Is my church stuck? Am I?

Dear pastor,

Will anything ever get better at your church? Will you ever see more attendees, more volunteers and sufficient income? Is the church always going to face declining numbers, passion and interest?

I know, these questions seem blunt and perhaps a bit pessimistic, but reality is that many pastors have considered these questions (maybe many different times) with an uncertainty about what is next.

You and I are the heralds of hope. We remind people EVERY SINGLE TIME, that God is bigger, stronger, wiser, holier, more faithful than anything and everyone else. We remind people EVERY SINGLE TIME, that there is always hope and that God is willing and able to change them and their families. We remind them that God even sometimes changes their circumstances and is capable of changing entire churches, cities and nations.

Yet at times we wonder if we have spoken prematurely, or that perhaps God isn’t working and doing the same miracles today as He has in the past. Sometimes we are tempted to believe that the only churches that are growing are the ones who are “stealing sheep” or entertaining people or watering down the message.

But the reality is that God is moving around the world, RIGHT NOW, and people are being saved and baptized, lives and families are being changed. Furthermore, we know that RIGHT NOW churches are being revived and new churches planted and some communities, cities and nations are seeing the hand of God at work in their midst.

So why not in your church? Why not in your town? What is being done wrong? What is not being done that should be?

The answer is that we don’t know. But God does. We don’t know if it is lack of faith, or outright disobedience and defiance. We don’t know if perhaps God is building our character and patience and perseverance. We don’t know if God is arranging all the pieces of the puzzle until we finally see it come together. We don’t know if people have given up too soon, or if the devil is winning certain battles. We might not even know the areas of victory and the miracles and the stories of transformation that are taking place in our churches and towns. There is a mystery that often shrouds the kingdom work we are part of. 

But this I know (and you do too, if you are honest with yourself): God is still on the throne. God is the One who has called and is equipping and sourcing those who will abide in Him. If you and I will trust and obey Him in all things, He will indeed work things out for His glory and our good. If we persevere, not losing hope, not backing down, not giving up, not compromising…God will do a divine work that has eternal reward.

This doesn’t mean that our ministry will all of a sudden grow numerically. Or that we will see record baptisms or amazing new, creative ministries. What it means is that God will be lifted up and in His own way and time, He will draw people unto Himself.

I want to pastor a church where hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands of people are saved, sanctified and mobilized. (Not that I want to pastor a mega-church) But I am reminded that I am indeed already part of just such a church: the church of Jesus Christ. But alas, I may not pastor a local group that sees exponential growth and effectiveness. 

I will certainly work zealously to be both faithful and fruitful. But may we also remember that we can plant and water, but God gives the growth.

I would love to tell you that if you persevere you will see droves of new people saved, baptized, engaged and serving in your local parish. That may or may not be the case. But if you persevere, there will be an eternal harvest and God will be glorified. Let us keep our eyes fixed above and let us cling to the promises that God will save and sanctify. Let us be joyful and hopeful and faithful. Let us work hard and seek to learn and grow personally and be creative. But at the end of the day, let us keep trusting God who gives the increase.