This past week, a lot of friends and family members have been complaining about the layout changes on Facebook. Several nights ago, in fact, there was almost one continuous run of negative comments expressed.
This reminds me of how many people feel whenever change is introduced at their church.
The Old English word “wyrd” and the English word “weird” have their source in the German word “warden” which means “to become.” Whenever there is a period of change or becoming, weirdness results. Change brings anxiety, and anxiety causes reactivity in many people.
Veteran church consultant Speed Leas notes that he receives more calls for help during ten particular times in a congregation’s life than in any other. These times are Easter, stewardship campaigns/budget time, the addition of new staff, a change in pastoral leadership style, the pastor’s vacation, changes in the pastor’s family, the introduction of a new generation (like baby boomers) into a church, the completion of a new building, a loss of church membership, and an increase in membership.
Every one of these situations is marked by change, whether the change is perceived as being positive or negative.
I visited a church several Sundays ago here in Phoenix that hasn’t changed in decades. At one point, I closed my eyes and asked myself, “What year is it in this place?” My conclusion: 1961.
The sanctuary was filled with pews. The choir was accompanied by piano and organ. After the pastor prayed, the choir responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord,” a song I haven’t heard for nearly 50 years.
The offering was taken by children (although I didn’t notice if they counted it). The pastor’s message was on Matthew 6:33 (“Seek first the kingdom of God …”), and while I enjoyed the message, his application went straight to (a) you gotta show up Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights, (b) you gotta serve, and (c) you gotta give a tithe, because Malachi 3:10 commands us to bring all our tithe into the storehouse – and, of course, the storehouse is the local church.
Then the service ended up with an altar call. To my surprise, in a room of 60 people, two women came forward … for membership. No membership orientation classes in that church! The congregation voted them into membership immediately.
I walked away drawing three conclusions:
First, while some churches never change, that appeals to an increasingly smaller segment of the Christian population.
Second, most churches need to continually make changes to reach the culture for Christ – something that church didn’t care anything about.
Third, that’s what I get for choosing the first church that had a 10:30 am service!
Because our culture is changing so rapidly, some Christians prefer attending a church that institutes few changes. I visited a church last year that had a choir, piano, and organ – those things hadn’t changed for years – but the church made extensive use of video inside their Sunday service.
The pastor must be doing something right because the place was packed … but I had to be the youngest person in the whole place. (There were lots of bald heads and wigs – and everyone was dressed up but me. I felt like a liberal.)
By contrast, some churches are constantly changing. They are reformed … and reforming. While their theology never changes, their methodology continually does. In my understanding, this is the New Testament model.
I’ll write more about change next week, but for now, take a look at this brief video describing what’s happening this Sunday at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, Arizona.
http://www.ccvonline.com/Arena/default.aspx?page=16263
Write and tell me what you honestly think about their approach. Does it appeal to you? Would it appeal to some of the men you know?
I will write more about change in churches next time. Have a Jesus-filled weekend!
That approach is extremely appealing. And yes, having a pretty girl talk about football would probably work for the men! The approach also works for an entire generation that watches YouTube, as well as my generation that grew up on television-I love when we have short videos during the sermon, and I like websites like CCV’s.
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Well, forget the pretty girl angle. I was thinking about attending another church this Sunday, but after receiving the email with the video for this Sunday’s services at CCV, I’m going to go there and see what they’re up to. Their target is men, and with testimonies from two NFL quarterbacks, they’re hitting the target pretty accurately. And it doesn’t hurt that they have TV monitors showing sports programming all over the campus, especially in the food areas. By the way, whenever they have a big-name speaker, that person is always available to meet people or sign books after each of the services – except Harmon Killebrew’s memorial service!
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Targeting men is the way to go-as a single mom with no involvement from my daughter’s father at all, I understand the need for male leadership in the home and in the church and in the local community. But you first have to get men in the pews (chairs). Calvary Christian had several Oakland A’s come for a special Sunday evening event a few weeks ago. The team chaplain and several players gave their testimonies. Calvary does not have a lot of technology available, but the event attracted a lot of people, especially men.
By the way, I saw a very special lady yesterday…
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Well, it’s my belief that you first have to get men onto the church campus, and it may take a few times before they’re comfortable enough to sit in a sanctuary. And when they come, a church usually has one chance to reach them. I know a special lady, but for some reason she’s not in Phoenix. Wonder where she is?
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I agree that attracting men to church is critical: you get the husband/father, you get the whole family. The question is, what are you attracting them to? Is the local church just a place to hear about God or what God has done in the lives of people you look up to? Is the local church just another place to consume more information or entertainment or food? Because I have never visited, I don’t know how this church answers those questions. My hope is that the local church is a place for believers to corporately worship is spirit and truth and a place for non-believers to be drawn into a relationship with the God that is worshipped. On a practical level, I would be concerned about all the distraction, something I have observed in a number of other churches.
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Good questions, Dave. I went to the church yesterday and discovered that Travis Brown, a former NFL quarterback, has been on the staff of the church for two years! He heads up the sports outreach program for youth. They have 1,500 kids involved. Travis gave a strong, biblically-based message about finding your mission in life (the final application: don’t just huddle – run the play), and it was done well. Jon Kitna, backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in a video interview. Kitna is in an accountability group with Travis Brown. I believe the church is trying to attract men to Jesus, not just to church or fun. I think the football theme arose out of their mission rather than being a one-off type of thing. Thanks for the input!
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