One hundred and fifty two worshipers at the eleven o’clock service with 50 more at the eight-thirty service. How long ago was it that this was the Sunday attendance at Winterville United Methodist Church? Can anyone remember? Can anyone recall who these members were and where are they now? Can you recall having twenty-five to thirty youths attending the church regularly? Where did they go? More importantly, why did they leave?
We know that several of our brothers and sisters in Christ have been called home by the Lord. But what about the rest, where are they and why did they leave? Another question to ask is what can we do to get new members in the front door and keep them coming back?
We know the answers to all these issues – and – we do keep one important factor in mind every time a visitor comes in to worship, we welcome them with a heartfelt love and invite them to join our activities. We call on them and ask if there is anything the church can do for them. We do not, as so many churches do, leave it all up to the pastor. But, we stop there. We do not go the second mile and find out what it is that the visitor is looking for in a church. We seem to have the mind-set that this is who we are and what we have to offer and if it is not what you are looking for – good luck in your church search. I recognize that we cannot be all things to all people. However, we do have very talented people in our church who can offer many services that the visitor needs in a church. We could have a vibrant and active Sunday school program for all ages that would appeal to most of the desired needs. We also could develop a Youth fellowship inclusive of a contemporary service. Plus additional activities to involve all ages and a physical atmosphere that would appeal to their visual senses too.
When Joann and I joined, it was not the building, it was not the preacher (sorry), it was the love and fellowship we felt from the moment we arrived. I can recall one lady coming up to us during the fellowship moment at the beginning of the service and welcoming us, as did another gentleman and yet another wonderful lady. After the service, these same people invited us to the last Wednesday supper which is the picnic and softball game at Wesley Whitehead Park. Actually one lovely woman's invitation was a bit more forward in that she said she would come get us and take us there. We also had met another couple at Tuckston UMC a year earlier. Add to this friendly atmosphere a music program far above that which a church of this size should have and we were sold. But, what about the other new-comers who visit our church? Can a warm and loving atmosphere do it all? Can good music do it all? I don’t think so.
A small church with good music, good preaching and friendly people is what my wife and I looked for, but that may not be the norm. Many people want a small friendly church, but with programs for their young children and teens. Many want Sunday Schools that cater to the needs of today with video, computer lessons and inter-active classes with lively teachers. Many are looking for an active and exciting youth program to help keep their teens in church and avoid the beckoning of that hedonistic culture so prevalent in today’s world.
So, how does a small church on a limited budget get all this going? Volunteers; volunteers who love this church and want to see it prosper in the future and not die. We have the core talents to make it all happen, but do we have the fortitude to stay-the-course? The United Methodist Men’s group a few months ago had 5 men (including the minister) show up for their meeting. The following month the number jumped to about 9 or 10, then, a good pal of mine challenged each man there to invite one man to come and join us. That next meeting we had 16 men show up. This story illustrates what just announcing and asking can do for membership. So, if we want more youth, have the youth members invite just one more to come and see what is happening. If done with enthusiasm – it will work. That goes for all our programs – go out with enthusiasm and invite just one un-churched neighbor to come and visit, no pressure, no hounding by the church to join. Step up, become part of the solution to helping this church grow exponentially so that having 150+ at the eleven o’clock service will be the norm – and – fifty or more in our eight-thirty service be a normal turnout. Can you imagine what we can do with that active membership who are committed to seeing Winterville UMC continue and grow? I can.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Has the small town country church become passé?
In today’s society we see more and more small town and country churches fading away into oblivion. “Why?” we might ask ourselves. Didn’t our forefathers come out of these quaint small congregations where everyone knew one another, shared their pain and happiness. They would rejoice together at the birth of a healthy child and commiserate at the death of a loved one. With all of this built-in support system around them, and around those in these modern day small town and country churches, why would people leave? Conversely, why do mega-churches thrive today?
There may be more answers to the why in both scenarios than this rather opinionated article can or dare to propose. But, I’ve never been called faint-of-heart, more rather at times fool-hardy. So here is my two cents worth.
An obvious reason for the struggle small churches have is finances – simply stated, not enough seats in the seats. This is in no way empirical data gathered myself, but I’ve been told that one out of every ten regular attendees will tithe regularly. If this is true, simple math can resolve the fiscal issues most churches face. For example if there are 70 regular attendees in a small church with those tithers giving an average of $100 per week, that equates to $700 per Sunday or $2,800 per month (based on a 4 Sunday month). Now if the regular attendance numbers were – say – 300, and the same $100 per week tithe amount were used, this church would receive $3,000 per week and $12,000 per month. The answer here becomes as said earlier, obvious, the small church cannot afford to keep it’s doors open. So, in order for a small church to remain financially viable, several of those tithers must contribute infinitely more than the average. This is easier said than done, so small churches fade away usually because they simply cannot pay the bills any longer.
Another reason for the demise of the small church is anonymity – and the desire of people in our society to have anonymity. Being able to come and go without notice. No responsibility, no accountability and no close relationships – keeping it totally superficial and impersonal. This way you have complete freedom to go to church or not, tithe or not and no one notices. Neat, kind of like Casper the Friendly Ghost! This way you can do whatever you wish and have no fear of “running into” someone who is from your church – or worry about someone seeing you doing whatever. Total anonymity – now you see me, now you don’t. After all who needs the added responsibility of having fellow parishioners question your behavior, after all, it is strictly between you and God. As one of several hundred or thousand to go every Sunday, who will miss you every once-in-a-while should you decide not to go? And another side to this coin is the desire for recognition on a grand scale – an ego trip. If you become one of the church leaders in a large church hundreds or even thousands will know your name, and know how important you are.
A third reason for the small church failure rate is the “ruling class” who have been there forever refuse to change and refuse to allow growth. Often heard in meetings of the leadership and in private, “We like things just the way they are.” The obvious hold true here, when these members pass away, so does the church. Often times, from my observations, these are the money people of the church – those who donate that more than average amount and therefore are “entitled” to more say in the church planning and operations. The church is exactly where these “elite” few want it to be – no more, no less.
Finally, a dying church rarely will see it coming. As with a business entity, the most tell-tale sign is reduced revenues year-over-year. As expenses increase due to inflationary pressures and/or maintenance requirements of an aging structure, and, donations decline, the church fails just as a business would. But, a failing church takes much longer to die than a business would. A dying church will suffer a great deal before it breathes its last gasp. People will come offering help in the form of ideas, work and leadership abilities only to be frustrated by the roadblocks established over the years of complacency. But it will struggle on until the DS figuratively puts a gun to this suffering church’s head and pulls the trigger.
Can this trend be reversed? Not easily. Perhaps a dynamic minister and a healthy influx of money can be the elixir the church needs. Maybe everyone working towards the same ends is the answer. Maybe both are needed. But short of a God given and a God driven miracle – it just ain’t going to happen. We has met the deceased and they is us!
There may be more answers to the why in both scenarios than this rather opinionated article can or dare to propose. But, I’ve never been called faint-of-heart, more rather at times fool-hardy. So here is my two cents worth.
An obvious reason for the struggle small churches have is finances – simply stated, not enough seats in the seats. This is in no way empirical data gathered myself, but I’ve been told that one out of every ten regular attendees will tithe regularly. If this is true, simple math can resolve the fiscal issues most churches face. For example if there are 70 regular attendees in a small church with those tithers giving an average of $100 per week, that equates to $700 per Sunday or $2,800 per month (based on a 4 Sunday month). Now if the regular attendance numbers were – say – 300, and the same $100 per week tithe amount were used, this church would receive $3,000 per week and $12,000 per month. The answer here becomes as said earlier, obvious, the small church cannot afford to keep it’s doors open. So, in order for a small church to remain financially viable, several of those tithers must contribute infinitely more than the average. This is easier said than done, so small churches fade away usually because they simply cannot pay the bills any longer.
Another reason for the demise of the small church is anonymity – and the desire of people in our society to have anonymity. Being able to come and go without notice. No responsibility, no accountability and no close relationships – keeping it totally superficial and impersonal. This way you have complete freedom to go to church or not, tithe or not and no one notices. Neat, kind of like Casper the Friendly Ghost! This way you can do whatever you wish and have no fear of “running into” someone who is from your church – or worry about someone seeing you doing whatever. Total anonymity – now you see me, now you don’t. After all who needs the added responsibility of having fellow parishioners question your behavior, after all, it is strictly between you and God. As one of several hundred or thousand to go every Sunday, who will miss you every once-in-a-while should you decide not to go? And another side to this coin is the desire for recognition on a grand scale – an ego trip. If you become one of the church leaders in a large church hundreds or even thousands will know your name, and know how important you are.
A third reason for the small church failure rate is the “ruling class” who have been there forever refuse to change and refuse to allow growth. Often heard in meetings of the leadership and in private, “We like things just the way they are.” The obvious hold true here, when these members pass away, so does the church. Often times, from my observations, these are the money people of the church – those who donate that more than average amount and therefore are “entitled” to more say in the church planning and operations. The church is exactly where these “elite” few want it to be – no more, no less.
Finally, a dying church rarely will see it coming. As with a business entity, the most tell-tale sign is reduced revenues year-over-year. As expenses increase due to inflationary pressures and/or maintenance requirements of an aging structure, and, donations decline, the church fails just as a business would. But, a failing church takes much longer to die than a business would. A dying church will suffer a great deal before it breathes its last gasp. People will come offering help in the form of ideas, work and leadership abilities only to be frustrated by the roadblocks established over the years of complacency. But it will struggle on until the DS figuratively puts a gun to this suffering church’s head and pulls the trigger.
Can this trend be reversed? Not easily. Perhaps a dynamic minister and a healthy influx of money can be the elixir the church needs. Maybe everyone working towards the same ends is the answer. Maybe both are needed. But short of a God given and a God driven miracle – it just ain’t going to happen. We has met the deceased and they is us!
The Silent Church
Looking at the old structure now, one can hardly tell it was an alive and thriving church. The rusted lock and chains that secured the front doors have been easily broken now by vandals that have entered this relic of a building and taken anything of value to sell. The once majestic bell tower that stood as a beacon over the village green, pealing to all who will, come and worship the Lord our God, has collapsed from age and disrepair. Windows that once allowed the bright sunlight to flow into the sanctuary and classrooms are all gone, broken out by rock hurtling vandals. The once manicure grounds overgrown with wild brush and weeds. The last vestige of Christian faith to stand in this quaint friendly town’s center dead and gone while awaiting the wrecking ball.
Standing there, looking at this relic of days gone by with tears welling up from the fond memories of the wonderful people and times shared in that building, a jogger ran by, saw me starring stopped and asked, “What happened to this church?” “Where are the church members now? Did they move and just let the building go?” I sadly had to answer “No, the church could no longer support it’s self and its ministries, so it just closed up and shut down.” His response surprised me as he said “Wow, a caring, loving congregation allowing this to happen is hard to believe. I attended a few services here and the warm welcome I received made me feel right at home.” “Yes,” I said, “We were all that and more with a wonderful music program and some very hard working dedicated people to lead our programs. But as with everything, in time people wear out and without someone else to step in and take the lead, plus with the Sunday offerings shrinking by the week, the church just died.” “Well, this is not going to happen to MY church!” he assured me and jogged off. No? Are we ever sure this can never happen to us?
No, we cannot be sure, but we can take measures to insure our children and grandchildren have this church to call home, if they choose. This structure of brick and mortar is not the church, we are the church – you and I - and we can each do our part to ensure the continuation of this church. We all can take any opportunity we see to invite someone who does not have a church home to “come and see”. We can continue to support our ministries with our tithes and gifts. We can also join in and become part of the working force loaning whatever talents we have to building Sunday school, church attendance and Wednesday nights and our special programs. Let us all – each and every one of us , no matter what our age or our physical limitations do whatever we can to insure the events of the first paragraph above never becomes a reality here in our great town and our great church.
Standing there, looking at this relic of days gone by with tears welling up from the fond memories of the wonderful people and times shared in that building, a jogger ran by, saw me starring stopped and asked, “What happened to this church?” “Where are the church members now? Did they move and just let the building go?” I sadly had to answer “No, the church could no longer support it’s self and its ministries, so it just closed up and shut down.” His response surprised me as he said “Wow, a caring, loving congregation allowing this to happen is hard to believe. I attended a few services here and the warm welcome I received made me feel right at home.” “Yes,” I said, “We were all that and more with a wonderful music program and some very hard working dedicated people to lead our programs. But as with everything, in time people wear out and without someone else to step in and take the lead, plus with the Sunday offerings shrinking by the week, the church just died.” “Well, this is not going to happen to MY church!” he assured me and jogged off. No? Are we ever sure this can never happen to us?
No, we cannot be sure, but we can take measures to insure our children and grandchildren have this church to call home, if they choose. This structure of brick and mortar is not the church, we are the church – you and I - and we can each do our part to ensure the continuation of this church. We all can take any opportunity we see to invite someone who does not have a church home to “come and see”. We can continue to support our ministries with our tithes and gifts. We can also join in and become part of the working force loaning whatever talents we have to building Sunday school, church attendance and Wednesday nights and our special programs. Let us all – each and every one of us , no matter what our age or our physical limitations do whatever we can to insure the events of the first paragraph above never becomes a reality here in our great town and our great church.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)