Church competition and the sheep stealing/transfer growth myth
While potentially provocative, it’s important to discuss the issue of church competition as we progress toward revival.
It hits me very deeply, and it saddens me so much when I encounter a spirit of competition within the landscape of the church.
This issue is rampant and it has resulted in a weakened, compromised city church structure, which is extremely problematic as we prepare for revival.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 (ESV) 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
This passage is written with leaders in mind. It’s important to know how to behave in the household of God… and how not to behave.
Keep in mind, scripturally the church is identified by the larger city, by geography. It’s the Church at Ephesus, not the First Church of Jesus Christ and the Second Church of Jesus Christ and such and such Baptist church in the city of Ephesus. We don’t see the local church in the Bible, though God has and will move powerfully through local, smaller groups within the larger city Church. However, we have to understand that local churches are simply departments of a single city Church. Senior pastors are departmental leaders under the apostolic leadership of the city.
The call of leaders is to raise up a company of burning ministers of God with the expectation of seeing them released into world shaking endeavors. Some will be released into ministry in other cities, some will be released into other expressions of the church in their own city, while others will remain directly involved where they were trained.
But, everybody must be trained and released. The message to Timothy continues:
1 Timothy 4:14-15 (ESV) 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
Everybody must be progressing.
prog·ress n. 1. Movement, as toward a goal; advance.
Everybody under my care at Revival Church must be moving! If someone is not able to progress, to move, to advance in their ministry due to nervous pastors, it is a serious violation of God’s instructions to the Church. As I said, movement may take people out of a local ministry and into the place they are called to advance into, and we as leaders must celebrate when that happens.
A spirit of Pharaoh within spiritual leaders will do everything possible to keep their people from leaving into their wilderness of encounter, into their destiny.
That unhealthy spirit of Pharaoh will use people to fulfill leader’s personal endeavors, and any thought of those people leaving will strike them with fear and anger. A divisive, controlling spirit is embraced while people who are meant to fulfill their destinies are required to continue making the bricks of a man-made Egypt.
SHEEP STEALING
I didn’t realize how much a simple statement would set someone free.
A new friend had been through a troubling situation at a church and her transition out was filled with unfortunate and unnecessary struggle and guilt.
She cautiously started to investigate Revival Church from her place of fear and pain. We were discussing our pursuit as a church of freedom in Detroit one day, and I told her, “I don’t own you. I don’t own people here. As a pastor, my role is to serve you, not use you.”
That simple statement changed her life dramatically and caused her to breathe more easily.
I often tell the people who are pressing ahead with great commitment and focus at Revival Church that I, as their leader, have wide open hands. They aren’t my possession, they are my joy. Anybody from any church or ministry can, at any time, openly recruit any person at Revival Church. I have open hands. Sheep stealing cannot happen at Revival Church because it’s impossible to steal what someone freely gives.
Additionally, I know that my church is simply a department of the city church. I am not an island to myself. I’m not the supreme leader (yeah, doesn’t that sound ridiculous?). It would be silly for a local church’s single’s pastor to refuse to allow someone in his ministry to also commit to a weekly small group in the same local church. The same is true within the context of the city church. It makes no sense to presume people running with us at Revival Church wouldn’t also have opportunities to serve in other local ministries. My job, as 1 Tim 4:14-15 declares, is to lay hands on them and allow them to immerse themselves in their ministry, to practice, to progress, and I realize that much of that practice will take place in places other than Revival Church.
If a pastor in Detroit encourages one of my key leaders to serve on his leadership team, then I should celebrate! And I do! They aren’t stealing one of my sheep. We are on the same team, in the same church!
A youth pastor once confronted a friend of mine, who was a youth pastor at a thriving youth ministry in Texas. He very boldly, full of agitation, accused my friend of stealing his sheep because many of the youth from his church were also attending my buddy’s youth ministry.
My friend boldly replied, “How is it that you are accusing me of stealing sheep that simply wandered away from you? It doesn’t sound like you are feeding them what they need.”
Now, there is some merit (harsh but true) to that reply. However, another scenario might very well be more accurate. Is it possible that the other youth pastor was so successful at cultivating hunger for God that his disciples were making determined decisions to go after God with abandon—beyond the walls of their local church? Is it possible that their ‘wandering’ could be looked at as a sign of success on his part? I think that might be the case!
I have to tell you, I absolutely come alive when people under my care are moving about the city involving themselves in other churches and ministries. I love it! I want them to carry the fire of God into every place they can every single week!
TRANSFER GROWTH
We often hear that churches should not focus on transfer growth, on growing as people from other churches start connecting in the new church. Of course, I agree that we must see the church globally grow through evangelism, through conversion growth. The lost must be found. However, a common reason we hear some pastors renouncing transfer growth is because of insecurity and nervousness. They don’t want to lose anybody because that loss would equate to lost money, lost reputations, lost control, etc.
Again, we must expect people to participate in a variety of churches and ministries in the city Church. Since we are all in a single city Church, people moving from one local expression to another does not mean they are leaving one church for another. They are still in the city Church. If someone moves from the single’s ministry to a small group, there’s no transfer growth for the small group. The city Church has remained exactly the same size.
We must also admit that any single local church simply doesn’t have everything necessary to equip everybody. In fact, we’d be a much stronger city Church if we understood that. I am able to focus on the vision God has given me at Revival Church, and I don’t have the pressure to be an expert in everything. I can encourage people to connect in another church that’s strong where I am weak. And, if they feel they must spend the majority of their time there, under the leadership of a person who’s more able to give them what they need, then that is great! They can transfer from my local church to theirs, but the city Church has not lost…it has actually won. That person will now be more able to grow and progress, and the city church will be the better for it.
COMPETITION
This is where the gloves have to come off. It’s a serious violation of God to foster a spirit of competition.
I was with a well known apostle who has a huge heart for revival in Detroit. He has a lot of influence and a very successful church in another state. He felt led to make several trips to serve Detroit, and on this particular trip he was with a group of pastors. He said, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to move here and start a church.” Everybody laughed.
While funny, I was disturbed by that exchange.
Why would the thought of this man opening another department in the growing city church cause other pastors to worry?
Of course, I know the answer. Because a successful man starting a new church would threaten their own kingdoms.
I don’t want to be overly dramatic, but I have to say that actually sickens me. People are going to Hell and pastors are worried about another ministry being successful? Sick.
Dr. James Emery White said: If you think a new church opening up in your area is a threat to your “mission field”, you need mission lessons.
Mark 3:24-25 (ESV) 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
Is there any wonder why there is no revival at a city level anywhere in the nation? The city Church is divided tragically. There is gossip about pastors and churches. There is fear and nervousness when other churches succeed. Hands are closed tight, not opened wide. The sheep are being used not served. People are jealous and divisive. This must end. Jesus is the head of the church and we have to finally let him govern freely.
3 John 1:9-10 (ESV) 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
This is a powerful verse. This is descriptive of situations that repeat every day in cities all over the world. Diotrephes gossiped and slandered and aggressively divided threatening people out of the church. Anybody that was a threat to his own preeminence was dealt with swiftly.
Contrary to this worldly, demonic approach to church leadership, look at how Jesus led:
Mark 9:35 (ESV) 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
That is leadership, and that is how we must approach other churches and ministries.
Every Friday night from 10pm-midnight our team travels to different church somewhere in the Detroit region. We pray in the Spirit and release blessing over that church, that pastor and their mission. I tell them that my prayer is for their church to grow much bigger than my own. I want them to receive greater offerings than we do. If they want some of my team to join their team, they are free to approach them about it.
Additionally, the call is for every pastor that we visit to join us every Friday night in another church and to pray the same things there. Can you imagine what would happen if every pastor in Detroit did that with us every Friday night? Revival would land nearly immediately.
One last point is critical: We cannot hold onto people so tightly that they are unable to respond to the greater, regional call. If something in the city church requires people from my team to move out of position in my local ministry and into position into the city ministry, I have to release them. A spirit of Pharaoh will keep people away from the greater calling. It will be common, as revival lands, for people in local ministries and churches to move out to serve regionally.
This will be a challenge for many. What do I do if my worship leader is tapped to serve the department that’s over my own? I let her go and trust God that he’ll ensure everything locally is covered. In fact, if it’s a city Church event, it would make more sense to shut down my ministry for the day or week and head out with everybody, in the spirit of Moses, into the greater, regional mission.
So, how about it church? It’s time to celebrate the growth of the city church, to release the people under our care, to burn with love and to lock arms with other Believers in the region—even if it means our own ministry shrinks. People with that type of heart will be exalted and rewarded as those with a heart after God’s own.
I think pastors are not trying to control people as much as folks say they are. While they are controlling, they are really trying to control their environment. A few folks leaving could lead to lots leaving which causes potential hits to the church finances. It is this desire to control uncontrollable variables like attendance and finances that pastors manipulate people. Still evil and against the spirit of the church, nonetheless, you can’t leave the money equation out of the picture.
This money part is why it is so hard for young evangelists to get speaking gigs. Churches don’t want their people on another mailing list, don’t trust the evangelist to take their own offering or sell them a potion or cure.
Good article though.
Yep, it is often a money issue, unfortunately. If it were a relationship issue, you’d see it come across in a more healthy way. I think it’s great to relationally coach and encourage people under our care to consider staying…but it has to be about the person’s good… about nurturing them. If it’s determined that they are to be elsewhere, then send them on… even if they take a huge tithe check with them. God truly, really, totally is the provider… not people.
Hey John, It was great to see you at Emerging Church in Ct. fews ago. You are so on target with what you wrote & am in total ageement with you. Roger & I have often shared with each other the very things you wrote in this article. We’ve been having house meetings on Friday nights & have been getting people from various church’s coming out. We pretty much tell them receive the fire & the annointing & take it back to your church. We’ve met with a couple of the pastors in the area & praise God they don’t feel threatened by us but actually have blessed us & have made announcements in their churchs of what we’re doing of Friday nights. I love this, it’s all about the unity of the church. The Lord has recently given us direction to start a Sunday Church to meet the need of many who’ve been coming on Friday nights who don’t attend any church. We’ve decided once we make the announcement of this new church, to tell people to continue to remain in their church’s & bless them. Unfortunately church growth is really church transference. We look forward to do prophetic evanglism & bring in the lost & the unchurched. We would be greatful if you would pray for us & that the unity would continue & even strenghten with the local church’s in our area. Bless you.
Hey John, It was great to see you at Emerging Church in Ct. fews ago. You are so on target with what you wrote & am in total ageement with you. Roger & I have often shared with each other the very things you wrote in this article. We’ve been having house meetings on Friday nights & have been getting people from various church’s coming out. We pretty much tell them receive the fire & the annointing & take it back to your church. We’ve met with a couple of the pastors in the area & praise God they don’t feel threatened by us but actually have blessed us & have made announcements in their churchs of what we’re doing of Friday nights. I love this, it’s all about the unity of the church. The Lord has recently given us direction to start a Sunday Church to meet the need of many who’ve been coming on Friday nights who don’t attend any church. We’ve decided once we make the announcement of this new church, to tell people to continue to remain in their church’s & bless them. Unfortunately church growth is really church transference. We look forward to do prophetic evanglism & bring in the lost & the unchurched. We would be greatful if you would pray for us & that the unity would continue & even strenghten with the local church’s in our area. Bless you.
Hi!!
Great to hear from you. I think we will see some quick revival when we all start pressing ahead together. It’s challenging, but we just have to do it!
Blessings!!
John,
Interesting article on the city church but I am left with some questions:
You say there is no local church in the Bible but a “single city church.” Paul closes Romans saying “greet the church that is in their (Pricilla and Aquila) house.” Since a church can only rightly be called a city church, what city did Pricilla and Aquila’s house embody? What about Philemon? Paul’s letter was to the church at Philemon’s house. Did Philemon’s house comprise a whole city too?
It seems like your flexible on this “city church” notion because you mention quite a bit about regions, and the “greater, regional mission.” So which is it, a city church or a region church? If I live in Fraser, Michigan, is it Biblical to say the “Church of Fraser?” And is the “Church of Fraser” restricted to the four square miles of the city boundaries?
If I live in Clinton Township, Michigan, can I even have a church? After all it’s a township, it does not even have a city government with a mayor, etc. So I gather it would be unbiblical to say “The Church of Clinton Township.” If we can only have city churches I guess the people in a township can’t have a Biblical church. That must be true for people in a village too.
Since Paul wrote to Titus in Crete and instructed him to ordain elders in every city, evidently there were many cities comprising the “Church of Crete.” It is clear then that Paul has indicated on an island there can be only one church, even an Island with many cities like Crete can only have one church and that’s the island church. I am guessing this will require some teaching in Australia, Hawaii, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and so on.
My questions boil down to these:
1. If “scripturally the church is identified by the larger city, by geography” how is that Pricilla and Aquila, and Philemon had churches in their houses that Paul clearly identified with words like this: “the church in thy house” (Philemon 1:2) and “church that is in their house” (Romans 16:5)?
2. If “scripturally the church is identified by the larger city, by geography” who defines the boundaries and how are the boundaries defined?
3. Can a “city church” actually be a “region church” (for example, is there a “Metro Detroit” church which is actually a region comprised of several cities)? And if so, when do we know that the church should actually be a region church and not a city church?
4. If there is a “region church” how are the boundaries defined? Can one church overlap another?
5. What about the “island church” which (using your method of Biblical interpretation) is clearly articulated by Paul in his writing to Titus? Why didn’t you include the “island church” model in your article?
6. Titus was the head elder of the island church of Crete and he was assigned the task of ordaining city elders. Since you say current church leadership has been established demonically, how is the head elder of the geographical city/region/island church established?
7. Why do you call your church Revival Church? Isn’t that unbiblical? You meet in Warren, why aren’t you the “Church of Warren?”
Good questions.
1. It’s best said, “The Church that is in their house.” There are many smaller expressions of the city or regional church. There are healthy segments of the church that do meet in homes, in coffee shops, in traditional church buildings, etc. However, they aren’t to be autonomous. The government is important to understand. Apostles of the larger city and region give leadership that oversees the smaller expressions.
2. Typically, it’s established boundaries… setup by civil government… yet, depending on the location, how the people gather, it can expand to include larger regions. For example, we see in Detroit a single metro area that is marked by a prevailing spiritual climate and a geography that’s common to everybody here.
3. I believe we’ll see apostolic leaders over smaller cities. For example, Roseville might have key leaders who give leadership to churches in that city…but also who support leaders who have a greater authority over the region. It’s all about governmental alignment… serving, etc.
4. I’m sure churches can overlap…but, if they are that close you’d have to consider whether it’s one large region or not. They would want to connect and discuss their governmental strategy of leadership for the churches.
5. When I say an island church, I’m talking about a church that presumes to be autonomous… independent and disconnected from the greater body. Not an actual island surrounded by water.
6. See #5
7. Revival Church is a department of the city church of Warren, which is a department of the Detroit metro church.
Hi. I disagree but it is helpful to see where folks like you are coming from. I have had sheep(a large chunk of the youth group) stolen from my church recently, they probably think much as you do. This view of shepherding is lacking in a major way. In my case, they were welcomed into the church and invited to be a part of community, then proceeded to draw people away by cell church vision casting for their own church plant without consent or agreement of any kind from the overseers of this small (40ish) rural church. We live in a heavily new age/homosexual place where church planters usually cut and run after about a year or so. These planters have taken sheep from a body who have been served and ministered to through divorces, abuse, cult affiliation, homosexual lifestyle and such for 7 years, and gave no thought to the many disenfranchised Christians or unbelievers they could have spent their energy on locally. They have done harm to the unity of the body of Christ, both our expression, and by their poor example, they do harm to their own church in the long run. Who knows, perhaps they too will pack up and run like most church planters and leave in their wake more pain and disillusionment in the lives of those saints they hoped to fill their cells with. If so, we will still be there to continue serving them and discipling them into deeper Kingdom life. 1 Kings20:11 And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’”
When casting your vision and calling saints from other churches to be a part of your core team, be very very careful that those folks are called out of their fellowship and not just enticed by your new, fresh ideas with no battles under your belt. And don’t ever, ever, enter a local church community and draw folks specifically away from them, weakening the move of God in order to try and bolster your own ranks.
@dakine
Hi, I actually agree with most of what you are sharing. I don’t ever think it’s appropriate to usurp authority. We should honor other pastors who have been investing into people.
But, we have to be careful about being territorial… if someone in my church wants to join another church, I can speak into the situation, but the bottom line is that I don’t own them. They can make up their own mind.
I hit on both sides of this topic in my two books Covens in the Church and Pharaoh in the Church. The first is the body’s responsibility to leadership and the second is leadership’s responsibility to the body.
What is easy to forget is that local churches were never meant to be independent entities. They are all departments of a single city church. So, for someone to move from department to another is not all that unusual.
@johnburton @dakine thanks for your fast reply. I also found “a tale of three kings” by Gene Edwards helpful in putting these things in perspective. This is the hardest challenge I have had to face pastorally, because these people are NOT wolves: they are Bible teaching church planters. So I have been considering very carefully my response to their actions in light of eternity and the watching heavenly host , as well as submitting my perspective to multiple others in ministry. In fact the man overseeing me in my denomination is a cell church leader himself! Still, luring away youth and baby Christians from the body is a perverse act that I believe they are blinded to because of a lack of growth in their first year.
Pastor John, Thank you for this blog article. God has burdened my heart with a message Sheep, Stealing Sheep Counting Sheep. Long Island (where I am from) needs to hear this. Please hold my ministry in prayer as I deliver this message next month. The Bridge Connection – of Long Island, Lisa Lombardo. BTW, I’d love to pray over the local churches and do what you have at Revival Church. God Bless Brother.