This week I got to hear Michael Catt speak at a luncheon. Catt is the pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia, the church that produced "Facing the Giants," "Fireproof," and "Courageous." The story of how these movies came to be has always impressed me. As I understand the story, Catt was with his staff at a retreat and posed this question to them, "If you could do anything for God, and resources weren't an issue, what would it be?" (I may not have that exactly right, but that was the gist of it.) One of his staffers said, "I would make Christian films." Catt asked, "Why can't you?" Catt and Sherwood Baptist helped make the staffer's dream a reality and the rest, as they say, is history.
Pastor, are you encouraging your people (and staff) to dream big dreams for God? Are you helping them accomplish the vision God has put in their heart?
Church, are you giving your leadership the freedom to lead you in new and daring things? Even risky things? Remember, we walk by faith and not by sight. If we never do anything that requires us to depend on God in faith, we're not living as God wants us to live. That goes for churches, as well as individuals.
What was the last great thing your church attempted for God? When was the last time your church looked at each other and said, "This is crazy. If God doesn't bless this, we're sunk!" Who ever heard of a Baptist church making major motion pictures?
We serve a great God who dares us to live boldly by faith. Expect great things, attempt great things.
