19 Years At Radiant Fellowship and What Have I Observed?

 

In a couple of weeks, I will have been at Radiant Fellowship as the lead pastor for 19 years. Truth be told, I have been at Radiant Fellowship for over 20 years if you include my time as a youth pastor. I am humbled by the fact that I have been credentialed with the Assemblies of God for more than 27 years. Many of you reading this might have been in the age group for my youth group back in Milwaukee. Still, some of you, dear readers, have been credentialed for much longer than I have, and I salute you.

There have been numerous mountaintop experiences, such as witnessing miracles, baptisms, serving people (I had a particularly impactful situation this week), engaging in outreaches, trips, events, and more. However, truth be told, I have also gone through many valleys with disgruntled individuals, my own mistakes, experiencing burnout in ministry, and much more. Yet, here I stand. Will Radiant Fellowship ever be a large or mega church? Probably not but I love this place of fellowship with the people God has placed there. 

During my days as a youth pastor and occasionally as a senior pastor, summers always stood out in memory. A common scenario was a young person heading off to Bible college, feeling equipped after just a year, and thinking they knew more than me or other pastors about how a church should be run. This dynamic persists even today, pointing to a broader issue.

Every pastor within the Assemblies of God ministers in a unique way. There is no set manual on how a church should operate. Some focus solely on end times, while others deliver basic salvation messages in every sermon. Some delve deeply into theological expositions, while some stick to more topical subjects. The approach to church ministry often reflects our individual backgrounds.

As for me, my grandmother was an A/G member and one of the founding members of the church in which I grew up. My mother and brother also have deep roots in that church. Stepping into Radiant Fellowship may not give the typical Pentecostal vibe found elsewhere. Here, I have witnessed authentic moves of the Holy Spirit alongside instances masquerading as genuine, which I found troubling. On several occasions, I observed individuals using the gifts of tongues or words of knowledge to criticize the church or pastor—an action I consider both unscriptural and unnecessary. I am grateful that my pastor intervened, emphasizing the importance of order in service, aligning with Paul's teachings.

Drawing from my upbringing and personal inclinations, I lean towards imparting practical life applications rather than solely expository messages. Regarding altar calls, we occasionally provide response times, but more often than not, we opt against them. Why? Through my experience with hundreds of youth and adults, I've witnessed negative impacts stemming from carefully orchestrated worship to evoke emotions, repetitive phrases, and manipulative techniques. Instead, I prefer individuals to reflect on what they've learned. While there is space for response times, some of the most transformative moments during my youth pastor days at Spencer Lake Bible Camp involved a speaker concluding, "We won't end tonight with an altar call; instead, return to your cabins and discuss with your group."

For me, an ideal church environment is one that fosters joy, engages in outreach, welcomes prayer requests, and even allows questions during sermons, encouraging people to contemplate further at home. While this approach may not suit everyone and may lead some to depart, I accept this as part of the diversity found in various church models. As my friend, mentor, and pastor, Pastor Bob Beeman, has mentioned, "People often feel the need to justify leaving a church by finding fault, when often it's merely a nudge from God to move on."

I eagerly anticipate another 19 years or more at Radiant Fellowship, as well as many more years at First Assembly of God, Faith Community Church, Victory Church, and others. While each church operates distinctively, we share the common goal of worshiping together as a larger community spread across different buildings.