Being a Lifeboat Church in a Cruise Ship World

This book uses the Titanic and story as a metaphor for reaching people for Christ and getting them into the lifeboat called the church. It tries to answer these three questions: Why aren't there enough churches (lifeboats) launched or planted? Why isn't the average Christian that sits every week in the lifeboat called the church not actively trying to fill the empty seat next to them? What can we as Christians do both to plant more churches and reach out to those all around us who are drowning all around us. This book is very motivating and inspiring. The stories are compelling and moving. Steve Elzinga has a way of speaking right to your heart.

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Notă biografică

A bit of my story: I had been in ministry for almost 8 years before it happened. I had been a ministry go getter - making it happen, trying different things, leaving no ministry stone unturned. The list: Formed a singing group and toured across the US and Canada. Taught at a Bible College in the Philippines. Produced the first indigenous original songbook for the Christian Reformed Church of the Philippines. Pastored an established church (Highland Christian Reformed Church) for 4 years and watched in become the largest Christian Reformed Church in Northern Michigan. Planted a new church in Vancouver, British Columbia. Worked night and day to see it grow to 500 people in 4 years. Plans were in the works for two daughter churches. That is when it happened. I crashed and burned. I was out of gas. I was on empty. I was finished. But God wasn't. He met me in a lonely parking lot in the Florida Keys. I had tried to get as far away from my church as I could. And God spoke to me. What did God say? Only this: "I am here." The one time God speaks to me and all I get is three words. It was weeks later that God revealed to me the full extent to these words. "I am here. And what matters is your walk with me. What matters is your walk with your wife and me. What matters is your walk with your family and me. And if as a family you could share your walk with a few others, that is all I desire from you. And if this becomes a big church or a little church, well that is my business." I thought I had to make things happen. I thought the church would grow only if I did certain things and did them well. I was dying trying to do everything well. My life and ministry changed after this. I discovered that I needed an everyday relationship with God - talking (prayer) and listening (Bible reading) repeatedly. I needed to include my wife in this relationship. I needed new habits and relationship disciplines that would help me include my whole family in this God relationship. The funny thing was the more I concentrated on God in my own family the more excited I got about sharing what was happening with others. I couldn't help it.