Growth Has Been Spectacular - But What Now?



This is a picture of the lodge at Loon Lake, BC, where we recently held our annual Alpha staff retreat. The setting is absolutely beautiful, although the cell phone coverage is non-existent and wifi is sporadic at best, but perhaps that is a good thing. It is wonderful to gather with the entire Alpha Canada team in such a such peaceful place, marvelling at God's creation, and basking in the presence of the Holy Spirit. I have had a long career in business, both as an employee, senior manager and business owner, and I must say that this team, under the leadership of our National Director Shaila Visser, is the best of which I have had the privilege of being a part.

Shail welcomed us with a message on the State of the Union in Alpha Canada. The highlight of her message, to me, focused on the difference between being successful and being faithful. Is success, in other words, always increasing in numbers, so that every year reflects greater numbers than the last? That may be an indication of success, but is it always an indication that we are being faithful? Not necessarily. We at Alpha Canada want to be, first of all, faithful. Then, God willing, success will follow. That is what we desire to be and believe we are; a faithful organization that is also successful.

The verse for this message came from Isaiah 54:
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; (Isaiah 54: 2-3a)
This verse is in the context of God telling His people to prepare for future blessings; get ready for things to come. Alpha has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past couple of years, More courses were run in Ontario alone this year than in the entire country a couple of years ago. Alberta went from 61 churches running Alpha in 2012 to over 300 in 2013. Every region of the country saw bountiful increases.

But what is God's will for the future? Is it just to keep growing at this exponential pace? We discerned not. Yes, we are planning for some growth, but at a more modest rate. Not because we, in our own wisdom, don't think such growth possible, but because we have a collective sense that God is preparing something; something we don't yet see, but which is stirring just beneath the surface, so to speak. We have a sense that God is getting ready to do something, and He is preparing Alpha to be a part of it.

So, and I hope I am not out of line in saying this, or that I don't get rebuked for disclosing some great secret, I believe this next year may be a year of maintenance, modest growth perhaps, but a year of readiness; of waiting on the Lord; waiting for Him to move in whatever way He has planned.

Because He already knows what He is going to do. And we are waiting to be surprised, delighted, challenged. But most of all, we pray we will be ready.

Come Holy Spirit.

Blessings,
John

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 16, 2014 at 7:25 PM

    " Is it just to keep growing at this exponential pace? We discerned not. Yes, we are planning for some growth, but at a more modest rate. We have a sense that God is getting ready to do something, and He is preparing Alpha to be a part of it.

    I believe this next year may be a year of maintenance, modest growth perhaps, but a year of readiness; of waiting on the Lord; waiting for Him to move in whatever way He has planned.

    Because He already knows what He is going to do. And we are waiting to be surprised, delighted, challenged. But most of all, we pray we will be ready. "

    Rings very true to me!

    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  2. John KOctober 16, 2014 at 7:42 PM

    Thank You Nancy.

    ReplyDelete

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