-
Does Your Church Have A Negative Reputation? You Can Reverse It
By Ron Edmondson on Feb 6, 2023
"Not that I seek the approval of man, but I wanted to be part of a church that would truly make a difference in our community, so much so that if we were gone, people would miss us."
“If it weren’t for those __________ churches…”
I will never forget that statement.
I was in my mid-twenties, serving on a board of the local non-profit. We were discussing how we could raise more support for the organization.
I had participated most of my working career (which was obviously short at that point), financially contributing personally and helping them raise funds. Every year, we had the same discussion. How could we raise more money to do more good?
In the middle of our discussion, a greatly respected and leading businessman in our community made that statement. “If it weren’t for those _______churches, we would have plenty of money. All churches do is take from the community, serve their own interests, and rob the community of needed money for charity.”
The room instantly echoed and agreed with his bold remark. I was young and intimidated, so I said nothing.
Honestly, however, those words stung.
As an active member of one of the largest churches in town, I didn’t believe anything he was saying. Our church, along with most churches in our community, was doing good things to help people.
If all we did was change people’s lives and send better people back into the community, we would be doing good things, but there were many church-connected ministries helping people in our city. Not to mention, many of the top contributors to this organization were active members of some of those same churches. (I was one of them.)
I never forgot those words, though. They shaped me and my view of ministry.
Years later, when God placed the dream on my heart to plant a church in my hometown, I knew some of what that church would look like.
Not that I seek the approval of man, but I wanted to be a part of a church that reversed that paradigm some have from the outside looking into the church. I wanted to be part of a church that would truly make a difference in our community, so much so that if we were gone, people would miss us.
One of the first things we did as a church was to partner with our city to reach some low income, impoverished areas of the community.
For the past several years, once a year, we have put together as many as 1,400 people to invest in people outside the walls of our church. We sent over 800 people into our schools to meet the requests of principals and teachers, completing things their budgets couldn’t afford to do.
We participated with local radio stations to gather thousands of pounds of food for the poor.
We’ve helped to launch a ministry to homeless people and one to military wives. We’ve been consistently called upon by our community to help with local festivals and events and even by our mayor to help in flood recovery efforts.
My wife, who works in a local credit union and is active in the community, is frequently asked, “Are you part of that church that’s always helping people?” We love that question. We both get it often.
I think our intentional investment is one of the primary reasons our church has grown into one of the fastest growing churches in America in a little over six years.
Please understand, I’m not trying to brag about what we are doing.
I believe other churches are making a huge difference in their community, certainly many more than ours. I simply want to encourage any church I lead to show our city the love of Jesus and maybe even encourage your church (and mine) to do more.
I think we have a better chance of reaching our cities for Christ if they know we care. The more we get out of our buildings and meet real needs, the more we’ll have opportunities to share the hope we know is in Christ.
In my time at Grace, we’ve tried to be intentional about letting our community know we love them … and so far … it is working. I’ve got a new assignment in ministry ahead, and in my discussions so far I’m encouraging this church also to greatly invest in its community.
What is your church doing to display the love of Christ to your community in a practical way?
Related Preaching Articles
-
Can We Preach The Tithe?
By Dean Shriver on Jun 30, 2018
Tithing is a volatile topic—even away from the pulpit. Dean Shriver suggests a novel approach to the "fuzzy edges" of tithing.
-
Just What Is Pulpit Plagiarism?
By Ron Forseth on Jan 1, 2024
Executive Editor of SermonCentral.com Ron Forseth answers the thorny question in defining pulpit plagiarism.
-
Why Preparing Sermons Takes Me So Long
By Joe Mckeever on Jul 31, 2020
Proper preparation is not for the faint of heart. It takes prayer, study, and practice.
-
94 Servant Evangelism Ideas For Your Church
By Steve Sjogren on Apr 8, 2023
Servant evangelism wins the heart before it confronts the mind. A small act of kindness nudges a person closer to God, often in a profound way, as it bypasses one's mental defenses.
-
Managing The Clock In Your Preaching
By James O. Davis on May 29, 2020
James O. Davis reminds preachers that the length of a presentation is not determined by the clock but by the crowd.
-
10 Reasons Small Churches Tend To Stay Small
By Joe Mckeever on Sep 21, 2024
After working for years among hundreds of small congregations, Joe McKeever speaks to the subtle growth barriers that tend to go unnoticed or unaddressed in stagnant churches.
-
Remembering Why You Said Yes To Pastoring
By Chuck Warnock on Dec 16, 2022
There are times in a pastor's life when the clarity of our call fades, discouragement clouds our memory, and we wonder, "Why did I ever want to be a pastor?"
-
The Critical Relationship Between Pastor And Worship Leader
By Chuck Fromm on Mar 4, 2020
Worship Leader magazine editor Chuck Fromm discusses the key imperative in a pastor establishing a meaningful relationship with his/her worship leader and team.