This section is not meant to be discouraging. I am wanting it to become a forum for answers. I will deal with real world issues here and I will pull no punches. I will simply relate to you what current thought is concerning matters and I will seek your input. Your thoughts and answers are very valuable to me.
Also, please note: I may change this question more frequently than once per month. Please check back often to see if there is a new question.
I reserve the right to publish or not publish the results of these questions.
Please respond as the Lord leads.
A pastor contacted me recently with a question that has puzzled many people over the years. The question really deals with multiple issues ranging from church planting to church growth. There are ethical questions which enter into the discussion, as well as individual and personal performance issues. These matters can even rise to the level of questioning God's wisdom, and justice. This particular question today is a subject that hits a nerve with some. We would like to put the question to you. This pastor stated (basically) the following:
I want to know how it is that a guy (a pastor / preacher) can split a church and go down the road to start another church (with the split) and in a very short time be running 200? I was talking to another fella about this and he had been wondering the same thing...and here we are with a smaller church and we just can't seem to ever break the 40 number. We are serving the same Lord. What is the deal? Why would God favor them and not me? Maybe our church was a little powerhouse at one time, but no matter what we try now, nothing seems to work. Is it even possible to bring one of these little churches back, with the sky as the limit and see God bless bountifully? What are they doing? what are they preaching? All I know to do is preach the Word, and knock on doors. Why can they grow and we can't? Is it really true that "everything rises and falls on leadership," or can you get in a no win situation sometimes? Is this a legitimate way to build a Church in America....by emptying out someone else's church?
I know that I am giving you little specific data with which to start. There are many variables which no doubt could and do interplay. I have purposefully left it wide open so that you may "free-range" your answer. Please pass this question along to others. This is a real hot button issue with so many people.
As always, your answers are very important to me, and to those I preach to. Thank you for taking the time to think them through and answer.
Send your response to bmadaris@juno.com or leave a comment at the bottom of this page
Comment: This is a hypthetical situation as you suggested. Therefore there could be factors (e.g., bitterness) in the smaller group that prevent the blessing of God. However that is NOT where I intend to go with my input. Why is it that we always equate numbers with success. If numbers equal success then many churches that embrace false doctrine or heresy are blessed of God (e.g., dominion theology). God blesses faithfulness and obedience. As frustrating as it may be (I have been there) to see false churches with big numbers it does NOT equal God's blessing. Broad is the way of destruction. Another point. The man mentioned that he has done all that he knows to do - preach and knock on doors. Something VERY important - in fact, most important - is missing! Did he pray? God answers prayer! God's work is done primarily through prayer.