thechurchblog

The Northwest Texas Conference authorized the production of a new history of the Annual Conference. The editorial committee gave me the privilege of reading a preliminary draft of the first few chapters. A couple of sentences jumped out at me: “When they (the Annual Conference) heard the report that during 1910, the Conference had seen ‘8,900 conversions, 9,000 additions to the church, 17 new parsonages and 25 new churches built.’ At the end of 1910 the new conference posted its membership at 35,099 in 415 churches and preaching points, with 189 churches housed in their own building.”

Two aspects of that statement screamed at me. The first was that the churches had 8,900 conversions that resulted in 9,000 additions to the churches. They added over 25% to their membership in one year. I am confident the churches experienced some deaths and some people moving away. However, the churches averaged receiving one new member for each four members of the churches. Where is the evidence of our passion for such disciple making? We no longer expect the results that enabled such growth in the early years of these Conferences.

The second aspect of this report also bolted my consciousness. The Conference reported 415 churches and preaching points, with 189 churches housed in their own building. Congregations were not building dependent. Less than one half of all the congregations occupied their own building. Many individuals now believe a congregation cannot exist without occupying their own building. We ignore our own heritage. We forget that the church is the people. We sing it in our hymns, but it is not lodged in our hearts.

This short passage caused my heart to soar and to begin to dream new dreams and see new visions. Can you imagine United Methodist people traveling to where the people live and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ? Can you imagine pastors and members of congregations going into neighborhoods and starting a new congregation after reaching those who do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord? Can you imagine coming to Annual Conference next June and reporting more preaching points and churches than congregations housed in their own buildings? Can you imagine changing the emphasis from how many members the congregation received into membership into how many new disciples were developed this past year?

The fields are ripe for the harvest. People in the United States are spiritually hungry. They seek an encounter with God. They covet knowing the creator of this universe cares about them. Joining another club holds no attraction for them. Enjoying fellowship that is superficial and casual repeals them. They desire experiencing community and an encounter with the Divine that transforms their lives. They can easily find beautiful buildings. They seek hope in a world filled with violence and despair.

A man approached me recently and asked why a particular congregation was declining. He said, “They have a beautiful building. My family helped to construct it. I do not understand why the congregation is declining. I responded that buildings do not attract people. He asked, “Then what does?” I responded, “A congregation that is alive, vital, inviting, hospitable, nurturing, transformative, and Jesus Christ is proclaimed.” His response was brief. “Oh.”

Perhaps his views expressed the difference between rapidly expanding congregations and slowly declining churches. Congregations must recover the thrill of sharing the Gospel and seeing people respond to their invitations.