A thought....

Used today to catch up on some ministry magazines that I subscribe to.  Had three editions laying on my desk.  I am too much of a penny pincher to not read them.  So, I sat on my porch and enjoyed the beauty of this day and speed read them. 

In one, it quoted some bloggers.  One of the bloggers quoted was Tony Morgan, who is pastor of ministries of West Ridge Church in Atlanta.  Tony is quoted as saying, "When churches become married to their methods rather than their mission, the church plateaus and eventually declines."

And in another, a quote from Samuel R. Chand's book Cracking Your Church's Culture Code..."When leaders understand the importance of anticipating and implementing change at point A instead of waiting until decline happens at point B, they can infuse their culture with optimism and urgency."

Change is a NECESSARY part of growing as people and churches.  Methods work for a season and then stop working and it is time for a new method.  The message and mission always remain, but when the methods fail to communicate the message and mission, decline and even death can happen.  I feel that anticipating the time for change is so vital.  Once you pass a certain point decline happens and it is hard to reverse.  And once decline begins, decay sets in too!

In our life as a congregation at Community of Joy, we reached that place years ago and I knew it and failed to act on it... We had reached a place where the old Library at Salisbury Christian School was no longer serving our needs and yet we continued to meet there....

Fortunately our God wrote the book on resurrections!  And we are still around and have had some resurgence.

But now, I am starting to wonder if we are at a similar place... in spite of all that our first building offers us, there is LOTS that it inhibits and prevents.   The question for me is when is the time to shed skin?

Yesterday, Sharon was talking with a participant at CoJ who has interest in organizing some drama elements in our worship.  He also has several unchurched high school students who would be willing to help out.  BUT, how do we do that in our limited space?  It would be a neat ministry to embark on and a way to connect with more students and quite possibly their families.   I mean, we already have the competition between the praise team, preacher, and decorations on the stage, how do we add another element in our small space?

Just some thoughts I am churning on a Monday reading day!