By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
Critical mass. In its essence, critical mass is the minimal amount needed to continue operating at present levels. In manufacturing, you must sell enough of the product being produced to pay all expenses (employees, space, machinery, etc.), as well as have enough left to move innovatively. In government, enough must be budgeted and secured to pay for services, employees, infrastructure, etc. Even in your home, you operate with the understanding that there is a point ... a critical mass that must be achieved else, your family will suffer, or worse.
So too, with the church. What is our critical mass? The answer involves more than can be addressed here. However, it’s just too important that we understand our critical mass needs.
Some of our congregational critical mass mimics industry. We must provide meeting space, heating and air conditioning, a new roof every few years, carpeting, furnishings, utilities, and so much more. Additionally, the church must assure capable staffing as well as the necessary equipment (computers, copy machines, etc.) to effectively do the work required.
However, here the church veers into a different direction. Our “product” is intangible ... it can’t be viewed, counted or weighed. Our product is (or should be), Gospel living and telling.
At First Baptist we have a virtual army of volunteers who enliven all the things we hope to achieve. You won’t find that in industry or corporate structure. You will discover it, or should, in non-profits specifically, not just the church. However, no body of individuals should do it better than the Body of Christ.
What is our critical mass? Yes, we must achieve a certain minimal level of financial giving. Yes, we must pay utilities, staffing, upkeep, materials, etc. HOWEVER, the critical mass for the church is never ... never determined by doing the minimum. The church, our church must always seek to achieve the goals Christ sets for us which always exceed the goals we set for ourselves. Examples of those goals would include forgiving seven times seventy, walking two miles when only one mile is required, giving shirt and coat when only a shirt is requested.
We must find the place in which our personally held faith stretches us to become more authentic, more generous, and more loving. That is the collateral of a congregation. Less than this causes us to become ... less. If we became less long enough, we would find ourselves akin to so, so many struggling congregations ... irrelevant.
Thank you for all you do to make our church shine. Thank you for tending to our exterior flowers, singing in our choir, working with our midweek and Sunday morning opportunities, and so much more. Thank you for doing the essential work of getting our new water fountains and upstairs windows in place. Thank you, Harold and Gwen, for filling in so many gaps and for setting the standard high. Thank you, Bible study teachers, for keeping the Word fresh. And a special shout out to those who take seriously the call to tell others outside our fold about just how amazing it is to be inside the family of First Baptist Sylva faith.
Joe