dream Centers that minister to those struggling with poverty and hunger. But the giving goes beyond this. On many occasions Pastor Rick has opened the doors of his church for many pastors to learn and grow personally. I am one of those pastors who has been personally impacted by this generosity and for this I am very thankful. Not every faith community is in a position to be as generous as NLC, but we all can find ways to be generous in ways that impact the lives of others. NLC models generosity well.
3. Excellence: An often repeated axiom is that "Excellence inspires people and glorifies God." Although few churches have the resources of New Life, we can all learn to improve on the opportunities that God gives us. This philosophy of ministry is embraced by NLC and comes through in every thing that they produce. Some critics have suggested that NLC is simply a "McChurch", or one that focuses on reproducible systems to insure continuity across multiple campuses, but what I have experienced is genuine people with a desire to serve others and share the gospel with excellence. Thankfully many of these methods are reproducible, serving as a template for all of us who desire to faithfully share the gospel of Christ in the context of the Church with as many people as possible.
These are but a few of the reasons that NLC continues to have a credible voice for Christ in Arkansas. New Life isn't an institution without a need for change, no human institution is perfect. We all remain dependent upon God's grace as our source. As NLC continues to grow, they will be challenged with growing as deep as they are wide, as well as with the diverse communities and unique cultures of the state in its delta regions. Leading a Church is a challenge not matter its size, but we do not lead alone. Jesus has promised that the very "gates of Hell" will not prevail against His Church. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from others who are leading well. It is my prayer that as a leader I can continue to grow and learn from NLC, as I lead Jonesboro Worship Center into a greater future for the sake of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus speaking to John in the book of Revelation spoke of each Church in Asia having a "light" of influence. (Revelation 1:20) May God continue to bless the light and influence of NLC, because as a result, I believe all the lights of every Arkansas Church burn brighter for Christ!
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