Sam Masteller Interview

Sam Masteller came to us from Freedom Life Christian Center in Christiana, PA, where he serves as the lead pastor. He is a likeable young guy, who wants to develop the people in his church so that they can share their faith and help the people in the surrounding area fulfill their destiny in Christ.

Sam has several ideas that I really liked. He believes that when you go to a community, that you are the gatekeeper for that community, and that you should pray that God does not give the people in that community rest until they know Jesus. This is something I want to start putting into practice myself. Something else that really struck a chord with me was that he believes the United States is a mission field. I see many lost, hurting people that need Christ (or someone to be Jesus to them), and I feel that some of our time in church is spent fruitlessly talking about what we should be doing, instead of going out and actually doing it. I would prefer to be out combing the back alleys for those who know they need something more and bringing them to church/Christ (or maybe we should bring church/Christ to them?), than inviting my friends to church, having them say they'll come, and then they don't show. They either don't recognize a need for Jesus in the first place; or they do recognize the need, but don't come because they're too busy. How many times should you invite someone? Once? Twice? Four hundred and thirty-three? Once or twice maybe, but more than that, unless the Spirit leads, will only serve to drive them away. Sam was correct in saying that our theology doesn't need to change, our methodology is what needs to change (at least mine does, or at least my thinking does, because I have not been very successful in this area. Yet. Maybe I'm not allowing enough time to grow relationships, but how long is long enough before you care enough about someone to invite them? Maybe I need to be praying more fervently as a gatekeeper?).

Something else that I liked that Sam did was to look at his church as a newcomer might and tried to design it so that it would be comfortable, inviting, fun, and a place where they not only want to return, but to also invite their friends. I thought the "cry room" for kids was a nice touch. Maybe adults could use private, sound-proof cry rooms as well, for those times when you just have to let it all out or if God calls you to trevail (and you just happen to be at church). One of Sam's goals with the church building is to be more welcoming to those who don't know Jesus. This is an excellent goal, but I believe that Sam also carries this through with the people of his church. I bet they are welcoming as well.

Church location could be a challenge, but I think that with their welcoming ways, people will go out of their way to get there.