FOR GOD'S SAKE... LET HIS PEOPLE GO!! Karie Kirschbaum

Speaking as a head of a ministry to our co-laborers in ministry it is time to 

LET THEM GO... SEND THEM OUT! 

We as "Spiritual Parents" (Fathers & Mothers in the faith) must take a step back, look at our children, realize they are GROWN UP and LET THEM GO.  We have spent a couple of decades doing this, but we hear the Lord's voice a fresh calling for us to "send our disciples before Him one by one and listen as His Spirit tells us "where to send them" and "what to do to get them there".  What a great time to be in ministry! 

Our children are about to be unleashed as the "Son's of God" 

into the vineyards of the world to bring "Good News".  If that makes you nervous about losing members 
and not excited about seeing your spiritual kids succeed without your control... I'm talking to you :).  
Don't worry - this is "readers anonymous" - Karie

This generation (regardless of age - just breathing now) will go with a fresh baptism of love and power, a commitment to unity with one another and God and a covenant with the Lord that they are ready to be "sent".  Wow!  I can hardly wait... it is going to be a crazy, fun, energetic, unorganized (except in God's eyes) move of the masses that will produce a generation of people free to be what they were created to be.

Think of the very short amount of time Jesus spent training and pouring in to the disciples - the HE LEFT AND TURNED THEM LOOSE to turn the world upside down... and they did!  It is time for us to do the same.... I'd like to see our "ministry qualification" checklists and compare it to the one Jesus used :)  He isn't afraid of failure and he doesn't throw out those who stumble.  He covers and restores.

Before I begin this article, let me say that there are many wonderful "sending ministries" out there from many denominations - they cover the Baptist, the Catholic, the Methodist, the Non-denominational denominations, the Charismatics, the Pentecostals and "yes" -- even the prophetic and apostolic.  With that said, there still has to be a trumpet blast that says - SEND THEM!

We came up with a saying 
"THEY ARE WENT AND NOT SENT"  to keep people under control.

We use words like "Rebellion" and sentences like "they won't learn to submit" (after years of this person being faithful) to make other members too ashamed to even ask if they can go and to keep the tithe coming.  

Eventually many people just leave our ministries and we sit around wondering "why" - or worse, we badmouth them and curse them with our tongues.  It has to stop. We have to go from supporting a "building" to supporting His Kingdom.  

I'm not talking about truly nasty people with bad attitudes (In church??  SAY it isn't so:)), I'm speaking of faithful wonderful people who would do anything you as that need to be encouraged to "go" and we need to support them - most will be back after their "trip", but they will be back refreshed feeling like they "did something for God" that was in their heart for years - they just didn't want to hurt our feelings.

We are so desperate to get our foundations built for our churches and ministries that we can sometimes make the mistake of putting "stones" into foundational positions that they are not called to nor equipped to do and we totally cripple them.Then they feel like failures and have to deal with all that baggage.  Let's stop that.

We have done it - you have done it! Many of us hold our people in the usher, Sunday School teacher and "church potluck" position for years.  It is great if that position is their destiny and brings them life and joy - some folks are called to be pillars and foundational members of a local church - but even "they" are called and equipped by the Holy Spirit to "make disciples"... not just cookies.  


We leaders must step back - realize they are no longer "children" and seek God afresh to ask Him what the destiny is for each individual, prepare them and send them. He placed them in our care to equip them to "make disciples". 

IF WE CAN'T PREPARE THEM AND SEND THEM - 
THEN IT IS TIME TO SEND THEM SOMEWHERE THAT CAN!

Our current methods are burning out wonderful people in entry level ministry positions who need to continue to grow and experience the fulfillment of the passions that are in their heart.  

We would never expect folks with masters degrees to keep "flipping burgers" at entry level because they are "loyal" and "learning submission" for 10 years... 

I know - I KNOW - Not everyone is called to "full time" ministry but most people feel very deeply that they have something "special" to do and leave their mark on the earth. Pay attention to what God is doing in the people around you and HELP HIM get them where He wants them!  We, as leaders should not be God's biggest challenge in getting harvesters into the vineyards of the world!


God made his people for community!  Not just within denominations, movements, local houses, bible studies and villages - COMMUNITY IS THE ENTIRE KINGDOM!  Let's let people try a few things and see what they LOVE - then point them in that direction and say "Go"!  

I HEAR THE SAME TYPE OF EXCUSES IN CHURCH 
THAT WE USED TO HEAR TO JUSTIFY RACISM & CLASS PREDJUDICE.
(rich hate poor - poor hate rich)

 Some of our '"church" practices border on mimicking the racism of the 60's - we do it to other "movements", "denominations" and "church cultures" because "they aren't like us" - "they speak (or don't speak) in tongues" - "they drink wine (or don't)" - "they wear ties" etc... You get my point.  

"But Karie... what about...??"  NO!  We think we are protecting them from "bad people" when actually keeping them from enjoying and embracing the entire family of God!  We are sending them a message "WE (our little or big group - the first church of "polka dot ties") are the only real church and other Christians are BAD"....  SEND THEM!  Trust God in them!  Let them experience "His Kingdom" and "His Kids" even if they are "different".  

It is sometimes challenging - like the first time your teenager brought home someone that "wasn't good enough for them" in your eyes - YIKES!  I GET IT... but we still have to trust the Holy Spirit and what we have put in them through relationship, love and training in the word to get them through.


Somehow in Bible School - they forgot to tell us that it is critical that we train, equip, position and release people into their destinies. It's kind of like in high school - WHY didn't they teach us how to balance a checkbook and pay bills???  We do the same - there is our "top secret" method of building a church, holding them all hostage and shooting anyone who tries to "get away" to make an example of them... it keeps the rest "in line"! :)  Are you feeling me???

WHEN REAL FATHERS & MOTHERS AND "GOOD SHEPHERDS" RAISE UP CHILDREN - 
IT COSTS US SOMETHING - ALOT!

When Peter said "We have many teachers, but not many fathers" we see this has not changed much in 2000 years - teachers like to have someone around to "listen to them" so they feel good about themselves ...  Fathers create Sons.  

It is time for the Fathers (Mothers) to reveal their Sons (Daughters) to the world - they won't be perfect, but if we support them and back them up - they will be fine!!

THERE ARE SOME PASTORS WHO STILL DON'T TRUST THEIR CONGREGATION TO TEACH A SIMPLE BIBLE STUDY OR HOME GROUP - 
 WHAT are they training their spiritual children to do if they can't even do such a simple task?

 For those who are a little "better" at sending and releasing His people - we "let" His people do things "outside of the local church" but don't really encourage, train and promote them within the walls of the church - cuz that is OUR show.  

You know I am right!  We have to do it like at home - first they get little chores (age appropriate), then a bit more, then we leave them for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, while we are out to dinner (when they are older) and so forth. 

I have sat in enough ministerial meetings, training sessions, conferences, lunches and traveled to enough nations, preached in enough pulpits to feel "credible" when I make that statement.  

It is NO LONGER about us... it is NO LONGER about the "FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY" 
(p.s. Not a biblical term)... it is about SENDING HIS PEOPLE to do the work Jesus created them to do!  

We would never make our physical children "do nothing" for year after year and then "smack" them if they wanted to try something... we encourage them.  It should be the same with our ministries.  

God is calling leaders to activate the people at a new level, pray as never before, fast until their spiritual children get a breakthrough and hold on for the ride! 

FATHER/MOTHER ... LET HIS PEOPLE GO... AND HELP THEM GET THERE.

 If our child is more successful than us - does greater things than us - is more educated than us - taller than us - more "amazing" than us - we show everyone pictures and send them links to the web page.  We even pay the bill for the braces, their cars, their sporting events, training and their education bills!  We must do the same for our spiritual children. We must be willing to sacrifice to get them out there.  If we are not in that mindset, we have to repent as leaders and change our ways.  

"MAKE MISTAKES BOLDLY... BUT MAKE THEM HERE!" Karie Kirschbaum

... and don't try something "new" at someone elses ministry!  LOL.  Our churches, studies and sessions must be a place where people can be free to try new things, practice their gifts and learn to lead in a "SAFE ENVIRONMENT".  Only a leader can create that environment.  An environment of fear and control will never produce the power of the Holy Spirit in our people.  Love, power, healing, joy, community, family and friendships can not thrive in an atmosphere of control and fear - it must be an atmosphere of love.  Check out the fruit of your ministry - which are your people - fearful or free?

REMEMBER WHEN JESUS SLAPPED KARIE IN THE FACE AND SAID - "YOU IDIOT.. YOU EMBARRASSED ME... SIT DOWN FOR A FEW YEARS UNTIL YOU LEARN YOUR LESSON!"  

Oh... "that never happened!" you say?  Well, did it/does it happen in your ministry??  That is really the question, isn't it?  Jeff and I have released many many ministers into the lands.  Some were very successful and others made some mistakes and had to "come home" to recover.  


We are proud of them and prepping them to "Go Again" because they don't belong sitting on a pew the rest of their lives.  That is what "home" is for.  The same could be said of our physical children... but we do it because we are their parents.  We love them and we know if they keep trying, they will succeed.  We will help even knowing it will cost us - many times "dearly".

IF YOU HAVE NEVER "SENT" ANYONE FROM YOUR MINISTRY...
(except to Mexico to give out clothes:)) who has succeeded and the folks who have "left" don't want to even talk with you... 
You may have a problem in these areas. 
Just saying... LOL! Karie

This past decade has been one of realigning the body of Christ - ouch!  God is realigning the church for His next united move to reach "the world" for Jesus. As we watched two decades pass with words like "Prophetic Ministry" and "Apostolic Ministries" being thrown around, mishandled, established by people who just had a "hope" they were headed the right direction and then finally "getting it" where it wasn't painful or embarrassing to watch...


I've been a little sarcastic and tried to "point out the obvious", but I hope you will consider what I am saying and seek God as to what that would look like in your life.  This isn't written to equip or arm cranky, rebellious people with ammo to blast good pastors/prophets/apostles that are doing their best to serve the community God sent them to; this is written to shake us all a bit and make sure we are on track. 

PEOPLE... THERE IS ONLY ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD & MAN; 
JESUS CHRIST

 In the same way as leaders must "take a look" at their "sending record", I do hope that all people reading this will take personal responsibility for their own calling and destiny God created them for and not put the responsibility on any minister, person, spouse, friend, boss or teacher as a way out of pressing in and being a son or daughter of God that is growing & maturing at a good rate. 

We are all without excuse for not fulfilling our destinies and not seeking God until it becomes clear to us.  I addressed leaders in this article, but we still must stay on our knees, seek Jesus for ourselves and pray for those God has put in authority over us.

Enjoy!  Karie