The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail

This past week we had the privilege of having the staff from Capitol Hill Church of God with us here at Britton Christian Church. I had received a phone call two weeks ago from Rev. Davis who said that she had been told that they had to come and visit us - that it would be an encouragement to them. We set an appointment and this week it took place.

Pastor Ross Craig described their situation to me. Capitol Hill Church of God was once a thriving congregation many years ago. Today, the long-time white church is sitting in a neighborhood that is largely Hispanic, but with a smaller number of black and white folks. The church has lost touch. They want to reach out, but some of the members don't want to lose their identity or have their church changed.

Pastor Craig and Rev. Davis, a black woman from Brooklyn, New York who has what she described as a heart for the city, know that God is leading them to move out into the community and make an impact for the Kingdom. They are struggling just to keep Rev. Davis on a meager, part-time salary for her full-time work.

I showed them the video that highlights our many ministries and they were bug-eyed. They heard the story of how we once were a church near death, struggling just to survive. With desperation in their voices they asked Ray and I to pray for them and they said, "We must have you come and speak to our people. Would you please come?"

I will be going to Capitol Hill Church of God in the near future to share with them and try to encourage them to be a lighthouse of hope in their community. I will share with them the same message that I have shared with many struggling churches all over the country - God can and will do extraordinary things through ordinary people who trust in their extraordinary God!

There is a very disturbing trend that has captured my heart for some time now. Rarely a week goes by that I don't hear news of another church closing or receive a phone call from a pastor who is struggling to keep the doors open. In the eight years that I have been here there are some key

indicators that the Lord has clearly defined for me as I have visited with struggling churches.

The vast majority of the struggling churches that I have spoken with are older churches that are located in urban settings. They are churches that have a long history of ministry and they are still trying minister like they did in the "old days."

They are historically white congregations who are now in ethnically and racially mixed neighborhoods.

They lack young, dynamic, visionary leadership. Young, dynamic leaders like the men and women of the Leadership Training Center who have a passion for God. Young, visionary leaders like these are being offered larger salaries by suburban congregations. Because of limited funds, urban churches can't compete for their leadership skills.

They are churches that have decided that they must turn inward to preserve their history and future. They are afraid of losing their identity and particular style of ministry and worship. In response to their fear these churches turn inward, concerned only for their members, and forgetting the call of Jesus to be a servant and win the lost to Christ.

These are four distinguishing marks of churches in decline that I have seen over and over again throughout the last eight years. I'm sure some of you are thinking to yourself, "But we aren't dying, so what's the big deal?" Others are thinking, "I'm just glad that's not us."

That just won't cut it folks. It is not enough for us to sit back and enjoy the fruits of God's blessing in our church and community while our brothers and sisters in other urban settings are gasping for life. Furthermore, not only are our sister churches gasping for life, but because of their decline our neighborhoods are declining. The two are so interwoven that they cannot be separated. The life of the community is dependent upon the life of the church.

There is no debate that there is something wrong with America today. We hear so much about the problems that are plaguing us, but it seems like most of the solutions being offered are tied to government intervention instead of soul transformation. The remedy for our ills is not, and never will be, the government. The prescription for what ails us is the Gospel and the crucible of the Gospel is the Church - the people of God. When the Church is hurting, lacking vision, and gasping for air, then you can bet your bottom dollar that the community will suffer the same ailments.