Church Growth -
A New Approach
Margaret and I had lunch recently with Reverend Mike Hays, the pastor at Britton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma City. He is also board chairman of a nonprofit corporation called Urban Impact. Our conversation about his ministry greatly encouraged us. He told a story of church growth such as I had never heard before.
The changing neighborhood had caused a gradual loss of church members - a situation that threatened their very existence in that location. But now they have an amazing story of growth, from about 70 people to an average of 270 on Sundays.
At age twenty-nine, Mike was called to Oklahoma City, from a church in Plano, TX, where he was a youth pastor. When he arrived there were only a few children in the church. The nursery door was locked. When he asked about neighborhood children he was told, there were not any. However, when Mike went into the community he saw them everywhere.
A short time after arriving, many of the members began a time of praying earnestly for a new direction. They were led to a commitment to serve the community in which their church was located.
Now six years later they have -
One noteworthy aspect is the high percentage lay participation. These various programs involve many people to work both in the church and out in the community. When these 'front line troops' come together on Sundays they have a lot to praise God for.
Urban
Impact was formed as a separate 501(c)(3) organization.
They have had success enticing corporations to support various activities
of this entity. One gives $12,000 for an extensive summer camp program
for neighborhood children. They have several computers in the church basement
now that students can use in the tutoring program.
Mike said, concerning new member outreach, "We never consider trying to attract or hold just the professional or upscale families." The church is now driven by a desire to serve. "We want to have a meaningful program to our community.
"God has met all of our financial needs." When a person was needed to head up the non-profit organization, Urban Impact , one church member came forward with an earmarked gift to cover this entire need. He said they see over and over how God uses the most unlikely people.
Before sun up one morning when Mike arrived at church there was a man slumped on a motor cycle in the parking lot. Mike approached him and eventually invited him inside. The man had lost family and possessions during the time he was in jail. Mike said, "It looks like your only hope is to trust God. Let me tell you about that."
The man was ready to repent; he gave his heart to Christ and began attending services and special Bible studies. Later he asked the pastor if he could start a Kwon Do class for neighborhood kids. Today that man is a church leader, his family has joined him at church and they are reunited as a family again.
When I asked him how his denomination accepted this new approach to 'being the church,' he smiled and said, "There is a mixed reaction from pastors in this area." He said, however, that the national office seems intrigued. He has been asked to serve on a national advisory committee that is focused on seeking God’s vision for the churches in the future. The group of five pastors will be meeting at this year’s national convention.
The key he said is "intention." We must forthrightly seek to minister to people and not worry about impressing anyone but God." The formerly all white congregation now has a nice mix of white and African Americans. The music has been changed to accommodate this new mix. They offer a second "very contemporary" service that is mostly praise music.
Recently an Hispanic couple has attended Sunday services. Mike said next Sunday there will be a prayer in Spanish. Why have a prayer in Spanish when 270 people don’t speak that language? "Because there is one couple there who does," he said.
A church is as large as the lives that are touched through the congregation, by the love of God. Caring is the ultimate measure of a congregation's size. -- Carl S. Dudley
Dee Stribling
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