Daily Devotion

by retired Pastor, Pete Rudowski

ONLY COUNT THE YES VOTES

Many, many years ago a member of Good Shepherd’s 55+ Club came to me with a complaint.  This member wanted the leadership of the 55+ Club to initiate a program for members to attend the Friday morning concerts of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  The leadership said no.  Naturally, when the leadership said no, this member turned to the pastor to initiate the program in the 55+ Club.

In response to this members complaint, I asked, How many individuals do you need to go to the symphony?  After negotiations, three members to accompany the one raising the issue was the number.  The next Friday morning concert had four members attending the symphony.  The following Friday symphony had eight members attending.  And, the next Friday symphony, had 12 members attending.

The member wanting to go to the symphony believed a large number of members of the 55+ Club had to participate in going to the symphony when, in fact, it only took four members to make it happen.  This event describes the organizational principle of only counting the yes votes.

Only counting the yes votes is also biblical.  On Easter morning, the New Testament names 12 disciples in the upper room.  After Jesus’ ascension 40 days later, the number goes to 120.  After Peter’s sermon on Pentecost 10 days later, the number increase to over 3,000.  The numerical growth continues through the 15th chapter of Acts.  In other words, Jesus counted the yes votes by calling twelve disciples.  That group increased its membership by 40% each decade until Christians were one-half of the Roman empire’s population by 350 CE (30 million strong).

The church has survived for 2,000 years because it only counts the yes votes.  How many yes votes are needed for a worship service to occur?  Outside of Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas few congregations have over one-half of their membership worshiping on Sundays.  How many yes votes are needed for there to be a Sunday School?  How many yes votes are needed for the mentoring and pantry ministries to happen at Taft Elementary school?  How many yes votes are needed for a small home Bible study?

Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, is the start of a fantastic growth story by counting the yes votes.  Each of us participates in that story as we gather and work together to continue Jesus’ ministry until his second coming.