RU is here for the Local Church

I have recently noticed a trend among some well-meaning
and misguided students and chapter volunteers that I would
like to address. I would like everyone to realize our
priorities at Reformers Unanimous. We are a local church
ministry, under the leadership of a local church pastor (Dr.
Kingsbury). We are here to help lay people serve their
pastor. How? By giving them creative ways to reach
unchurched or apathetic churched people and develop them
into active, vibrant church members. Sheep produce sheep
and shepherds produce shepherds!
I have seen an increasing number of people who are
looking to RU for things that do not meet our mission
statement. May I set the record straight.
WE ARE NOT: the local church or more important than
your local church. RU worker: if you cannot make it to
Wednesday evening service because you go to the RU class
on Friday, then you need to quit RU! Church is more
important than RU.
WE ARE NOT: A counseling alternative to your church
pastors or teachers. We will counsel the RU directors when
a pastor sends them to us, but we do not welcome church
members or students to seek spiritual advice on matters.
That is the role of the new testament Baptist church and its
pastors and teachers, not ours. We will counsel on
addictions, outreach, and matters concerning program
participation, but that is where we always try to stop.
WE ARE NOT: A church clique or club. While it is true
that young marrieds do not hang with the seniors, or teens
with the singles, RU does not seek to become another clique
within the church. Our students can become part of an
ever-growing peer group on Friday, but the Sunday school
class should not become an ever-growing group. We
strongly suggest that you should augment your students
into the church Sunday school classes at least within one
year of them entering your RU Sunday school class. Only
a small number of necessary leaders should be a part of
your RU SS class. They should remain in their class unless
they have received permission from the preacher to change.
This, of course, is our recommendation. It is a local church
decision.
WE ARE NOT a para-church organization. Those who
say we are do not understand what that means. When
someone comes to RU and follows the program’s goals for
them, they get saved, baptized, and join the local church
they are attending. They buy materials from that church;
seldom, if ever, do they buy directly from us. They become
a physical asset of that local church and pastor. They are
your fruit, we just enjoy fruit to our account in heaven. We
are led by a local church pastor and are under the authority
of a local church.
WE ARE NOT setting anyone free! Only the Truth makes
free. RU is not the Truth. RU presents the Truth, but is not
the Truth. Jesus is the Truth. RU is a promoter of Jesus,
the Truth. Because of that, we can play an important ROLE
in presenting people with the Key to their freedom.
WE ARE NOT a board-run organization. We have an
advisory board of RU leaders that are smart businessmen
who help us make wise decisions with the resources God
has given us. But they are only advisors with no voting
rights or powers. As well, they are only business advisors.
While we accept ministry advice from everyone, we have
no board or advisory board on ministry decisions. The
visions for RU come from me and are filtered, shaped,
authorized, and monitored by my pastor, Dr. Paul Kingsbury.
I have decided to remind each of us what RU IS NOT on
a somewhat regular basis. We must stay committed to our
role of serving pastors and churches, so that we do not end
up like so many other well-meaning programs—out from
underneath the authority of a local church and its pastor. I
love my pastor and strongly suggest you love yours as well.