Change!

 Several years ago when I served as a Resource Minister for our Region I was meeting with a Pastor Search Committee. My first question in the initial meeting was always the same, "What do you want in your new pastor?" I asked the question even though I knew the answer would be one of two responses. They either wanted a pastor who would grow the church or a pastor who would grow their youth group. In the case of this church it was the first response. They wanted a pastor who would grow their church. I had never said this before, but this night I was a little bolder and responded, "So, you are telling me you want a pastor who will come here and change everything you are doing." The chairperson quickly said that was not what they wanted. I then told the committee, "You do know if you could grow your church by doing what you're already doing, you would already be growing. Since you are not growing, something has to change." The chairperson smiled at me and said, "Maybe we need to talk about this some more." I don't remember, but I don't think I was invited back to their future meetings.

Nearly every church wants to grow, but most of them want to do so without changing anything they are already doing. Church growth doesn't happen that way. Another church called me saying they had formed a church growth committee (a creature almost certain to not grow a church), and they wanted me to come and explain how they could grow without upsetting anyone in the church. I actually laughed on the phone and told the caller, "I'll save me a trip and you a meeting: You can't." They asked me to meet with them anyway, and we did have an honest discussion on the cost of growth.

Nobody enjoys change except small babies. Church leaders, including pastors, often dislike change because it disrupts what they are already doing. Change makes many members of the congregation uncomfortable because no one is sure what their role will be in the church system, or if they will even have a role. Others worry about what will change next. Sometimes church members will leave a church because they strongly dislike changes, and no one wants to lose members of the church. In yet a third church that asked me to speak to them about growth I mentioned that changes would have to be made, and one of the costs of change is the possibility that you might lose some people. Later, in a Q&A session, one older member of the church said she didn't know anyone in the church she was willing to give up. Others agreed with her, and nothing changed and the church continues to struggle.

The question is sometimes asked what needs to change. That depends on the church and its situation. It may be attitudes within the church. Perhaps the church needs to shift its focus from inward-looking to outward. The church may need to take steps to become a healthier congregation. It might take new leadership, both pastoral and lay. There are too many variables to say this needs to change and that needs to change. Each church must look at itself and determine what obstacles exist that are keeping people out. You may need to invite your denominational representative or another outside consultant to help you look at your current system. Remember...your system is perfectly designed for the results you are getting.

Starting new groups

 In our late 20s my wife and I gave our lives to Jesus Christ and began attending a church our neighbor attended. I still remember the first time we went into the Young Adult Sunday school class. There were about 40 people in the class, all who had been together for years. We felt like outsiders...because we were. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and it took several months before we felt we fit in.

After a couple of years the pastor asked if I would help him start a new class for that age group. It had stopped growing, and he felt a new class might appeal to new people who would visit the church. For the first quarter he taught the class, and I was his substitute. After that three months I became the teacher. We did not divide the existing class but did let anyone interested in the new class know they could transfer into it. When new young adults attended the church they were invited into the new class. In a very short while we had grown to a couple of dozen people, most of them new to the church. 

We have known for a long time that new churches reach new people. That is why so many denominations seek to plant new churches. What we often fail to consider is that new small groups also attract new people. Go into many smaller churches and you will find the same people sitting in the same classes they have been in for years. Now, consider what it would be like for a new person or couple to begin attending that class. They will feel like my wife and I did when we first attended the Sunday school class. Most small groups do not intentionally try to make new people feel uncomfortable, but they often do. New people are surrounded by conversations being held by people who have known each other for years (decades). It can be very intimidating.

Church growth experts recommend that a new adult Sunday school class should be started every 18 months. This allows new people to connect with other new people. That will be difficult to do in many smaller churches. There may be space limitations, leadership limitations and other issues that make this difficult. But, small groups include more than just Sunday school classes.

A small group might include a church choir, a book study group, a group focused on more in-depth theological study, a sports group, a quilting group, a fishing group, or any other groups that might attract people to the church. Many of these groups would not meet on Sundays and often will not meet at the church. But, they do provide opportunities for people to build relationships with people from the church and to be exposed to the Gospel. People such as Gary McIntosh suggests that one of every five groups in the church should be less than two years old. This provides a comfortable place for new people to become connected to the church.

Many small churches will argue that they are already a small group so they don't need to start one. I suppose that's true if they are only interested in the persons already in their small group, but if they are interested in reaching new people they may find it easier to do in additional small groups.

The unsaved church member

Years ago Billy Graham stated his belief that one-half of those attending churches had never trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Many were active members and leaders in their churches. Some served as pastors of those churches. I'm sure when he said those words that some doubted the number could be that high. Well, Christian researcher George Barna's team have studied those attending church services and came to the same conclusion. Approximately, one-half of those professing to be Christians have actually given their lives over to Jesus Christ. That is an amazing number, and one that should give pause to churches and their leadership.

How can such a thing be true? From my perspective, it's the result of people not truly understanding what it means to be a Christian. Some think they are Christian because their parents or grandparents were Christians. Others may believe because they attend a church service and even take an active part in those services, that they are Christians. Some may be relying on an event that happened many years ago in which they made a public profession of faith which was followed by a baptism, but in reality their lives never changed nor have they had any recent experience of God working in their lives. What we are talking about here in each of these examples is poor theology and is the direct result of inadequate preaching from the pulpit. In too many churches, the gospel has been watered down so much so that it might not offend anyone that people no longer understand what it means to become a Christian.

Several years ago a pastor shared with me a story about a young member of his church. This individual had once again been arrested for drunk driving and was in jail. After his release the family asked the pastor to visit the young man which he did. During their conversation the pastor asked the individual about his relationship with Jesus Christ. The young man shared that he had attended a church camp as a child. During a chapel service one evening he fell asleep, and when he woke up he noticed a crowd of young people down front. He went down front to see why they were there. These young people had responded to a gospel presentation to give their lives to Christ. This individual was asked his name, and a couple of weeks later his pastor received a letter from the camp stating this individual had made a profession of faith. Without looking into this apparent profession any further, the young man was baptized and became a member of the church. How many people sitting in our churches believe they are right with God because of an inadequate understanding of what it means to be a Christian?

In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul encourages us to test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. Such an examination should be good for each of us to perform. Let's not trust our church membership or our role in the church as proof of our relationship with God. We should also not trust our Christian upbringing as evidence that we are Christians. God has no grandchildren. Each person must make a personal decision of whether to seek a relationship with God through Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

One final word to church leaders, especially pastors. Let each of us be abundantly clear on what it means to be a Christian. God doesn't need "woke" churches afraid of offending people. He has called each of us to present clearly the gospel and invite people to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. There is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved. Our churches will never impact our communities as they should until this message is shared without apology.

What smaller churches need

A couple of days ago I posted my thoughts about the future of smaller churches. If my predictions are correct, what should denominations begin doing to serve these churches?

As a judicatory leader for 14 years I saw first-hand how the finances of many denominations and judicatories were impacted by the financial crisis of 2008 and some of the controversies that swirled around denominational life at the same time. Many denominations and judicatories were forced to significantly cut staffing and programs. The churches most affected by these cuts were the smaller churches. 

Denominations and judicatories were not the only ones ready to write off the smaller churches. How many seminaries and Bible schools offered classes designed specifically for the pastors of the smaller church? How many offered training for bivocational ministers? I'm glad to say that some did. The judicatory in which I served provided excellent training for church leaders, many of whom became effective bivocational pastors in some of our smaller churches. Unfortunately, this type of training was not available in every judicatory or from every seminary or Bible college.

Finding qualified pastoral leadership for smaller churches became increasingly more difficult. Seminary trained pastors with MDiv degrees seldom were interested in serving in a smaller church. Many churches quickly discovered their denomination could not help them find a pastor since there were so few pastors available willing to serve the smaller church. Some of these churches would call the first person who walked in their door wearing a cross around his neck. This often resulted in a disaster for the church. In many cases, these pastors had no affiliation with the denomination and no interest in supporting the denomination which drove the wedge even greater between the denomination and the church.

With this background, let me share two things smaller churches need from their denomination and judicatories. One, is assistance in finding effective pastoral leadership. For decades these churches have been told the denomination doesn't have sufficient pastoral leadership for the smaller church. Let me be very blunt: that excuse is getting old. If you don't have pastoral leadership you can offer to the smaller church, whose fault is that? Do you think God is surprised by the need of smaller churches to have effective pastoral leadership? He's been calling people to this work since the church began. It's time for denominations and judicatories to stop making excuses and begin working to identify those God has called to this work and train them. A person doesn't need an MDiv to serve a smaller church. He or she doesn't need an MDiv to be ordained. Stop pretending it's 1950 where every pastor had to have a MDiv in order to serve in a church. Our churches are constantly being told they need to learn to conform to the reality of doing ministry in 2023. How about our denominational and judicatory leaders think about conforming to the real needs of their smaller church?

Closely associated with this, the second thing our smaller churches need is a relationship with the denominational and judicatory leadership. The ONLY thing they can't get from outside sources is a relationship. There are many publishing companies where they can get Sunday school literature, bulletins and other resources. There are excellent evangelism tools available from any number of organizations. Many great workshops and conferences are offered every year from a variety of organizations. The only thing a denomination and judicatory can offer their churches that they cannot get elsewhere is a relationship.

A word of advice: some of these churches have been ignored for so long that any relationship will have to begin with you approaching them. If you try to invite a bunch of small church leaders to some gathering, don't be surprised if few show up. This needs to be one-on-one at first. 

The future of the small church

 I didn't realize it had been so long since I had published on this blog. I apologize to my followers and can assure you that you will be seeing more from me in the near future. In a couple of weeks I'll have an announcement to share with everyone. But, for now I want to address what I believe the future of the small church will look like.

I am in the process of re-reading a book I first read several years ago on how to turn around a small church. Even though the book was published in 1995 it mostly remains very relevant to small churches in 2023. As I began reading Appendix A, the author mentions that many were saying the era of the small church is past, and the future belongs to the mega-church and larger churches. People are making the same observation today. In my opinion, they couldn't be more wrong.

At a pastor's conference I led a few years ago I was asked about the future of the small church. My response was that the small church will be around for a long time. The larger and mega-churches probably will be as well. The churches that will feel the squeeze in the future will be the middle-size churches. I predicted then that people in those churches will be attracted to the programs and ministries the mega-churches offer. In an effort to keep those individuals, the middle-size churches will try to compete with the mega-churches. No doubt they will work hard and probably fail simply because they do not have the resources to compete with those churches. One of my mantras is that churches can often accomplish more by doing less. It's when churches focus on the few things they can do with excellence that they succeed. Doing many things with mediocrity is a sure recipe for failure.

That failure is likely to result in people leaving for the mega-church who offers those programs the people want. At the same time, some in the middle-size church may decide they miss the family atmosphere they experienced in the smaller church and decide to return to that smaller church. They are less interested in programs and more interested in the fellowship and family atmosphere often found in the smaller church.

If my predictions are correct, it is important that denominations stop writing off the smaller church and re-address the needs of those churches. As a retired judicatory leader for 14 years I found many smaller churches had decided they would get no help from their denominations. While most of them remained members of their denominations, it was a relationship in name only. Many of them ceased any financial support of their denomination, never attended meetings or training sessions offered by the denomination, and stop calling when they needed assistance in finding new pastoral leadership. They had, in essence, became independent churches.

Smaller churches will be around until Jesus comes. They have their problems and challenges, but they offer people a sense of family not found in larger churches. Many people want that. I suppose that's why the mean church in America is only 75 people. Bookshelves may be full of books about larger churches written by mega-church pastors, but the country is full of smaller churches, and it will continue to be so as long as the church exists. I love the smaller church and have dedicated my life and ministry to them because I know how God continues to use them to impact the lives of people and communities.

Loving God with our minds

 When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment He responded, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Most Christians would respond that they do love the Lord, but I wonder how many can say they love Him with all their minds. The reason I say this is because of the shallow thinking found among many Christians today. For many, their faith is a mile wide and an inch deep. They've never seriously studied the teachings of Scripture and know only what pastors and others have taught them, and too often their teacher's knowledge of God is shallow as well. A few decades back pastors were considered the theologians of the church. Today, they are expected to be therapists who are careful not to use too much "God-talk" so as not to offend anyone.

In his book, Love Your God with All Your Mind, Christian philosopher J. P. Moreland discusses the importance of emphasizing the intellectual life to our congregations for their own personal spiritual growth and to enhance their ability to share their faith with others. Moreland goes on to tell the story of an interview Billy Graham had with Parade magazine when he was asked what he would do differently if given the chance. He responded, "I would have studied more. I would have gotten my PhD in anthropology."

I am now approaching my 75th birthday, and I believe my answer would have been similar. I wish I had pursued a PhD in theology or apologetics to deepen my knowledge about God and my relationship with Him. Not that a particular degree makes a person a better Christian or even a more knowledgeable Christian (I know too many people with a PhD degree that I am convinced stands for Post Hole Digger because even a post hole digger knows more about God than they do!).

Today I am in a serious study of the attributes of God so that I might know Him better. There are times in my study that I have to stop and simply praise Him for that particular attribute. Not only does it help me better know God, it also helps me see how that attribute has impacted my life. Such an understanding naturally leads to worship.

How would you describe your own knowledge of God? How much time do you spend studying the Scriptures to see what they have to teach you? Can you honestly say your faith has grown in the past year? The past 5 years? What about since the day you prayed asking Jesus Christ into your life? I've known many Christians who's faith never grew beyond the day of their baptism. If this describes you, what are you going to do about it? Let me make a suggestion if you want to change this in your life; read Moreland's book to start with. When you finish his book, begin to read other books that are written by serious biblical scholars and theologians. Listen to podcasts from similar people. It's Ok if some of it is over your head. You're learning. As you learn more about God you will find your faith will begin to deepen. You will find it easier to worship. You will find it easier to share your faith with others. You will be amazed at how your life will change.

Taking the long view in ministry

 I made a mistake a couple of years ago. (I know that's hard to believe!) In an effort to remove a few books from my library I sent my copy of The Clock of the Long Now to the Salvation Army. In case you are not familiar with this clock, it is a clock designed to keep time for 10,000 years. You can read about the clock online, but the book builds on this clock in an effort to help people see the value of a long-time perspective in all they do. I wish I still had the book because I feel the need to re-read it.

We live in a hurry-up world where speed is of the essence. I will admit to the reader that I am not a person with great patience. I often joke that I believe microwaves are much too slow. I prefer everything to move at light speed. My early ministry reflected that mindset which caused me a lot of frustration. One of the blessings I received by spending 20 years as pastor of Hebron Baptist Church was that it taught me that anything worthwhile would take longer than I thought it should. I doubt that those pastors whose pastoral tenure lasts more than 3-4 years ever learn that.

In his classic Your God is too Small, J. B. Phillips writes, "It is refreshing, and salutary, to study the poise and quietness of Christ. His task and responsibility might well have driven a man out of his mind. But He was never in a hurry, never impressed by numbers, never a slave of the clock. He was acting, He said, as he observed God to act - never in a hurry."

Phillips is right. God is never in a hurry. Our Lord Jesus Christ had such a short time to accomplish all He was given to accomplish, yet we never find Him in a hurry. He always found time to address the needs He encountered, and He still accomplished the purpose for which He came to earth to fulfill.

I am not advocating that we in the ministry waste time, but it is also time that we step back and recognize that God does not move at our pace. So many times I felt frustrated because the congregation didn't understand the vision I tried to share with them. I forgot that it takes time for God to reveal that to them as He had revealed it to me. Yes, I will even admit that there were times I was frustrated with God that He wasn't moving as quickly as I would prefer! (I can't say enough about how wrong that is!)

Sometimes I wish ministers would be called to a church where they would spend their entire lives serving that congregation and community. Yet, I also know that there are times when God calls us elsewhere to use our gifts in a different setting. I will say that I doubt that happens every 3-4 years, but I suppose that's my opinion. Long-term ministries help us see the value in taking a long-term perspective in what we are doing. It would also help us see all that God had done in our churches and in our own lives during that period of time.

I want to encourage those in ministry to commit to the place where you are serving. Don't leave just because things are difficult. Don't leave because it's hard to get people to understand your vision. You might leave just as God is getting ready to make a break-through in that church. H. B. London, Jr. once reminded us that if we are serving in a great church it was because someone stayed there long enough to make it a great church, and if we are serving in a place that wasn't so good it might be that God was calling us to stay there until we made it a great place.