Comments on: Church Decline: Ministry in a Shrinking Church http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/ Free Children's Ministry Lessons & Ideas Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:44:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: belinda http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-8556 belinda Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:59:09 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-8556 kevin never get discouraged by small numbers of faithful. small churches are very important to our country. that is exactly why satan wants the little churches gone. mega churches have their place and serve a purpose. but small congregations are family thru the good bad and ugly. if satan can get the small churches gone then that's more than half the battle. too many small churches have looked at the world instead of the Kingdom.tell your church dont get side tracked. remember Paul said he ran his race . we must run our race not osteen's or warren's. dont compromise the truth for more people in the pews. we know the back of the book.TRUTH WINS! kevin never get discouraged by small numbers of faithful. small churches are very important to our country. that is exactly why satan wants the little churches gone. mega churches have their place and serve a purpose. but small congregations are family thru the good bad and ugly. if satan can get the small churches gone then that’s more than half the battle. too many small churches have looked at the world instead of the Kingdom.tell your church dont get side tracked. remember Paul said he ran his race . we must run our race not osteen’s or warren’s. dont compromise the truth for more people in the pews. we know the back of the book.TRUTH WINS!

]]> By: Kevin Casal http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-8508 Kevin Casal Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:59:39 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-8508 Like so many churches my church is also experiencing a decline. I love to see these comments and know there are many small churches that remain faithful! My mother in law made pins and shirts for the faithful of our church, they read: The Faithful Few Become the Mighty Many. Remember we are to be spreading the gospel and the faithful few in the churches today become the mighty many together! Keep the Faith Like so many churches my church is also experiencing a decline. I love to see these comments and know there are many small churches that remain faithful! My mother in law made pins and shirts for the faithful of our church, they read:
The Faithful Few Become the Mighty Many. Remember we are to be spreading the gospel and the faithful few in the churches today become the mighty many together! Keep the Faith

]]> By: William Roberts http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7944 William Roberts Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:26:20 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7944 Dear Belinda I have just come across this website tonight and would like to encourage you and your husband. I pastor a small church here in England in the UK and understand where you are coming from. My church was a church that had similar problems for many years but my wife and I have not given up as this is common in many churches here in the UK. Our older generation have all passed on and we were left with virtually nothing left. However we have worked hard in our community and although numbers are very small, we are building a new generation with a couple of young families. We have built a good reputation in our community through reaching out and working with children and youth, developing other activities and are about to start a homework club this week. It has taken many years to get to where we are, but now we have the local Secondary School, education department, local Police and local government all interested in what we are doing. One day we hope and pray that we will see some of these young people come to a personal knowledge of knowing Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. We are called to be lights in a darkened world and the darker the world, the brighter our light can shine for Christ. Dont give up, the Lord is with you. He has called you and He will take care of you. In the words of Hudson Taylor, the pioneering Missionary, he learnt a lesson in life - 'God's work, done God's way, will never lack God's supply.' That is in every area of your life and ministry. Just keep on trusting and obeying the Lord and He will bless your ministry. Every Blessing Dear Belinda
I have just come across this website tonight and would like to encourage you and your husband. I pastor a small church here in England in the UK and understand where you are coming from. My church was a church that had similar problems for many years but my wife and I have not given up as this is common in many churches here in the UK. Our older generation have all passed on and we were left with virtually nothing left. However we have worked hard in our community and although numbers are very small, we are building a new generation with a couple of young families. We have built a good reputation in our community through reaching out and working with children and youth, developing other activities and are about to start a homework club this week. It has taken many years to get to where we are, but now we have the local Secondary School, education department, local Police and local government all interested in what we are doing. One day we hope and pray that we will see some of these young people come to a personal knowledge of knowing Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. We are called to be lights in a darkened world and the darker the world, the brighter our light can shine for Christ.

Dont give up, the Lord is with you. He has called you and He will take care of you. In the words of Hudson Taylor, the pioneering Missionary, he learnt a lesson in life – ‘God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.’ That is in every area of your life and ministry. Just keep on trusting and obeying the Lord and He will bless your ministry.

Every Blessing

]]> By: Pat Hurst http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7924 Pat Hurst Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:07:43 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7924 I admire your faith and determinanation! I will pray for your ministry and your church. I admire your faith and determinanation! I will pray for your ministry and your church.

]]> By: Brenna http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7887 Brenna Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:49:46 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7887 Anthony, good thoughts and a good idea for your sermon ideas blog. That can be a great resource for pastors in sermon prep. In response to "it’s not about numbers, but I also think a church should be growing": churches should not be completely about the numbers in their growth; they need to determine their definition of success. Is it numbers growth? Is it spiritual growth? Is it growing to a healthy, wholly lifestyle? Is it ministering like Jesus did? There are many ways to measure success, not by numbers only. Thanks for sharing your sermon prep blog. Anthony, good thoughts and a good idea for your sermon ideas blog. That can be a great resource for pastors in sermon prep.
In response to “it’s not about numbers, but I also think a church should be growing”: churches should not be completely about the numbers in their growth; they need to determine their definition of success. Is it numbers growth? Is it spiritual growth? Is it growing to a healthy, wholly lifestyle? Is it ministering like Jesus did?
There are many ways to measure success, not by numbers only.
Thanks for sharing your sermon prep blog.

]]> By: Anthony Blanton http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7885 Anthony Blanton Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:06:24 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7885 Great article and good advice. Our church went through a similar stage and as a christian I wanted to do my part to stop it. My pastor (as I'm sure all are) is super busy and runs on fumes. With all the running around, it is hard to come up with fresh sermon ideas to keep people engaged. So, I started a website www.sermonideasblog.com to help my pastor and others with coming up with fresh sermon ideas. They don't have a lot of time to keep up with the latest news that can effect the church, so I basically try to do that for them. I read a case study that said the average pastor only spends 3-5 hours reading the Bible weekly... that's outrageous! I agree with one of the comments above that said it's not about numbers, but I also think a church should be growing. Pastors need to concentrate more on "feeding" the flock, not being everything to everybody. God Bless. Great article and good advice. Our church went through a similar stage and as a christian I wanted to do my part to stop it. My pastor (as I’m sure all are) is super busy and runs on fumes. With all the running around, it is hard to come up with fresh sermon ideas to keep people engaged. So, I started a website http://www.sermonideasblog.com to help my pastor and others with coming up with fresh sermon ideas. They don’t have a lot of time to keep up with the latest news that can effect the church, so I basically try to do that for them. I read a case study that said the average pastor only spends 3-5 hours reading the Bible weekly… that’s outrageous! I agree with one of the comments above that said it’s not about numbers, but I also think a church should be growing. Pastors need to concentrate more on “feeding” the flock, not being everything to everybody. God Bless.

]]> By: Araceli http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7883 Araceli Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:55:24 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7883 There are many reasons we all go through this, but we need to keep in mind that the most important thing is to put all our strengths and energy in the ones God puts in our hands. It's not about numbers, its about how you affect one person's life. We must also keep praying for our children, so that they can continue our legacy of spreading God's word. So, let's concentrate on teaching the word of god. Not worrying about numbers because God is going to fulfill his plan for us. Don't let the enemy discourage you. God Bless you. There are many reasons we all go through this, but we need to keep in mind that the most important thing is to put all our strengths and energy in the ones God puts in our hands. It’s not about numbers, its about how you affect one person’s life. We must also keep praying for our children, so that they can continue our legacy of spreading God’s word. So, let’s concentrate on teaching the word of god. Not worrying about numbers because God is going to fulfill his plan for us. Don’t let the enemy discourage you. God Bless you.

]]> By: belinda http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7881 belinda Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:27:09 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7881 Dawn I agree with you we are being surrounded by THE enemy even though it seems like enemies. Our tiny groups do need to pray for each other. Maybe we are getting alittle example how it is for missionaries in a strange place. Unfortunately for us our strange place in our hometowns. my email is pinqlady57@hotmail.com if anyone would to be able to pray together I am here and our church needs prayer also Dawn I agree with you we are being surrounded by THE enemy even though it seems like enemies. Our tiny groups do need to pray for each other. Maybe we are getting alittle example how it is for missionaries in a strange place. Unfortunately for us our strange place in our hometowns.
my email is pinqlady57@hotmail.com if anyone would to be able to pray together I am here and our church needs prayer also

]]> By: Dawn Cooper http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7880 Dawn Cooper Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:21:46 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7880 I thank God for you, brother, and your honesty and insight. We too are struggleing with only a handful. It is so sad to see and yes, there are so many questions. In spite of it all, I am always amazed at the uplift and encouragement I get from our little faithful few. How we love the word and see Gods faithfulness and so many answered prayers. God is still on His throne regardless of how things look to us. These are surely the last days and I do believe it is time for all of us to band together and forget our petty differences. Endeavoring to keep the fellowship/unity of the Spirit (of love) until we come to the unity of the Faith. The Lords prayer was that we all be one and Love is the key. I have heard messages about the end times and the enemy encompassing "the camp of the saints". It is surely coming to that. I need you, and you need me! It isn't about us, it is about HIM! Maybe all of our tiny little groups need to get together and show a united front to this lost, dark world. God Bless you, brother. I truely enjoy hearing from you. Dawn I thank God for you, brother, and your honesty and insight. We too are struggleing with only a handful. It is so sad to see and yes, there are so many questions. In spite of it all, I am always amazed at the uplift and encouragement I get from our little faithful few. How we love the word and see Gods faithfulness and so many answered prayers. God is still on His throne regardless of how things look to us. These are surely the last days and I do believe it is time for all of us to band together and forget our petty differences. Endeavoring to keep the fellowship/unity of the Spirit (of love) until we come to the unity of the Faith. The Lords prayer was that we all be one and Love is the key. I have heard messages about the end times and the enemy encompassing “the camp of the saints”. It is surely coming to that. I need you, and you need me! It isn’t about us, it is about HIM! Maybe all of our tiny little groups need to get together and show a united front to this lost, dark world. God Bless you, brother. I truely enjoy hearing from you. Dawn

]]> By: Jason http://ministry-to-children.com/shrinking-church/#comment-7879 Jason Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:01:51 +0000 http://ministry-to-children.com/?p=3169#comment-7879 As a member of a declining SBC church, I appreciate you honest and your words. You offer some very good advice. We need to measure success based on our faithfulness to the word of God, not on numbers. As a member of a declining SBC church, I appreciate you honest and your words. You offer some very good advice. We need to measure success based on our faithfulness to the word of God, not on numbers.

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