Praise Habit

When do numbers become so important that we lose track of our mission?

What makes a fruitful ministry? This is a loaded question. How do we measure fruitfulness? Is it shear size? Being dynamic? Fostering new relationships? Helping the community? There are many aspects to a fruitful but this post is going to explore one aspect of fruitfulness: Size.

I will ask this question. Is a ministry fruitful if its not growing in size? According to some, not growing in numbers is not being fruitful. I suggest that we rethink that thinking.

According to our Bishop, our conference is shrinking.

Does this mean that our local churches aren’t being fruitful? Am I crazy for asking this question?

Lets take a church that doesn’t add members. How do they shrink? There are two main reasons:

- People passing away

- People leaving

The first reason is pretty simple to understand.

The second factor is a little more complex. We need to ask why they left. They could have gone to another church. They could be sick of the Christian thing and leave the faith all together. If they go to another church does this mean that a church is being ineffective? I don’t think so. The most common reason is because the church isn’t fulfilling the needs of that individual/family. Is this bad? I don’t think so, because they are plugging themselves in. There might be other reasons that could mean a church is being ineffective.

If a member leaves and doesn’t join another church, I would say that something is wrong. A church shouldn’t just let a person leave and never come back. Does this happen? Sadly it does. Does this mean a church is ineffective? I would answer: Partly.

Now lets look at some good things. Why would a person join a church?

The answers are similar to the ones above.

- Confession of faith…..this is my favorite!

- Transfer of membership

Again, the first one is easy. This is the sign of a wonderfully fruitful ministry! This could be bad though……..but that is for another time.

The second one is much like above. Why did they transfer? They might be transferring because of a move. Perhaps they found they could be more effective at this new congregation. There are many reasons why a transfer would happen.

Does a decline in membership, or even a stagnation of membership mean an ineffective ministry? While I agree that a strong ministry grows, there comes a point where a ministry has grown to a point to where it is in equilibrium. A ministry I was involved in had reached that point when I left. It wasn’t failing; it was thriving and fostering Christian relationships and allowing the member to grow spiritually.

With the new proposals in the conference, that ministry is now facing closure. Apparently, a ministry that doesn’t show growth should be closed off.

While I agree that a decline in growth can be a warning sign. The problem, however, is that the ministry I spoke of is a campus ministry. The campus ministry model is different of that of a church. You have new members constantly coming in and leaving. A strong freshman class can mean a sharp decline in numbers four years later.

Using the same model to judge the effectiveness of all ministries is clearly the wrong way to do it.

I suggest that the committees that are meeting to discuss the future of the conference shouldn’t merely look at numbers. I think the framework of the ministry and the overall effectiveness should be taken into account. A church that has 15 members that only loses a member due to death should be closed or merged with another congregation. A ministry that is staying steady and possibly growing a few members while losing a few members should be encouraged to keep going. Something is obviously working.

These are only a few things you can do with the current ministries.

A final thought is something us Methodists can learn from our friends down the street at the Baptist church. FOCUS ON YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE!!!! Invest your lives in the youth! Get to know the local college students. Adopt them as a family away from home. Encourage them to search for what they want to do with their life. Support campus ministries!!! These campus ministries do more than provide social activities for students. They teach skills on leading small groups. They even lead some into full-time ordained ministry.

They might not call your church their home. They might be one less person in your church at worship. Years down the road, these students might be your pastor.

I know this isn’t really coherent and doesn’t flow. I’m just a little concerned with the focus that the annual conference is beginning to take now. And I might be over reacting and taking things WAY out of proportion. But this is what is on my mind.

Lets forget numbers and focus on relationships and building the Body of Christ.

Well, I guess I should let my faithful readers know what is going on.

I’m working……A LOT! I love my job, but there are just some things that need to calm down about working a lot. It looks as if things are going to calm down there as we start geting caught up and start doing the development process we have instated. I’m glad things are calming down.

In other news, I discovered that my hamster is dead last night I had to dispose of him last night. Bye Wesley, you were a great hamster!

Erin and I are doing well. We’re still set for July 7! I’m really excited

Well, that’s my update for now. Let me know you read this.

B

http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Real_life_samurai_superhero_saves_police

Ok. This guy is close to my hero!

That is all for now.

So I’m reading a new book.  It is called “Velvet Elvis” and it is by Rob Bell of Nooma (those church videos that don’t remind you of church) fame.  The first chapter kinda made me think.

He likened doctrine and theology to the springs of a trampoline.  They are necessary, but not the point.  You can take one idea (spring) out and work it, strech it and the trampoline still works.  The problem is when we make doctrine and theology like bricks in a wall.  When you take one inflexible idea, the rest of the wall is weakened.

After reading that, I realized that my theology was just that.  I was building a brick wall and hiding behind it most of the time.  The process of turning that wall into a trampoline is going to be a difficult process.

I’ve taken a great experience and turned into an intellectual thing.  I’m struggling with my past of learning how to “sell” Christianity to others.  While I love to debate theology and doctrine, the hard part is living it.  I seem to have a hard time lately “delighting myself” in God.

I have the knowledge, but my heart is falling behind.  I hope these next few weeks will be enlightening in that aspect of my life and my seemingly hardened heart will become softer.

Brandon

Well, in less than a week I’ll be rockin’ out to Weird Al’s latest parody filled album! I really can’t wait until it is released and I get to enjoy it. A quick teaser can be found here:

I’m stressed.  There are a lot of things going on right now that I can’t talk about (but will post on later when I can).  This kind of stress is a stress that I know I shouldn’t have but I do.  I don’t know why I don’t trust God and wait.

I feel so drained as well.  I’m not getting as much sleep as I need in order to function well.  It is affecting my job, my relationships and my free time.  My free time is spent wanting to sleep or just sitting on the couch when I would rather be out doing things.  But I do know this will pass as things always do.  But do I believe it?  I don’t think so.

And on another note, my labor day weekend is probably going to be spent visiting my aunt who has been recently diagnosed with cancer.  She is not pursuing treatment.  My parents are going to meet me so I can go with them to Amarillo.  This is going to be a hard weekend but I know I need to go.  Saying goodbye is really hard.
Prayers are truly appreciated and I’ll write more after the weekend with my experience and hopefully other, more uplifting, news.

-Brandon

Just letting all of you know that I’m still alive and kicking.

Brandon

Well, now that I have your attention…..I asked the woman I love to marry me this last weekend. The grand scheme of it all was to happen on July 4. Did this happen? Not really, I cracked on the 2nd while we were at the St. Louis Zoo. I was hoping to have proposed in the Penguin Exhibit but it didn’t quite turn out that way. While walking out of the Bird House, Erin wanted to put a map of the zoo in the pocket the ring was in. Not playing it cool, I jumped a few feet and pretty much gave it away so I just did it outside of the Bird House. We then went to the Penguin exhibit together as an engaged couple. I think it was a great way to start off our vacation. I will have pictures up here in the next couple of days so keep checking back on the photo page.