After more years than I can count, Christ Fellowship is cancelling this years "South Florida Easter Pageant". The pageant, which has been a staple in the community, was put on hold this year. The decision was made by our Worship and Media Pastor, Sammy Flores.
Every year through the ministry of the pageant people get saved.
Every year through the pageant people get an opportunity to serve.
Every year through the pageant people are brought closer to God through the experience of the service.
With that being said, why in the world would you want to cancel the pageant?
Fact #1: when we started the pageant, we were producing one service every week. With Homestead, Saturday night, and Classic Service we will produce at least 8 services. On top of that, our age-graded ministries produce heavily-technical services that are just as (if not more) complex than the adult services. Easter will have close to twenty services going on.
Fact #2: lives can be changed, outside of pageant. 31 middle school students were saved this past week during a regular weekend service(s). That's a higher average (per service) than the Pageant last year.
Fact #3: the worship and media team is STRETCHED big-time because of the Homestead campus. Media and IT director Hector Huyo and I have spent more time coordinating Homestead than we ever did for the pageant.
Fact #4: Media alone at Christ Fellowship Palmetto Bay REQUIRES over 50 volunteers to function. And that is probably short-changed still. Our average weekend service is AS COMPLEX IF NOT MORE than the average Pageant. If people are looking to serve, WE NEED HELP EVERY WEEKEND! NOT JUST FOR EASTER!
Honestly, I agree. It doesn't make sense to put our normal weekly services on hold so that we can produce the pageant...especially if our weekend services are effective is reaching the lost. Support the decision and help us reach SoFL with the good news of Christ.
Ironically, Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv wrote on a similar issue a couple days ago. LifeChurch has gone through some changes recently as well. They simplified their ministry. They focused on what they did well, and got better at it. What they didn't do well, they let others focused on.
I blogged on this a while back - comparing Christian Retailing to the Apple Store. Know what you do. Do it well.
Don't focus on change. Don't criticize change. Embrace it. Run with it. Change lives with it.
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