I spoke recently in a church that had a large number of college students. Indeed the presence of the university in the town was so dominant that the community was best known as a college town. After one of the worship services, a young college student sought me out. He just wanted to talk. The conversation was not that long, about twenty minutes; but it was of sufficient length to introduce me to several facts about the college sophomore.

He told me that he came from a middle-class home in a neighboring state. He was a middle child, and had that quick wit that I notice in many middle children. The young man was a finance major. Since that was my major in college many years ago, we talked about the pros and cons of that academic path.

The Unspiritual Generation

Naturally, since we were in a church, our conversation moved to matters of faith and spirituality. He shared with me that his parents rarely attended church. There was certainly no expectation for him to be in church as he grew up. Indeed, matters of spirituality were really never discussed in his home.

At this point in the conversation, the young man fit well the profile of the Millennials I have been studying for several months. My youngest son, Jess Rainer, and I are working on a book called The Millennials, which includes a massive survey of the older portion of this generation. As a reminder, we date the Millennials' birth years between 1980 and 2000.

So when the young man told me that he grew up in a non-spiritual home, I was not surprised. Our study showed that only 13 percent of this generation considers any form of spirituality important. Of course, my obvious question asked why he was in church now. What moved him from no interest in spiritual matters to attending church regularly?

His response caused me to ponder.

Looking for Hope

“You know, Dr. Rainer,” he began. “There are so many reasons to be hopeless in this world. You can’t listen to or read anything without feeling a sense of hopelessness. I started attending this church because I was looking for hope.”

Read that sentence one more time: “I started attending this church because I was looking for hope.”

He then shared with me that he had visited several churches in his hometown looking for hope. His parents really didn’t mind one way or the other. But in each church he visited, he sensed as much hopelessness there as in the world beyond the churches. “It just seems that a lot of churches are going through the motions. I could sense no life, especially no hope.”

Our conversation concluded as I asked him what brought him to the university in the town. I should have anticipated his answer. He had visited the church where we were that day while he was visiting the school. It was the church that helped him decide to attend that particular university.

“I guess I found a church with hope,” he said with a faint smile. “That’s why I’m at this school today.”

As I walked away, he asked me a question with total sincerity. “Do you have any idea why there are so many hopeless churches today? It really seems counterintuitive.”

When Hope Comes to Church

It is counterintuitive. We have the greatest Hope in the world. We have the promise of the resurrection. We have Jesus.

But we know the story. In too many churches "minors" become "majors" and focus is lost. Critics outnumber the messengers of hope. And “that’s the way we’ve always done it” becomes the death cry of too many congregations.

He was looking for hope.

The Church must be the messenger of Hope.

Time is too short.

It’s time for hope.

Guest Blog by Sam S. Rainer

A new year inevitably brings forecasts of what's to come in the next 365 days. A new decade invites even more prognostications. Next year the 2010 census will emphasize demographic shifts. When compared to other items often measured by statistics – like equity markets or energy prices – demographic changes occur slowly. But the census will spotlight changes that have been occurring gradually for years. These shifts will affect how the church does ministry. Let me share with you four of them that will be prominent in the next ten years.

A different type of suburb. Almost half of the U.S. population lives in the suburbs. And sprawling suburbia is changing. The suburbs are graying, and there is a movement to make them more compact.

While large tracts of single-family homes are not being demolished, struggling shopping centers and vacant land in the suburbs are being converted into dense, mixed-use neighborhoods. In short, the 'burbs are getting a retrofit. The movement is driven by the changing life demands of the Boomers. The senior population is expected to increase 36% between 2010 and 2020, driven mainly by the aging Boomer population. The retrofit trend is expensive and will not explode overnight (especially in the current economy). Every suburb will not get a makeover, but the trend will become more prevalent over the next several years.

A different kind of senior. Boomers will become the new "seniors." How senior adult ministry was done with the previous generation, however, will not be as favorable with the Boomer generation. There is just as large a generation gap between the Boomers and the Greatest Generation as there is between Boomers and their children. And the massive growth of aging Boomers will occur in areas unaccustomed to housing older people, specifically in the suburbs of metro areas. The metro areas that are expected to gray the fastest are in the intermountain West, the Southeast, and Texas. The senior population will expand by as much as 70% in some of these places.

A different kind of preschooler. The U.S. population is predicted to turn minority white by 2042, but the preschool population will cross this point in 2021. Diversity is spreading out geographically, and it is becoming younger. As preschools become more diverse, churches must prepare for a different type of ministry to children. While the year 2021 is over a decade away, many communities are already beginning to see these types of changes in the preschools and grade schools.

A different attitude about homogeneity. As the younger generation ages, they will not be represented by the homogeneous unit principle that was championed in the early years of the church growth movement. Basically, this principle states that people desire to worship and serve in churches with similar people, and the best way to reach people is with others who are similar. Clearly, people with common interests, characteristics, life stages, and languages will still gravitate towards each other. The difference with the younger generation is that these divides will not be as distinct, specifically in ethnic terms. And, in many ways, they will recognize heterogeneity in church settings as more normative and more relevant.

The numbers are not precise, but we estimate there are around 400,000 churches in the United States. Of that number, nearly 90% could be described as “established.” I prefer the term “established” to the more commonly used “traditional.” Unfortunately, the latter term has come to mean to some a style of worship or a focus that is program driven.

We use the nomenclature “established” to refer to a church that has not made significant changes in its ministries, programs, and lay leadership in the past five years. Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with an established church. Change may not be needed if all is well in the church. Unfortunately, that is not the case in most established congregations. In nine out of ten of these churches, the congregation is decreasing in average worship attendance, or the attendance growth rate is not keeping pace with the growth rate of the community.

Leaders and Established Churches

The good news is that we found a number of established churches that are truly impacting their communities. Though these churches are a clear minority, their examples and stories are worthy of study. Indeed we sent researchers across America to learn from these congregations and from the leaders of these congregations.

And what was one of the key lessons we learned? It was no surprise. The health of these churches could largely be tied to the leadership of the churches, and the way God worked through these pastors.

In this and a few subsequent blogs, we will look at some of the characteristics of these leaders. The lessons are instructive and sometimes surprising.

The Paradox of Confident Humility

To use Jim Collins’ well known wording, we have seen many good leaders, but few great leaders in established churches. Pastors in both groups have confidence in their leadership, but then differences began to emerge.

The pastors of the “good” churches had a focus, determination, and unswerving faith in what could be accomplished. Indeed, the laypersons in these churches spoke of their pastors' confidence often. This confident leadership seemed to be a requisite to attract followers to the ministries of the church.

Yet, when we interviewed these leaders, we would often hear phrases such as “When I came to this church . . .” They were eager to tell us of their accomplishments. And while we wouldn’t accuse all of these leaders of being egotistical in their ministries, many were happy to tell us what a wonderful job they were doing.

We saw no less confidence in the leaders of the "great" established churches, but their confidence centered more on what God was doing in their lives and less on their own inherent abilities. They were often reluctant to attribute any of the church’s accomplishments to themselves. Their modesty was compelling and sincere.

The “Why” of Confident Humility

Because most of the great leaders in established churches had experienced difficult times in their ministries, any sense of self-importance had been tempered over the years. While they confidently believed their leadership was critical to the health of the church, they also believed their leadership abilities were a gift from God upon whom they were totally dependent.

Many established churches are struggling. Many leaders in these churches are struggling. The great leaders have moved from the struggles to an awakening of confidence that is compelling to followers. But that confidence is not in themselves, but in the God they serve.

Such is the oxymoron of confident humility. Complete confidence. Because the God we serve is able.

On a recent flight, I had the opportunity to sit next to a man who was the ideal conversationalist for me. First, he was not a Christian, but he was eager to hear from me about the gospel. That part of the conversation went very well. Second, he had a Ph.D. in statistics. I thus had the best of two worlds: sharing Jesus and talking numbers.

Confessions of a Numbers Nerd

I confess. I am fascinated by numbers. My undergraduate major is corporate finance with minors in statistics and economics. My Ph.D. dissertation was on numerical church growth.

Yes, I am totally capable of boring someone to near death with my fascination with numbers and statistics.

So when I write or speak about the local church, or when I study churches, I must be careful. I can be overzealous with numerical realities and fail to see the bigger issues God would have me to see.

A Concern about a Hidden Number

I thus speak about this particular numerical concern with caution. Still, it is an area that is often overlooked by leaders of churches.

Let me describe the “hidden” number by asking a question. From a strictly numerical point of view, what causes a church to grow or decline in attendance? Some of the answers are obvious. If the church has more guests attending, attendance will likely go up. If the church adds new members, attendance is likely to increase. The inverse of both statements is also true. If a church loses members or has fewer guests attend, then attendance is likely to decrease.

But still one key metric is missing: attendance behavior.

Allow me to explain. If the frequency of attendance changes, then attendance will respond accordingly. For example, if 200 members attend every week the average attendance is, obviously, 200. But if one-half of those members miss only one out of four weeks, the attendance drops to 175.

Did you catch that? No members have left the church. Everyone is still relatively active in the church, but attendance declined over 12 percent because half the members changed their attendance behavior slightly.

The hidden, or at least under analyzed, metric is attendance behavior or frequency.

The Reason for the Concern

Why does this issue concern me? First, I see faithfulness to the local church as one of the key components of Christian discipleship. If a pattern develops where more congregants are attending less frequently, I am concerned that Christian growth is not taking place. They are not hearing the Word preached as frequently. They are not as active in fellowship with other Christians. They are not experiencing corporate worship as frequently. And they are likely not attending Bible study groups as regularly.

Attendance behavior is not always easy to measure, especially if the primary count is in a worship service. Still, there are ways to monitor this metric. Several churches have done so successfully.

Yes, it is about the numbers.

But it’s really about something more important.

It’s about doing our best as church leaders to see if our congregants are truly developing into more mature followers of Christ.

And that’s what really matters.

Lord, strengthen me to finish well.

May I, as I draw closer to the end of my earthly life,
Be a man who loves Your Church more than I ever have,
A man who prays for Your Church and Your leaders in the church,
A man who shows his commitment to Your bride in all that I do.

Lord, strengthen me to finish well.

May I be a man of greater moral purity,
So indwelled in Your Word and in prayer,
That I am able to resist the temptations of the enemy,
That my life shines as an example for You to the watching world.

Lord, strengthen me to finish well.

May I be a man who loves my family more with each passing day,
A man more in love and dedicated to his wife,
A man who loves his adult children even more than I did when they were younger,
And a man who loves his grandchildren and generation to come.

Lord, strengthen me to finish well.

May I be a man who loves others more as I grow older,
A man who is less judgmental and more giving of grace,
A man who realizes that the plank in my own eye is large,
And that I should forgive even as You forgive me.

Lord, strengthen me to finish well.

May my life have greater joy with each day.
May I see the blessings of life and count them daily.
May I not grow older and more bitter,
But grow older rejoicing in You always.

Lord, strengthen me to finish well.

As the day draws closer when I meet You face to face,
May I be a man who was already drawing closer to You,
A man who eagerly anticipated that day,
And a man who left behind a legacy and not regrets.

Lord, strengthen me to finish well.

And then, and only then, can I say that my life was not lived in vain.

Not that I have already reached the goal, or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I have been taken hold of it by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14, HCSB).

The Millennial Generation fascinates me. Depending upon the years you frame the generation, it is the largest or nearly the largest generation in America’s history. For example, if the birth years 1980 to 2000 are the parameters, the Millennials are larger than the Boomers. Perhaps it’s their sheer size that fascinates me.

Or it could be that this new population wave includes my three sons who have birth dates of 1980, 1982, and 1985. I have seen some aspects of this generation up close since the generation began.

Still again, my fascination could be the result of my God-given desire to reach this generation with the gospel. And if our research is accurate, the American Church has done a woeful job of connecting with these young people. According to our research of older Millennials, those born between 1980 and 1991, only 17% attend church at least once a month. Please read that again carefully: only 17% attend church at least once a month.

Two Insights on the Millennials for the American Church

My son, Jess Rainer, and I are working on a book tentatively titled The Millennials. I have been pouring over our interviews with 1,200 older Millennials. Sometimes I get excited about the data. At other points I can get discouraged hearing about their beliefs and priorities.

Two particular pieces of data caught my attention as I reviewed the massive amount of data we have. Those insights seem to have particular relevance for churches that are looking to be more effective reaching this generation.

First, most Millennials, nearly ninety percent, say that their parents are key influencers in their lives. They seek advice and counsel from their parents often. Our churches need to hear this insight. Parents of unchurched and non-Christian Millennials need to know that their adult children really want to talk with them about all aspects of life, including spiritual matters. Our research indicates that many Christian parents of Millennials are reticent to talk to their sons and daughters about matters of faith and the absolute necessity of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Indeed, some of the most potentially effective evangelists in our churches may be the most reticent to share the truth of the gospel with their own children.

Second, another highly influential group for the Millennials is their own friends. But how many churches are intentionally strategic about mobilizing Christian Millennials to reach out to their friends with whom they have good relationships? Again, we may have some of the most potentially effective evangelists on the sidelines.

It Can Work

My own church, Brentwood Baptist Church, is experiencing incredible growth in its Kairos worship service primarily attended by Millennials. The attendance for that single service quickly surpassed 1,000, and now a second Millennial service has been added.

How did it happen? Pastor Mike Glenn tells the full story in his recent book, In Real Time. But we can say that most of the growth has been experienced by word of mouth. One Millennial friend told another. Those friends were invited. They became followers of Christ and started telling others. It’s both profound and simple.

A Challenge, An Opportunity

They are the most unreached generation in America’s history. Their beliefs are largely post-Christian. Most of them are not antagonistic toward the Church. It may be worse; the Church is not even a factor in the lives of most Millennials.

Such news is gloomy. It is certainly pessimistic.

But it’s not hopeless.

Like the early Church of the first three centuries, there are truly some clear paths for the Church today.  Indeed, the best possible evangelists may actually be sitting in your worship services today.

Mobilize the Christian parents of Millennials. Equip them. Pray for them.

And do the same for Christian Millennials.

The number of Christians in this generation may be relatively small, but the possibilities are great.

God has turned the world upside down before with a few Christians.

We should have no doubt that He can do it again today.

Dear Canon,

You came into this world in the early hours of October 14, 2009. Your grandmother and I drove through the night for over nine hours. We had hoped to be there at your birth, but we missed that moment by a few hours. Still, our hearts melted the first time we saw you.

Your Grandma Jo Jo cried openly when she saw you. I choked back tears. You are such an incredible blessing to us. Though you have been in this world for just a few days, we already love you so much.

Canon, I want to be the best granddad possible, but I know I will make some mistakes. But please hear some commitments I am making to you and God as your life unfolds.

I promise to pray for you. I will pray for your health. I will pray for clear direction from God for you. I will even begin praying for the right wife for you, even though that’s years down the road. Above all, I will pray for your salvation. I pray that you will discover the grace that comes by faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing is more important.

I commit to being supportive of your parents in all they do to raise you in the ways of the Lord. You have been given an incredible mom and dad. They love you so much. I want to be the type of granddad that always supports your parents. I want to heed to their desires for your life and follow them accordingly.

I promise to always be there for you. When you get old enough to use the phone, your calls will be a priority. Nothing will be more important than talking to you. I want to be with you as much as we can be together. The years are going rapidly, and I want to spend as much time as possible with you. I already have dreams of taking you to the beach, to football games, or wherever you would like to go. I just want to be with you.

I plan to be your biggest fan. Of course, I don’t know what paths you will pursue, but I will be there to encourage you, to cheer you on, to remind you that you can do anything in God’s strength. It will be so exciting to see how God will direct you and how He will use you.

You see, I know God has great plans for your life. I can’t even imagine the ways that He will use you. It will be a pure joy to watch His plan unfold in your life.

Canon, before I ever married your grandmother, I had dreams of having children. I prayed that God would give me the opportunity to mold the lives of those He entrusted to me. God answered my prayers beyond measure. Your Uncle Sam, Uncle Art, and your dad are three of the greatest joys of my life.

But, as my own three sons grew, I began to dream and pray about the joy of having grandchildren. You are the first grandchild. You are the first answer to those prayers. You are the next generation of blessing to me.

I love you so very much, Canon. You may not fully know the breadth and depth of my love until you have your own children and grandchildren. But please know that I love you.

My own dad died before your father was born. Every time your dad experiences a significant milestone in his life, I feel a lump in my throat because he didn’t have his granddad to be there for it. God willing, I will be there for you. God willing, we will have many great years together.

But I realize that this life is brief. I will be gone for most of your years. I pray that I will leave to you a legacy of love, a legacy of joy, and a legacy that demonstrated a heart committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, can I say that my years with you were not lived in vain.

I love you, my grandson. I love you so very much.

Granddad

The bestselling book, The Love Dare, has been used of God to strengthen my marriage. I cherish those 40 days that Nellie Jo and I read the dare for the day and the Scripture that accompanied each day. Each dare challenged us to do something for the other. It took the focus off our own needs and desires and caused us to focus on each other. Each day reminded us that the agape love of marriage is a selfless and giving love. 

Johnny Hunt, my friend and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, has challenged our denomination to “Love Loud.” Sadly many times our denomination is more known for its acrimonious spirit rather than the love of Christ. Likewise, many of our churches are not known in their communities for being churches that consistently demonstrate gentleness, kindness, and love. 

Merging Two Great Ideas 

I love the spirit of both concepts. In fact, wouldn’t it be great if our churches could take both of the ideas and challenge their congregations? What would God do if we “dared” our church members to love loudly? What would our communities see if we put the love of Christ in action with a significant number of our members. 

The possibilities intrigue me. 

The potential excites me. 

Taking the Love Loud Dare

Imagine, if you will, a simple eight-day challenge to get our churches more focused on loving loudly. With apologies for my lack of creativity, the challenge could look something like the following. 

Day 1, Sunday. The congregation is given a simple one-page sheet of the Love Loud Dare. The pastor preaches a message on the love of Christ. The church devotes a time of prayer for the week to follow. Members are asked to email their stories to the church as the week unfolds. Members are reminded that the dare of each day is for them to show love to those outside the church. 

Day 2, Monday. The dare for this day is simply to call or visit someone and to offer prayer for them. Just let them know that your church was focusing on praying for people in the community and their name came to your mind. 

Day 3, Tuesday. Write a card or note to someone in the community to thank them for what they do: police, firefighters, community leaders, etc. If possible, deliver the note personally. 

Day 4, Wednesday. Send a note or card anonymously to someone in the community with a small gift, such as a $5 or $10 gift card. Let them know that the small gift is a reminder to them that someone is praying for them and cares about them.

Day 5, Thursday. Do an act of service for someone in the community. It does not have to be complicated. Perhaps you could deliver a bottle of cold water to someone you see working outside. 

Day 6, Friday. Do an act of service in the community itself . For example, take 10 or 15 minutes a pick up trash in town or in your neighborhood. 

Day 7, Saturday. Say a kind word to someone in the community. Make certain you offer encouragement with genuine words. 

Day 8, Sunday. As a part of the worship service, celebrate what God has done through His people. Read a few of the emails submitted throughout the week. Then encourage the people to develop a lifestyle where they learn to love loudly. 

From the Heart, Not a Gimmick

The danger in a Love Loud Dare is that it could be just another activity of the church, a one-week flurry of good deeds that has little sincerity or follow-up. But the upside of the week is that Christians could truly have a heart change to love more loudly. They will see how the love of Christ through them can transform lives, including their own. 

The Love Dare strengthened my marriage. Love Loud Dare could strengthen our churches. 

It’s worth the effort.

“So what do I do now?”

The pastor asked the question with seriousness and a level of expectation. He knew that many of his members were woefully lacking in biblical knowledge. And he had full awareness that many members were attending less frequently, and that some had dropped out altogether.

So he asked me what he should do. I responded from my research and consultations that his church needed a clear process for discipleship with clear expectations for members. I could tell by his look that more questions were coming. “Okay, what’s that look like? So what do I do now?”

The Solutions of Old

There was a day for most churches when the solution to this dilemma was to turn to some organizational entity, such as a denomination, and get the needed programs to meet the needs of the church. Disciple-making through the local church was thus simple as ordering the material, advertising the program, and getting the members to attend.

Not so today.

In many cases the programs became worn and stale. They no longer met the needs of the church. In other cases, the programs became the end instead of the means. Churches became program driven, but they could no longer see the purpose behind the programs. Many churches, understandably so, abandoned the programmatic approach.

The problem is that little was available to replace what was eliminated. So today thousands of church leaders are asking, “So what do I do now?”

Listening to Effective Disciple-Making Churches Today

As we heard from churches across America, we began to see a common pattern in churches that were more effective in making disciples. The attendance rate of members of those churches was higher, and the dropout rate was lower. Look at some of these common traits:

The church has an entry point class that all new members attend. Though these classes have different names, they have similar purposes. The classes did provide information, but they weren’t limited to dispensing facts about the church. The classes also established expectations of members. Some of the expectations are noted below.

Members are expected to attend an open group Bible study. An open group is an ongoing class that allows entry at any point. Historically, they have been called Sunday School classes, but today they have a variety of names. The point is to get members connected to a common group of people in regular Bible study.

Members are expected to be involved in one or more deeper studies throughout the year. These classes are set for a predetermined number of weeks, a twelve-week study for example. They tend to dive deeper into Bible study, doctrinal study, or studies of critical issues for the Christian. They also tend to be closed groups, because attendance every week is important to grasp the material. It is difficult for someone to enter the class after it begins because the material usually builds on itself.

Members are expected to attend a corporate worship service each week. This is the time for the people to gather for the preaching of the Word and to worship the One True God together.

Members are expected to be involved in at least one ministry or mission activity a year. The church has clear expectations that members are to be involved in those activities that cause them to look beyond themselves and to care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others.

Members are expected to read and study the Bible daily. Our research has shown that daily personal Bible study is the clearest indicator that a Christian is growing spiritually. These disciple-making churches exhort, encourage, and provide resources for the members to be involved in daily Bible study.

Raising the Bar

It is not unusual to hear objections when we present this research. “If I led my church to have these high expectations of members,” the argument goes, “we would have a mass exodus.” But our research shows just the opposite. Higher expectations get more positive behavioral patterns. People want to be a part of something that makes a difference.

If church leaders expect little, they will get little. If they raise the bar of expectations, most members will respond positively.

And as more church members get involved in open groups, deeper studies, corporate worship, ministry, missions, and daily Bible study, they will become more effective disciples for Christ. And thus churches will grow stronger and become healthier.

May God grant us more true disciple-making churches.

The local church in America gets a bad rap. And in many ways, the negative news is warranted. You’ve seen the dire trends and statistics. You’ve read about the moral failures of many church leaders. We certainly don’t need to have our proverbial head in the sand about the dire state of our churches.

But it’s time to give thanks for the church.

It’s time to look at what is good about the local church. And it’s time to focus on these positive attributes and build upon them. We don’t need to deny the reality of the problems, but we do need to stop wallowing in the negative and move forward.

For These Things I Am Thankful

I am thankful that God’s Word is preached faithfully each week in local churches. Lives are transformed. Sinners are convicted. Christians are encouraged. Disciples are made. God is glorified.

I am thankful that the gospel is shared every day through the ministry of the local church. Millions become followers of Christ each year by the faithful witness of those in the local church. Evangelism is truly the heartbeat of many churches.

I am thankful that countless Christians become more devoted followers of Christ through Bible studies in local churches. Faithful teachers and students prepare lessons and come together each day throughout the week. Their time in the Word brings transformation to their lives.

I am thankful that sacrificial ministry takes place every day through the ministry of local churches. Church members care for the sick, bring food and clothes to the needy, visit those in prison, and offer hope and resources to heal and strengthen families.

I am thankful that local church members give sacrificially, not only for the ministries of the church locally, but for mission work throughout the world. Local churches in America both give to missions and send out missionaries.

For these things, and so much more, I am thankful for the local church.

My Gratitude is Personal

My first grandchild, a boy, is due in two weeks. It seems like yesterday when Nellie Jo was about to give birth to our first son. When I first learned that Nellie Jo was pregnant 30 years ago, I made a decision to attend church.

I was a nominal churchgoer in my early teen years, but I dropped out completely when I turned sixteen. But when I learned that I was going to be a dad, I knew that I needed to make some changes in my life, and one of those changes meant leaving the world of the unchurched.

The local church I eventually joined took me in and loved me. My Sunday school class helped me to understand the Bible. Older and wiser Christians guided me toward becoming a better husband and a better father. And when God called me to vocational ministry, the local church was there to equip me, to encourage me, to support me and, ultimately, to send me.

For these things, and so much more, I am thankful for the local church.

Keeping Perspective, Keeping Balance

There is one viewpoint that refuses to acknowledge any serious problems in the local church. Though all the evidence is overwhelming, reality means little to these people. Protection of the status quo is paramount.

Then there is the perspective that readily sees and acknowledges the problems in the local church, but is too pessimistic to see anything positive. The situation is dire and there is no hope.

The healthy perspective, however, sees both the problems and the possibilities. It recognizes the struggles of the local church, but also sees God still working. It is a perspective of realistic hope. Certainly the church at Corinth had its share of problems, but the Apostle Paul refused to give up on the church. He still saw God at work.

The local church is God’s instrument for His work. Millions of lives are transformed through the work of churches in America and around the world. I am one of those lives.

For these things, and so much more, I am thankful for the local church.