CHARTING A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE

A little while back, our District Superintendent, Derrell Patterson, presented each pastor in the Big Spring District with statistics for their particular church. One of those papers consisted of the attendance figures since 1985. A few weeks ago I plotted the figures on a graph to show the direction of the church. Some of you saw it during a worship service.
Notice the following quote from Bob Farr in Renovate or Die.

 “How is your church going? Is worship attendance increasing or  decreasing? Is membership trending older each year or getting younger with the addition of new members? Is the number of classes, studies, services, and missions increasing or decreasing? If yours is like most congregations in mainline denominations, it is declining in numbers, it is increasing in expenses, and aging in membership at an accelerating rate with each passing year. From Deming, church leaders realize that if they set up a task force and asked its members to work late at night to develop a congregational plan that would cause attendance to fall by 5 percent each year and the median age to increase each year, they would come back with a plan that looks exactly like what their church is doing now! Congregational systems are perfectly aligned to get the results they are getting, and that means uninterrupted decline for most churches.”

 We must understand that we must put in place healthy systems to rebuild our church; otherwise, decline will continue.

 This is the task of the Harvest Council. The Harvest Council is responsible for putting healthy systems in place. It means that the team must read and learn about the church systems, plan those systems, and implement the systems. The Harvest Council is made up of the staff and several other leaders in the church. There is nothing hidden as anyone can ask questions or even attend our meetings. We are not a closed meeting. Certainly, we will arrange some opportunities for the people of the church to ask questions.

We have a vision for our church. Systems are simply strategies to accomplish that vision. This is the work of the Harvest Council. Please understand that we need your input and help to accomplish this work. The question is what will St. Paul UMC be in 15 years? Will there even be a St. Paul UMC in 2025?

 You have always come through in the past. I’m asking your help in these upcoming days. Pray for our church, the Harvest Council, and those strategies put in place to turn our church around.

 BIG DAY ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012

 Don’t forget to invite someone to be with us for our Big Day on Sunday, February 12, 2012. It will be the kickoff to our new sermon series and will be the week that Small Groups begin. If you haven’t signed up for a small group, you still have time. Please sign up in the near future. Notice the list of groups that are available. You may sign up at the Sunday service on the blue card or at the information table. You may also call the office to sign up.

In His Love                                                                                Randy Thomas

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