Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 304

Pray for Parkway Baptist Church

Location: Moseley, VA

Pastor: Ben Brammer

Weekly Worship: 8:15 AM, 9:30 AM, and 11:00 AM Eastern Time

Fast Facts: Founded by Dr. Brian Autry in 1991, Parkway Baptist is nearing its 25th year in existence and has grown to around 1,000 in worship each week. Prior to Dr. Brammer becoming pastor, ThomRainer.com’s very own Chuck Lawless served as interim. Please pray for Parkway to continue to reach those in the Richmond area for Christ. Also pray that they will be strategic in their vision and methods. Also be in prayer as they reach a growing group of Millennials in Richmond and seek to plant their first church.

Website: ParkwayFamily.org

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, download this information form and return it to the address on the form.

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Seven Reasons Why Most Church Outreach Programs Fail

One of my passions in life is to help churches move from becoming inwardly focused to outwardly focused. When I wrote I Am a Church Member, my key motivation was to demonstrate that biblical church members are always looking outwardly. When I wrote Autopsy of a Deceased Church, my desire was to demonstrate the terrible consequences and deaths of local congregations when the members are inwardly focused.

The Readers Speak

I was overwhelmingly grateful when nearly 1,000 of the readers of this blog responded to my reader survey. I am still reading and re-reading that invaluable information.

One issue I heard clearly was your desire for me to share the specifics of what effective outwardly-focused churches are doing. I heard you. My work on that request is almost complete, and I will be sharing it in video format this fall. The necessary brevity of a blog post precludes the type of discussion I want you to hear.

So Why Don’t You Deliver Us a “Plug and Play” Program?

Some of the readers asked for me to deliver the latest outreach program to their churches. Hear me well: There is nothing wrong with outreach programs per se. They can be very helpful if put in the proper context. The problem is that most highly prescriptive programs do not do so. As a result, they do not deliver their intended results.

In fact, they can, in some cases, do more harm than good if they are not framed well. Allow me to share seven reasons why most well intended outreach programs fail.

They are seen as an end instead of a means. As a consequence, some will be a part of an outreach ministry as a sense of legalistic obligation. Most church members, especially Millennials, refuse to participate in something unless they know the “why” behind it.
Most outreach programs are not addressed in front-end membership classes. The best time to help shape expectations and responsibilities of members is when they first become a part of the church. Rarely is the issue of becoming outwardly focused addressed.
Many outreach programs do not feel natural. Though it is cliché, the best way to share the love of Christ is in the natural overflow of our love for Him. The best outreach ministries should teach us how to channel that overflow.
When a church has an outreach program, it can be perceived as a ministry for the few. So the majority of the members can say it’s “someone else’s” ministry. The Great Commission is not a multiple choice question.
Most outreach programs fail to explain that sharing the love of Christ is a vital part of spiritual growth. Instead it is often seen as a “check list” among other obligations at the church.
Outreach programs can offer excuses for people not to be outwardly focused. I used to conduct church surveys when I was a church consultant. A common theme I heard was: “I do this ministry, so I don’t have to be involved in evangelism and outreach.”  In other words, being an outwardly focused Christian becomes an option among many. And it’s usually not chosen.
Outreach programs can put the responsibility of evangelism on institutions. So if a church is not evangelistic, it’s because the denomination or other resource providers are not doing their jobs. Local churches and local church members shift accountability to an institution.

The Story Does Not End Here

I am often guilty of declaring problems rather than offering solutions. Stick with me. I have exciting initiatives ahead. I will be specifically sharing this information with those on my email list, so if you have not signed up, you can do so here.

In the meantime, please share with me how your congregation is focusing outwardly. Those of you in local congregations are the experts; I am a mere reporter.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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Social Media and the Church – Rainer on Leadership #058

Podcast Episode #058

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Social media is fast becoming the preferred method of communication. It cannot be ignored. Not just by individuals, but by churches as well. So this week, I somewhat turn the tables on Jonathan and interview him on how churches can more effectively use social media and how pastors and leaders can use the platforms online out of gospel ambition instead of for personal gain. We cover a couple of posts from his blog (linked below) and the seven reasons churches need someone directing their social media.

Social media is fast becoming a preferred method of communication. 
Having one individual lead social media will avoid the pitfalls of mixed messages.
A congregation’s social media expressions need a consistent voice. 
A good social media director understands the language of the people.
One person acting as social media director can help give priority to the different messages the church needs to send. 
A social media director can help find the church’s  “sweet spot” in social media. 
Effective social media needs ongoing attention. 

Episode Sponsor

This podcast was brought to you by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program. If you want more out of your ministry, want to study with a world-class faculty and need to stay where you currently serve, the DMin at Southeastern is the answer for you. Visit SEBTS.EDU/DMIN for more information.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

Resources

HoweOriginal.com

Four Keys to Better Blogging
Platform: Great Risk or Great Reward


Seven Common Comments Non-Christians Make about Christians
Autopsy of a Deceased Church

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Friday Is for Freebies: Autopsy of a Deceased Church

This month, my giveaways are featuring my new book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church.

For more than twenty-five years, I’ve helped churches grow, reverse the trends of decline, and autopsied those that have died. From my experiences, I have discovered twelve consistent themes among those churches that have died. Yet, it’s not gloom and doom because from those twelve themes, lessons on how to keep your church alive have emerged.

Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.

Also included is the black, genuine leather version of the HCSB Study Bible, a comprehensive, easy to read, and easy to use Bible, with features and formats specifically designed to enhance your Bible study experience. You can also go to MyStudyBible.com and dive right in for a complete digital experience.

This Bible has a retail price of $79.99 and features 15,000 study notes, 290 Hebrew and Greek word studies, 66 highly detailed book introductions, 62 maps, 27 topical articles, 20 charts, and 18 illustrations, all focusing on the most important topics and questions in Bible study.

Enter this week’s Friday Is for Freebies giveaway

To enter this week’s giveaway, fill out the form below. Entries will be closed at midnight Saturday night. We will contact the winner via email on Monday morning. Entrants may receive occasional promotional emails from ThomRainer.com.
RSS and email subscribers should click through to the website to enter.

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After submitting your entry, you will be directed back to the ThomRainer.com homepage. By entering, you acknowledge and accept the terms of the promotion.

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Notable Voices – June 5, 2014

How to Assess and Increase Giving in Your Church – Leah Merrill

Simply put, churches rely on giving to fund ministry and compensate the staff of the church. Leah provides three questions to examine the giving in your church and some next steps to implement.

 

How to Overcome the Fear of Preaching (or Preaching Nerves) – Brandon Hilgemann

No matter how many sermons you preach, you’re likely to have at least a little nervousness at times. Brandon shares how to overcome those nerves.

 

How Pastors Accidentally Ruin Their Church – Andy Flowers

Andy explains how a pastor leaving a church can accidentally ruin the church—no matter how healthy it might have been when he left.

 

3 Reminders from the Cult I Accidentally Joined – Eric Geiger

A little clarification first. Eric didn’t join a cult. But he did buy a Jeep. In doing so, he became part of the Jeep community and the experience reminded him of three things about community.

 

50 Strategies for Better Preaching – Justin Taylor

Justin expounds on Roy Peter Clark’s book, Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer, and applies them to preaching.

 

7 Silly Barriers that Stop Churches from Adopting Social Media – Steve Fogg

I’ve frequently mentioned the importance of social media for churches. Steve lists seven barriers churches routinely face when engaging the medium.

 

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Five Common Characteristics of Churches That Survived a Near Death Experience

My latest book is about churches that died. In Autopsy of a Deceased Church, I wrote about issues that led to the demise of several congregations. Recently, however, I wrote a blog post about churches that have dreamed again. These congregations experienced dramatic reversals, from decline to vibrant health. In that post, I asked leaders of churches to share with me stories about churches that have dreamed again. I was amazed and overwhelmed at the responses.

From Near Death to Health

As I read about these churches, and even watched some videos about their stories, I was reminded again of how God often does a great work of revitalization. Among the most amazing stories were those of churches that were truly near death. The members were on the precipice of deciding to close the doors.

Instead of closing the doors, however, the churches went in the opposite direction. They became vibrant congregations of hope and growth.

Looking for Patterns

I isolated those stories of “near death” churches to see if I could discover common patterns. Although no two churches were identical, they did take similar paths.

Keep in mind that these are not just churches that moved from slight decline or steady decline to growth. These are the churches that were just a few months away from closing their doors. Today they are alive and well.

What are the common paths they followed? I found at least five.

All of these churches had sudden negative events that exacerbated their declines. That event was often connected with a pastor. In some of the churches the pastor had a moral failure. In other churches, the pastor left suddenly and unexpectedly, often at a critical time in the life of the church.
Each of the “near death” churches had a significant exodus of members who resisted change. At the time of their departures, the exodus was seen as a very negative occurrence. In hindsight, it became viewed as a blessing.
A remnant of the membership began gathering together for fervent prayer. One church member noted, “We were so desperate that all we had left was prayer.” That prayer gathering became the beginning of a new dream in the congregation.
The membership remnant made a commitment to God to sacrifice whatever He asked and to do whatever He asked. The members thus let go of the idols of their perception of “how we do church” and became open to new directions and new ideas.
The church became outwardly obsessed to reach and minister to their community. One member said it well: “We became determined in the power of God to discover what it would take to be Christ in the community. We had never asked that question before.”

Not the Typical Path

Remember that these churches represented a subset of churches that dreamed again. These congregations were among those that almost died. Their future longevity could be measured in months rather than years.

Most of the “dream again” churches did not get that close to the death. They began to experience renewal long before their demise became a foregone conclusion.

Most churches that die experience gradual erosion. The congregation thus rarely sees the need to change. And so the congregation slowly moves toward death.

The irony of the “near death” churches is that the sudden negative event actually was used by God to give the congregation a sorely needed wake up call.

Sometimes we all need a wakeup call. Churches too.

Please keep sharing your stories and comments with me. I am inspired. And as a result, other congregations are inspired as well.

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10 Things Young Church Leaders Need to Hear from Us

By Chuck Lawless

Two weeks ago, I posted my thoughts on “10 Things We Need to Hear from Young Church Leaders.” I’m grateful that post gained traction, as I strongly believe my generation needs to listen to younger church leaders. At the same time, I also think we older leaders have something to say to younger leaders. So, here is the other side of that conversation.

Of course, nothing I say here can be applied to every older leader. We older folks are as diverse as the young generation to whom I direct this post. With that understanding in mind, here are some thoughts I hope young leaders will hear from older leaders.

We were young once, too.  It may have been a few years ago, but we remember the passion and idealism of our young days. We also know experientially what happens when our zeal overshadows our commitment to lovingly guide those we shepherd. In many ways, we’ve been where you are going – and we want to help.
We grieve the state of the North American church just like you do. We know the church is not growing. Some of us, in fact, remember when churches did make a difference. Sometimes when we speak longingly about yesterday, it’s not because we just want to go back to days gone by; it’s because we remember days when the church seemed healthier and the world seemed more willing to listen.
Many of us must admit we were not discipled well. We are often the product of churches that evangelized without a similar commitment to discipleship. If we don’t think as deeply or as theologically as you would like, sometimes it’s because we’ve not been taught. Lead us humbly and patiently, and you may find us quite ready to learn.
We need each other. To put it simply, we need each other to fulfill the 2 Timothy 2 and Titus 2 call for older believers and younger believers to learn together. We need you to help us navigate a rapidly changing world, and you need us to help you make wise choices in that world. At the risk of being too pragmatic, we also need our combined resources to accomplish the work of the Great Commission.
Education can increase your knowledge, but life experience can increase your wisdom. We want you to be educated. We know from experience, though, that education itself doesn’t fully prepare us for leadership. What you think you will do is not always what you actually do when dealing with real people and real problems. We want to help you avoid the mistakes we made.
Our opposition to change is not always opposition to you. Think about it. We might be now facing life-altering change we can’t stop. Age forces us to retire. We can’t remember as much as we did. Our friends and loved ones are dying. Health declines. With all these changes happening, the one place we hope to find things the same is our church. Wanting to hear a hymn again may be a cry for anything that reminds us of a seemingly safer, calmer world.
We want you to be effective and successful leaders. We may struggle at times with change – but we don’t want to be obstacles as you lead us toward healthy church growth. Others helped us when we were young, and we want to do the same for you. When we call you our “young preacher,” we often do that with pride. Love us, and we can be your best friends.
Godly obedience does not get easier. We were sure life would eventually be less chaotic, and we’d have more time to devote to God. Surely temptations would eventually lose their power. If that time comes, I’ve not yet reached that age. Some battles are different now, but some have never changed. I’m as dependent on the grace of God today as I was thirty years ago.
Decide today to end well. We’ve seen too many Christian leaders fall. Truth is, we’ve been some of those leaders. For that reality, we ask your forgiveness. We want you to hear what we’ve learned, though: no fallen leader leaps into a fall. We slowly, sometimes imperceptibly, slide into a fall. No marriage or ministry falls apart overnight. Please put the boundaries up now to avoid such a fall.
 We love you and pray for you. We really do.

Older leaders, what would you add to this list?  Younger leaders, what have you learned from older leaders?  

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

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Twelve Reasons to be Optimistic about the Future of Local Congregations

I know. I have been a spokesman for gloom and doom of the local church. I’ve even written a book about church autopsies—not necessarily a topic of hope and joy.

There have, however, been reasons for my notes of caution and pessimism. First, we must face facts if we are to do something about them. We can’t expect to move forward if we have our metaphorical heads in the sand. Such is the reason I wrote a book on church deaths. Second, the negative situation I have described is a reality. It would not demonstrate integrity if I said something differently.

But, in the midst of the gloomy facts, I remain an obnoxious optimist about local congregations. I do believe there is a very good possibility that we won’t go the way of many other places that have seen the decline of churches to the point of irrelevance. Allow me to share twelve reasons why I remain hopeful.

Leaders in congregations are demonstrating a willingness to face reality. They are no longer playing games as if everything is okay. We must face the facts as we seek God’s power to do something about them.
Prayer movements are developing in many churches. These movements are typically more spontaneous than planned. When God’s people start praying, revival has already begun.
Both church planting and church revitalization are being emphasized. These two emphases have historically been viewed as competitive with one another. Today, more church leaders see them as complementary and vital. That is good.
There is a wedding of theology and practical ministry. In the 1970s and 1980s, the church growth movement advocated practical ministry often to the neglect of biblical and theological foundations. For the past 15 years, there has been a needed emphasis on good theology, but often to the neglect of practical issues. Today, there is a growing balance that realizes good theology should birth healthy practical ministry.
There is a growing emphasis on local church evangelism. Related to the issue in number four, more church leaders are now realizing they are in congregations bereft of evangelistic health. That is changing for the better.
Almost everywhere is a mission field. The bad news is that fewer people are Christians today, at least in America, than any point in known history. The good news is that our towns and neighborhoods are mission fields ready for workers.
The “multi-” movement is reaching into new areas. Church leaders no longer view a single church site or service as the limits of ministry. The growth of multi-service, multi-venue, multi-site, and multi-campus has provided more opportunities to reach more people.
More church leaders are engaging culture rather than isolating themselves from culture. While the degradation of biblical values in our culture can be a temptation to withdraw from the world, more church leaders are moving into culture to be “salt and light.” We don’t have to compromise our biblical values, but we can be gracious ambassadors in this new and often strange world.
Church acquisitions and mergers are saving many congregations from death. In the recent past, there was little hope for congregations on a rapid downward spiral. Today, more and more of these congregations are willing to be acquired or to merge; thus the witness of the church in that community remains alive.
Meaningful church membership is becoming a greater reality. It is heartening to see more congregations embrace a higher-expectation membership. As a consequence, local churches will soon become healthier and more impactful in their communities.
The worship wars are waning. Three decades of worship wars have taken their toll on our congregations. I wrote about this issue in a recent post. And, despite a few protestations to the contrary, I stand by my thesis. There will be more energy to focus on ministry rather than to fight one another.
Church members are doing greater ministry in the local communities. We can largely credit Christian Millennials with this trend. Local church ministry is moving from “you come” to “we go.”

I am not suggesting that these developments are indicative of a quick turnaround of our congregations. Many are still in dire straits. But I am hopeful. Above all, my trust is in the one true God who is still working among His people. I am excited to see what He will do.

Let me hear from you. Tell me what you think about these twelve reasons. Tell me what you are seeing in your churches.

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Pray for New Prospect Baptist Church

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Pastor: Damon Lynch

Weekly Worship: 8:00 AM and 11:15 AM Eastern Time

Fast Facts: New Prospect Baptist Church is a growing church in the Greater Cincinnati area that was founded in 1919. This past Easter, they moved into a new 22-acre campus which includes resources for the surrounding community. The campus houses a sanctuary, gymnasium, indoor track, pools, and a camp site. Please pray that they continue to impact the surrounding communities of Rhine and Roselawn through God’s power. Also pray for their upcoming missions trip to New Orleans.

Website: NewProspectBaptist.org

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, download this information form and return it to the address on the form.

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The Most Common Factor in Declining Churches

In Wednesday’s post, I focused on seven very practical habits of churches that have an outward focus. I am honored and humbled to be in a place where I get to hear from and study about thousands of churches. The leaders and congregants in those churches provide me with incredible information and data. I am grateful, because I’m not smart enough to understand these issues on my own.

As God has allowed me to study congregations for more than 25 years, I began to see a common pattern in churches that had become outwardly focused. You read some of the practical steps these churches have taken in the earlier post.

The Most Common Factor

Conversely, though, I also can see a simple but profound pattern among the declining churches.

Stated simply, the most common factor in declining churches is an inward focus.

The ministries are only for the members. The budgetary funds are used almost exclusively to meet the needs of the members. The times of worship and worship styles are geared primarily for the members. Conflict takes place when members don’t get things their way. You get the picture.

Warning Symptoms

After studying and consulting with thousands of churches, I began to see clearly this pattern. Even more, I began to recognize symptoms of an inward focus. See if you recognize a few of these.

There are very few attempts to minister to those in the community.
Church business meetings become arguments over preferences and desires.
Numbers of members in the congregation are openly critical of the pastor, other church staff, and lay leaders in the church.
Any change necessary to become a Great Commission church is met with anger and resistance.
The past becomes the hero.
Culture is seen as the enemy instead of an opportunity for believers to become salt and light.
Pastors and other leaders in the church become discouraged and withdraw from effective leadership.
If the churches are a part of a denomination or similar affiliation, meetings of those denominations mirror the churches in lost focus and divisiveness.

There is Hope

For those of us in Christ, however, there is always hope—His hope.

I have written in recent years about the dire straits of most of our churches. I have felt it necessary to do so in order to face the facts. Indeed, I have written in my most recent book about the deaths of many churches.

In the weeks and months ahead, however, you will be hearing from me about churches that are defying the negative trends. You will hear more about church leaders who are dreaming again. You will hear about revitalized churches. This fall, I will deliver to your computers a multi-hour video conference about these exciting times.

I don’t have my head in the sand. I know times are tough in many churches. I know congregations are dying every day. I know many church leaders are discouraged.

But we serve the God of hope.

Decline in our churches does not have to be a reality.

I hope you will join me as I share what God is doing in so many congregations. And I always look forward to your comments and thoughts in these blog posts.

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