Pastor Gabe Slone is the Associate Pastor of Youth and Children at Southern Heights Baptist Church in Lexington, KY

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Sunday I became overjoyed as I was informed that three people in their early-to-mid 20’s were attending our church, which is a rare sight at my church.  Committed young people don’t just wonder in churches off the streets. We are not the trendiest church and have not attracted 20 and 30 something’s for a while. Our goal is to become more racially and ethnically diverse, as well as have many different ages represented in our congregation.  While I was excited that they were young, my excitement was only amplified when I discovered how they found us, which was through founders.org.  This meant they were not only young and attending church on their own volition, but they were also reformed.

My mind immediately started to dream of the potential of three young, reformed leaders in our church. As thought after thought danced through my brain, I saw them as the agents of change of a congregation that was mostly apathetic. I saw leaders who “knew their stuff” theologically and could help in the growing of other believers.  I saw small groups being started and multiplying. Oh the potential! This was how God was going to grow our church; I was sure of it.  As I daydreamed about the possibilities, suddenly I felt the gentle correction of the Holy Spirit. It was about as gentle as running face first into a brick wall.

I had sinned, and was sinning. I was floored by the conviction that flooded over me.  My desire to see my church grow, and enjoy the blessing and presence of the Holy Spirit, had created an idol. Instead of trusting in the Holy Spirit I was trusting in age, “right” theology, and vitality. I was more concerned with their exterior than I was the condition of their hearts.  At this point I was no different than the leader of any other organization on Earth.

As I sat like someone who had just suffered a surprise punch to the mouth, the Holy Spirit started to bring the Scriptures to mind:

John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:7-8 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

I had unknowingly wandered into being more concerned with growing an organization instead of trusting the Holy Spirit to grow His church.  God reminded me that the elderly people and children that surround me are more than capable of accomplishing His mission for our local body when the Holy Spirit is their power. The Spirit must simply speak and life emerges from darkness (Ez 37:1-14; Gen 1).