Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with a colleague locally who is serving in a similar position as I do. He mentioned that his church is searching for ways to reach young adults, and they are planning a small group ministry to go after them, as well as continue a traditional Sunday School. We also talked about the hot topic of the day for many in the work of the church, worship style. Our conversation was flavored with the difficulty many churches seem to face, an identity crisis. For churches in identity crisis keep in mind these things.
1. Be careful to not assume changing methods is the answer in reaching people. Careful evaluation of ministy method and target mission group counts, but it is clearly trumped by passion. If I have the doldrums about the effectiveness of Sunday School, that’s what I’ll get. If I believe small groups are a hassle and not worth the effort, I’ll get a half-baked deal. If I assume no one comes to Sunday night worship services and discipleship classes any more, I’ll not have anyone come.
2. Steady your balance of who you are and have been as a church, and who you will be. As a leadership team, be careful about where you are headed. It is a delicate trip ahead recognizing the need to address the “we’ve never done it this way before” mindset and at the same time not lose the richness of who you are as a church family.
I like to say that where I serve, we are radically traditional. We are simply using age old tools that people in our context immediately respond to, and are fond of in connecting with God. Here’s the deal again though…we are passionate about people and how the Lord is allowing us to connect with them in familiar, yet fresh ways. People recognize and respond to that kind of passion. The church has responded well to new ways of reaching our community too.
Pray, and ask the Lord to give clear direction in how you should proceed in reaching your neighborhood/world for Him. Go for it!
