SILVER BULLETS AND STATION WAGONS

I used to wish this for the long term declined churches: simple solutions for complex problems which could be enacted in short order, with little sacrifice, low cost and the payoff guaranteed. 

You and I (dear reader) know that's all fantasy. 

That alone is the reason churches (read the people who lead and participate in them) struggle to make the necessary commitments to embrace and pursue change.

Often, when I meet with a decades long declining church, the dear sweet congregants express their longing for the revitalization of their beloved church. I love that they care so deeply about seeing their church reach people.

But often the initial thoughts of what might “fix” their church fall along two categories:

• Silver Bullets - a simple and seemingly magical solution to a complicated problem. 
• ​Station Wagons - a nostalgic ministry approach, outdated for today’s context, brought forward and suggested for use today.

You hear it it in their expressions and confessions;
 
“We just need to __________” 
“If we can just get ____________ then we'll grow"
“People these days just don’t want to _____________”
“Our world has become so _____________________”
“If we could just go back to _____________________”


I don’t doubt that behind these expressions are the desires of hearts that genuinely want to see their church grow, people to come to faith in Christ and experience transformation.
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And when I hear them, I also know there is work to do, often a lot of work.

Look at the Data - What Works and What Doesn’t
I should confess, I’ve become a bit of a data nerd, saying that with the utmost respect to actual data nerds. I love new ideas, initiatives and bold experiments - let’s do them! But let’s also measure their effectiveness. 

I’ve been around long enough to sniff out the church consultant/church growth strategist hype and marketing pitches that over promise and under deliver. When I see their ads for free guides on the socials, I sign up, and then unsubscribe of course so I won’t continually be bombarded by their marketing ploys.
 
What I receive is usually the same old recycled craft ranging from marketing and promotion, to light demographic analysis, to social media strategy to tips for better sermons that have nothing to do with actually growing in your ability to exegete a text.  

Rarely anything on prayer, nothing on mobilizing missionaries and training them to actually build relationships with non-Christians and share their Jesus story.

The material looks great on the surface, it’s eye-catching, it’s polished, the spokesperson looks great, hip, trendy, correctly be-spectacled and be-sneakered with the latest kicks. You get the idea. 

But does any of that really work? 
​Does the data bear out?
Not really. 

​Recognize This:one off simple solutions sound good but don’t work well on their own.
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I had the opportunity to do some consultant work for a state convention and one of the resources we produced was the chart below, check it out. 


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The main point here is that if you’re doing a thing, one thing or even a few things - they may not (likely won’t) lead to lasting change. 

You may see some fruit - I hope you do - but these things alone, by themselves do not turn a church around. 

Engage and Execute the Basics in Your Context

I have a Pastor friend who now serves as an Association leader. When he was revitalizing a church in a very non-churched culture and difficult ministry setting he remarked; “It’s really about the basics: prayer, teaching God’s word, getting to know people who are not Christians, sharing your faith, discipling the congregation and serving the community.  And, raising up leaders and mobilizing your people to do that along with you."

Refreshingly simple, hard to do (not in that it is complicated but that it’s definitely work) and the best news of all, it works in every context.  Read that again; it works in every context.

If your church is in decline you’ll need a plan, you’ll need to avoid the trap of expecting quick solutions and you’ll need to be ready to work, hard, for a long period of time.  

I think you can do it.  How about starting today? 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. What solutions have you tried which have proven unfruitful? Why did they not work? 
2. Are you or your people trusting or pursuing a “silver bullet” or “station wagon” approach to reverse the decline in your church? 
3. What would it look like for you to embrace the basics and apply them in your context? 
4. What’s your next step?

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