Johnson Chapel is a small congregation. In October of 2002 Tom Salter, a retired pastor, was appointed there, sure that he would be the last pastor. For a couple of years, Johnson Chapel continued to decline (attendance under 20) then in 2005, in Tom’s words, “the stone was rolled away . . . and a near-death revival began.” Attendance doubled, offerings increased 80%, 28 new members were received in the next two years.
A crisis of numbers is happening in most churches today, if not in terms of members then (due to the current economy) in terms of finances. An appropriate question to ask, then, are if the strategies and priorities that allowed churches to grow have changed into some sort of "prevent defense" mode. The Johnson Chapel found success by re-ordering their priorities accordingly:
"Our priorities (of focus and of financial support) are #1, outreach ministries and missions: #2, congregational ministries; #3, facilities and properties; #4, pastor’s compensation."
This is interesting to me because it speaks also to a bigger problem with Christianity. More than anything Christ calls his followers to be relevant, meeting people at their point of need in order to open their eyes and hearts to Christ's message. He sent his disciples to the uttermost parts of the Earth, not to build pretty buildings and make money, but to heal, teach, and minister in his name. If we as individuals and collectively as churches show Christ's love only to other believers while judging or ignoring all others, then we fail miserably.
Good for Jackson Chapel. I hope it doesn't take a near-death experience for me to get my priorities better aligned and live a more loving and sharing life.
3 comments:
Justus, I agree with you in principle, but something about your post just strikes me wrongly - your statement that "More than anything Christ calls his followers to be relevant." I'm uncomfortable with that statement because its awful close to saying Christ calls us to "fit in." And Christ never called anyone to fit in - in fact, his own ministry was revolutionary and counter-cultural. But I don't think that's what you were implying...
I certainly agree that Christ has commissioned us to spread his gospel, rather than grow comfortable and complacent in our situation. So then, what am I going to do?
Point taken. I meant my use of the term relevant to be almost exactly the opposite of "fitting in" in that meeting people at the point of their need can open minds and hearts to the truth of a new life in grace.
And I can not answer your question sufficiently, for you or myself.
Mrs. RosenRosen and I have been watching American Idol (gosh I have so many problems with that show, but its like a train wreck that I can't tear my eyes away from). The Idolaters (read: the "judges," but of course not me because I'm just a critic and not a fan, right? RIGHT?) throw the word "relevant" around as if it were a synonym for "hip" or "current" or "edgy" or "commercial-successful." Its worse than I thought - American Idol is changing my diction.
So I guess my beef is with Idol and Myself (for my voyeuristic fettish). Oh well, beats food porn, I guess...
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