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WHY SOME CHURCHES CANNOT GROW

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WHY SOME CHURCHES CANNOT GROW
WHY SOME CHURCHES CANNOT GROW

By Ken Blue

Dr. Tom Malone said, “An expert is any old spurt away from home.” I am not an “expert” on any topic. However, over the years, I have observed a few things that hinder the numerical and spiritual growth of a church. I list some of them, but not in any order of importance.

Location and facilities:

Where a church is located is important. I have seen whole communities change culturally and racially in a few short years. When that happens, it will have a dramatic impact on the church. The church must make a change in its culture or sell the building to those who are part of the emerging culture.

Another factor that hurts church growth is the condition, the age and the configuration of the buildings. Some people will tolerate an old building, but they will not accept a dirty and unkempt one. Paint and water are inexpensive; so, spruce up the place. If you are in the wrong location, find one more open to the gospel. The location of your church may be your greatest liability.

Outreach and marketing:

There are two colossal errors concerning outreach. One is the misconception that door to door soul winning is the only key to outreach. Secondly, that the word “marketing” is unscriptural. Statistics prove that 80% of the people, who visit a church, do so because a friend or family member invite them. Less than 1% come as a result of door to door soul winning. However, if that’s your only method, the percentage would be 100% in your case. Churches could learn from the world and the cults what effective methods they are using to reach the masses and apply them where appropriate. The world is wiser in this matter than most churches.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Statistics prove that 80% of the people, who visit a church, do so because a friend or family member invite them. Less than 1% come as a result of door to door soul winning.[/perfectpullquote]

The pastor might as well save church money and stop advertising in the newspaper and phone book. Young couples use the internet and watch television. Have the best web page possible for your church and have it designed to reach the un- churched. Place radio and television ads when finances allow. Do brainstorming and discover every method available; then use the ones you approve. Pastor Al Hughes, recently started a “Sign Ministry.” The positive results are worth looking into. Put the name and location of  your church on the sign. A Bible verse only will not attract anyone. Most growing churches have found that promoting three or four big days through the year will attract the community, if planned and promoted properly.

Atmosphere and attitude:

It never enters the mind of some pastors how important the atmosphere of a church is. Every business owner understands its importance or he goes out of business. Pay attention to the next store or restaurant you visit. Notice how they try to appeal to those who enter their doors. If you are unimpressed, you will not return.

The selection and style of music is critical here. Some of the best preachers I know kill their church with dead, somber music. Someone has correctly said, “You cannot have an Episcopalian song service, a Lutheran sermon and a Pentecostal invitation.” The atmosphere and attitude should be positive, exciting, uplifting and enjoyable. The lighting, the decor and colors are all important. Many churches have a funeral home atmosphere and then wonder why everyone looks dead.

Preaching and personality:

When it comes to reaching people, it may surprise you to learn that your personality may be more important than your preaching ability. That may explain why many of the best preachers have the smaller churches. It could be a personality quirk, a distracting habit or poor manners that hinder ones influence. Most people will talk about these, but not to the pastor.

Some preachers have the idea that if they are not screaming and yelling throughout the sermon, they are not preaching. This is a learned concept and must be corrected, unless you are in a culture where people enjoy being screamed and yelled at; if you are, then keep screaming. Remember you have different people at different services; a different purpose for each sermon and different methods at your disposal. You must understand that people are not as impressed with your preaching as you are. If you doubt this, ask them what your sermon topic was a week ago.

Laziness and playfulness:

The call to preach is not a call to slothfulness or amusement. Some preachers are lazy and ought to be fired; they would be if they behaved the same way on a secular job. The preacher must pray and study. He is to be a student of the Word of God. His calling is to studying and teaching. He must plan for church growth and ministries. Then, he must lead others to do the work of the ministry for Christ. Success rises and falls on leadership. If a church is not getting the job done, in most cases, it is a weakness on the part of the pastor. If you are weak in leadership and management, learn all you can on this subject and then do your best. If you are lazy, repent or resign.

Another flaw the pastor must guard against is the temptation to spend too much time playing. There are many good and acceptable hobbies and recreational outlets, but the pastor should avoid being identified with any as an addiction. Your first and foremost calling is to the ministry. Everything else must be subordinate to that calling. Rest, if you must, but don’t be lazy. Play if you can, but don’t get the reputation of an addiction to anything but the ministry.

THE RASH MOUTH

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DEALING WITH A RASH MOUTH
RASH

Recently I read the newsletter by a big mouth independant, KJV, Baptist Evangelist (?) who called Rick Warren, with whom he disagreed, “That Devil”. The following article by Charles Finney describes such rashness.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Take heed to yourselves that you be not rash”[/pullquote]

“Take heed to yourselves that you be not rash. Some ministers are exceedingly rash and hasty in forming and expressing their views and opinions on almost every subject–are precipitate and unguarded in their measures–are stiff and stubborn in the positions they take, and can never be long employed as ministers in any one place. They will almost always leave their people in a divided state. This may be true of a minister who thoroughly does his duty, and nothing more. But it may be, and often is owing to downright rashness and indiscretion in the minister. Not long since, a young minister observed to an elderly one, that “he was determined to drive the devil out of the Church to which he was preaching.” The aged man replied, “See that you do not attempt to cast out the devil through Beelzebub the prince of devils, and act yourself like the devil in banishing him from your place.” Ministers should always take heed that in opposing Satan, they do not come to possess his spirit.

CLEAN AND EMPTY

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CLEAN AND EMPTY

By Ken Blue

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4

No doubt, one’s vision and philosophy is reflected in how sanitary the barn is. The attitude of some is, “My barn may be empty, but it is clean.” That is not something to be proud of. Animals always track in dirt. The more animals you have, the more dirt you can expect. However, those who track in the dirt are the same ones who do the work. They feed the cows, slop the hogs, pay the bills and provide your bread and butter.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The animals must be fed, comforted, loved and cleaned up after.[/pullquote]

If you want the farm to increase, you must stop attacking the animals. Instead, they must be fed, comforted, loved and cleaned up after. If you don’t want people of other races, other political persuasions, children and teachers of public schools, or anyone else who may defecate in your barn, just attack them when they arrive. They won’t be back, but you will have clean stalls.

Some pastors and evangelist seem dedicated to keeping the barns clean and empty. It’s your call. You can have the increase from the animals or you can be clean and empty, but you can’t have it both ways.

BRUSH FIRES

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BRUSH FIRES
BRUSH FIREs

“While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said…” Job 1:17

Brush fires are hard to contain because of the winds that spread them. Just about the time you have one under control, a gust of wind blows sparks into another field, and off you go again.

The pastor must exercise wisdom and discernment when it comes to these fires. “Should I chase it, or will it burn itself out if ignored?” “Where no wood is, the fire goeth out…” Proverbs 26:20.

There are two dangers when it comes to brush fires: one is to ignore it and allowing it to burn down your ministry; the other, is responding with fire trucks and ladders every time there is smoke.

My experience is that most fires are not that serious and will burn themselves out, if you don’t stir up the winds or throw fuel on them.

The pastor must stop responding to every battle, every complaint and every problem. If possible, let others in your church handle these fires and keep the smell of smoke off yourself.

The pastor should determine that he is not going to be the only man in the church with a fireman’s hat. There are others who can put out fires just as well. Most of the people in your church won’t even know there is a fire unless you keep fanning it by call attention to it.

HOW TO STAY FOCUSED IN THE MINISTRY

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THE USE OF THE PURPOSE STATEMENT

purpose statementBy Ken Blue
The most difficult task in the ministry is keeping the church on target and focused on its stated purpose. Like a ship or a plane without a rudder, a church will begin to drift if navigational controls are not built in and monitored.

Once you are clear on your purpose, and are able to state it in a simple sentence, it becomes your Northern Star to guide, and keep you on course. Let me give you a few purposes statements. See if you can determine what each organization is about. 1. Focus On The Family. 2. Child Evangelism. 3. Bringing Families From Spiritual Infancy To Spiritual Maturity. 4. The Church With A Heart. 5. Youth For Christ. 6. Campus Crusade.

Once you have figure out what your church is going to do, state in no uncertain terms what you believe God wants you to do. The purpose statement should be on your letterhead and your church bulletin, and it must not be vague. Everyone in your church should be keep informed about what you are aiming at. The purpose statement should be the bull’s-eye on the target. Sad to say, the reason many pastors have no purpose statement or they make it vague, is so they cannot fail or be accountable.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The reason many pastors have no purpose statement is so they cannot fail or be accountable.[/pullquote]

Next, you need to determine what objectives you must establish to move toward your Northern Star. Your objectives must be consistent with your purpose statement; otherwise your statement means nothing. You will notice the lines coming back from the shaft of the arrow. Your objectives should be written on each line. It is best not to have more than seven objectives.

Keep in mind that an objective and a goal are not the same. Objectives are the ministries you must implement to carry the church toward its purpose. For example, if you choose number 3 as a purpose for your church, one of your objectives would be to win families to Christ and the church. Objectives are ongoing and will continue till Jesus comes. Whereas, goal are the measurable activities you will use to work at your objectives. Each one of the lines on the shaft of the arrow tells you what you ought to be about to accomplish your purpose for existence.

Once you have done the above, you will have a clear picture of who you are, what you must do and how to go about it. The most difficult part of planning is not how to do what you want; the most difficult is to determine what your church will do. Once the what is established, the how, comes relatively easy. To stay focused, put your planning arrow in a place where you can see it. When you seem to be in a fog or get off course, get the arrow out and view it like you would a roadmap to get back on track. Let it be your guide and you will stay focused.

(Pastor Blue has a complete seminar on the planning process. For a PAL ministry in your church, contact him.)