Growing Pains

Growing Pains

You would think that a guy who is 6’ 8” could relate to growing pains. However, when people ask me if I had them as I grew up (usually after they ask that creative and original question: How’s the weather up there?); they’re often surprised to hear that I didn’t. I can’t relate to growing pains. Some just assume that growing—especially rapid, abundant growth—should hurt. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. It didn’t for me; even though I grew from 5’ 10” to 6’ 7” during my high school years.

I’ve been reminded about growing pains with the rapid and abundant growth of Living Oaks. God has blessed us with many new individuals and families over the past almost five years. So many new faces! But, to the surprise of many of my fellow pastors, it has not been painful.

How did that happen? Isn’t such growth supposed to hurt? What has made the difference for us? I can’t take the credit any more than I can claim responsibility for my height! God brought the right factors together to cause the growth. My job has been to be careful not to do anything unhealthy; anything that might stunt the growth. And God causes the increase.

First and foremost, He gets the credit. I make sure to acknowledge that when explaining the LOCC phenomenon. But as my fellow pastors and others ask me why we’ve grown so rapidly, I tell them that we had some unique circumstances; a perfect storm of people and events that converged to make Living Oaks Community Church a reality.
Factors include: our historical roots in the Conejo, an unusually unified and capable board, a uniquely gifted and committed staff, unpaid helpers who have unselfishly labored from the beginning, and a very generous congregation. These have allowed us to become one of the largest churches in the Conejo Valley in only five years. To God be the glory; great things He has done!

However, with this growth comes a caution for us as members of LOCC. The tendency would be to assume too much, become complacent and cause the work to flounder. It is not unlike the child who grows rapidly, looks mature, and is assumed to be equipped to perform tasks far beyond his developmental stage. Unless he continues to receive the nurturing he needs, he could begin to slip in his progress. He has grown rapidly and looks mature, but it doesn’t mean that he’s ready to be on his own.

In the same way, people may assume we don’t need much help at Living Oaks. Since everything appears to be developing so well, some might be reluctant to volunteer for ministry, falsely presuming we have all we need. When people see our beautiful facility, there may be a mistaken assumption that we must be financially flush and in no real need of people to give sacrificially. If this happens, the growing pains will become a reality. But, they will more likely be the aches that signal a slowing of healthy growth; the twinges of a disease that disables the significant work God is doing. May that never be!

It is important to note that since we opened the doors to our new home, specific giving to the building fund has dropped to nearly zero. Could this be due to a false conclusion that since it looks finished, it’s completely paid for? Are we assuming there is no need? Could this happen in other areas because God has done so much so soon? I hope not.

The preventative medicine for such growing pains includes each of us not assuming that the work is in any way complete. We have passed major milestones, but the journey has just begun! No time for simply basking in the successes of the past. We celebrate and thank God for the successes, but it’s unhealthy to stay there. We must continue to commit everything with which we have been entrusted—our time, talent and treasure—to accomplish the ongoing mission and growing work of Living Oaks Community Church.

As we celebrate our volunteers this weekend, we want to say thanks to those of you who continue to serve and give to God in our new church. If you want to find your PLACE in LOCC this year, let us help!

“…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”—2 Peter 3:18 NKJV