A few months ago I visited an old Methodist church that was in a little rural town surrounded by corn fields. This church was built in the early 1900's. Upon entering this building I was amazed to see the natural wood finish of the alters and the position of the sanctuary in relation to the class rooms. All of these details presented the idea that there were two main purposes to this facility. 1) This was a place where the gospel was central becasue of the placement and arrangement of the pulpit and the furniture. 2) This was a place where Sunday school was a dominant element because over a half of the facility was made up of class rooms.
At one time these elements and the people were undoubtedly a close comunity of believers.
Now, as I sat there taking in all the details of the sancutary, my eyes went to the clock hanging on the wall. A very old clock made of deep hard wood, a very amazing time-piece!
However, there was something very strange about this clock. It was not working. In fact, it had apparently stopped working at ten minutes before 11 o'clock.
As I sat there trying to take in the message, my mind was distracted by the non-functional clock.
Then trying to break my focus on the clock, I glanced to their current attendance records that hung on the wall. Their average attendance was 19. Now, I know that church is not about numbers, but on another wall there were pictures. These pictures showed better days for this local church. Pictures of hundreds of people gathered in front of this building back at the beginning of the ministries there, events, revivals, better days!
Somewhere along the way, this church lost numerous people. Where did they go? When I asked some of the members about the people of this church there was a fond remembrance of "the good ole days." Yet, there was not much said about the present ministries.
While there is not enough time to discuss the details of my visit, I have been thinking about the clock in that church. Was the clock a symbol? If so what did it mean? Was the church broken, dying, out of time? Afterall, the people spent a great deal of time remembering the better days.
I will leave that church in my prayers and in God's hands for it's not for me to say one way or another.
However, what about the church I'm involved with? Where are they in the midst of their life?
- Dr. Charles Arn states "First, it is important to realize that every church has a lifecycle. And every church—
including yours—is somewhere on its lifecycle. The lifecycle describes a local church’s
progression from infancy…to maturity…to death. Where you are on the lifecycle has a great
deal to do with your church’s ability to reach new people for Christ and assimilate them into
your church family. Churches well into their lifecycle find it increasingly difficult to mobilize
people and programs in pursuit of their mission."
Where is your church after considering this idea of lifecycle? Are there ways you could engage in conversation with your pastor, leaders, or others and explore your church's current postion in that cycle?
If it would help, you can check out the full article by Dr. Arn and read more throughly about church lifecycle and discover where your church is and how you can help.
It is my hope and prayer that this blog could be a place where ideas and conversations could happen regarding the church. I have been in those struggling churches that did not know what to do with the difficult days. It is not fun nor is it what God desires. God has a grand plan for the church to be a missional body of believers who are making an impact on the world. Sadly, many churches in the US are not living out the awesome potential. So, knowing where your church might be in their lifecycle might help develop a plan to refocus, reform, remold the ministries of your church.
And hopefully, you will not find yourself in the church where time stood still.
Read and be encouraged you can make a difference!
Dr. Arn's Attached File:
While there is not enough time to discuss the details of my visit, I have been thinking about the clock in that church. Was the clock a symbol? If so what did it mean? Was the church broken, dying, out of time? Afterall, the people spent a great deal of time remembering the better days.
I will leave that church in my prayers and in God's hands for it's not for me to say one way or another.
However, what about the church I'm involved with? Where are they in the midst of their life?
- Dr. Charles Arn states "First, it is important to realize that every church has a lifecycle. And every church—
including yours—is somewhere on its lifecycle. The lifecycle describes a local church’s
progression from infancy…to maturity…to death. Where you are on the lifecycle has a great
deal to do with your church’s ability to reach new people for Christ and assimilate them into
your church family. Churches well into their lifecycle find it increasingly difficult to mobilize
people and programs in pursuit of their mission."
Where is your church after considering this idea of lifecycle? Are there ways you could engage in conversation with your pastor, leaders, or others and explore your church's current postion in that cycle?
If it would help, you can check out the full article by Dr. Arn and read more throughly about church lifecycle and discover where your church is and how you can help.
It is my hope and prayer that this blog could be a place where ideas and conversations could happen regarding the church. I have been in those struggling churches that did not know what to do with the difficult days. It is not fun nor is it what God desires. God has a grand plan for the church to be a missional body of believers who are making an impact on the world. Sadly, many churches in the US are not living out the awesome potential. So, knowing where your church might be in their lifecycle might help develop a plan to refocus, reform, remold the ministries of your church.
And hopefully, you will not find yourself in the church where time stood still.
Read and be encouraged you can make a difference!
Dr. Arn's Attached File:
I know this is an old post and maybe no one will see this, but we are in the "fall" of life. We need to regain our focus, which is Who is Jesus to those outside our doors?
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