Perry McCall joined our family for lunch yesterday. He came to the city from Madden and couldn't pass up fried chicken thursday at Primos. We talked about the future of the church and our congregations. Perry made a statement that I have been thinking about. He said, "I think in twenty years churches will be stronger, smaller, and there will be more of them." I can't help but think that this would be a positive thing. I would hope that these churches would owe one another what Miroslav Volf calles, "sisterly affection" and demonstrate this throuh missional coopertion.
Question -
Do you see the future this way? What would it take to see it become a realtiy?
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- Matt Snowden
- My wife's name is Meredith and together we have a beautiful daughter named Molly Katherine and a tough little guy named Wes. I am the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Waco, TX. I received a B.A. from William Carey College an M.Div from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min from George W.Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University.
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6 comments:
I agree wholeheartedly
that is the future
Jerry,
Thanks for the comment. I'm sorry for all the typos in the last two posts. My keyboarding skills have been in question lately.
I think it is important to stress the "smaller" as opposed to necessarily small. I am thinking that we are just not going to be able to sustain all of these mega-churches. I also see the commitment in church planting to reproducing in the form of new churches instead of continued growth in the existing Church. Although, the growth in popularity of the multi-site church is both discouraging and disappointing.
Perry,
Good points. Here are some thoughts.
I think that growth through addition (healthy growth in an existing church) and multiplication (church planting)is to be desired.
Pastoral education for bivos should be on the radar screen as we revive the "farmer-preacher" model.
On the multi-site thing. I don't see why wacking big churches don't plant churches instead of beaming a disembodied sermon across a metro area. I would stay home and watch TBN if the choice was to get dressed and watch "my pastor" preach on a big screen. I could sit around in my bath robe and eat breakfast while watching Benny Hinn or even Ed Young.
I think the smaller model is right on. It's more relational. We have way to many activities and not enough "life" together. I'm for a smaller church that's more relational.
Wes,
Thanks for commenting. I think the only way that smaller works is if it is combined with - stronger, more, and cooperative. We need to be planting churches, growing deep, and working together.
God bless.
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