Comments for Mynhardt van Pletsen http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com currently: Money Matter$ [6] Sat, 01 Dec 2007 12:23:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on My Megachurch Confessions [7/8] by dries http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/my-megachurch-confessions-78/#comment-12 dries Sat, 01 Dec 2007 12:23:26 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/my-megachurch-confessions-78/#comment-12 LATE comment: saying no to somebody's good idea that has nothing to do with the vision, is never a gifted and true leaders problem... on the contrary... leaders are often nearly TOO focussed on the vision before them! The problem of not saying no, lies with NON-leaders in leadership positions, or with managers always willing to take on yet another project to manage and align... LATE comment: saying no to somebody’s good idea that has nothing to do with the vision, is never a gifted and true leaders problem… on the contrary… leaders are often nearly TOO focussed on the vision before them!
The problem of not saying no, lies with NON-leaders in leadership positions, or with managers always willing to take on yet another project to manage and align…

]]> Comment on My Megachurch Confessions [8/8] by dries http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/my-megachurch-confessions-88/#comment-11 dries Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:29:56 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/my-megachurch-confessions-88/#comment-11 well done with a honest and well thought through series on megachurch ministry, myn. I enjoyed it a lot! well done with a honest and well thought through series on megachurch ministry, myn. I enjoyed it a lot!

]]> Comment on My Megachurch Confessions [7/8] by dries http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/my-megachurch-confessions-78/#comment-10 dries Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:18:57 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/my-megachurch-confessions-78/#comment-10 Mynhardt, dare I comment that on this issue - the problem is NOT a megachurch problem by definition, but a leadership problem. Why? You get this "non-focussed" being "everything to everybody" in any church or organization of any size - because of a lack of leadership and clear-cut vision (ie identity). I have seen that this issue in megachurches is just more visible because of its huge scale of the issue. But look around: lack of focus = lack of leadership. (PS - some of the most focused churches I've seen is mega churches!!) Mynhardt, dare I comment that on this issue – the problem is NOT a megachurch problem by definition, but a leadership problem.
Why?
You get this “non-focussed” being “everything to everybody” in any church or organization of any size – because of a lack of leadership and clear-cut vision (ie identity).
I have seen that this issue in megachurches is just more visible because of its huge scale of the issue. But look around: lack of focus = lack of leadership.

(PS – some of the most focused churches I’ve seen is mega churches!!)

]]> Comment on My Megachurch Confessions [5/8] by dries http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/my-megachurch-confessions-58/#comment-9 dries Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:10:53 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/my-megachurch-confessions-58/#comment-9 You're spot on. Let me illustrate this with my own megachurch confession. For many reasons me and my family decided not to attend the megachurch services any more, about 18 months ago. Funny thing is, even with me being (then) part of the leadership in that church, and working full time in a central ministry position there, not one - I repeat - not one of my collegues or co-leaders noticed. The first who asked something was the head of the childrens ministry, who later missed my kids on Sundays. Her question also was one of: "I have'nt seen your kids for a while? Have you been gone over the last couple of weekends?" That was 10 months down the line.... One day I sat down and had a coffee with a pastor on staff - a good friend too. He mentioned this point of "getting lost in the crowd" and not knowing the people. I looked him straight in the eyes and said: "Yep, me and my family haven't been in the building for more than a year now." He nearly chocked on his coffee. Because he realized, as did I, that if that could happen to me....(who stayed away out of choice) what about someone who, for some reason or the other, needs to feel welcomed or missed by the "community" of believers... You’re spot on. Let me illustrate this with my own megachurch confession. For many reasons me and my family decided not to attend the megachurch services any more, about 18 months ago.
Funny thing is, even with me being (then) part of the leadership in that church, and working full time in a central ministry position there, not one – I repeat – not one of my collegues or co-leaders noticed. The first who asked something was the head of the childrens ministry, who later missed my kids on Sundays. Her question also was one of: “I have’nt seen your kids for a while? Have you been gone over the last couple of weekends?” That was 10 months down the line….
One day I sat down and had a coffee with a pastor on staff – a good friend too. He mentioned this point of “getting lost in the crowd” and not knowing the people. I looked him straight in the eyes and said: “Yep, me and my family haven’t been in the building for more than a year now.” He nearly chocked on his coffee.
Because he realized, as did I, that if that could happen to me….(who stayed away out of choice) what about someone who, for some reason or the other, needs to feel welcomed or missed by the “community” of believers…

]]> Comment on My Megachurch Confessions [4/8] by dries http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/my-megachurch-confessions-48/#comment-8 dries Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:59:44 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/my-megachurch-confessions-48/#comment-8 True, bigness attracts bigness. And exposure is worth a lot. I myself had the benefit that you described... still do. Unfortunately bigness also attracts programs, events and people who is not easily satisfied if things do not get bigger and better to their own advantage. "Latest-Greatest-Syndrome". Maybe the real question here is this: would the megachurch not be better off to have exposure with people and places OTHER than the who's-who of the world? That was my personal megachurch experience: lots of exposure to the great and the wonderful... but the price I paid was being alienated from real life issues, needs and hurt right next to me. The churches that brought that to my attention was the ones that gathers under a tree... Bottom line: did Jesus minister amongst the big names... or did he walk with those known only for their sins and their weaknesses? My expierence was that megachurch exposure blinds us to the real needs... True, bigness attracts bigness. And exposure is worth a lot. I myself had the benefit that you described… still do.
Unfortunately bigness also attracts programs, events and people who is not easily satisfied if things do not get bigger and better to their own advantage. “Latest-Greatest-Syndrome”.

Maybe the real question here is this: would the megachurch not be better off to have exposure with people and places OTHER than the who’s-who of the world? That was my personal megachurch experience: lots of exposure to the great and the wonderful… but the price I paid was being alienated from real life issues, needs and hurt right next to me. The churches that brought that to my attention was the ones that gathers under a tree…
Bottom line: did Jesus minister amongst the big names… or did he walk with those known only for their sins and their weaknesses? My expierence was that megachurch exposure blinds us to the real needs…

]]> Comment on My Megachurch Confessions [3/8] by dries http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/my-megachurch-confessions-38/#comment-7 dries Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:48:26 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/my-megachurch-confessions-38/#comment-7 Myn, I agree - and I don't agree (and feeling free to say so, keeping your introduction in mind...) I agree that a big building or big project of sorts is an accomplishment that gets noticed and that it gets attention from the community or world. I absolutely do NOT agree that the witness that goes out to the community or to the world with it is by implication positive towards God or Christians. I do NOT believe that people outside the church says "Wow, look what God has done". You are right in saying that it is the congregation itself that makes that claim. I do not believe that the world outside the church, or people far from God is in any way impressed by big buildings and big budgets and by big churches. Why not? Because BIG is the norm in the world. People will look at the multi million building and say "Wow, look what this church/organization has done" - they will not give God the credit. The Christians do that. When people DO see God at work, is when things outside the norm happens in the world. Someone giving to the needy with no strings attached. A live changed for the good of all around them. Someone who forgives unconditionally. An eldery white man driving into black squatter camps to hand out food and listen to their life stories... and care. Bottom line - megachurch buildings is not a positive to the world in my view - its a positive to the church in terms of buildings, budgets and bodies.... and (mostly) egos. Myn, I agree – and I don’t agree (and feeling free to say so, keeping your introduction in mind…)
I agree that a big building or big project of sorts is an accomplishment that gets noticed and that it gets attention from the community or world.
I absolutely do NOT agree that the witness that goes out to the community or to the world with it is by implication positive towards God or Christians. I do NOT believe that people outside the church says “Wow, look what God has done”. You are right in saying that it is the congregation itself that makes that claim.
I do not believe that the world outside the church, or people far from God is in any way impressed by big buildings and big budgets and by big churches. Why not? Because BIG is the norm in the world.
People will look at the multi million building and say “Wow, look what this church/organization has done” – they will not give God the credit. The Christians do that.
When people DO see God at work, is when things outside the norm happens in the world. Someone giving to the needy with no strings attached. A live changed for the good of all around them. Someone who forgives unconditionally. An eldery white man driving into black squatter camps to hand out food and listen to their life stories… and care.
Bottom line – megachurch buildings is not a positive to the world in my view – its a positive to the church in terms of buildings, budgets and bodies…. and (mostly) egos.

]]> Comment on The Kingdom | Movie by Say It Again [War] « Mynhardt van Pletsen http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/the-kingdom-movie/#comment-4 Say It Again [War] « Mynhardt van Pletsen Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:45:30 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/the-kingdom-movie/#comment-4 [...] It Again [War] Some quotes on war, as I was inpired by The Kingdom [...] [...] It Again [War] Some quotes on war, as I was inpired by The Kingdom [...]

]]> Comment on My Megachurch Confessions [4/8] by Lorna http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/my-megachurch-confessions-48/#comment-3 Lorna Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:56:05 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/my-megachurch-confessions-48/#comment-3 Die 9/10 leier stel nie 'n 10/10 leier aan nie a.g.v kompetisie in die werkplek. Die leier met 'n groter potensiaal sal dalk nie so onderdanig wees as wat nodig is nie??? Aaklig, maar is dit nie die waarheid nie? Die 9/10 leier stel nie ‘n 10/10 leier aan nie a.g.v kompetisie in die werkplek.
Die leier met ‘n groter potensiaal sal dalk nie so onderdanig wees as wat nodig is nie???
Aaklig, maar is dit nie die waarheid nie?

]]> Comment on Krisstel Interview Video by maxielife http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/krisstel-interview-video/#comment-2 maxielife Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:14:56 +0000 http://mynhardtvanpletsen.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/krisstel-interview-video/#comment-2 nice....cant wait! nice….cant wait!

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