What Can We Learn From a Chile Relleno?

During a recent trip to the Southern Baptists of Texas annual meeting in San Antonio, I took the opportunity to eat at one of my long-time favorite restaurants, Mi Tierra.  Actually, I took the opportunity to eat at several of my long-time favorite restaurants, but we won't go there.

At the end of a wonderful meal, which for me was the Poblano Dinner, our waiter asked if he could take a moment to share the mission statement of the Cortez family, who founded the restaurant in 1941.  I can't remember it verbatim but it had to do with glorifying God by providing excellent food, service, and atmosphere.  He shared the mission statement with pride and enthusiasm.

My dining party was 4 guys who have the same ministry as mine.  We work for regional networks of Baptist churches, assisting those churches as ministry partners.  As we prepared to depart the restaurant, we wondered aloud how many members of the churches we work with could recite with pride and enthusiasm their own church's mission statement. How many church leaders could do it?  How many of those churches even have a mission statement?

Someone once said, "If you aim for nothing, you'll probably hit it."  What is your church or ministry organization aiming for?  What is the mission that God has given you?  And how will you achieve it? 

You see, the Cortez family could have simply said they wanted to glorify God in their restaurant.  That's a pretty decent mission and about as far as most churches go with their own mission statements.  But, they didn't stop there.  The put some specific markers in place (a vision statement) for how they would achieve their mission. 

So what can we learn from a chile relleno?  You tell me.

With an eye on the Harvest,

Gerry