Epic Churches for Epic Times

E-P-I-C(onnected) -- Part 2

Building Connections Where Few If Any Exist.

PCUSA churches that blaze the trail to this new world will have powerful ministries for years to come. Few will try; even fewer will succeed. I am aware that those are hard words—but they come from the battle-worn trenches of church redevelopment. Our Presbytery’s Redevelopment Committee met with several struggling churches and there was one constant theme—they wanted growth but refused to change what they were doing. If churches that barely have a critical mass of participants refuse to make the necessary changes then what would lead one to believe that other churches would be willing to make the sacrifice of change?

My wife and I just bought a different house that sits on an acre. The area is zoned at four houses per acre. We plan on dividing the property into four separate parcels and eventually building on each of them. The current house (built in the early 1970s) has a septic system and is on a neighborhood/community well. New subdivisions have gone in just across the street. There is now water and sewer within a few feet of the property. The community well cannot have any more houses on the system. The water pressure is less that desirable. We could choose to keep the current house and property the same. Here’s the challenge. We can take the time, effort and $$$ and divide the property as long as we hook into the public utilities (water and sewer). The growth potential in terms of investment has a tremendous upside IF we are will to make those connections.

Here’s my fear for the PCUSA—it will be business as usual! What connections with the “boomers” have been made? When was the last time a Praise and Worship Band/Team led the worship for multiple days at GA, Synod or Presbytery? A neighboring PCUSA church just decided on the new hymnal they were going to buy—it wasn’t the PCUSA hymnal. They went with a non-denominational hymnal so that it would have the best of the older hymns (many of which have been removed for political correctness from our hymnal) and some of the newer praise and worship songs. Notice, that hymnal didn’t come from our denomination. Not every church wants to sing some of those “newer” songs, but many do. They get ZERO help from the PCUSA. Is the PCUSA helping us with web design, blogging, wikis, etc. No way. We can’t even connect with the “boomers!” How can we expect to connect with the postmodern culture?

Before going on, I realize that our churches do have some younger people in them. Most of these students are the children of “churched” parents. These students might even bring a few of their friends to church. However, WE ARE MISSING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POSTMODERN GENERATION.

WE NEED TO BEGIN NOW! Even before we have any postmodern participants in our churches. So where do we start? Here are some of my thoughts.

First, pray, pray and then pray some more. If the Holy Spirit isn’t leading it then it is sure to fail.

Second, visit some church web sites that are reaching the postmodern culture. Compare my church’s web site with that of Mars Hill Church. Do you see the difference! Our “contemporary” service needs to have its own web site that looks like it was designed by someone under the age of thirty. Don’t stop at the design of the web sites. Look to see how the churches are connecting with people.

Third, visit some churches that are reaching the postmodern culture. What is the “feel” of the church? How do they look? How does the service flow? What does the pastor look like? Look. Learn. Don’t judge! Don’t condemn!

Fourth, unless you have a death wish, don’t try to convert your Sunday morning service to match what you have seen on your church visits. Honor those who built the church with the sweat and blood. They need to be cultivated, even converted, to see new models of ministry. Then… don’t just think outside the box, BLOW UP THE BOX!

Finally, get moving! You and I may not be the ones to lead these new ministries. We might need to bring in someone to do that. That’s ok. Don’t let your ego get in the way. Speaking of ego, don’t let your liturgical ego get in the way, either!

We already have a generation of kids who are being raised by parents that are unchurched. We cannot wait as another generation is raised apart from Christ.