God’s “vision 2020” needs you

By Craig Macartney

“The harvest is plentiful!” Iconic words, but sometimes, when I look around, I just don’t see it.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe God wants to send revival in Ottawa. Jesus’ words drip with anticipation, like revival could break out at any moment—maybe that’s the problem, though. Revival almost never “breaks out”, because God works primarily through His people. God’s passion for using people was even stated when Jesus declared that the harvest is plentiful: what is holding back the harvest was simply a shortage of labourers. The Church in Ottawa, right now, is no exception—but there’s hope.

When I hear Jesus’ words, I don’t think they are simply a call to evangelism. Certainly, the Church in Ottawa needs more evangelists, but that’s only the beginning.

The dream

What if God used His people to bring 10,000 new souls to Christ this year? That’s a plentiful harvest and it would be a huge encouragement to the Church, but are we ready for that?

If God is going to do this, He is going to use every one of us to do it.

See, 10,000 newly-committed followers would need 2,000 new discipleship groups across the city. We would need around 100 new pastors and dozens of new church plants, each with a team of mature elders to lead. The growth in our existing churches would demand new teams for home and hospital visits, counsellors, more people running marriage seminars, and more beds in recovery ministries. The Church in Ottawa would have to pull all of that from within our current members, those who are ready to step into greater responsibility.

And that’s Jesus’ question: Are you and I ready to step into the greater responsibility revival will bring? I think we can do it and I think God will send revival, but here’s what it will take.

The assignment

Studies show that most committed Christians are shaky in their prayer and Bible-reading habits. In 2020, let’s turn that around.

• • If you don’t have a daily time in the Word, decide that this year you’ll read one chapter, every day, no matter what comes up.
  • If you are in the Word, commit to reading the Bible through this year (four chapters per day).
  • How about building a dedicated prayer life? Find a quiet space and spend just five minutes in focused prayer throughout 2020. As you get comfortable with that, add five minutes more.

Maybe you have the fundamentals down; that’s great, keep it up! Your role will be key.

• • Think about taking a class at one of Ottawa’s seminaries—you might be one of the 2,000 new small group leaders needed.
  • Mentor a young person. Find someone who is seeking God and feed their hunger with your experience.
  • Or, simply look around and pick three people around you to strengthen: visit a shut in, start meeting with a new convert, connect your family with a single parent and help them get through the year.

Pastors, don’t work alone

Ministry is hectic, already, but a little investment up front can spread the load to other capable shoulders.

The greatest legacy you can leave is not to have led well—it is to raise up those who will lead well.

What if your elders began rotating through the pulpit (or doing it more regularly)? What if you and each elder identified one person, particularly among the youth and young adults, to begin training for Church leadership?

Teach them how to lead, even how to preach. Train them how to disciple. Help them avoid some of the pitfalls that slowed you down.

The greatest legacy you can leave is not to have led well—it is to raise up those who will lead well.

Let’s do this!

Ten-thousand people is a huge goal, but that would barely scratch the surface of Ottawa’s 1 million souls. God wants to transform this city and that means winning more than a mere one percent of the population. If He is going to do this, He is going to use every one of us to do it.

The harvest is truly plentiful, but the workers are few. After 2,000 years, God is still calling you and I to roll up our sleeves and wade into the harvest field. This year, let’s pray for revival, but let’s also get ready for it; let’s prepare the way of the Lord.