There are times in the life of a people when things can look pretty bleak; there are certainly times in our individual lives when the same situation exists.  Times when everything that used to work no longer produce results, times when we are at our wit’s end because we can’t see a way out of the situation.

A few years back, as a leader in my home church I reached out to some people I knew for advice on how to turn things around.  We were trapped in traditions that no longer worked to grow the congregation either spiritually or numerically.  The people at that time didn’t seem to notice and the Senior Minister could only say that it was a nice idea to try to turn it around, but nobody was going to do anything…

The advice that I received was that the best thing to do was shut it down and start over with a new church plant, that way a new church could grow with new people and a new mindset.  It was discouraging to say the least.

Old buildings can usually be restored.  So can old machines…  This old silo has seen better days, but if someone was willing to pay the price in materials and labor he could make it as good as new; why can’t that be done with a group of people?  No, I was told, it simply cannot be done!

It came to me one day that the Bible has much to say on this subject, here is one statement it makes:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Romans 12:2; full context 1-8)

I was used to hearing this passage taught as one that can only happen when the Lord returns, but I was struck by the fact that it isn’t in future tense; it is a present tense command!

If God is present in a situation, anything can happen!  If people will turn their attention and focus to God, they can and they will in time be transformed by the renewing of their minds. The objective of a leader is to avert the focus of their people from the worldly to the heavenly, keeping in mind that God is always there in the Holy Spirit. He is not hiding from us, He is there watching and waiting for us to get focused so He can do a great work in our midst, and that’s exactly what happened at my home church The same thing can happen in your church and your life when people look to God’s leading!