Dear Pastor

Jim Kermott

Moscow, Idaho, USA

1 February 2010

Throughout Christendom, many are receiving warnings from God of the hardships to come (together with reassurances that He remains faithful). Yet, so many pastors remain in denial about the content of these warnings! Pastor, if you are not receiving these warnings — and especially if some of your flock have come to you to ask you about these warnings which they have received either directly or from others — shouldn’t you seek the Lord to find out what is wrong? Pastor, this especially applies if you are waiting for (and preaching) the Rapture. Whether or not the Rapture comes is not the issue: that there are still many troubles to come that we must endure is the issue! There is still time, although very little time, for steps to be taken.

Form a phone tree of all the members of your church (with your paid staff and leadership doing the calling) and call an emergency meeting for the next night. Set aside time for yourself to get with God for specifics of the agenda during the day, before the meeting. You don’t have forty days to seek the Lord on this; but definitely give God more than forty minutes! I can’t say whether the morning or the afternoon, whether fasting or not, whether alone or with selected others; but I can tell you that “urgent needs” will bring interruptions (if you let them — so direct a subordinate or a volunteer to handle them), and yet God will tell you — if you ask in Jesus’ name.
At the meeting, admit that you have not been as sensitive to the Spirit as you should have been; thank generally those who have brought “certain things” to your attention, regarding both the way the country is becoming more polarized and the government more restrictive; acknowledge the need for all to go further in preparations for hardships than the government’s “3-day” plan (Haiti is a good model for this, as many are still on their own more than two weeks after the quake). Many pastors will be tempted to call in some government representative to “address the issues”.... Remember, they come with a government-approved script (which includes the “3-day” plan, and “obey all orders” from “authorities”), and it has resulted in the situation that currently exists ... in Haiti, and elsewhere.
Emphasize that the time is short, as demonstrated by the fact of calling the emergency meeting, and that you all need to start pulling together now, while there is still time to take proactive measures.
Ask if there is anyone present who has been making more serious preparations for themselves, who would be willing to address the issues. Limit the time for this, and do not allow a debating session to get away from you. Someone chose you to lead the body gathered; I choose to believe that God had a major part in that selection. This is a time for leaders to emerge (a la Moses and the Apostles); managers (i.e. deacons) can be appointed to specific tasks as both the tasks and the appropriate individuals become obvious, and while there is yet time.
Plant the seed for pooled resources ... including starting with those of the church itself.

At this stage, Pastor, work with your own congregation. These people know you and each other. In the future, expand this to the community of Christian churches in your area, and also any “out of church Christians” in your area who come to your attention, and who are willing to come alongside in this effort. (Do not attempt to impose on them; there is a reason God drew them out of whatever church in which they once had membership. They will join you as “free agents,” and many of them can contribute much to this effort.)