Business surveys and stagnant mega church growth

[eaglesprings]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5467593.html

[Lon Chaney]

Interesting article. I am amazed by the number of large churches we have in The Woodlands, were do all their "customers" come from? Here is a blogger's response to the article which I enjoyed:

The new megachurches offer little to nothing for the seasoned Christian, who has a history of working within the framework of a church, with sound, bibical music, and having a one on one relationship with a pastor.
Smaller churches, trying to model the megachurch, are losing their older congregants by trying to change the culture of their churches, so quickly, that members who are grounded in the doctrine and culture of the local church, are overwhelmed by the changes, especially in the music. Every Sunday, I go to church, where we now stand the whole time we're singing, and the music is new, loud, and most of the time just irritating. I look around, and maybe twenty-five percent of the people are singing. It's the same motivational type speech we hear, Sunday after Sunday, instead of a sermon inspired by the Scriptures, that touches our hearts, convicts us when we've done wrong, comforts us when we're hurting, and lets us leave with a determination in our hearts, to go out, and be better representatives for Christ.
One thing a megachurch will never be able to replace is the one on one relationship with a pastor. When I have an emergency, or when I'm needing prayer for a spiritual concern of my own, I don't want to talk to a small group leader, I want my pastor, and I want one who knows my name, the names of my children, and where I am, spiritually, and who cares about my spiritual welfare.
Pastors, if you're only going to be visible on Sunday mornings, on a screen, at the front of your church, or on TV, you are going to make yourselves easier and easier to replace. We could go watch any number of great preachers-past or present-on that same screen, but it's getting harder and harder to find a pastor who really gives a rat's behind, about each one of their congregants, on a personal level.
We need to forget about the way businesses chart, survey and poll, and fact-find, to reach a greedy, moody, and insatiable public, and get back to doing the business of the King, the way Christ did it-one on one, and most of the time, one at a time.
I'm not a professional or anyone important, I just want a real church to go to.

Unquote.

I personally do not like the mega churches or any organization that sticks it's nose in my business uninvited. I believe that religion is a private / personal matter between me and God. Last time I checked, I don't have to put on a three piece suite and rush out the door at 7:00 AM on a Sunday to be guaranteed eternal peace for 10% of my salary.

[eaglesprings]

Yes, Lon Chaney, I really liked that guy's point, too.

I've nothing against large churches, and think all churches should be "seeker friendly," in that they should be welcoming to those newcomers who are indeed looking for a new church home. But, I don't think many churches, large and small, always recognize that they could be sacrificing the spiritual health of their older members by doing so much to appeal to the younger generation. If Willow Creek is trying to find that balance, good for them.

There's another article today at the Houston Belief site at The Chronicle along these same lines. It's more of an announcement of a church down in Baytown hosting its own seminar in changing trends within churches in general. I may try to keep up with that via Internet, but am hoping they'll write a report on the seminar for The Chronicle. To me, it's an interesting topic.

[Lon Chaney]

You know it's funny in a way, a few years ago the church was accused of "loosing touch" with modern times.

Personally speaking we have tried to attend Sunday service, everything from conservative Mass to the ultra hip Fellowship "celebration". We felt we just don't fit in anywhere at the moment.

I have always had a lot of respect for the church in Europe and South America. The doors are always open, you are welcome to come inside and have a quiet moment and if you felt the need to speak to someone, there is always someone available. Not exactly dynamic, but then again they are not trying to be. I guess it also helps that you've owned the building for 500 years and therefore don't have mortgage. Hence it's not a business.

[eaglesprings]

"Personally speaking we have tried to attend Sunday service, everything from conservative Mass to the ultra hip Fellowship "celebration". We felt we just don't fit in anywhere at the moment."

We're going through a similar stage ourselves. We're thankful for the time we were active in Fellowship, but the last few years there, we felt we were kind of "drying up." Part of this is our fault by not staying involved in activities outside of weekend church service, but with our circumstances, it was difficult to do so. And, we were also feeling overwhelmed by the growth there, and began to feel like Fellowship's vision for the local campus really didn't match up with our vision of what we feel we need in a church. We still like Fellowship in many ways and appreciate the good that they do, but want something a tad more intimate on the weekends. Of course, the kids still want to attend Fellowship, and they do have great kids programs. But, the last few times we took the kids to their classes, husband and I slipped off to the prayer fountain and skipped our own service. Not a bad thing, since it gave us some much needed quiet time alone together, but we need to be in church ourselves, too.

We've got three other churches in mind -- all unique in their own way. The kids are getting a bit impatient, though, and really don't want to go to a different place every weekend while we decide. We're needing to do something soon, though. Oldest is discovering her own spiritual side and has been talking about getting baptised. I told her she could do that at Fellowship, but she decided to wait. She didn't really say why -- maybe she's not quite ready, or maybe she wants to wait until we find a home.

[MomTimesFive]

I personally do not like the mega churches or any organization that sticks it's nose in my business uninvited. I believe that religion is a private / personal matter between me and God.

AMEN to that! I also get very offended when people come to my door trying to "save" me.

[eaglesprings]

MomX5: I didn't want to negate Lon Chaney's feelings, but I've got to say: the large churches around here never, ever have stuck there proverbial nose into our business. In fact, they are more than likely to "not visit." Instead, you get on a mailing list, an advertisement of sorts.

That's nice at times, and I actually like that. I don't like people showing up on my door, unexpected. Under the same token, though, one feels like no-one really "cares," if that makes any sense.

I think the better churches have just called and said, "We are so encouraged by your visit," or something along those lines. Inviting us back, but not just showing up out of the blue, either. I suppose it is really a fine line the churches must walk for a sometimes fickle public. We want someone to recognize us, but we don't want the whole "let's drop in" thing.

If you really don't want someone showing up on your doorstep, go to a large church. They won't. It is so easy to get lost in the crowd in a large church! They have many visitors every week, and cannot possibly send people out to visit. "Mega-churches" are the absolute least likely people to knock on your door. That's both a "plus" and a "minus" for them. People want privacy, but people also want someone welcoming them into town, too. Or, to a community. People just want to feel welcome! But, they don't want privacy invaded, either.

[baby duck]

Hmmm. We didn't get a visit until we decided to join the church, and the pastor called first. But it is true, we have gotten so big that I doubt anyone visits anymore, instead we have a membership class, where people can learn more about the church. Churches have gotten so big here that the best way to plug in is through the Sunday schools. It took me a long time to get used to this, but we have been here so long now that we know a lot of people. Of course, all it takes to meet someone new is to sit on the other side of the sanctuary. Then you wind up introducing yourself to someone else that you've never met that has attended as long as you have.

[MomTimesFive]

Oh, I didn't mean to sounds like I'm anti-church. I meant that I agreed that religion was a private/personal matter between me and God. I've never had anyone from any church in particular come to my door. Mostly it's Jehovah's witnesses or Mormon's that come knocking. The thing that I object to is that even when I tell them that I am a Christian, they still go on like they didn't hear me.

I love the church I used to go to. I'm ashamed to admit that I've become too busy (and lazy) to go anymore. Getting three little ones ready to go anywhere is so tiring for this "old" mom that I would have a hard time enjoying myself.

I'm sorry If I gave the wrong impression :o

[eaglesprings]

babyduck: Your church is very friendly, and I didn't mean for my post to say anything negative about them, at all! A very nice gentleman called after my visit there and thanked us for coming. He wasn't pushy, at all, just real friendly. And, everyone at VBS was super nice last summer. Your church is one of the three we're considering. I don't consider it too large, and it's very similar to our church back home. I regret we haven't been back for another visit because I want husband to come, too. It was just me last time.

[baby duck]

Oh, I don't think anyone has been negative at all. There are always many differences between church doctrines, and once you weed that out, you have to find a place that you are comfortable with size-wise. We have exploded in size in the 10+ years that DH and I have attended; and the church recognizes that growth of that nature is not necessarily a good thing. The leadership has tried really hard to point people to places where they can feel welcome, but that doesn't mean that people don't fall through the cracks. Size hurts all sorts of ministries, not just the welcoming committee.

The elders are also trying to provide more time for Dave to study, teach and write. The church has finally hired an associate pastor (the position has been empty for a couple of years) and the plan is for Dave and Kem to alternate months. So, if you do wander back by to visit, don't be surprised if someone different is preaching.

[eaglesprings]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that as long as we were getting something out of the message. At our church back home, we enjoyed the youth pastor's sermons as much as the Senior pastor's sermons. We liked them both.

We're also not necessarily avoiding large churches. In a populated area such as this, most churches are going to be large. I agree, one can narrow down a search a good bit by doctrine. Some large churches try to draw people in by various methods, but keep the teaching a little too simple, or too centered on the church itself, and older Christians are left feeling a little unchallenged. That was the point of the article written, although the comment Lon Chaney posted brought up some other issues, too. As I've said, I have not noticed this about your church, at all, and I'm so glad you didn't take it that way.