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How Does a Forest Grow? | |
| By Evan D. Baltz, B.S., M.Div | ||
| Have you ever heard the
statement, "I can't see the forest through all these trees"? I sometimes think
that is the opinion of all too many people who analyze church growth. They look at a
church and say, "I don't see any growth here with all these tall trees in the
way." Explain to me then how those tall trees got that tall. When I was 10 years old, my family took a trip to Sequoia National Park in California. While there we were able to visit some of the tallest redwood trees in the world. They were so amazing. Strong and solid, almost reaching the clouds. I didn't stand around thinking, "Why aren't there more trees here," I was simply overcome to see trees that had grown as tall and straight and wonderful. It takes time for tree to grow to this height. In fact they have a cross section of a tree that has many of the rings labeled with events like Christopher Columbus discovering America, the birth of Christ, etc... You don't grow a redwood in a day. Okay, but what is the point? How does a forest grow, I ask you. Trees that are close together begin to grow--each one individually--slowly but surely. They take the nutrients in the soil and the water and the sunlight and use it to grow. Each tree does this on its own, but as a group, the forest grows and matures. When the trees reach a certain level of maturity they drop pine cones which get blown by the wind to other areas of fertile ground and new trees begin to grow there. After years, there are two mature forests. And on it goes. Sometimes though we are so concerned about quick growth we overlook that maturity and real growth take time. Mature trees and mature Christians don't happen overnight. But in time, when a group of them grow and develop individually, you have a forest or a mature church. The more mature a tree becomes, the deeper its roots go down into that life giving soil and the more stable and committed to that spot it becomes. The more mature a Christian becomes, the deeper his roots go down into the Word of Life. Tall trees, deeply rooted in life giving soil and ever reaching higher to the sun make a mature and stable forest which lasts for generations. Mature Christians rooted in God's Word and ever reaching higher to the Son make a mature and stable church which God will bless forever.
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