Roger Lamb asked me to write a series of articles on how small and mid-sized churches can grow. My initial reaction to his request was – “I have no idea.” Like the widow of Luke 18, Roger stayed persistent (and a little annoying). So, here I go with Part I
I guess the best place to start is with the idea that God gives the increase.
It doesn’t come from a leadership team or evangelist ultimately. We can constantly preach or talk about “bearing fruit,” but the emphasis of John 15 is to “abide in Christ.” If we do the “dwelling,” He will do the fruit bearing.
From Arkansas To Connecticut
First, I’ll just tell you a bit of my story. I grew up in the Churches of Christ in Arkansas. I heard some great speakers and got an excellent foundation there. I got a minor in Bible at the college level. From there, my spiritual journey took some wild twists and turns, and geography was about the least of the changes.
In the International Churches of Christ, I have been trained by some amazing evangelists in the past 25+ years. From Al Baird, Wyndham Shaw, JP Tynes and others in my earlier days in Charlotte and Boston to Douglas Arthur today – I have been very blessed to talk life, ministry, doctrine, marriage and parenting with some of God’s best.
Seventeen years ago, my wife and I and a small team of disciples planted the Hartford Church of Christ. It happened with little fanfare. Hartford was not viewed as one of the cultural centers of the world. However, it was home for us, and over one million people live in the metropolitan area (as well as 3 million + in Connecticut, which had no official International Churches of Christ at the time of the planting).
There are now four churches in our fellowship here in Connecticut numbering over 500 disciples. Working for God in New England has been one of the most challenging and rewarding adventures I have ever been a part of. There have been sensational and very sad times. But we are farther along now than we were in 1994. How did it happen?
All You Need Is Love . . . And A Couple of Cookies
Here is the first of a few lessons learned . . . . Share your cookies.
An illustration I have borrowed and taken around New England a few times includes two of my wife’s finest chocolate chip cookies. I typically carry these on stage at a church service or in a small group and quickly become the center of attention. Next, I call up some sweet, sensitive lady to join me. Usually, I like to embarrass the fellas publicly, but you’ll understand why we need the special sympathy only a woman can afford in a minute.
My first question is – Do you like chocolate chip cookies? Presently I am standing at 100% success rate with the answer, “YES!” Then I ask the somewhat unsuspecting sister to tell me why. As she explains the luscious taste, sugar burst and chewy pleasure – I eat cookie #1, as the audience gasps. Then I ask about her special memories from eating chocolate chip cookies. Everyone has some stories. And as I hear tales of grandma’s farm, warm milk and ice cream – I gulp down cookie #2 to everyone’s horror. Lastly, I pray, thanking God for the wonderful conversation we have had and asking that this sweet damsel in distress will get cookies at some later point in her life. Following the final “Amen” and sending the sister to her seat, booing usually follows.
If You Care, Share
The point? Even the worst parent knows to say “share” when you have two of something and another has nothing. God is the perfect Father. What might he be thinking as he looks down upon our financial and spiritual riches while much of the world has none? SHARE!!
Maybe we are enjoying the blessings in Christ. Perhaps we even pray for others. But sadly, the biggest reasons why our churches don’t grow is that we refuse to SHARE. By the way, before the end of the time slot, I do make sure the stunned sister gets a full plate of my wife’s finest (or store bought if Anita is out of town).
Maybe the phrase “share your faith” is part of the problem. Have our people heard that so often that it falls on deaf ears and isn’t responded to any longer? Okay – let’s try a new way of looking at it. What if we asked each other – “Who are you loving?”
Actually All You Need Is Love . . . Cookies Aren’t Essential & Add Calories
In John 13:34-35, Jesus told his followers he had a new command. Now the Jews had more than 600 laws in the Old Testament and were not probably looking for more. However, Christ thought they really needed this one. It was to “love as I have loved you.” Wow. That was new. Who are you loving in your neighborhood, at the workplace or in your local grocery store the way Jesus loved people (think of the woman at the well, Zaccheus, etc.)?
Even beyond this new mandate, Jesus was asked one day what the most important law of all times was. Had I been the Messiah, I would have said, “There is no most important. If God had wanted one on top, he would not have given you all of them.” And I would have been totally wrong, because in Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus said that the #1, most important law was EASY! It was to LOVE!
I believe what a mid-sized, undersized, super-sized or pint-sized church needs to do to grow is to LOVE God and to LOVE people. If you do that – there will be a response. If you don’t – there won’t.
This past year I have seen the mega-religious turn to the real Jesus when confronted with love. I have seen atheism fall, higher education succumb and the party lifestyle get kicked to the curb . . . because of love.
So, who are you loving like Jesus loved? If no one – they are everywhere around you. Jesus found them at the water cooler and in a tree. Open your eyes. Then open your heart and love.
Jimmy Allen
Hartford, Connecticut > > >
Jimmy_Allen@icoc.org
Watch DisciplesToday.org for more articles in this series.
We invite you to send articles about how God has grown your church to: content@dtoday.net
