In a recent conversation, a friend asked me, "What's the core problem you're trying to solve?" I paused and, having never put it this way before, found myself saying, "I think it's one of inheritance."

Now what do I mean by that? It might sound a bit abstract or philosophical, so bear with me while I seek a clearer way to frame it. In the meantime: the problem I see isn't about a literal inheritance of material goods from relatives, but a bigger inheritance. Sometimes financial, yes, but also wisdom, insight, experience, gifts, capacity, love, and more.

I believe that when we receive an inheritance, when we are blessed by God in any of these ways, there is always a portion intended for us to receive and a portion of abundance intended to overflow from us as generosity. Like a fountain that stops flowing, when we as individuals (and by extension our organizations and churches) cease to overflow, we stagnate.

When we aren't flowing out, we limit our ability to be poured into. It's in emptying ourselves, trusting that God will backfill behind us, that we see transformation happen.

This might sound harsh, but I believe stagnation is the unfortunate reality we find ourselves in. If we take a real look around, we'll see a lot of it. After decades of decline, researchers like Pew and Barna are finding that the numbers have begun to level off. But holding steady isn't the same as thriving; in many ways, it's what stagnation looks like. That's not to say there isn't richness, beauty, joy, and real active ministry. But they don't seem to flow through the whole body.

So why is it that the people of the Church don't overflow in these areas of inheritance? Occasionally (though I hope rarely), it's selfishness or a scarcity mindset: a fear that if we give away our time, wisdom, money, or love, there won't be enough left. But I think the more pervasive dynamic is one of limited imagination. For example look at those in our church communities with significant financial means: so often, they are reduced. Reduced to a narrative that the best way they can give of themselves is financially. Sometimes that is in fact the case. But often, I think we miss out on so much more of what they could offer. If only we stopped to ask how can we "see the whole person"? It's common for people not to fully understand their inheritance, and so their imagination is limited in how they can give of themselves.

The opportunity is to name a potential gift, of hospitality, prayer, or listening, then invite them into realizing their potential in that area, walking with them as they flex a new muscle. Not for our own personal gain, but for more of the Kingdom to emerge. To invite them into a fuller expression of love, of self-gift. Of being themselves, on mission, wherever and with whomever that ends up serving.

We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
_{Ephesians 4:15–16}

In a local church, opportunities for involvement are often limited to specific areas of need, such as prayer ministry, children's ministry, ushering, or the music team. As real as these needs are, limiting service to them can leave little room for people to truly emerge in their giftings. They can be left feeling they have to fit themselves into predefined boxes. What if there were a way to meet the needs of the Church and have every person be their own ministry, operating in the gifts and capacities given uniquely to them? That question invites some fun challenges: how do we activate people, and how do we organize them? And when someone carries a God-given vision for something new, how do we help them realize it, instead of leaving it by the wayside as merely a good idea? How many labourers are in the Church, needing the community to help activate them?

The primary goal I'm inviting our team at Glass Canvas Ministries into this season is that, as we walk with people, we "invite an expanded imagination of offering oneself." As we see people giving more fully and freely of themselves, I see the flywheel starting to spin and stagnation giving way. I see giftedness, experience, and intentionality in our team for walking with people this way, so we are prioritizing our energy and focus in this area.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

— Matthew 9:37–38 (ESV)

My prayer, and one I invite you into, is this: "Lord, let us be an overflowing vessel of your love. Not holding onto any excess, but seeking to pour out in generosity. Jesus, I invite a bigger imagination for how I can give of myself to love your people. Help me invite others into the same."