Bryan Price
One of the top requests that churches in Illinois ask of our state convention is “Help us grow our church.” As a pastor myself, I want to offer some clarifying versions of that request. First, “Can you help us be the church in our context with the resources that we have?”
Here in the metro Chicago, that would involve thinking carefully about being a warm congregation that welcomes a variety of people. It would require sharing ourselves with others—people who may not vote the way we do, look the way we look, dress the way we dress, or believe everything we believe. The first days of the first church recorded in Acts 2:42-47 help us evaluate whether we are doing this well.
Welcoming people with sincerity leads to having a good reputation in the community. The term Luke uses is “favor” (v. 47). One pastor shared with me a concern about our SBC family: “It seems that we are known more for what we are against than what we are for.” If the only time our communities hear from us is when we are standing against something, we will not appear very open to them. The words of Jeremiah ring true: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3).
Here’s a second version of the need: “Help us discern creative ways to serve our community.” Not by doing what every other church is doing or what we have always done, but in ways relevant to people in our context, I would say. VBS and book bag give-a-ways are good, but they’re not the only ministry methods available.
For example, the church I pastor took a mission trip to New Orleans to work with a church plant. One of the primary projects was cleaning storm drains. The city does not have resources to keep storm drains in working order, and clogged drains mean frequent flooding. So, this church walks through the neighborhood with trash bags and cleans the storm drains. The residents are so appreciative they come from their homes and places of business to say thank you. One bakery shop owner brought us fresh cupcakes!
Cleaning storm drains afforded us opportunities to have dozens of gospel conversations. A church may not have signs and wonders like the apostles, but every church can find their “storm drain.”
A third statement churches might say is “Help us understand what it means to make disciples and how to do it.” I would say think inside and outside the church. It may be in a small group setting at the church building, or in a home, or one-on-one at a coffee shop.
Regardless of the church’s size or demographics, everyone can impart some measure of spiritual wisdom to encourage others in their walk with Jesus. A group of seasoned saints can offer childcare for a few hours in the evening while young couples or single moms in the neighborhood enjoy an evening out. Moms can offer baking classes at the church or in a home and invite kids from the neighborhood to attend. Such efforts provide opportunities to serve, but they also create environments to model faith with children and develop relationships with parents.
As in Acts 2:42, churches would do well to develop rhythms of focused prayer, where every member is praying for unsaved, unchurched, and de-churched people. I traveled to Dallas, Texas recently to preach a funeral. The funeral director was a retired SBC pastor. He asked how my church was doing. I told him that God is doing great things, but there are always challenges with reaching new people. His response impacted me greatly, “Keep praying for lost people in your community and allow God to work.”
Every church can pray, and God still answers prayer. The Pentecost explosion was preceded by a room full of people praying (Acts 1:14). Cornelius’ entire household and several friends and neighbors were saved because his prayers made their way into the presence of God (Acts 10:1-4;23-48). The great church at Philippi started with a woman named Lydia who led a small prayer meeting by the side of a river (Acts 11-16). Of all the ingredients needed to advance the kingdom, there is no substitute for fervent prayer.
The first-century church would not have considered itself as implementing a grand strategy for church growth. They were simply obedient to the call of Christ and yielded to the unction of the Spirit. They were being the church that Jesus made them to be, and it worked.
Bryan Price pastors Love Fellowship Baptist Church in Romeoville. He also serves as IBSA Zone Consultant in Chicagoland.