A Nice Little Story

Here's a great little story coming out of the Reformed Church in America about a growing congregation in South Dakota. Faced with a space shortage on Sunday mornings - too many people to fit into one worship service - they decided to do something dramatic: They added services. As time went on, each service began to take on its own character.The story doesn't explain why this congregation was growing in the first place. But it does report that members of the congregation have learned two things as a result of their experience with new - and varied - worship services: 1) There is spiritual power in diversity and 2) Focusing on meeting the needs of your neighbors leads to both personal - and congregational - spiritual health:

What is unique about Community is that the entire church celebrates this diversity. Everyone sees the value of what each group needs. The spiritual power of our unity is not the 'sameness' we share but the variety we celebrate."Adding a variety of services has helped people rediscover the passion of the gospel in their lives."Turning their focus outward to the community has led people to consider doing whatever it takes to accomplish God's call to reach out to others," says [Clyde Teel, pastor at Community Reformed Church]. "Their personal transformation has gone hand in hand with the changes being made in the church. It has been the most fulfilling part of this journey to experience and observe."

This would be a nice little story to send to your congregational leaders if you're dealing with either of these issues and/or you've been trying to help move them up and OUT.

Comments

[duane]

I find it interesting and instructional that the variations in worship style came after the growth was already happening. I still hear from many quarters in the church that certain groups of people will be attracted to our churches if only we make the appropriate changes to our worship style (I know, it's so early 90's but the idea still lingers).
This story suggests to me that, while growing churches do indeed make changes to their worship styles, those changes are made in response to the needs of the people who are there. The worship does not in and of itself draw more people but rather helps those in attendance connect with God so that they will go out and engage in real mission. I believe that people engaged in God's mission are the real key to growing churches.