Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 346

Pray for Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Location: Buena Vista, Georgia

Pastor: Rev. Jonathan S. Jenkins

Worship Times: 11:00 AM (Eastern Time)

Fast Facts: This church has been in existence for over 150 years. They are seeking to adopt unreached people groups in the area with the assistance of their local association (A Baptist association is normally a county-wide fellowship of churches led by a director). Pastor Jenkins is also leading the church to re-start their community visitation program to insure that people not only know about Jesus, but learn to trust Him as Savior.

Reverend Jenkins is asking for prayer in the training of two new young deacons to better serve Christ and His church. They also have a children’s department that is growing at a rapid rate. Please pray that God will burden the hearts of His people to lead the next generation to Christ.

“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. 

Where Have All the Baptisms Gone?

This blog has become a community of very informed persons from a variety of backgrounds. Many of you readers are not from my denominational background; and many of you don’t know a lot of details about the Southern Baptist Convention.

So, in many ways, this post and a couple more next week are written for my immediate denominational family. The rest of you are welcome to “listen” in and even make comments. I have no doubt we can learn from you.

A Time of Sorrow and Concern in the SBC

I recently reported the latest statistics for our denomination. It’s not a pretty picture. Our membership declined again, this time by 105,708. And our baptisms were down to 314,956, the lowest level since 1948. But in 1948, we only had 6 million members. Today we have 16 million members. We are reaching less people for Christ, even though we have 10 million more members than we did in 1948.

Keep in mind that baptisms are our way to best estimate the number of people we reached for Christ with the gospel. When someone declares that he or she is a follower of Christ in our churches, that person is expected to follow through with baptism.

But baptisms are declining precipitously. Why?

Where have all the baptisms gone?

The Minimized Metric

The late Peter Drucker said, “What’s measured improves.” His statement is one of simple observation. If we are measuring something, we are paying attention to it. If we are paying attention to it, we give emphasis to it. If we give it emphasis, it improves. Do you know the best way to lose weight (so I’m told by a gadzillion experts)? Weigh regularly. Step on the scales, regardless of how painful it may be. When you are regularly weighing yourself, you pay more attention to what you eat and how much you exercise.

Of course, baptisms are an incredibly important metric for us in the SBC. We use that metric to see how we are doing on eternal matters. Yes, the metric is fallible; none are perfect. But that does not explain why we mention it less and less. It does not explain why it’s not at the forefront of concern for churches. It does not explain why many denominational entities at different levels hardly mention it at all any more.

Where have all the baptisms gone? Maybe most of us have hardly noticed they are disappearing. And there are some likely reasons for that neglect.

Some Possible Reasons The Metric Is Minimized

A possible corollary to Drucker’s thesis is: “Anytime something is measured, the measurement can be abused.” I cringe when I see statistics incorrectly cited, or cited in such a way only to support one’s own case. I am heartbroken when I hear of a church leader padding the numbers of his church for his own glorification.

So why does there seem to be an aversion to reporting baptismal numbers or, at the very least, lack of ongoing discussion about our baptismal numbers? I have a few possible theses. They all, admittedly, overlap.

Membership rolls have swollen with missing members. From the best I can determine, we would have a difficult time locating over 6 million of our 16 million members. We have baptized members who seem to show no fruit of salvation.
We are baptizing unregenerate members. The previous statistic of missing members seems to support this thesis.
Numbers have become an end instead of a means. When the focus is on the numbers rather than the One who gives life to the people behind the numbers, we have lost our focus.
We focus too much on incantation evangelism. Many argue that, in our desire to get greater numbers of decisions for Christ, we ask numbers of people to say a few “magic” words to become a Christian, rather than explain to them the true meanings of repentance and faith.
We assign the glory to the numbers rather than to God. This thesis is very similar to the argument that numbers have become an end.

Can We Then Re-focus?

I fear my writing the five theses above will engender debates that will distract us even more from reaching people for Christ who are then baptized. I challenge church leaders across our denomination to start looking at your baptismal numbers more carefully. I challenge you to lead your congregation to begin praying about those numbers.

I also challenge denominational leaders to talk and focus more on baptisms. I realize that talk is not the same as action, but our conversations usually reflect our priorities. As for me and my leadership, you will hear more about baptisms, especially in the context of revitalizing churches.

Our annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention begins this Tuesday in Houston. Listen carefully to the informal hallway conversations. Listen to the motions and resolutions. Listen to the presentations by the entity leaders. Listen to the questions asked of them.

Then you decide. Have we lost our focus? Have we failed to communicate the gospel truth of our first love, Jesus Christ? Have we stopped talking about baptisms because they just aren’t that important to us?

I’ll see many of you in Houston in a few days. May our time together be a focus on those things that really matter.

Preaching Distractions — Rainer on Leadership #008

Podcast Episode #008

Subscribe via iTunes

Today’s episode was a fun one. Jonathan and I explore some personal stories and some reader submissions from a recent post on preaching distractions. We talk about plumbing issues, flying shoes, ripped pants, overzealous janitors, and more. We also cover how to recover when something like this happens, and how best to prevent them from happening. While the ministry of a pastor should be taken very seriously, we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously.

You’ll also learn what the phrase “Turn on Jesus” means.

Episode Sponsor

This week’s podcast is brought to you by the HCSB Bible. Taking into account the significant advancements in scholarship, translation theory, and contemporary English usage, the HCSB will satisfy both those new to the faith and seasoned scholars. Visit HCSB.org 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 autographed copy of I Am a Church Member.

Friday Is for Freebies: HCSB Study Bible

My giveaway this Friday 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.

Also included in this week’s giveaway is a signed copy of my new book I Am a Church Member. Based on an idea originally taken from this blog, I Am a Church Member discusses the attitudes and responsibilities of church members. I address in detail what congregations should really be focusing on—praying for church leaders, being a functioning member, treasuring church membership, and more.

Six chapters with these titles include study questions to guide the discussion:

I Will Be a Unifying Church Member
I Will Not Let the Church Be About My Preferences and Desires
I Will Pray for My Church Leaders
I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members
I Will Be a Functioning Member
I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift

To enter the giveaway, tell us what your favorite month of the year is.

The deadline to enter is midnight CDT this Saturday. We will draw one winner from the entries on Monday morning.

By entering, you acknowledge and accept the terms of the promotion.

Notable Voices – June 6, 2013

Sobering When Put This Way — Jared Wilson

The “Love Chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13, is one of the most familiar passages in Scripture. To some, it’s almost mundane because of its familiarity. But as Jared flips it on its head, it creates a fresh perspective.

 

Build Digital Relationships or Die — James L. McQuivey

While online engagement is important to businesses, relationships fostered by churches (both in person and online) are critical to future success. This is yet another reason why church websites are so important.

 

Twenty Urban Legends in Theology — C. Michael Patton

If you’ve spent any time at all in ministry, you’ve likely been confronted with one of these urban legends.

 

Surprising Stats on Who Reads the Bible from Start to Finish — Christianity Today

Bible literacy is important to spiritual growth. But according to new research, only one in five of all American adults have read the Bible from start to finish.

 

The Tension of Marriage and Mission — Jake Chambers

In my new book, I Am a Church Member, I address selfishness vs. selflessness at length. Not only is selflessness important in the church, but it is critical in marriage as well.

 

Radical: Three Years Later — David Platt

It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since the release of Radical. David recently reflected on the impact it has had.

Seven Things Pastors Would Like Church Members to Know about Their Children

I was serving a church in St. Petersburg, Florida, when it hit me hard. One of my young children had playfully fallen on the floor in the foyer after a worship service. A deacon in the church came up to me and spoke forcefully: “You need to tell your kid to get up. Pastors’ children aren’t supposed to act that way.”

My internal emotional reaction was carnal. I’m just glad I held my tongue. I was really mad. I can still remember my thoughts: “How dare this man hold my young son to a standard different than other kids! My boy really didn’t cause any harm. He was just being playful.

I recently conducted a Twitter poll of pastors and their spouses about this very issue. Though the poll was informal and not scientific, the responses were nevertheless fascinating. Here are the top seven responses in order of frequency. A representative comment or combined comments are given with each of the seven.

Don’t expect more out of pastors’ kids (PKs) than any other kids. “My children need to have the same expectations as the other children in the church. They are not some kind of spiritual superstars because their dad’s a pastor.”
Please offer encouragement to my children. “It’s not always easy to be a PK. The glass house thing is real. I am so thankful for the church members who go out of their way to encourage my children.”
Realize that they are kids. “I know a few church members who seem to think my kids are miniature adults. They expect them to act like a 40 year old instead of a 4 year old.”
Please don’t call them “PKs.” “Their identities should not be based on their father’s vocation. They have their own unique and special identities.”
Please pray for my children. “I am blessed to have this one lady in my church who prays for my three children every day. She knows the special challenges of being a PK.”
Our kids see and hear more than you may think. “After one particularly tough church business meeting, my seven-year-old boy asked me if I was going to get fired.”
Don’t make me choose between my kids and the church. “Too many PKs have grown up bitter and disillusioned about the church. Dad gave more attention to church members than his own children.”

What do you think about these seven challenges? What would you add? What have your experiences been?

Twelve Ways to Encourage Church Staff Members

By Chuck Lawless

For more than thirty years, I have been a full-time minister. Most of that time, I have been a senior pastor, a seminary professor, or an interim pastor. For a brief time, I served as a ministry staff member (in this case, an associate pastor) in a local church. That time was important to me because it gave me some insight into what staff members experience.

Whether you are a senior pastor or a lay church member, here are some ways you might honor your church’s staff members.

Pray proactively with individual staff members. Pastors and church members alike too often pray for staff only when they face difficulties. We wait until we hear a need, and then we pray. Change this pattern by intentionally planning times to pray with each staff member. Praying as a group is great, but praying with individuals illustrates your concern and affirms their importance to the team.
Give staff members a vacation day on their spouse’s birthday. This gift will not only be a surprise, but it will also show your church’s commitment to healthy marriages. Frankly, some staff members would not consider taking that day off unless you make it possible.
Send birthday cards to your staff members, their spouse, and their children. The church likely already has this birthday information, so the task is simply to organize and follow through with a plan. Recognizing your staff’s family members will quickly strengthen your relationships with the staff.
Give staff members a free weekend on the week of their anniversary.  Church activities are so Sunday-focused that some staff seldom miss a Sunday. Work out the details so they can readily take off for their anniversary – and make sure the church knows their reason for their absence. Again, you will honor staff while also affirming the primacy of our marriages.
Budget to provide family memberships to a local gym. The work of ministry can be draining. Sometimes, we get so busy we take little time for needed exercise. The costs for providing memberships may not be insignificant, but the value can outweigh the costs. Healthy staff members and families are a plus for a church.
Surprise staff members with mass emails of thanksgiving. You might do this on an employment anniversary, or you might do it at an unexpected time. Work through your church’s small groups or particular ministries to express gratitude to your staff. A simple “We appreciate you” will go a long way toward affirming your team.
Give staff members a sabbatical.  Professors receive sabbaticals to renew their studies, develop their research, and work on personal growth. Surely, church staff members are worthy of the same kind of benefit. Even a month of renewal time every five years can produce great dividends for the church.
Give a gift to missions in honor of a staff member. Christian living is about dying to self, and staff members often want to deflect any praise. Giving for the sake of the nations is one way to honor staff while not making them feel uncomfortable. Perhaps an entire people group will first hear the gospel as a result of this gift!
Provide a budget line item for the senior pastor to recognize the staff. The pastor will still be accountable to the church, but give him freedom to determine the best way to use the funds. Simple things such as gift certificates, a book, or a meal can provide recognition without being too costly.
Ask staff members “How can I help you?”  This suggestion might be the best way to honor staff. They often need assistance, and pleading for volunteer help gets tiresome and discouraging. In fact, staff might be caught off guard if volunteers come to them first. Staff members also see other staff as so busy that they often do not bother one another with needs. Honor your staff by helping them.
Evaluate job descriptions for your staff.  As a church consultant, I ask staff members two questions: “What is your current job description?” and “If you were to write the job description you want, what would that be?” Any discrepancy between the two answers can be a source of frustration for a staff member. We can’t always adjust job descriptions, but any appropriate shifts would likely be welcomed.
Lead children to write thank you notes. Cards and notes from adults are important, but those from children are special.  Their honesty is heartfelt, often bringing a smile to a discouraged staff member. I still have notes children wrote me more than two decades ago.

What other ideas do you have for recognizing and honoring church staff members?

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.

A Humble Plea for Church Revitalization

I cannot get away from the conviction. At times it seems as though I am consumed by it. And I don’t even know fully where it will lead.

My burden to see struggling churches become turnaround churches grows daily. There are an estimated 100,000 churches in North America that would be deemed terminal by most pundits. There are another 100,000 to 200,000 that are very sick and could soon be on the deathwatch.

Before I go further, allow me to make four points of clarification. These issues arise from time to time.

I am not suggesting we emphasize church revitalization to the detriment of church planting. Both are critically needed. I am convinced that we have abundant resources to address both needs.
Many people and organizations are already doing a great work in church revitalization. I am simply convicted that I must do more. I am excited that the organization I lead, LifeWay, is doing more and more to partner in church revitalization with key resources. But this conviction is not just about me nor LifeWay; it’s about untold persons and organizations coming together for this purpose.
I don’t have all the answers. Indeed, I have a long way to go to see what God will have me and others do to see churches move from sickness to health.
I know there is not some “plug and play” resource or methodology to bring about this reversal and revitalization. This effort is about God and how He will use us in our obedience to Him.

A Plan That Is Only a Beginning

While I continue to pray for God’s leadership in my life toward church revitalization, I have committed to move forward in five ways. These are only starting points. They are a work in progress that will undoubtedly change.

I will do a lot of listening. I will “hear” by reading, visiting churches, interviewing key turnaround leaders, and any other way God can lead me to be better informed.
I will engage LifeWay Research to help me get the facts and data I need. I don’t want to work from guesses and presuppositions.
I will work with other strategic partners whom God is using. I’m not nearly smart enough to do this task on my own. My first foray into a strategic partnership actually began last week with a discussion with my friend Randy Davis, one of the godliest men I know. His heart for the local church is contagious. I also have spoken with friends in theological education about this partnership
I will study more deeply the acquisition model of church revitalization, where a healthy church takes over a struggling church. While that is not the only model available, it is being used widely.
As much as possible, I will encourage good leaders to move into church revitalization. I fully understand why many leaders are not moving in that direction. There are many obstacles to overcome. Sometimes it’s just easier to start from scratch.

Please Pray and Please Join Me

According to our estimates, only 15 percent of the Millennial generation, born 1980 to 2000, are Christians. We are losing our nation for Christ. In the meantime, hundreds of churches close each month. Many more are on the precipice of death.

And while church revitalization may not be the only instrument God uses, it has to be a critical instrument in this spiritual battle. Would you join me in prayer about this urgent and critical need? Would you consider how God might use you in the effort?

One of the reasons I wrote I Am a Church Member was my attempt to define what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. If we truly understand that reality, we will begin to see churches revitalized all across America. If you know of any great resources God is using toward this end, please note it in the comments.

Finally, I would love to hear from you about churches that have gone from sickness to health. I plan to gather as large of a database as possible. I hope to visit many of those churches as well. Let me hear about those stories. Let me hear what God is doing. By his power and grace, we may just see a true renewal of churches in this mission field called America.

Pray for Hope Reformed Church

Location: Grand Haven, Michigan

Pastor: Tim Taylor

Worship Times: 10:30 AM (Eastern Time)

Fast Facts: The Vision for Hope Reformed Church is “Reaching every child and family in Grand Haven for Christ.” Since Pastor Taylor arrived six years ago, Grand Haven has experienced significant growth, which makes their vision even more challenging. They have seen growth from 75 to 300 in primary worship attendance over that period. Holding a high-view of Scripture and sharing the gospel has been the key to growth according to Pastor Taylor.

Pray for the success of the Hope Reformed Church’s vision campaign, which concludes in late April. The church will be repurposing their facilities to enable them to greatly increase their membership capacity. Pastor Taylor also requests prayer for his ability to meet the needs of a growing congregation and still be a faithful husband and father to his family.

Website: www.hopereformedgh.com

“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.

Five Questions to Help Leaders Select Team Members

Watching a leadership team come together can either be highly frustrating or highly energizing. Of course, all leaders prefer the latter. Leaders in companies, churches, and other organizations can witness their organization move to the next level if the right team comes together.

How then do you select those key persons for a leadership team? What questions do you need to direct at them? What questions do you need to ask yourself? Allow me to suggest five key questions.

Does the person have a strong character? Any doubt at this point should disqualify a person. His or her character is foundational to everything else. No matter how qualified a person may seem, if he or she has questionable character, problems will develop in short order.
Does the person have the competency and skills to do the work? This question is so obvious that it may seem silly to engage this issue. I, though, have admittedly brought people to different leadership teams without doing due diligence on their competency and skills for the job. Typically I like them personally and like their personalities. But hiring friends and fun people to do a job for which they are not qualified is a recipe for disaster.
Does the chemistry of the person match the team and the leadership? Many of you have undoubtedly served on teams with highly competent people. But sometimes that person acts like a self-serving jerk. Regardless of how competent and gifted he or she is, that type of toxic behavior can destroy a team.
Will the person align with the vision of the leadership? If you are on a leadership team and you disagree with the major direction of the leadership, get off the team. If you are a leader seeking to bring a person on the team, and you sense that he or she does not align with your vision, run from that choice immediately. A team with diverse visions is not a team at all.
Can you trust the person? Allow me to clarify the specific meaning of “trust” in this context. Ultimately the trust issue here is whether or not the person is looking after their own interests and preferences or the interests of the team, the leader, and the organization. If you have to wonder what the motivation is of a prospective team member, you really need to move on to the next choice.

What do you think of these five questions? What would you add? What would you change?