Rob Prince's Blog, page 4

Here’s Why I am Thankful for the Church of the Nazarene

Is the Church of the Nazarene perfect? No.
Are their faults in the Church of the Nazarene? Yes.
Can I point to bad churches, bad pastors, bad leaders, bad DSs, bad, bad, bad?  Yes. Yes and Yes.

Still, I am thankful for the Church of the Nazarene. 

Here’s why:

I found Jesus in the Church of the Nazarene.
The church building is now a doctor’s office. The small, rag tag body of believers split apart when the church closed. The preacher, who preached the message that prompted me to invite Jesus into my life, lost his credentials. But I found Jesus at the Elmwood Church of the Nazarene in Westland, Michigan in 1974. Fifty years later, He is still with me.

The theology of the Church of the Nazarene is rock solid.
I’m a Nazarene because I believe in the theology and doctrine of the CotN. If I didn’t, I would leave. Would I change this or that in the Manual? Oh maybe, but it’s not enough to scream about on social media.

The Preaching Collaborative has been a breath of fresh air. 
Dr. David Graves led an initiative (thanks to a Lily Grant) to make more effective, evangelistic preachers. The effort will probably make better preachers (the curriculum is good), but it’s been most refreshing because of the relationships I’ve established with the very gifted ministers in my cohort (I’m looking at you Dave, Travis, Christen, Nate and Ajay!!!).

USA/Canada’s Emphasis on The Cycle of Resurgence instituted was needed.
The emphasis on Blessing our Community; Bringing People to Jesus; and Becoming Christlike Disciples is simple enough, but vital for a turnaround. (Full Disclosure: Maybe I like it because it aligns perfectly with the three core commitments of the church I pastor: Being the Best Neighbors; Jesus changes Everything and Growing Together.)

The diversity in the General Superintendents’ board room.
GSs born in Guatemala, Columbia, Mozambique, Germany, and two in the United States make for a global room (Don’t quote me on this, but I believe Scott Daniels was born in Detroit Michigan, which is…well…  let’s just say a lot of good people were born around Motown… ahem). Having the group include a woman is also great. 

The Church of the Nazarene cares for its missionaries.
I’m thankful the CotN believes in missions. I’m glad Nazarene global missionaries don’t have to beg churches for financial support, but have an agreed upon salary and health insurance. In my weak moments, I’ve complained about the apportionment system, but I am thankful for WEF funding of our missionaries. 

The Church of the Nazarene has a commitment to higher education.
Even with the sad closing of Eastern Nazarene College this year, there are still over 40 educational institutions in the world where Nazarenes gather to learn. Learning has always been an important hallmark of the CotN. (Again my bias shows, my siblings and I all went to Olivet. All of my parents grandkids went to Olivet too – except for the lone “black sheep,” my son, who went to MidAmerica Nazarene University).

The Church of the Nazarene is family. 
When out and about, I love knowing that I have Nazarene brothers and sisters that I could call in an emergency. In 164 world areas, I have family. That is incredibly comforting to know I have a 2.7 million member extended and blended family! (We added seven more to that number yesterday at Central Church).

My local church is awesome.
The church is about the people I rub shoulders with on a weekly basis. These folks in Flint Michigan love Jesus and it shows. They are missional. They are intergenerational. They are generous. The church board is great. So are the pastors. I’m super biased, but I’m convinced my local church is the best Nazarene church on the planet (with apologies to the other 30,746 other Nazarene churches that are vying for the second best church). 

Yes, I’m thankful for the Church of the Nazarene. 

The “Sometimes” Truth about People (and you)

It shouldn’t surprise us, when people disagree and are not nice. Jesus was perfect. 100% perfect. He lived a perfect life. And yet, there were people, lots of people, who hated him. People called him names. People spat upon him. People tried to throw him off a cliff, and, of course, people clamored for and succeeded in crucifying him. People aren’t always nice.  Sometimes, downright ugly.

News flash: You ain’t perfect (neither am I). As such, here are a few other “sometimes” to keep in mind…

Sometimes you will be wrong and people will rightly disagree. Hopefully “politely” disagree.Sometimes you’ll be right, and they will still disagree. Sometimes people who are wrong (just like you) will say, “Hooray, for you!” But both of you are still wrong. Sometimes people are wrong (unlike you) and will say, “Boo to you!” But you are still right and they are still wrong. Sometimes people will bald face lie about you. That’s always wrong. Sometimes (in fact most times, these days), they won’t say “Boo” or lie to your face. They won’t even private message their disagreement. Keyboard boo-birds and liars post it on social media for all to see. Sometimes it really hurts—especially when you are right or innocent. There’s no defending yourself on social media. You just have to take the “Boos” and the lies and ride out the storm. But that doesn’t make it fun or leave you without scars.Sometimes you discover who your true friends are when the lies and boos are headed in your direction.Sometimes you should not post anything, not blog, not hit “send,” and turn off your devises. (Are you reading what you are writing, Rob? I am. Good). 

When you are wrong apologize or change or stop thinking wrongly. Then move on.
When lies are spread about you, remind yourself of the truth, hold your head high and then move on.
When you are right be humble (no boasting allowed) but do not change (at least don’t change your thinking regarding that one issue). Then also move on. Always move on. Never stay put.

Right or wrong try your best to maintain relationships. Those people who say, “Boo to you” are like you (not perfect). They just think differently on whatever issue they are booing you. It doesn’t make them bad (although it would have been nice if their boos were in a private message). It doesn’t make them an enemy. It only means they think different than you on that issue. That’s all. 

The liars are bad. Lying is bad. Always (duh). Still treat the liars with the same respect and kindness the Lord has extended to you when you’ve lied. Forgive. Even when thy don’t ask for it. “Love your enemies” is a good reminder when lies are flying in your general direction. 

There’s too much spewing of hatred these days. Too much booing. Too many pointing fingers, wagging fingers and when it’s really bad middle fingers. Yikes!

Let’s be open to the fact that we could be wrong. Allow the Holy Spirit to help us. Let’s work harder on loving our neighbors who boo us and our enemies who lie about us. While we are far from perfect, let’s live into Paul’s instructions to the Philippians: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). Peter’s instruction isn’t a bad reminder either: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). 

Sometimes as you love the boo-birds and enemies with the mindset of Christ Jesus, they become your friends. 

Sometimes.  

NEWS FLASH: The Election is Over– Let’s Love One Another Again.

Donald Trump is the president elect. There are those in our church who are glad and those in our church who are unhappy with the results of last week’s national election.  That is the way elections work. Someone wins. Someone loses.  My concern is how the country and more specifically how the church moves forward (no matter who happens to be residing in the White House). 

I’m going to sound like an old man (which is Ok because I am an old man): We don’t have to be so divided. We don’t have to be this way. It wasn’t always like this. Democrats and Republicans could be friends. Hang out together. Actually, enjoy each other’s company. They knew how one another voted and it didn’t send either into a tailspin. It was OK. Everyone loved the country. They just had different ideas on how it should be governed. 

I’ve talked to so many people who have lost friendships or worse over the election. They aren’t going to Thanksgiving family celebrations because of the political divide within their family. Are you kidding me? (OLD MAN ALERT AGAIN: Everyone needs to grow up).

Repeat after me: Relationships are more important than politics. Relationships are more important than politics. Relationships are more important than politics. 

People who voted for Kamala Harris are good Americans. So are those who voted for Donald Trump. Are there crackpots on both sides of the aisle? Of course, but let me remind you, Jesus said we are to love our neighbors (presumably even the goofballs). Even if our neighbor had yard signs for a candidate we didn’t like, we still need to love them. Paul wrote: “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:15). Jesus said this about our family members with whom we may disagree, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:22-23). In other words, relationships matter! Even if our crazy cousin Harold spouts crazy conspiracy theories all day long. We still need to love him and his booger eating kid. 

Love means you talk. Love means you care. Love means you are present. Love means you are respectful. Love means you say, “I’m sorry.” Love sometimes means you zip your lip and say nothing. Love means you are constantly looking for the good, not the bad. Love means you say (or type on your keyboard) things that build up and not tear down. Love means… love. Honest. Faithful. True. Consistent. Persistent. Keeping no record of wrongs. Love Always Protects. Always trusts. Always Hopes. Always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:6-8a)

News Flash: the election is over. One side won. The other side lost. That’s the way the system works. No gloating. No bitterness. Let’s move forward as a country. Let’s try to be legitimately called “the UNITED States of America” (ALL CAPS ON PURPOSE). Let’s work together. Let’s be the great hopeful nation that everyone wants it to be. Let’s love one another again.

The Pastors I Admire

As I embark upon my twelfth year at Central Church, I am impressed by those pastors who have given their entire lives to one community (this is my fifth pastorate). Pastors on the Eastern Michigan District like Rev. Bob Hunter who went to Detroit Grace Church of the Nazarene straight out of Bible College in 1978 (or something like that) and has never left. Rev. John Wright who has only pastored Detroit New Hope and has been there around 40 years. Rev. Mike Kempton, a classmate of mine at Olivet and Nazarene Theological Seminary, has only pastored the Hazel Park, Michigan church. He is at 35+ years in that assignment. Those men, and many other pastors around the country like them, are heroes.

Flint Central is my longest pastorate. Compared to those pastors in the previous paragraph, I’m a newbie. Mine is the second longest pastoral tenure in the history of Flint Central church (Rev. John Andree was here longer). I’d like to say that my time here has been without worries or trouble. I’d like to say it, but I can’t. There have been peaks and valleys (as with any church). There have been times when the Enemy has said, “Be like a bread truck and move your buns” or something to that effect. But through it all, God has been faithful to remind me of my call to Flint Central Church. I wasn’t “hired” to be the pastor of Flint Central Church, I was called by God to be here. It’s that calling that hasn’t left me and has kept me here. 

All this to say, I’m sure Revs. Hunter, Wright, and Kempton have had moments of frustration and problematic people. They may have been wooed to go to other places. But they’ve stayed through thick and thin. They have remained faithful to the cause of Christ in their communities. They have fought the good fight, through all times. It is an admirable quality that I cannot match (unless I keep pastoring until age 104). 

Uncle Buddy Robinson, an evangelist of a century ago, understood the challenges of the ministry. Of course, he didn’t have today’s keyboard critics hiding behind their screens using social media to spread venomous lies and gossip. He didn’t know of maliciousness of rumormongering technology that could land below-the-belt gut punches with the stroke of a key. Still he knew the Enemy would put up a fight, trying to get beat-down pastors into throwing in the towel. He described a determination to stay in the fight that the three pastors mentioned above (and many others not named) exemplify.

Put iron shoes on my feet along with galvanized britches. Hang a wagon load of determination upon the gable end of my soul and help me to sign a contract to fight the devil as long as I’ve got a fist and to bite him as long as I’ve got a tooth and then gum him ’til I die.

In-it-for-the-lang-haul pastors like Revs. Hunter, Wright, and Kempton signed that contract years ago to keep on fighting no matter the circumstances. They have heroically remained faithful. I can’t match their longevity, but I pray all pastors (myself included) would strive to match their resolve, fortitude and grit. Keep on fighting and “gum him ‘til we die.” 

An After the Sermon conversation

Not everyone likes the preacher’s sermon. I get it. Sometimes the preacher is having a bad day. Not every sermon is a homerun. Sometimes it’s a strikeout. Sometimes the listener is having a bad day too. It happens.

My last sermon may or may not have been a strikeout (if you were present on Sunday or watched online you can be the judge or be the umpire– to keep my “strikeout” metaphor straight). One first time (probably last time) guest took serious umbrage with what I said.  Serious umbrage!

“You must apologize for not preaching the Gospel!” he said.

“I will not apologize for preaching about grace,” I retorted. If you weren’t in church last Sunday… shame on you. Just kidding there is plenty of grace (see the next two sentences). If you were absent, the recap is we started a new series called “SOLA.” It is a series that looks at the Five Pillars of Protestantism beginning with Sola Gracia or Grace Alone.

Suffice it to say the dude didn’t like the sermon on grace.

He stated that it is baptism that saves us. I again reiterated that it is Jesus who saves. Just Jesus. He didn’t like that answer either. He interjected a passage from James saying that our good works also saves us.

“It’s baptism and good works that save,” according to this man as he jumped from obscure scripture to obscure scripture to emphasize his beliefs.

I might have further upset him a little more when I told him we don’t “cherry pick” obscure verses to support our beliefs instead we believe in “plenary inspiration” meaning the “whole of scripture” is inspired. Furthermore, I reiterated again, the Bible is clear– it is Jesus who saves. Just Jesus. I said, “in fact, if you really want to know more, please join us in two weeks when the sermon will be on “Solus Christus” (Christ Alone).

I don’t think he will return.

Not everyone agrees with us theologically. We can’t change who we are (I don’t want to change who we are. I like us. Still there’s a piece of me that’s sad whenever someone exits for whatever reason. (FYI… just prior to that conversation, still after the 11AM service, I led a young man, also the first time in our church, to the Lord. Chalk it up to: You win some and you lose some.).

Pastoring is crazy these days. It’s extra crazy during election years. Ask anyone in a helping profession (police officers, nurses, teachers, social workers, and pastors), they will tell you there is an angered entitlement and victimized brashness that wasn’t present in past generations. It is much harder (thank you social media with its gossip and lies) to pastor than it was when I began 36 years ago. Life is different. Yet, people still need Jesus. That hasn’t changed.

Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ has been my life’s calling. That passion is just as strong today (in fact stronger) as it was when I first sensed God speaking to me as a seventh grader sitting by a teen “afterglow” campfire at Water’s Edge Camp.

It is also a privilege and a joy to be a pastor. But it’s not for the faint of heart. Jesus didn’t say pastoring or life, for that matter, would be easy. He said He would be with us.

He has been.

He will be.

He is! 

The Church of the Nazarene Looks a lot like Heaven. Here’s Why that’s Even Better Than You Think:

There are 195 countries in the world (according the United Nations) and the Church of the Nazarene is in over 160 of them. The Church of the Nazarene is in more countries than McDonalds (164 vs 120). For some ecclesiastical context, the United Methodist Church is in 138 countries. The Free Methodists and Southern Baptists are each in just over 100 countries. The Wesleyans are in 90. The Missionary Church is in 110 countries. The “Global” Methodists are in just eight. So the Church of the Nazarene is more “missionary” than the Missionary church and far more “global” than the Global Methodist Church. 

An argument can be made that other than the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of the Nazarene is the most globally minded and equally represented church in the world (the Roman Catholics have been doing things a tad bit longer than the 116 year old Nazarenes). There are more African Nazarenes (927,961) than North American Nazarenes (577,282). Next year, for the first time in Church of the Nazarene history, there may be over 1 million Nazarenes on one continent (Africa, not North America). 

According to the 2023 General Secretary’s report, there are 30,747 churches around the globe (McDonald’s has a beat with its 45,000+ restaurants in the world). There are 30,000+ elders, deacons and licensed ministers. Moreover, there are 482 missionaries from 60 world areas serving in 83 areas. Every Sunday the message of Jesus is proclaimed in Nazarene churches in 192 different languages (Honesty Alert #1: I didn’t even know there were 192 different languages, let alone that there are Nazarene services in these different dialects). Besides the languages you might expect (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Haitian), there are Nazarene worship services in Bengali (134,164), Tsonga (121,784), Chichewa (84,942); Tok Pisin (64,714) and Amharic (48,356). (Honesty Alert #2: Not only have I never heard of these languages, I never would have guessed that thousands of Nazarenes speaking in these various tongues are worshipping every single week). It makes one long for heaven where  there will be  “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). 

All to say, the Church of the Nazarene looks a lot like heaven and, on the earth, is in the best position to have a global impact. Better than many of our sister denominations. We have “boots on the ground” all over the world. If disaster strikes, the Church of the Nazarene is already there (thank you Nazarene Compassionate Ministries). If  travelling in another country, know there are like-minded brothers and sisters ready to help should problems arise. But most of all, in all those places and in all those languages Jesus is being preached! 

Jesus said to be my witnesses “to the ends of the earth,” and the Church of the Nazarene is attempting to fulfill that mission. Praise the Lord!

She Ain’t Dead Yet: Reports of the Death of the Church of the Nazarene are Greatly Exaggerated

Mark Twain may or may not have once said, “the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The same can be said for the Church of the Nazarene.

The extremes in the Church of the Nazarene like to point to conflict or trouble and conclude with the pronouncement, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” When some elders lost their credentials because of disagreements with the Manual regarding human sexuality, the cries from our brothers and sisters on the left were, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.”  When those on the far right, like to point out the splinters in some ministers’ eyes (while missing the planks in their own) they frequently conclude, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” When a few folks on the far right, besmirched some General Superintendent candidates they perceived as “liberal” with social media gossip, rumors and flat out lies at the last General Assembly, sensible yet discouraged people on all sides cried, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” 

Like Mark Twain, the rumors of the Church of the Nazarene’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. 

One could get the impression that there are a lot of problems in the Church of the Nazarene. (Honesty alert: I’ve been accused of being a “Negative Nelly”). The church has struggled especially in Europe and USA/Canada. At times, I’ve pointed out troubling statistics. Conversely, Africa is booming with the Gospel message. I’ve been told the World Evangelism Fund (WEF) giving is up my a million dollars. Wow! Last week, I wrote how USA/Canada may have (it’s a rumor at this point) the first year of growth in 19 years. A few of my apparent fellow Negative Nellies following the aforementioned blog wondered if the growth was simply sheep stealing from the United Methodists. Of course, there is no way to know where the growth came from across North America, but I have a hunch that its more than sheep changing pastures. I’m optimistic. I think there is something better happening.

Case in point, last week I spent a day and a half with some of the best of the best in the USA/Canada Church of the Nazarene. Dr. David Graves is leading an effort to improve Nazarene preaching. The Preaching Collaborative is an effort (funded by a Lily grant) to promote evangelistic, Biblical preaching. I am a facilitator in this effort. Most of the groups across the country gathered last week in Estes Park, Colorado. There were meetings, seminars and, it was a Nazarene event after all, food and gatherings around tables. 

I looked around the room and saw old ministers like me, but also young dynamic ministers like Galen Ryman of Chicago First Church, Nate Smith of The Table in Joliet, Colton Townley of The Crossings in Colorado, and Philip Modlin of Amplify in North Carolina (just to name a few) and I thought, the Church of the Nazarene is in very good hands. Speakers included Derwin Grey, Elise Snowden (another young Nazarene preacher who knocked it out of the park) and Dawie De Koker (Kevin Myers and Dr. Stan Reeder also spoke, but I left early to make it back to Central Church’s final  Spiritual Renewal week service). There were 175ish of us gathered. I’m sure there were a few stinkers in the crowd (present author excluded, please), but I couldn’t point them out. I was encouraged and believe the best days for the Church of the Nazarene are still ahead as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Don’t get too focused on what is perceived to be wrong in the Church of the Nazarene. I’m not suggesting putting one’s head in the sand. Of course, there are areas on all sides in which the church can improve. The Church of the Nazarene isn’t perfect (author included). Still let the main focus be the task at hand. Listening, learning and loving people in one’s local setting in an effort to share the Good News of Jesus. Jesus still changes things. The Church of the Nazarene is still in a position (maybe better than ever) to proclaim this Good News. Win the Lost.  Make disciples. Fulfill the mission.

She ain’t dead yet! 

Nazarene Worship Attendance In USA/Canada Grew In 2024 for the First Time in Nearly 20 years

Was 2023 the rock bottom year for the attendance for the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada? The worship attendance numbers for 2024 have not been released but the rumor is that for the first time in nearly 20 years, the USA/Canada region experienced worship attendance growth. It true, praise the Lord!

Following the massive attendance cliff following Covid, the church is starting to rebound. No doubt, this is happening in part because of the “cycle of resurgence” initiative started under regional director, Dr. Stan Reeder. The plan was bathed in prayer (always a good place to start). This year churches were to bless their community. Leading people to Jesus is next year’s focus. Finally it’s discipling people in the ways of Christ who will, in turn, bless their communities and the resurgent cycle begins. Some churches have stepped up their efforts to get into their communities and have already been leading people to Jesus and discipling them. Progress is happening. The church where I am privileged to pastor saw modest growth in 2024. Again, Praise the Lord!

“Butts in seats” (sorry for my crassness) is not synonymous with spiritual renewal. Taylor Swift can fill a stadium at 200 bucks a pop (or more), yet no one confuses the gathering with revival. Still, increased worship attendance is a sign of something (usually) good. When the Holy Spirit is moving in a church, it encourages those on the inside to invite outsiders so they too might experience what God is doing. In other words, the slight attendance growth should not be seen as the end (See: the 80s Church Growth Movement) but the beginning of a call to do the hard work of disciple-making.

“Counting people because people count” is not a compelling reason for filling a church. This isn’t Church Growth Movement 2.0. Jesus’ “church growth method” was not very effective. He went from 5,000+ at a free fish and bread event to John and a few women at Golgotha. Even after rising from the dead, there were only 120 in the meeting place on Pentecost. Not exactly, a booming, write-all-about-it, sign-a-book-contract evangelism explosion.

Jesus didn’t call us to fill a church. He called his followers to make disciples. That’s it. That’s the plan. Make disciples. Some will follow. Some will not. In fact, most will not (See Jesus statement on the “narrow road and only a few find it”). Even Jesus couldn’t convince some folks to follow Him (see Luke 9). Honestly, He didn’t seemed to obsessed about those who walked away. He didn’t chase after them. He didn’t beg them to reconsider. He simply invited someone else to follow. There’s always someone else who needs to hear the Good News. There is always someone else that is lonely and tired. Continuing to offer invitations and discipling the willing ones is the Jesus strategy. It seems to be working now too. 

Was 2023 the rock bottom year for attendance?  I hope so. If USA/Canada continues to repeat the cycle: bless our communities; tell folks about Jesus and make disciples, then continued growth could happen. Fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is the ticket out of the attendance basement.

Can Dying Nazarene Churches be Resurrected?

Last week, my wife’s (Karla) mom’s funeral dinner was held in the former fellowship hall of the Nazarene church in her small hometown. Karla’s dad practically built that fellowship hall. Her folks gave plenty of money to see that it was constructed. Before moving in with us, Karla’s parents had been members at that church for 70+ years. Like her parents, the church is dead.  

The Nazarene church has been closed for a few years. The building was sold to another church group. The old fellowship hall is now the sanctuary. The old sanctuary is the children’s area. Upon walking in the door, instead of seeing alabaster boxes, missionary reading books and dusty plastic flowers, there is a coffee shop. The space has been completely changed. By all appearances the church group meeting in the former Nazarene building is doing great. 

Which begs the question: Why is that church thriving when the Nazarene church died?

There are a number of reasons, but here is my outside observer’s perspective:

1. Sacred Cows. Old Nazarene buildings are a pastures for sacred cows. They are everywhere. Aunt Suzie’s memorial money bought the pulpit, we can’t get rid of that. Uncle Charlie bought the pews. They’ve got to stay. Sister Bertha has overseen the missionary reading book table for 40 years, you can’t move it. On and on the sacred cows graze. 

2. Leadership. The current pastor of the new church grew up in that little town. His grandmother was Karla’s recess playground monitor. His grandpa worked with Karla’s dad in the machine shop. He had a stake in the community. None of the Nazarene pastors had that kind of community connection.

3. Reputation. The Nazarene church had been on that location for decades. People in the town knew the church (for good or bad). In a small town, everyone knows everyone’s business. There was a “been there, tried that” mindset.

4. People. If my in-laws are a representative of the people (and maybe they weren’t), they were old school Nazarenes. Good, godly people, but stuck in the mindset of this is “how we’ve always done things.” “A coffee shop when walking through the front doors?  Over my dead body!” I could hear one of them say. 

What if, every few years, Nazarene churches had an evaluation on existing properties, leadership, and community involvement. There could be a survey of neighbors regarding the church to determine an outsider’s perspective. A “secret shopper” could come with unbiased eyes to locate blind spots regarding furnishings, building usage, service effectiveness and church friendliness (every church thinks they are friendly to outsiders, most are not). The results of these tools could then lay the ground work for necessary changes. 

What if district monies were set aside to help cover costs for updating worship spaces, providing new signage and the elimination of out-of-date methods and mindsets. What if pastors were required to be involved in the community activities outside of the church at some level? What if church members evaluated the health of the church and took drastic measures (if necessary) to see the church remade and resurrected (easier said than done).

Many of the 4400+ Nazarene churches in USA/Canada are on life support. Add ten or twenty years to everyone sitting in the pews and estimate who will still be around. Many churches will die. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Karla’s home church proves it is not too late. Changed can come. Re-birth is possible. Even in a small town, new life can emerge. Every church doesn’t need a coffeeshop, but every church needs people and leadership willing to take a “whatever-it-takes,” Jesus first mindset. Without such a commitment, the church is already dead (they just don’t know it). 

Dying Nazarene churches can be resurrected. In fact, they must be, if the denomination is going to survive.

Who is to Blame for the Declining Worship Attendance in the Church of the Nazarene?

If John Maxwell’s maxim was correct that everything rises and falls with leadership, than what leadership role is to blame for the USA/Canada Church of the Nazarene falling attendance? The six General Superintendents? The 78 District Superintendents? The 11,003 elders in USA/Canada? All of the church boards and Sunday School Superintendents across the country? You? Me?

Yes.

We are to blame. All the people who call themselves Nazarenes could look in the mirror and ask, “what more could I do?”

We can talk about broken systems and less than qualified people in various roles. I have had church leaders lie in my presence; be enraged for no reason; display a lack of holiness and the opposite of every aspect of the fruit of the spirit. I can name leaders who’s record would indicate that they have no business being in a leadership role, but they are. I’ve seen church politics, nepotism and the tit for tat happenings for years. You have your stories of bad leaders too. Still, we must all accept some responsibility for declining numbers.

Of course, it is harder to pastor these days. Yes, social media stinks. Our culture is circling the drain. There is an angst than has never existed. A recent poll says most young people have left the church because of church hypocrisy. You can read the survey here.  We know the survey is true, even casual observers have seen hypocrisy in the church. It’s harder to reach people these days. Who doesn’t know that? It does not negate this overwhelming truth: people still need Jesus. 

Are we doing everything we can to help people find Jesus? Are we working as if the King were coming tomorrow? Are we? Am I?

HONESTY ALERT: I can work harder. I can try more. I can pray more. I can and I must. You can too. This isn’t a guilt trip. It’s reality. People need Jesus. Lots of people need Jesus. The road is wide that leads to destruction (Jesus’ words, not mine). While we are doing more important things (that was sarcasm), people are dying without Him. There is nothing more important than people discovering Jesus. Nothing.

Past generations took evangelism seriously. We are not universalists (everyone makes it to heaven) but if our attitudes towards the lost and dying around us is an indicator we might as well be. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. You know the verses. They are still true. 

Who is to blame for the lack of evangelism? We are. We all are. Don’t complain about the denomination, the GSs, the DSs or pastors. Take a plate of cookies to a neighbor and begin the long hard work of earning the right to share the good news of Jesus Christ!  Don’t be hypocritical. Live out a real, authentic faith, then invite friends to dinner or coffee and eventually church.

It’s not the pastor’s job alone to be an evangelist. It’s all of our job. What are we doing about our friends, neighbors and family members who are walking on the wide road. Past generations worked hard to get those folks on a different path, the narrow road. 

What are we going to do about it?