Chances are a heart problem has never before been the catalyst for so much good.
Several years ago, Dan Miller, senior pastor at First Assembly of God in St. Joseph, Michigan, began having troubles with his heart. As he reflected over what he thought was his soon-ending ministry, he recalled many salvations, but recognized an absence of discipleship that troubled him. As the Lord gave him a vision to raise up leaders who would disciple leaders, Miller asked God for the grace to continue his ministry awhile longer. It was the beginning of a journey that has radically transformed First Assembly of God.
DIVIDED BY A RIVER
First Assembly was established in 1922 as a German church in the neighborhood of Benton Harbor. When Miller arrived in 1988, he was the first non-German speaking pastor to serve the congregation. The church was very traditional, but over the years, slowly progressed to become more contemporary and involved in evangelistic outreach.
In the late 1990s, the opportunity arose for First Assembly to move from its location in Benton Harbor and build a new facility in St. Joseph. Although only the St. Joseph River separates the "Twin Cities," at that time they seemed worlds apart. Nearly half the residents of multi-ethnic Benton Harbor live below the poverty line. St. Joseph is a predominately white, upper-middle class city. At first, Miller was hesitant to leave an area so in need of help, but felt God promise him, "If you'll move, I'll build a bridge."
Soon after the building project was complete, Miller developed a heart problem. While ill, he says it was only by the grace of God that he continued to preach, although during the week he was forced to rest. It was during this "down time" that Miller began to contemplate the impact of his years in ministry. Although he had seen many salvations, he knew many people were no longer walking with the Lord and he credited this problem to a lack of discipleship.
Miller asked his associate pastor to get everything he could on discipleship, small groups and cell groups. Soon he had accumulated a "huge stack of materials," including a book called "The Cell Church" by Larry Stockstill (Bethany World Prayer Center). Miller prayed, "Lord give me the grace to continue ministry, this is what I want to do." After working with a cardiologist to resolve his heart problems, the journey to become a discipleship-centered church began.
The first step Miller and the pastoral staff took was to learn by example. They traveled to Stockstill's church and a national church in Costa Rica to witness firsthand what could happen in a congregation that really discipled people and raised up leaders. After the trips, Miller began modifying materials and developing courses that would make discipleship, by way of relationships, the focus of First Assembly.
BRIDGED BY RELATIONSHIPS
Miller asked the Lord which 12 men should be in the first discipleship group. Miller's wife Pat also began leading a group of 12 women, establishing the precedent of men discipling men and women discipling women. This initial mentoring lasted about a year before the original 12 began leading their own groups. Only a few years later, Miller reports that First Assembly now has approximately 85 group leaders and 580 life group participants. Unlike some programs that center on common interest, First Assembly's life groups are solely committed to building relationships and discipleship. The church's School of Leaders is a yearlong, in-depth course that trains individuals to lead their own life groups.
Miller stills meets once a week with his original group of 12, who in turn continue to meet with their own groups weekly. The process of developing leaders is ongoing and requires commitments of time and energy, but the results are well worth the effort. Group members take care of their brothers and sisters in Christ, lifting one another up in prayer, making hospital visits and providing food when needed. And this selfless love extends to newcomers as well.
Miller's eyes glisten while recalling an interaction that epitomizes First Assembly's welcoming nature.
Every Sunday, a van picks up homeless people and brings them to services. Several men have become regulars and proudly sit behind Miller each week. On a recent Sunday, Miller asked everyone in the congregation to hug someone else. A woman noticed a new homeless visitor hugging himself, obviously aware that his appearance and odor might discourage others from getting too close. Despite the smell of urine wafting from the visitor, the woman embraced him and said, "You don't have to hug yourself." Later in the service the man responded to an altar call.
Another homeless attendee had not been to church in 38 years before coming to First Assembly. He said, "I didn't know church could be like this."
POWERED BY PRAYER
New believers are not lost among the shuffle at First Assembly. After receiving salvation, new Christians go through a process of "consolidation" to help firmly establish them in the faith. They receive visits and phone calls and are encouraged to attend Pre-Encounter classes. The four-week session covers basic topics of Christianity and is followed by an Encounter weekend retreat.
The purpose of the Encounter retreat is to create a setting where new believers can prayerfully deal with things that hold them in bondage and discuss past hurts that many have never talked about. At the end of the weekend, participants receive an 8-inch nail, which they pound into a crossbeam. With that symbolic action, the new believers renounce the stronghold of sin in their life. It is a powerful demonstration of Jesus taking all sin and hurt upon him through his death on the cross, releasing believers from their bondage.
Miller says watching the lives of new believers being transformed in that moment is "the most powerful thing I've ever seen." Post-Encounter classes ensure that these individuals continue to grow in their new faith.
The results of becoming a relational church committed to discipleship have been tremendous in terms of growth. Weekly attendance has doubled from 350 to 700, with a church family of 1,100. The once 98 percent white congregation is now one third African American and 10 percent Asian and Hispanic.
Although building relationships has been the avenue for effective discipleship, Miller says the power behind the changes at First Assembly can only been attributed to prayer. Since he arrived at the church, nearly 20 years ago, an intercessory prayer team has actively sought the Lord on behalf of First Assembly and its community. Corporate prayer and fasting are emphasized throughout the year, including the first two weeks of January.
Looking ahead, Miller wants First Assembly to plant new churches and continue multiplying wherever God leads. He believes the greatest resource the Church has is sitting in the pews and that with solid discipleship, every believer can be a leader in the kingdom of God.
When First Assembly first started to change demographically, Miller says people gravitated towards those with the same color skin. About a year ago, while preaching, it struck Miller as he looked across the congregation that he could no longer tell where certain groups were sitting, everyone was intermingled, regardless of race or income. The congregation is united, thanks to relationships.
Indeed, God has fulfilled His promise to Miller - a bridge has been built between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
More information about First Assembly in St. Joseph can be found at http://1stassembly.com/.
