I have been reading in the blogosphere a lot about how the economy will impact the church and I had a thought this morning while driving into church. About 3 years ago, I served a church that was in an economic crisis. The church had made good plans, but it found itself in a hard place. All areas of the budget were effected and a church that was oriented towards programs found itself wondering what to do in the absence of the resources to continue the programs it had started, much less begin new ones.

In the crisis, I began to see something that became one of my biggest convictions. I didn’t have the budget to have big events for the youth minstry, so I began to pray asking God what he would have me do. The answer was an undeniable call to discipleship. Not what I had always thought of discipleship – small groups, going through a book or Bible study – but instead an investment into the lives of the youth I had attracted with programs. It was different from what the church was used to and caused some raised eyebrows, but I was convinced that it was the direction we needed to go. Using that plan it didn’t cost any money, it didn’t have to commit any resources, it would bring people together unlike the groups that had been meeting. It met all the needs of the ministry and only had a few percieved draw backs (predictability, concrete and measurable goals, etc.).

Eventually, I was asked to leave that church, though I’m not sure if it was all based on this idea or not. I don’t bear tham any grudge, they were just going in a different direction than I was. That direction, though, is where I think a lot of churches are findign themselves. Apart from resources and money, without being able to provide great meeting places and the newest curriculum, churches will have to become much more intentional in how they do discipleship. They don’t actually have to, though I don’t see any better way.

So if I were a prophet, which I am not, I would tell the church to stop ordering curriculum from people who have figured out how to reach their group, stop sinking huge amounts of money into attractional programs, stop spending lots of money on things and start developing an idea of how God will reach the people of your area. Jesus chose to invest in a few to make an impact through millenia. The monetary cost was low. The kingdom payoff was priceless.