The Excellence Difference

By Dan Betzer
Guest Writer

CBN.com -- These Bylines go across the nation and around the world by radio, television, and the web. Responses are quite interesting. Most are supportive, but there are some who are unhappy with my ongoing demands that churches be outstanding and not mediocre. One pastor wrote, "Get off our backs!"

Another church leader was incensed that I called for excellence in reaching children. He wrote, "Sure, you can do these things--but you have a large church."

How do you think it became large?

My wife Darlene and I pioneered six churches. We would go into places where there was absolutely nothing, and start the churches from scratch. I chose not to receive denominational funding only because I did not wish to take the time to fill out the necessary paperwork.

The standards of ministry I call for today are the same as when one church only had 30 church members. I felt that the ministry of the local church should be outstanding no matter how many were in attendance.

Recently, I heard that wonderful speaker Leonard Sweet issue a challenge to church leaders. He said, "Every meeting you have, every committee, every board meeting, preface it by asking yourselves, 'Is what we're going to do here worth Christ's dying on the cross?'"

I think that this is what I am trying to communicate here on ByLine. Accepting mediocrity or using the excuses, "Well, we're small," or, "This is a burned-over field," or, "We don't have money," might be offensive to our Creator.

God has called us to excel in service to Him. God gave us His very best. Why would we consider doing less?