Extracurricular Ministry Popping Up

This spring is popping up all sorts of extracurricular ministry opportunities.

I finished up preaching 5 great weeks at Parkway BC in the end of January.

I led a children’s ministry consultation for my home church Campbellsville Baptist from November till February and now serve as a member of the Children’s Ministry Lead Team.  We really have a desire to reach and encourage families and children in this community (http://cbcfamilies.wordpress.com)

Starting tomorrow (Feb. 28), I will spend the next 5 weeks at Columbia Baptist Church consulting with them in community outreach strategies and Sunday school discipleship efforts as part of the KBC Find It Here emphasis.

This coming up weekend (March 5-6) I will be the speaker for the Blackford Breckenridge Bapt. Assoc. DiscipleNow weekend.  I got to do this last year and it was way too much fun.  100+ teenagers, 25+ leaders from over 20 churches all coming together for worship, Bible study, and community.  I also get to privilege to train their leaders in how to be a decision counselor for their students.

Then in 3 weeks I leave for the Holy Land.  A 10-day tour with 29 students, faculty, and friends of Campbellsville University walking where Jesus walked and seeing the sites which hold a piece of our heritage of faith.

There is even more opportunities possibly coming down the pike  after Easter.

I am so grateful and humbled by the fact that God chooses to use me in His kingdom’s work.  I am always reminded when I think about his grace and mercy that I deserve none of this.  Thank Lord for using me your servant.

The Age of the Medichurch

If the 90′s were the age of the megachurch, then the 10′s will be the age of the medichurch.  The medium-sized church will be the flavor of choice for many in the coming decade.  Medichurches, which have between 500-1000 in attendance, are the best of both worlds.

Financially the medichurch is healthy and can therefore provide certain amenities smaller churches can not afford.  Amenities such as nice childcare facilities, high def technology in worship, additional pastoral staff, and comfy seating are part of the decision making process.  These medichurches have resources to “do” ministry in their community and around the world without constant fund-raising and solicitation.  Because of the number of people resources, they can pull together and actually make a positive difference in their neighborhoods.

But more than anything else, the medichurch is big enough to be full, but not too big to get lost.  People in a megachurch (1500+) can get lost in the crowd.  Unless the megachurch has an effective process for moving the crowd into small groups, the backdoor of the church is very large.  In the medichurch, when you miss church, people still notice and ask.

Conversely, the smaller church (250 or less) is really going to struggle in the 10′s.  The consumer attitude of the American evangelical is making it more and more difficult for a seeking family to choose a smaller church over a medichurch knowing they have limited programs and potential.   Whether we like it or not, the “what’s in it for me” mentality is very present when outsiders are considering a new church home.  More so now than ever before.

Watch out smaller church and the megachurch, the medichurch is here to stay.