Ridgell's Originals

I hear a lot of discussions among church leaders about how to grow ... well, actually the discussions are more about how to keep from dying.  And I think most of what I hear is missing the point.

Talking about not dying leads to long discussions about what has to change to keep our own members involved, or maybe even keep them attending (and giving).  So we wonder how to attract them, how to change things so they will be interested.

Maybe we ought to challenge them instead.  Raise the bar of expectations.

And much of the discussion ends up centered on how to attract believers.  Sheep stealing from other churches not astute enough to "get it".  Or not serious enough to maintain the status quo.

What if we grew by adding to the church those who were being saved?  Talking to friends, neighbors, and classmates.  Sharing the Jesus story.  Making disciples.

But instead we try to change up the building.  Add a youth wing, redesign the auditorium, put in a coffee bar, or make parking more accessible.  That will bring them back.  Or keep them.  Surely.

Make worship attractive.  Go contemporary.  Or bring back the hymns.  Involve women in ministry (and by ministry, most churches don't mean ministry but they mean leading worship).  Preach in jeans.  Bring back the ties.  Change the worship times .  Hold it to an hour.  More media.  Less media.  Start a teen service.  What about an old folks service?

Fix that one hour on Sunday morning and that will solve everything.

Shake up the staff.  Younger -- or maybe more maturity is the answer.  Find a successful preacher and steal -- oops, sorry -- hire him away.  Fire what you have.  Get new/better/smarter ministers.

Add the right programs.  Better Bible classes.  No Bible classes.  Stop Sunday nights.  Add Sunday nights.  No more Wednesdays.  More Wednesdays.  Meals before.  Or during.  Or after.

But at some point, doesn't this seem like putting lipstick on a pig?

What we are doing is not working, so do it better.  Try something different.  Or go back to what we think used to work.

Buildings, staff, and programs.

If you really want to grow, and you think something needs to change... then let's really change.

Sell the building, give the money to the poor, and meet in homes.

Let the parents be the youth ministers.  Have elders that pastor people, deacons that serve, and let your staff be evangelists.  Every member ministry.  Worship that involves everyone, is fun, and inspires us to go do Jesus stuff in our world.

No more programs.  Let the member's ministry be the program.

Are these serious suggestions?  Yes, no ... I don't know.

But I do know this.

Putting lipstick on the pig doesn't really change anything.  It just looks different.  You still kiss a pig.
No matter how much you dress it up.

Just thinking out loud. And wishing I had the guts to do something different.

Wanting us to be church.