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THE POWER OF re A season of reopening and reengaging is in front of us. The prefix “re” is used often in the English language. Re communicates the thought of going back or doing something again. There are literally hundreds of English words that use this prefix, and many of them communicate a positive exercise or experience. The use of the prefix “re” fits well in our Pentecostal cultural vocabulary. For example, the Psalmist prays to God “Restore us, O God of our salvation…Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:4 & 6) Peter challenges his audience to “Repent…and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 2:19). Restore, revive, refresh, even repent give us a positive sense of getting a do-over. Going back to make forward progress. This is the power of “re.” is a powerful benefit in going back to our foundations or roots. By reexamining our beginnings, we may “rediscover” the basis for which we function and operate. In Recalibrate Your Church, Troy Jones advocates for reviewing the history of your church. “Find out what got [your church] started and how it grew.” Sometimes, Jones says, “the path forward is found in reviewing the church’s (or ministry’s) original mission.” 1 If our purpose is to simply keep the lights on or the church doors open, we will have a difficult time inspiring ourselves and others to achieve great Kingdom results in outreach or ministry. In their book, Replant, Patrick and DeVine state that “Many times… churches have a valuable gospel DNA; a theological tradition, lost, that needs to be recovered; and a history of God’s faithfulness that needs to be retold.” 2 NETWORK SUPERINTENDENT | DONALD J. IMMEL | 717.795.5921 | DON@PENNDEL.ORG Our calendars are filled with annual occasions for “re.” Holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day reacquaint us with the precious gift of freedom and the price that was paid to obtain and maintain that liberty. Birthdays and anniversaries remind us of the preciousness of life and relationships. “Holy-days” such as Christmas and Easter (Resurrection Sunday) reinforce important events in God’s plan of redemption. It is not uncommon for churches, ministers or ministries to develop habits and trajectories that take them off course. It’s a subtle process of making incremental adjustments to meet current needs or demands. At first, there is no measurable harm. But after we have gone down the road for several years (or decades), ministers may find themselves functioning in a system that lacks mission, purpose or relevance. The result – ineffectiveness and tradition are the dominant outcomes and practices. There As we move toward the resolution of the coronavirus pandemic, rethinking and reevaluating some of our ministry practices will be necessary. Additionally, we will need to reimagine what ministries and activities will be appropriate and beneficial as we fully reopen. Some church activities will be reaffirmed because they are important, if not essential, to carrying out a full gospel ministry. Some programs may be removed because they don’t make the cut. So rethink, repray, revisit, recalibrate and reimagine what effective ministry and outreach will look like as the pandemic resolves. God is still in the “I-willbuild-my-church” business. A season of reopening and reengaging is in front of us. May God revive us spiritually, emotionally, physically and relationally to move forward in what will be a season of Kingdom-building opportunities. 1. Jones, Troy. Recalibrate Your Church: How Your Church Can Reach Its Full Kingdom Impact (p. 110). Kindle Edition. 2. DeVine and Patrick, Replant LEADERSHIPconnexion | Spring <strong>2021</strong> 3
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