Church growth “experts” have the perfect solution to the demise of the mainline church: “create ministries that attract people to your church.” Once again, the short-sighted goal is to get people into the building where they, presumably, are a captive audience and will be miraculously transformed before our adoring eyes into disciples of Jesus.
NO!! Our churches must create ministries that attract the church to people. We must demonstrate, by caring for the community, that Jesus is not about our building but about loving people where the people are. Our churches must create ministries that get our people out of the building and into the community—ministries to heal, to provide affordable housing, to provide food and clothing, to learn about the people outside our walls. Do single mothers and fathers need car repairs or cars or childcare while they work or help finding jobs? Do seniors need transportation or just a friend? Do we even know the needs of the people around us?
Jesus went into the synagogue to worship. After worship he came out to go among the people and to minister to them. He preached the good news of the kingdom of God outside the walls of the synagogue. He created a life that attracted people to himself.
Can our churches do any less? Let’s quit trying to get them in and start trying to get us out into the world. We might even learn something about the life of the people outside our church walls.
Christine Prescott 2010
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