This church is located in the Geneva area and is in a huge spurt of growth. In the last year almost doubling. They are on the rise. What is the secret I wondered, good preaching, good music, good facilities? All that is essential, but lots of churches in our area have that. In fact if you don't have that you are out of business. That's how essential having the basics is.
We knew 4 of the couples. So, being gregarious I decided to mingle and do a little serial focus grouping. Most of the couples there were 20s and 30s (and had kids). They didn't know who I was. Just a guy.
I asked these questions of each of the men (I only spoke with men) and here are some of the answers I got: (the different answers separated by ///)
Q-1: How long ago did you join up with this church? (they don't have membership rituals, people just join themselves to the Church and there is no voting in the church govenment).
A: 18 months ago/// 6 months ago /// A year ago. (none of these were long timers I spoke with)
Q-2: What was your religious background before coming here?
A: Catholic /// My wife was raised in a Church, I never went, even as a kid /// Nothing
Q: Why did you decide to commit to this body of believers?
A: They have been so good to us as a family /// They are so loving (I heard that more than once) /// They have been so patient with us /// There is such love and joy here
Q-3: What difference has being part of this Church and knowing Jesus made in your life?
A: I was on a bad path before knowing Jesus and he has brought me back /// Our family life is now in order, we weren't making it before (near divorce) /// My life is changed immensely, I know have purpose in my life /// I am exited to be part of something that matters and changes people for the better - I'm on a mission.
I asked other questions but what I learned was instructive. I think church leaders (including me) need to hear what they say. I'll summarize:
People who come to us aren't steeped in things religious. They don't know what we assume everyone does. Many have no background at all. JOINING a church to them means they come, take part, tithe and feel family. NOT some intimidating (I'm a member and you're not) kind of spiritual hazing and pledge taking only Greek Fraternities force people to go thru to join. I might have joined with a fraternity if it hadn't been such rigmarole. And there were the innies and outers. Churches do the same thing. Many of your most excited and involved people will be short timers and not fully attached yet. Allow that to be the case. Quit the guilt trip.
It was acceptance and love that kept them coming back. They want us to be patient with them. They want us to nurture them and listen to them. They want to feel a part of the family FOR REAL. No status Christians loving one another. And they want to feel JOY. If we are unloving, if we are separate, if we are unwilling to walk with them , if they sense they are somehow not fully part of the Body they will walk away. They come to us uncertain and we must be careful to allow them to assimilate without our hindrance. Much of what we call ministry amounts to getting in the way of someone trying to become part of the Body of Christ we represent. Stop it.
People come to us in Crisis. Mostly if occasionally someone walks thru the door because things are great, life is good, we will have people shallow and uncommitted. IF being part of the Church doesn't represent enormous change for the better in their lives, then why are they here? Some are here of course to serve. But, most come because they have to find Jesus or DIE. I did. People have a Maslow sized need to belong, to matter, to contribute, to feel meaningful. If we give them a chance, they can and they will. People want to believe in miracles, not just for salvation and rescue from hell, but that the here and now, this side of the veil will be better. We have not helped people grasp the miracle working power of the Living Christ Jesus. We offer programs, we offer education, we offer good services and sermons, but we don't encourage them to reach out in faith believing for the miraculous in their lives.
I think the church at large is missing out on the greatest revival ever seen. This will be bigger than we imagined. Will we be part of it? That is up to us. If God sends us souls, will we run them off? I saw this video, it's a little foul mouthed, but it's instructional and should be seen by every church leader. Many of us have been treated this way, some of us have been the one treating people this way.
The church I visited will be a major player in years to come. Others will wonder. Yet they have openly allowed us to go to school on them.... if we only will.
1 comment:
Where you been for the past 2000 years? If it isnt that way in your church, shake the sandals son.
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