Wanted: Local heroes

Dr. James Dobson told a group of Christian broadcasters recently that with the recent passing of so many prominent evangelical leaders -- people like Jerry Falwell, the Rev. D. James Kennedy, and Ruth Bell Graham -- somebody needs to take up the mantle of responsibility.

With others like Billy Graham, Chuck Colson, Pat Robertson, and Chuck Swindoll --  and, of course, Dobson himself -- growing older and soon to pass from the scene who, he asked, was ready to take their place?
 
"It causes me to wonder who will be left to carry the banner when this generation of leaders is gone," Dobson told the National Religious Broadcasters conference. "The question is, will the younger generation heed the call? Who will defend the unborn child in the years to come? Who will plead for the Terri Schiavos of the world? Who's going to fight for the institution of marriage, which is on the ropes today?"
 
This can't be a novel thought, but here goes:
 
Do we really need high-profile evangelical heroes?  If it is heroes we must have -- how about local church pastors who will never have the big name or headlines of a Dobson, Falwell, or Robertson?
 
Where the movement of biblical Christianity is winning the day and making disciples, it is the local church pastors who are already doing it -- whether here in America or in China, South America, Russia or the few bright spots in Europe.
 
Local pastors, not mega-church heroes.  Local pastors, not media personalities.  Local pastors, not those writing the books.  Local pastors, not leaders of packed-stadium evangelistic crusades.
 
The power of the Christian movement does not derive its principal source of strength from Focus on the Family, the Billy Graham Association, Prison Fellowship, or even the American Family Association with which I am associated. The power comes from God and from Spirit-filled, biblically informed local church pastors and their congregations.
 
And, since we're on a roll here -- the smaller church more than the mega-church.
 
Christian Schwarz, in his study of 1,000 churches in 32 countries on six continents with 4.2 million responses, reaches this conclusion: On average, smaller churches are better churches.  So, he contends, the hope of the world is for these smaller churches to plant churches that will plant churches.  And for the world that I know Dobson desires, the necessary component seems to be for these churches to be pastored by leaders with a biblical worldview, a dynamic faith in Christ, and a passion for the world in which they minister.
 
Maybe what we need is not more big names making a splash in our media-obsessed world.  Perhaps what we need most in this country right now is a renewed emphasis on reaching -- just as fast as we can -- a net gain of 350,000 local churches with godly pastors who desire to plant more churches. A huge but achievable goal made more acute when you know that currently more churches die every year than are planted.
 
Change that, and you change America.
 
Thank God for many good para-church ministries. But the best of them know that the strength of the Christian movement does not lie with them. Jesus said "On this rock I will build my church" ... not para-church. The real heroes of America will be found toiling away in the relative anonymity of local church ministries that are salt and light in their communities.
 
The far better question therefore is -- Who will take their place?