Tony Morgan, a pastor in Atlanta, observes: “When churches become married to their methods rather than their mission, the church plateaus and eventually declines.” On the other hand, vibrant churches “have the adaptability factor. They’re willing to change and try something new—even if some of those new initiatives fail.”
Vallejo International seeks to do ministry with this perspective as one of the factors to consider. And so, the second value that we have adopted to guide how we do ministry is creative. Being creative means being open to imagination and innovation that leads to the faithful fulfillment of the Lord’s purpose for his church.
Creativity is two-sided. On the one hand, creativity enjoys freedom from the mindset that insists, “We’ve always done it this way before.” Churches have tended to develop their own traditions about how things are done. This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, changes in circumstances always present the possibility that the “usual way” may no longer accomplish the reason for ministry. Creativity is willing to let go of the things which serve only to divert resources to fruitless endeavors.
On the other hand, creativity takes hold of the freedom to innovate and explore new ideas. It is not afraid to step into unknown or foreign territory. Creative ministry allows the minister to fulfill tasks with a sense of adventure, making the most of the gifts that the Lord of the church has entrusted to her.
It must be clear that creativity in ministry is not about gimmicks. Gimmicks are primarily about tricks or devices designed to attract attention … publicity tactics. While gimmicks are not necessarily wrong in and of themselves, they are not the stuff of ministry. Of course, attracting people to our events is part of the big picture. But such a concern is not the primary focus of ministry. And gimmicks tend to lack depth and lasting worth. Ministry is not about trying to impress people. Creative ministry focuses on that which upholds the purposes of the church and produces the fruit of true discipleship.
Creativity has a risk factor. A new idea may or may not deliver what is expected. But progress usually happens when a church is willing to take risks. At the same time, it must be said that such risk-taking should not imply carelessness. The church must never lose sight of its purpose. Otherwise we may fall into the trap of gimmickry.
And, surely, the church must always submit to the leadership of the God through his Spirit within the church. For creativity in the church must always reflect the character of the God of creation. After all, he is the source of every true and worthwhile creativity.
—Keith Y. Jainga