Church Plant Update

I have been asked several times recently by various folks how the Berwyn Church Plant is going.  IT'S GOING VERY WELL. 

 

In the last few weeks we have had the largest services we have had till now, we had our church picnic (which I couldn't attend) with many first time visitors and now we are now about to land in a permanent place.  A Church in a Church Building.  What a concept.

 

Up till now we have been renting the YMCA.  Lots of Churches start out in rented facilities.  Schools, Park District buildings.  

 

So did we.  But a year ago after hearing Conrad Lowe talk of a syndrome happening around the country and in particular in Chicagoland I began to think it could happen for us too.  Here's why:

 

Churches of mainline and non charismatic bent are mostly empty on Sundays and declining.  Not all, but most.  They, in their heyday, were vital parts of aggressive revival movements.  But, the day past them by.  Now those buildings are like a Church in Berwyn we have been talking to.  They could seat 400 if people would come but now only "Worship" 40.  They were a prime candidate for what Dr. Lowe believes can and will happen more and more by an example that inspired our search.

 

Dr. Lowe told of a Presbyterian church, a historical edifice, on the Southside of Chicago that had at one time been a powerhouse.  The Sanctuary seated 700. 50 years ago.  Sunday's worship services had drifted down to 23.  It wasn't a matter of money.  There was several million in endowments in the bank given over the years.  They had a full time staff of 6 pastors including a full time organist.  Nice gig.

 

Finally the Sr Pastor made sense of it all.  He proposed a radical solution.  Let's give it all away.  The church building had long ago been dedicated to the work of God. Turning it into a 7-11 C Store or condos seemed wrong.  So here's what they did:

• There was a growing African American Pentecostal church needing a place.  They just gave them the building gratis.
• They took the several million in endowments and sent it to missions overseas.
• The Sr Pastor and one other stayed on as staff with the new church.  The African American church welcomed the steady hand of the Presbyterian Pastor as they grow.
• The people from the old congregation for the most part dispersed.  A few stuck around and were integrated into the new congregation.

 

Today that building is plumb full on Sundays.  The Joy of the Lord is back and at full volume. 

 

There were a few grumbles from a few people but it's just the sound of a religious spirit groaning in defeat.   A religious demon doesn't mind seeing churches empty as long as it means traditions of men are taught over God's word.  It's always been so.

 

The same wonderful thing is about to happen again.   In Berwyn.  After some negotiation and meeting with the Church leaders we are about to move in and begin to share a wonderful old church building in Berwyn.  Hundred plus years old.  Stained glass and all.  The pastor was enthusiastic about bringing life back to the house of God.  They will still have a traditional service led by the Pastor but we are coming to do the new thing.  There were a few grumbles but everyone had their say.  I think this is going to be very good.

 

This pattern should be happening all across the nation.  I drive thru small towns and see huge empty church buildings kept alive by a handful of enough monied people to scratch by.  God's plan for his church was not to just scratch by. His plan was for a glorious church in victory.  Particularly in Chicagoland.  Thousands of Churches in chicagoland are weak and weakening a little every Sunday.  Mostly empty and in decline. They have no real future.  Meanwhile vital small works are springing up all around in rental places.  They need a place to worship.  There is a marriage ready to happen.  Life can come back to the house of God.  It won't look like they thought it would when the mainline church was started.  There is no way you can put old cloth on new cloth to patch it up.  One will tear the other.  There is no halfway.  It's not both-and, it ultimately must be either-or.  There can be no compromise, stay the old way and die or move into the fullness of God and grow.

 

I was asked, why don't you just come in and join the service that the church is having already?  Merge.  The two could make one larger church.  I have learned the hard way that changing the spiritual climate in a mainline church is much more difficult than anyone imagines.  It takes a lot of heat to overcome the cold.

 

The church living in the building is failing to reach their changing community.  They are old cloth.  They are good people but introducing what needs to happen in ministry, music, manifestations and the miraculous is so far outside the denominational comfort zone they can never make the transition and, more important, it would be a huge suicidal step back from the vision God gave the Pastor of the new Church to try to integrate the denominational elements or do church with one spiritual hand tied behind their back.  A pulled punches church will have no impact. 

 

That's why you can't have both in one house at the same time.  That's why the Old church in Berwyn is doing a good thing.  If God has his way this will become one church.  A merger of the spirit will take place. It will look nothing like the Old Church services ever did.  Oh, one Sunday a month a bunch of the old folks can gather together to remember what it was like when they did it like they did in 1955.  God says in his word, "Behold I do a NEW THING".  IF it's new to God it's really new to you and me.  So, why do we think we have any chance at all doing what we always did and hoping to get better results than the last time we failed.  That's what's happening in Denominational mainline America.  Let's do what we always did and maybe things will get better.  A futile hope.

 

I will give you a report after the first official Sunday we meet in the new Church Building.

 

I hope this renewal will happen everywhere.  It's time to bring the sound of revival back to these empty holy buildings once dedicated with so much faith of their fathers to being a place of renewal once again. 

 

Evenso come Lord Jesus!