PC's Thoughts

Why re-name Osceola Assembly?

First, we need to remove the geographical limitation posed by the name of our city in the title. Yes, we exist here in Osceola, but our vision is to be able to establish satellite churches in other communities. A geographical reference in the title of the church makes that extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Second, we need a name that reflects the vision and purpose of the church, rather than a denominational affiliation.

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."

Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so blessed that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Are we giving people information or inspiration?

Third, denominational names are barriers. This applies to all denominational barriers. People tend toward distrust of large organizations. So if we can remove that barrier, why not do it?

We seem to be concerned about “losing” a few families who would be upset with removing the denominational name. That could happen, but that would beg some questions:

1) If someone is willing to leave the church over the denominational name, then what is their priority; the denominational name or people’s souls?

2) When did the denominational name become more important than the souls of lost people?

3) If it was their family member who refused to attend a church with a denominational name in the title, would that sway their opinion? If not, then what would?

4) For some it’s an issue of “heritage”. If removing a denominational name would bring in more people, then isn’t that like taking a solid foundation and building a skyscraper? That would actually create a greater heritage!

5) We often tell people that God is far more concerned about their future than their past - and He is. So then, why does “heritage” trump vision? Paul said that he “forgot the past and pressed on toward the mark......”

6) When they stand before God, what will He say?

I doubt that He will be proud of their accomplishment of maintaining a denominational loyalty over being willing for people to spend eternity in hell.

Are there other churches someone could go to? Sure. Will they? Maybe. Maybe not. But why should they have to? In front of the west building we put in a cement ramp to make it easier for those with disabilities to get into the building. In turn, that made it easier for everyone to get into the building. No one argued that making it easier and more accessible was a bad thing.

Did everyone use the ramp? Nope. Many still used the step. Will people still come here if we keep the denominational name in the title. Sure........but what about the ones who need “the ramp”? They won’t. And if we believe it’s important to make an entrance door accessible by removing the step barrier, doesn’t it also make sense to make the church more accessible to everyone by removing the denominational affiliation barrier?

Another argument is that missionaries aren’t “ashamed” to be affiliated with the A/G. First, we’re not “ashamed” either. But like so many of our missionaries, we don’t make our affiliation the central focus. We have numerous missionaries throughout the A/G - some of whom we support as a church - who are in sensitive countries and aren’t even listed as missionaries. They are there as teachers, or engineers or architects. They don't use A/G in their name at all. That’s not because they’re “ashamed”, but because it’s wise. It opens far more doors. That’s all we’re trying to accomplish here as well.

Just like some of those missionaries would never be able to set foot in the country God has called them to if they were A/G missionaries, there are people who will never set foot in a church with a denominational affiliation as it’s central focus.

We need to base everything on Scripture - Why? The Great Commission and the Great Commandment can be boiled down to two essential statements:

1: Love God

2: Love other people

These are really the only two things Jesus saw worthy of contending for. Everything else is secondary. I love the Assemblies of God, but a denominational affiliation wasn’t a priority to Jesus.

More questions about those who “might leave” if the denominational affiliation is taken out of the church name:

1) When did keeping people happy become a priority over reaching the lost?

2) Some of those people are faithful givers. When did money (tithes) become a priority over reaching the lost?

This is a contentious subject, to be sure. People have strong feelings on both sides of the issue. That’s why we must approach it with great care and loads of prayer.

I like the idea of putting it before the church family and letting them make the choice. However, I pray that we use wisdom and don’t go “campaigning” for our particular viewpoint. That’s what the informational meeting will be about. That’s what the discussion prior to the vote is for. When it comes to choosing a deacon you wouldn’t “campaign”. You would say, “We need to let the Holy Spirit direct the vote.”

The same applies here. Sure, there will be discussion about it. That’s to be expected.......and welcomed. But any kind of concerted effort to persuade people to vote a particular direction will only become divisive. Please, please, please..........we are experiencing great momentum and we must do all we can to avoid division. Gaining momentum is difficult enough........regaining it after it’s lost is even more challenging.

Once the church family makes the decision, we move forward TOGETHER. We take the essential legal steps and begin the “re-branding” process. Then we go about the business of taking the Gospel to Osceola, southern Iowa and the world!