The Marvelous Message

Just a few years ago, studies revealed that less than 40% of people who claim a religious background go to church services. Around 28% claim to attend at least once a week, 8% once a month, and 4% once a year. Whether these statistics are accurate or not, for many churches, there is a steady decline in membership each year. I have often been asked why so many people, especially young adults, leave the church and what can be done to ensure stability. Of course, the solution is not so easily attained. There are many reasons people hardly darken church doors. It is all rooted in one’s perception of the church, ranging from misguided notions that faith equals ignorance to hurt emotions one faced during a time of church conflict. Try to describe your view of the American church in one word. I will list some that I have heard others use: hypocrites, cultish, uninformed, divided etcetera. Now, you will find that many of the people that say such things are only mouthing what they have seen,...

     In my last two articles, I explained two imperative steps that are needed for a diminishing church to thrive once more. First, genuine confession as revealed in James 5:16. Second , renewed dedication as revealed in Romans 12:1-2. As I stated before, I am in no way claiming to be some grand expert in the field of church growth. I am simply magnifying what has already been established in the scriptures. Also, I would encourage you to read the book Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer. It is an easy read, but very informative to what a dying church really looks like and what can be done about it.      You must understand that all of us has to be careful when it comes to relying on steps, formulas, and principles. Because, Christians tend to employ more devotion and care in following a “do good” checklist rather than in simply walking with God. Throughout my life, I have heard preachers say, “If you love God, then you’ll do more for Him!” Ins...

      My last article partially summarized the book by Thom Rainer called Autopsy of a Deceased Church. It gives interesting insights as to whether a church is healthy, sick, or near death. In 2014, over 3500 churches closed their doors. There are stats that show this to be the yearly average, while others record twice this amount! Of course, some are willing to point out the claim that yearly there are slightly more new church plants in America than there are church closings. However, the questions still remain as to why so many churches close and how a congregation can remedy this.      Sadly, some church members write off their declining attendance by affirming that people are more wicked and the younger generation just wants to be entertained. Though on the surface it may appear this way to an average church goer, this kind of cynical attitude is just a cop-out. People say this when they don’t want to take responsibility for their...