PEORIA, Ill. — The "Bigger Church, Bigger Impact" conference wrapped on Friday, leaving participants feeling drained and dejected.Posted on 07/27/2006 8:04:46 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
PEORIA, Ill. — The "Bigger Church, Bigger Impact" conference wrapped on Friday, leaving participants feeling drained and dejected.
"I came here thinking my church was doing all right. Now I see we're so dinky and dumb, it's not even funny," says pastor Steve Irvine of Reno, Nev., who went to his hotel room and cried after each session.
Several faith-filled conference speakers shared how they grew their churches to tens of thousands of members with various ministry techniques. In the foyer afterward, many participants wore tight grins. Some broke down on the spot.
After paying $400 to attend the conference, pastor Ryan Delacourt of Eugene, Ore., left feeling "about three tons worse" than when he came.
"I don't know why I go to these things," he says, noting that his church has been trying to break the 100-member mark for twelve years.
After the conference some pastors hit the local Cracker Barrel restaurant to commiserate. Some vowed not to return.
"If I want to be this depressed again, I'll rent Apocalypse Now, or read my e-mails," quipped one. •
"I don't know why I go to these things," he says, noting that his church has been trying to break the 100-member mark for twelve years
This LarkNews.com article makes for a good introduction to the topic of church growth.....
That boy has big ideas
with his guitar in hand
He wants to change the world
but he don't understand
The things he wants to do are
more than quite all right
but he can't see that it won't
happen overnight
Change takes time
Change takes time
He stands so confident
behind the microphone
He'll barely make a dent
in hearts as hard as stone
I couldn't argue that
he's probably sincere
He won't face up to what
he doesn't want to hear
Change takes time
Change takes time
You always talked about
the answers, my friend
You thought you had them
But it don't ever work
that easy in the end
What can I say to
make you stop it?
Instant coffee
Instant tea
Minute rice
Express mail
Real communication
Responsible morality
Christian maturity
A dark and silent stage
The crowd has all gone home
He thinks it went okay
'cause they just cheered him on
Outisde the door there's so much
anger in the street
He's so unaware
there'll be a price for him to see it
Change takes time
Change takes time
Oh, change takes time
Change takes time
takes time
takes time
"I don't know why I go to these things," he says, noting that his church has been trying to break the 100-member mark for twelve years
Time for a Scottish revival (where you take a church from a thousand members to two hundred).
Exactly
I don't disgree, but could you elaborate?
The disciples are arguing over who would be the greatest.
From my experience, I've seen many churches that have so much emphasis on church growth that they neglect the real needs of the people. Some pastors seem to be in competition to have the biggest church in town or in their particular denomination. Having attended a few "mega churches," I have found that they are administered not much different than a small government. In other words, there are just too many levels of bureaucracy and delegation. Many of these churches have so many departments and programs, there seems to me to be too little focus on fellowship and personal relationships that are so important to developing mature Christians
The other thing that I notice in the "mega churches" is the tendency to try to include gimmicks to attract as many people as possible. These gimmicks can include music styles, Starbucks, restaurants, bookstores, concerts, etc. These things can exist and are not evil in and of themselves (though I'm not so sure about Starbucks,) but I wonder more about the heart and goals of the pastors. If they are just trying to entertain the masses, then I believe this is in error
Anyway, that's just some of the things I wonder about.
Hey, I didn't even realize it was Lark!
Shame on me!
But I still get concerned about some of these church "movements."
I completely agree, on all points - especially concerning Starbucks....
You just set up a department to establish a 'small groups' program, and hire staff...
That title is pretty appropriate IMO.
Ya know how Rush makes snide tongue in cheek absurd comments and then the Democrats go ahead and actually do it for real? This is kind of like that. Meant to be a satire piece but pretty much indistinguishable from the truth.
PING!
Ya know how Rush makes snide tongue in cheek absurd comments and then the Democrats go ahead and actually do it for real? This is kind of like that. Meant to be a satire piece but pretty much indistinguishable from the truth.
hear hear, brother~!
Ah another program... that'll fix it! ;-)
Only after the proper committees have approved it.
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