Archive for the ‘decline’ Category
Friday is for Friends: Blue Door Ministries
I am so blessed to be friends with Chris and Dana Byers who are currently serving in missions work in London. Increasingly I have friends who are doing longer-term missions that are still shy of what you would traditionally think of as “career” missions.
Chris and Dana sold their house, cars, and most earthly possessions then moved their family (toddlers Blake & Mackenzie) to London on an experimental basis back in October of 2007. What was to be a trial six-month run has turned into a nearly 2 year work now in church planting and ministry revitalization for churches in the UK.
Chris and I were friends at Oklahoma Baptist that had fallen out of contact when we reconnected about two months before they were set to begin their new work. My church’s team in 2008 had an opportunity to worship with Chris and Dana’s church plant and it was a blessing to see God working in their midst.
Besides the obvious blessing of God in their ministry I might add that another element working in Chris’ favor is that he really did marry above himself and has an awesome partner in ministry, Dana. You can see their videos online, learn more about their work, and donate to further the ministry online at their website: http://www.bluedoor.tv/
I encourage you to check out their good work in London and read their blog to understand the interesting things God is doing as He works through those that will go be the workers in the harvest.
“And he said to them, “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.” -Luke 10:2 ESV
When Guns Come to Church
“Today, a little after our 8:15 service began, a man entered First Baptist Church and fired several gunshots at our Senior Pastor, Dr Fred Winters.”
So begins the story at First Baptist Church in Maryville’s website concerning today’s fatal shooting of a pastor early this morning. One of the better reports is over at the New York Times here.
I look at this beautiful photograph of the man that was dedicated to his church for 22 years, saw it grow from a handful of people to over 1,200, and was raising his family.
As I stare into their eyes I cannot imagine the pain they are going through and I invite you to join me in praying for the Winters family and FBC Maryville.
We’ve been having much discussion recently on the safety of upcoming summer missions projects. This drives home the point once again that even the assumed safety of the Sunday morning worship service has all but disappeared in our nation.
Our hearts and heads function best in the New Covenant when we realize Paul’s words ring true: “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
In a New York Minute…
The incredible disappearing Good News…
One of my recurring nightmares is that I wake up one day and find that I’m the only one sitting in a pristine white chapel. It looks like a country church (that I’ve never been to – maybe I’ve seen it in a photo).
I realize that I’m alone and so I go to look for all the people. In my neo-Huxleyian glimpse of tomorrow the crosses are all gone, the people are all tired of church, and the church is all tired of itself.
I assume that I’m in a small rural area and that I’ll step outside into a cow pasture ripe with wheat and corn.
As I step out into the Brave New World I am nearly run over and the reality begins to drive itself into my mind: The church sits on a busy street corner. Busy businesses, restaurants, and shops all surround the lonely little white chapel.
As I turn back to take in this spectacle of a white chapel in the midst of a bustling society moving too fast for the traditions of yesterday I notice a small plaque affixed to the cornerstone of the building.
I always wakeup right after I read the historical marker’s engraved words (this is the gist at least),
“On this site in 1931 pioneers of this community founded the First Baptist Church. Initially it served the public good by meeting the needs of this area’s residents for spiritual, physical, material, and emotional encouragement.
However as the world moved forward First Baptist did not, instead relying on only the original traditions and programs created by its membership. The community around realized early on that First Baptist was no longer really needed, but it was a nice building, and the members seemed friendly enough – but no one knew them as friends.
After 75 years of no growth, no new building, expansion, or any focused attempt at outreach, the last remaining member (a dedicated churchman, deacon and chairman of each of the remaining 37 committees) died on May 28, 2006.
First Baptist’s building was transferred to the local historical society and this building is preserved just as it was when the church closed as a reminder that those who do not adapt have no hope for survival.
“for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” – Matthew 23:27 KJV (ONLY)
Debunking Program Mythology
I’ve been wading through the expanse of knowledge in Seth Godin’s Small is the new Big and he has a fascinating concept that church leaders really ought to listen to under his section heading, “Myths”.
His premise is that many myths have, “far outlasted the data that proved them to be wrong.” For instance that the Earth is flat or that heavy objects fall faster than light ones.
In church life how many still believe that Arthur Flake’s Sunday School formula is the way to go, or that a program of door-to-door visitation is a sure-fire way to grow your church, or that a new program will surely be the one to spark growth?
All of these myths fall in the face of the preponderance of evidence against them. Small groups work best outside of church building walls, Door-to-door visitation hasn’t produced results in decades (think: Vacuum Salesman or Cult Religions), and programs typically are underappreciated, underattended, and overpriced.
As Godin points out however, myths tend to make people emotional, and because of that myths create people who passionately hold onto their sinking ship.
The question really boils down to Godin’s conclusion, “Do you want to bet your future on a process that’s getting less effective every day?”
Well of course, because we’ve never done it any other way before!
How many churches have to close their doors, uttering those same words before God’s people realize: this isn’t a game, this is life or death, the myth of tradition must not usurp the Father.
About
Clark Frailey is a husband, father, and Lead Pastor of Coffee Creek Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
clarkfrailey.com
