There is a basic difference between churches in rural areas in America and churches in cities. In many cases, the churches in cities are in areas that are seeing growth, and sometimes massive growth, in population. Almost all rural churches have stagnant or even greatly reduced local population from what they used to have. For example, in the last 3 rural congregations that I have preached for, there is no longer a local community. There used to be a community, but the whole area has gradually become depopulated and most of the membership has to travel quite a bit of distance to come to church. Now, I do know that even in growing metropolitan areas SOME areas of town will have come into decline and this bleeds over into the church as well. I am not talking of those areas. However, I am not observing churches in growing urban areas experiencing a corresponding growth in the church in those cities. Why is that?? Let us pursue that for just a moment:
First, let us see some common reasons why the church stagnates in any area:
1. There is a shift in focus from Evangelism to youth and family ministry. The problem is that a lot of the time youth work becomes a glorified babysitting service FOR THE CHURCH and family ministry likewise becomes counseling FOR THE MEMBERS. The outward look is lost.
2. Technology is a problem. It is not tech itself, but rather how it is mismanaged. The churches have done a poor job by and large of letting people know the difference between the church as an assembly (1 Cor. 11:18 through chapter14) and “online” church, which is a personal devotion. The church has not fought the good fight for a social church rather than an insulated and separated group. The group no longer works to a common goal and does not know each other, so evangelism naturally suffers while everyone looks for personal self-improvement. God says the way you improve yourself is to bring another to Christ! (Romans 10:1; 1 Cor. 3:15; Lev. 19:18; etc.).
3. There is a lack of leadership. When a rural congregation of 75 has no elders we rightly think it a shame. When an urban congregation of 400 has 3 elders should we think it a success? Not much happens when the church thinks it has to run by democratic committee. We all serve under King Jesus (Rev. 19:16) and the church is not a bureaucratic democracy. We could go on with this but suffice to say there are many common problems that keep the modern church from actively evangelizing.
Let us now pass on to some things that scare me about the urban churches that ought to be expanding instead of contracting:
1. They need a plan of some sort for community evangelism. It may not be the House To House system, which is popular nowadays, but there needs to be some kind of community evangelistic approach. Rural churches MUST network out from their existing family units to evangelize(commonly called friendship evangelism) since there is no natural community, but this is not the case in the urban churches to which I am referring. They have schools nearby; they have apartment complexes, etc. It is very negligent not to take advantage of that.
2. Evangelism must be the emphasis, not just another one of the activities of the congregation. Special activities and programs will not stop the bleeding in a congregation which is not experiencing the joy of conversions brought on by Bible studies (cf. Acts 8 with Philip and the Ethiopian).
3. The preaching must be more forceful. Character studies and anecdotes given in a smooth, reassuring tone just let people leave church with the “I’m OK, you’re OK” feeling. If everybody thinks everyone is saved, then why evangelize? 4. The churches must be hospitable. The business right across the road WANTS foot traffic, but just try and visit our urban church buildings nowadays. “Well, you can’t be too careful…” they say. However, that does NOT mean you have to live scared and be uninviting. A few of you preachers and the secretary are there, what are you afraid of?? ANY business that succeeds WANTS people to come in to their building. And while they may not like it when a local vagrant or mentally unstable person wanders in, it doesn’t make them turn their retail business into Fort Knox. Someone tell me where I am wrong. You just can’t live in fear of man and get anything done. I HAVE preached at the town church before. Did we get vagrants, bums, ex-cons, etc. coming by? Of course! You help them with the Scriptures as your guide just the same way as you help all people – without showing fear or favor.
Brethren, in this next generation we are about to become what we have scoffed at in the Disciples of Christ denomination. Our rural areas or emptying out, it is a must that the more urban churches survive and branch out into the suburbs where people are. I am firmly convinced that plantings must be made where the people are instead of focusing on where they are not. SOMEBODY has to preach for the rural churches, but us rural preachers cannot be expected to raise up a faithful church of 300+ in the middle of nowhere. Let’s get with it in the city, brethren!
-Tim McHenry, TBC Online Instructor
