Will You Help Do Something Drastic?

Hello Church,

Many don't know it, but this week is very important for us as the church.  I will be engaging in at least 4 face-to-face conversations that could be a catalyst for cultural change at Emmanuel.  By this I mean continuing a shift from 'doing' to 'engaging'.  From 'providing' to 'relating'.

Before you get your hopes up (or your anxiety up), know that this also continues to be a very difficult shift.  It likely has been the most difficult task I have taken on in 20+ years of ministry.  Re-inventing, reconstructing, re-visioning, reassessing, reasserting.... I can't and won't do it alone.  Will you help?

To help you might need to re-look at how you are the church.  Re-define how you measure success as a Christian person and as a community of Christian people.  I am asking you to do something very difficult, but not something I haven't been doing for myself the past 12 months.  Why would I ever do something so drastic?  What would I invite you into this painful process?

85% of churches in the U.S. are declining.  15% are growing.  14% are growing because of church transfers.  1% are growing because of new believers (and it is more like .5%, but we like to round up). 96 churches are closing per week.  50 pastors are leaving per day.  (Hartford Institute for Religious Research).

Why?  And what is the secret formula to buck the trend?

Churches that are finding a little growth are the ones who have stopped looking at numbers, programming or events and started looking at culturally relevant relationships.  Opportunities for face-to-face conversations is still a thing for people strive toward.  Less ranting about rules and doctrine, more attempts at engaging the neighbor.  Feeding the hungry turns into eating with the hungry.  Attending worship turns into participating in worship.  Giving to one another turns into sharing with one another.  Praying for people turns into praying with people.  Get it?  Will you help?  How?

Not just texting.  Not just Facebooking.  Not just snapping, instagraming or tweeting.

Engage in real, authentic, relevant, face-to-face conversation.... sort of what Jesus did. It is a start and something I am committed to doing moving forward.  Will you help?

The opportunities are coming.

God is Good,
Pastor Joe