I am a speaker, and visit many small churches throughout the year.  I  have been a member of a small church, also a medium size church (which are rare these days), and I have been on staff at a large church. 

There are phrases I hear over and over from church members in my travels.  There are things we speculate, some are right and some are not.  I will elaborate on a couple ideas we need to consider.  The numbered entries are the phrases I hear frequently, and the indented green copy is a result of my thoughts and research on the subject.

1. People only want the entertainment and activities of the mega church.  We can’t compete with that.

Not everyone is looking for the stadium environment.  Many people prefer the closeness, the simplicity, and the smaller family environment of the small church.  Small church has a special place and offers a unique quality in our lives. 

Don’t try to compete with a church with a $3 Million dollar budget.  Find your own offering that is unique to the small church.  My number one suggestion is to open the church up once a week for an hour of prayer.  Jesus said the temple was a House of Prayer Luke 19:46.  There was teaching, but people certainly came to pray.  You don’t need a huge staff or budget to add this hour one evening a week.  (It has to be in the evening, so people who work, can have the opportunity to come.)  Older churches with aging congregations tend to have all activities during the day and wonder why they can’t get younger people to come.  We are all working at 10:00 am. 

Some soft music (pre recorded instrumental is best), quiet environment, open sanctuary.  Light some candles, and create a sacred time for people to meet and be with God. 

If you can possibly raise some money for it, have a trained graphic artist design a flyer or a postcard about your new hour of prayer.  Get a hundred or more copies to start.  Open up 15 minutes early, and close up 15 minutes after.  Have a greeter welcome people as they come in, and thank them for coming as they leave. 

2. People can find us, they know we are here.

People will drive past something for years and not notice it.  I have done that very thing.  “Oh, there is a watch repair shop. Never noticed that before.”  Your church might have been there 100 years.  People drive by every day, but don’t notice. 

Also there is an entirely new generation of people who were not raised in church, (76 million of them).  Some have never been to church even for Easter or Christmas.  They don’t know what you are about at all!  They don’t know a church family is waiting to embrace them, to share the love of God with them and to grow with them on the spiritual path.  Truly, they don’t know.

3.  Young people just don’t want to go to church.

If you explore the thousands of self improvement and self development websites you will notice a couple of continuous themes.  Spiritual awakening and simplicity are nearly an obsession for many people from 20 to 35 in these online communities.  They are aware there is a spiritual dimension to their being.  They are searching,  they are into meditation.  They say, “I am spiritual, but not religious.”   Yet they search.

They are looking for simplicity as their lives are busy and high tech with work and starting out on their own.  They are minimalists in some cases.  They want to their spiritual life to be simple and straight forward.  It seems we always want what we don’t have.  Their parents complained of being forced to go to church.  This new generation is actively looking for God.  This is an amazing opportunity for your small church.

They may not want the traditional service you enjoy on Sunday morning, but your new hour of prayer can open up a new opportunities for members and you can keep your traditional service.  You may also want to add an evening bible study.  You can keep the 10:00 am one. 

So don’t feel you have to give up everything you hold dear about your church.  But do open up some new and creative ways for God to work in the lives of others through your church.  It isn’t an exclusive club, it is God’s house.  It is a house of prayer. 

4.  It is such a sad thing our church in dying.  There is nothing we can do.

There are things you can do!  It is going to require some change.  It will require a little bit of effort.  But not as much as you might think.

- Your image.  At the turn of the century, the church was a big part of people’s social lives.  There were not a lot of other distractions.  Young people have dozens of their own distractions now.  So they are looking for something different that your grandparents were looking for in church.  For the new image of the small neighborhood community church, think simple, inviting, quiet, consider the mystery of God, the sacredness, divine order and time for listening for the spirit of God.

As your graphic designer works on your marketing piece about the new hour of prayer, make it simple, inviting, a time quietness in the presence of God.  A simple time of prayer.  Nourishing your spirit.  It is a special treat, and special break from the hectic demands of the world.  Take an hour to be with God.  Make sure the marketing piece contains the W’s.

What:  New Hour of Prayer 

 When:  Day and time

Where:  The address and name of the church, remember not everyone knows you are there.

Why:  Simplicity in prayer. A break from the hectic demands of life.  A special time to nourish the spirit and explore the mystery of God. 

Take care in creating your image and message.  People need to know the benefits of coming there.  What is in it for them, not you.

- The power of doubling.  I’m sure you have heard about the power of doubling with a penny.  If you double it every day for 30 days, this is what happens:

Day 1: $.01
Day 2: $.02
Day 3: $.04
Day 4: $.08
Day 5: $.16
Day 6: $.32
Day 7: $.64
Day 8: $1.28
Day 9: $2.56
Day 10: $5.12
Day 11: $10.24
Day 12: $20.48
Day 13: $40.96
Day 14: $81.92
Day 15: $163.84
Day 16: $327.68
Day 17: $655.36
Day 18: $1,310.72
Day 19: $2,621.44
Day 20: $5,242.88
Day 21: $10,485.76
Day 22: $20,971.52
Day 23: $41,943.04
Day 24: $83,886.08
Day 25: $167,772.16
Day 26: $335,544.32
Day 27: $671,088.64
Day 28: $1,342,177.28
Day 29: $2,684,354.56
Day 30: $5,368,709.12

If you are starting with 20 people in your church, go ahead and look at day 12.  If every person is praying to find people to invite to your hour of prayer and each get one person per month, in 12 months you will have 83,886 and some change and you will need a larger church building.

- Canvas the neighborhood around the church.  This marketing piece about your new hour of prayer is a wonderful conversation starter.  Let people around you know about it and that you would like to invite them for the prayer time.  Leave the flyer or postcard with them, don’t be too pushy, just invite.  Move on to the next house.  Keep doing this until everyone within 12 blocks of the church knows about this.  Also they have your marketing piece so they have it all written down, the W’s.  If professionally designed and printed, it looks cool and they will keep it around, even if their first instinct was to say no.  God can work with it and they can change their minds.

- After sprinkling this inviting image around the neighborhood, also take it with you and look for opportunities to invite others you run into or meet.  God can certainly arrange meetings, especially if you are prepared to give people some information.  Keep a marketing piece with you all the time.

 - Get a sign made for the church that states you have a new Hour of Prayer time and the day and time.

- Give this some time to work.  Plan on supporting this hour of prayer for the next year and give it time to take off.

You have had a prayer vigil.  You have created a new hour of prayer and a marketing piece with an image of simplicity, love and the mystery of God.  You are well on your way.  You have inquired of God.  You have opened your hearts and your church up to grow and to serve God.  Expect miracles.  Next week, let us explore the new simple, modern community church.  So you can continue to grow and be a blessing to the new people coming into the fold.

Church was the place where people gathered on Sunday in Worship with music and prayers and gratitude in their hearts.  It is the place we are married and buried and hopefully baptized.  Those are important life events

The small community church has been a place we break bread together in the form of Pot Luck, or Hot Dish with meat loaves, jello molded into pyrex bowls with small fruit pieces suspended in the rippling color of the jello.  There were upside down cakes and a variety of puddings, potato salads and mystery casseroles with some type of canned soup featured as the sauce.  We did not go for the  food, although some was very good, some was not.  We could have eaten at home.  We went to be part of a larger thing.  We went to be part of our church family.  It was fun. 

This weekend I visited the church where I found God.  I gave a talk there about Prayer and Shining Your Light.  It got me thinking how we moved every year when I was a kid following my dad’s work as a Crane Operator and community church was the only constant thing in my life.  It was an anchor.  I could show up at the new school as the new kid, but I already knew another person or two at the school from church.

Now the rule was we had to be able to walk to the church in the new town where we moved, because my folks had one car and if my Dad was working, my Mom wanted to be able to get to functions at the church.  It was how we got to know people, became part of a new community and new church family since we were so far from our own family. 

Consequently I have attended a number of churches of different denomination to include Methodist, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Community Fellowship Christian, Baptist, Mennonite, and I even was the only Protestant child in a Catholic elementary school in Denver in the 1960’s.  They were less than thrilled, but felt God had sent them a heathen to convert and did their best to get me through the conversion process.  Sorry it didn’t work out as they planned.  But this tapestry of doctrines and theologies has made my spiritual life rich and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

They have held bible studies and made lunches for shut-ins.  They have hosted Vacation Bible School and provided food and crafts to children whose family didn’t attend or support the church. Several I have known made hundreds of warm little quilts for babies, and old people in nursing homes each year.  Church people I didn’t even know brought food and 2 quits to my home when my son was born. (We had a church we attended, but there were 4 or 5 other churches in our neighborhood.)  What a kind thing it was.

The small community church is dying right now.  In your neighborhood and mine, the last 3 people are preparing to turn off the light and lock the doors for the last time.  Are we going to let this happen on our watch?

I believe there can be a rebirth of the community church.  I am going to outline three ideas over the next three posts.  These are going to be viewed as controversial and I know not everyone will appreciate my ideas on saving the community church; but here goes.

1. A Prayer Vigil
2. A Marketing Plan
3. Modern and Simple Community Church

Come back tomorrow and we will visit the Prayer Vigil.

Jerusalem photo by Linda & Arta Gjakove

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, King of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  The king ordered the chief of his officials to bring some of the sons of Israel showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge and who had ability for serving in the king’s court. 

Daniel was one of these guys.  In chapter two the king had dreams.  He wanted interpretation. Daniel requested compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery. (The king was going to get an interpretation, or the wise men would die.) 

Verse 19  ”Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.  then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; Verse 20 Daniel answered and said “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever.  for wisdom and power belong to Him. Verse 21 And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; he removes kings and establishes kings.  He gives wisdom to the wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.  Verse 22 It is He who reveals profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with Him. Verse 23 To Thee O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For Thou hast given me wisdom and power; Even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of Thee;” (he had prayed with three other friends).

God of heaven.  These are uncertain times and have been difficult times for some.  I would ask for compassion from you to hear our prayers.  We all need wisdom and understanding.  We want to walk in your ways.  We want to use our gifts.  We want to be a blessing for our families, friends and co-workers.  Let us find wisdom and strength.  Give us a night vision and show us the way.   Reveal profound and hidden things to us. We may be finding new careers and building new lives and we need vision to see beyond those things of the past that limit us.  We  praise you God from whom all blessings flow.  Amen

Be strong and courageous.  In the New American Standard bible translation; this exact combination of words occurs 13 times between Deuteronomy. Joshua, 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.

I have visited so many of my favorite blogs this week and I can’t tell you how many people are feeling sorry for themselves.  I know it is dark in the northern hemisphere and it is January.  But it is time for the pity parties to stop. So right now, do these 6 things and then go out into the world and shine a light into dark places.

1. Get some direct sunlight
2. Take a walk 
3. Write something in your gratitude journal 
4. Think about the needs of someone else 
5. Decide to be strong and courageous 
6. Read the book of Joshua -

Set your purse down, and Spartan up! That includes both men and women. 

You are a radiant child of God.  You are not some hopeless, powerless, despicable worm in the dirt.  You are a saint.  You are made in the image of the most high God, and the very breath of God fills your spirit.

You were given the authority to heal the sick, and to alleviate human suffering.  You were given free will.  You may choose to live a life of significance!  You may leave this world a better place than it was before you got here! You be strong and courageous! Find your purpose and your joy.

The Old Testament is filled with stories.  Things never turn out well for the whiners and bed wetters.  We are told over and over about the people who were strong in the LORD.  The people who stand on the promises of God.  They stand on their faith and move mountains, and free the oppressed. Dwell upon what is possible.  Make it a great day!

Flickr photo

God, we lift up the people of Haiti, placing them tenderly in your care.  We ask that an end is brought to the suffering.  We ask for strength, wisdom and a spirit of cooperation for them and the relief workers.

Let there be divine order and complete restoration for their lives there.  We ask for miracles of their behalf.

Guide them, keep them, comfort them, prosper them and build up their nation.  Let there be more than enough aid, medical care and supplies to sustain them.  Let the clean up and rebuilding get moving quickly.  Move the hearts of their neighbors to assist in the best possible way. Be with them, and all those who volunteer, donate, and pray for the people of Haiti.  Amen

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

We each have an amazing ability.  That is to help another person see the beauty and wonder of themselves, and to be more than they thought possible.

Our thoughts and words and deeds flow from us.  You may think no one is listening, but our words do not fall void to the earth.  So whether is is a smile or a scowl; a criticism or an encouraging word, you have the power to contribute to the state of the world.  Use your power wisely.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Verse 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Verse 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice.

Verse 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Let us bring out the best in each other today.  Let us encourage each other. Let us bring inspiration and hope to all we meet.

Presents for You

My father used to tell me a story about someone who was new in heaven.  This person was getting a tour and a door was opened to a room filled with beautifully wrapped gifts.  When the person asked their guide about the gifts, the answer was they were hopes and dreams that people had given up just before they were to receive them.  Hold onto your faith.

Most Holy God,  The answers to prayers come in your perfect time. Yet, time seems like a tricky thing for some of us.  We all have hopes, dreams, and desires.  We all want to know there is a reason we are here.  We all want to  believe that the gifts and abilities you have given us can be useful.  We pray for hopes and dreams to be fulfilled.  Amen 

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

The flower reminds me of how I must look to the casual observer; a little wind blown, not symmetrical, slightly disorganized and undisciplined.  Never the less, I show up in full bloom with the grace, passion and form that God gave me.

I enjoy the new trends in the personal development blog sites.  Many writers encourage excellence, simplicity, passion in our work and  generosity.  People are sharing lessons learned, helpful hints, and encouragement daily.  That is part of the Kingdom of God.  It is about what we do for each other.  It is often about what we are willing to give of ourselves.

There is an order to the universe.  It may not match our perception of order and achievement, but the events are not all random, and there is a  divine order.  Each experience is a step toward our future and if we choose, can build our strength.  Each lesson learned, however painful, prepares the way for how we deal with future experiences and how we might learn to love to the fullest.

Father God, thank you for the beauty of the day and of the season.  Let us discover the nature of you God, as we lend a helping hand or kind word to others.  Allow us to cross over the barriers of race, religion, occupation, and social status to find our higher purpose and compassion  in serving each other.  Bring your divine order and simplicity to our lives.  Let grace and loving kindness shine from each of us. Let us bring out the best in each other.  Let us be a blessing today. Amen

Holy God, I lift up the men and women who are coming back to the United States after serving in a war with a vague enemy. 

 I would pray also for the souls of all those who perished.  Help those who return to assimilate back into a peace-time country.  Let them find the help they need to adjust to time with family and find peace in their spirits. Let them know they are appreciated and respected.  Amen

After a Colorado storm

Gracious God, help us to find the purpose and hope of our calling.  Work with us and guide our steps.  Amen