Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

Here’s what I’ve learned after our retreat to seek God’s will, and the conclusions of our “Your Participation Matters” questionnaire that resulted in an assessment of the emotional well-being of the Catch community:*

It’s not about me.

Now I know that shouldn’t be news, but I’m a little slow sometimes, especially when the point I’m supposed to get is easily overlooked by my natural self-orientation. 

But hearing from the Catch community has helped me put this in proper perspective. The Catch Ministry is not about me. It’s actually about everybody, and me — not so much. It’s about Marti, and Merv, and John S., and Wayne, and Gunnar, and Terri, and the Vanguard, and the Board of Directors, and the MemberPartners, and our partners including the Jesus People musicians, and every Catch community member who has ever come our way. It’s about all of you, and, of course, the Holy Spirit, before it is ever about me. 

It makes me think of Hebrews 12 where all the heroes of faith listed in the previous chapter become a great cloud of witnesses surrounding each one of us to cheer us on and get us to drop the things that entangle us and travel light along this race that has been marked out for us. We need those witnesses but we need each other too, because we perform the same function — we become witnesses for each other so that we are not alone. That’s why it’s not about you or me; it’s about all of us together, and each of us is both in the crowd rooting for each other, and in the race, running.

According to your recommendations, we need an awakening. We need a fresh wind of the Spirit. We need to jettison some unnecessary baggage and lighten our load and lock in on Jesus. We are ready for revival. Come Holy Spirit.

* Our independent business analyst concluded his 25-page viability summary with the following words: “I hold the conservative belief that success – in terms of ministry viability as well as its effectiveness – is earned. It’s my belief, as a Christian and as a witness to John and Marti and the Catch Ministry that it has earned success as an organization in financial accountability, with a sound infrastructure — and with the front door wide open no less.”