Take a Risk, Grow a Church!
by Dr. Ron C. Melzer, pastor, Bethel United Methodist Church, Mascoutah, Illinois

Would you be willing to take a risk to grow your church? Over the last two years, Bethel United Methodist Church leaders in Mascoutah, Illinois, in the Metro-East St. Louis area did take a risk and experienced increased worship attendance and the addition of a monthly praise service. Sunday school attendance at Bethel doubled. Dozens of people began attending Bible studies. A weekly high school discipleship group was formed. People at Bethel are growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ and are actively seeking others to join them on their spiritual journey. Growing churches is often risky business because we are venturing into uncharted territory.

What did church leaders learn in the last two years about growing a church? First of all, you have to be willing to try new things and not be bothered by failure. In our first year of growth, we learned a lot of things that didn't work, but we also learned some really helpful things. We added contemporary music to the traditional hymns for blended worship, which resulted in a monthly praise service. We had a horse in the parking lot for rides in August for "Round-Up Sunday." We've tried creative Bible studies, such as the Andy Griffith Bible Study to interest the unchurched. We are focusing on making disciples instead of getting new members. Our motto is: "We'll try anything once — twice — if it'll reach people for Christ!"

The second thing we learned is that church leaders have to move from trying to run the church to being permission-givers. This means that people are encouraged to be in ministry without having to jump through a million hoops, thereby getting discouraged with their dreams. The church council now spends a lot of time on leadership development and trying to discern God's vision for the congregation. In growing churches, the pastor needs to focus on casting the vision and discipling; the leaders do the ministry, as in the Book of Acts. And we read in the Book of Acts that God blessed them with incredible growth. That was our experience as well!

The third thing we learned is that it's exciting to be a part of a growing church. People attend worship here now just to see what the commotion is all about and why our parking lot is out of room on days other than Sundays. Just as people will turn out to see a fire, people also turn out to see a congregation on fire with God's Spirit! As Dr. Michael Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church (Tipp City, Ohio) observed, "When a church rekindles its first love for Jesus Christ and is intentional about the business of the church, which is to know Christ and make Christ known in the world, then God honors that effort."

Growth is never easy. It takes us out of our comfort zone. But if we're willing to fulfill the Great Commission, we need to be intentional about growth; or it won't happen. Be risk takers and find those in your church who want to reach the lost. Begin praying about how God can use you to rekindle the Spirit's fire in your church!

Posted 5-9-02