Batterson on Impact

"The impact God has planned for us doesn't occur when we're pursuing impact. It occurs when we're pursuing God."
--Mark Batterson

I absolutely love this quote from Mark Batterson. It may seem like semantics to some, but it defines a fine line in a church's ministry. As we seek to impact our community, it is always tempting to be completely pragmatic, and rely entirely on our own sense of wisdom. So we ONLY study demographics and community felt needs. Those things aren't bad or wrong or unnecessary. But our first goal shouldn't be to pursue impact. Our first love, our first pursuit, must always be God Himself. God will always use those who are His completely sold-out followers to make a difference, to make an impact.