The Pace is Quickening
The world around us is changing and that change is occurring at a dizzying pace. The most important aspect of all this change is how we humans deal with it. Is the human race as a whole, ready for change at this pace? We see signs all around us that seem to say no. Crime, broken families, substance abuse and a general loosening of morals are just some of the side effects. It can be too much for a lot of folks. Your church or bible study group can be ground zero for helping people deal with this new aspect of life.
A 2014 Pew Research study indicated a 7.8% drop in adherents to the Christian Faith. The same study documented a rise of nearly 19 million people claiming no religious affiliation. In other words, the number of people searching for answers or direction in their lives appears to be growing rapidly. This corresponds well with the drop in Church attendance that nearly all mainline churches have experienced. The rapid pace of life today may be causing more and more people to question and search for guidance in a confusing world. Can YOUR Church or Study Group be part of the answer?
Growth vs Connection
Mega Churches have been around for decades. They proliferated in the 1980’s and 1990’s and have proven to be a popular worship option for large numbers of people. Often draining membership and attendance at more traditional churches. According to 2010, Hartford Institute listed approximately 50 churches that had average attendance exceeding 10,000. That is spreading the Good Word on an industrial scale.
Most of us are familiar with the neighborhood church from our childhoods. Most American neighborhoods had a couple of small, corner churches and everyone knew everyone. Today, the person praying next to you may be from two towns away. This loss of that personal connection, of actually knowing the person next to you is hard for many parishioners. Is mega everything helpful or harmful to Christianity a good thing or a bad thing? The jury is still out for many of us. [tweet_box design=”box_04″ float=”right” width=”40%”]Church planting is a strong and ongoing focus for many believers[/tweet_box]
Smaller May be Better
While Christianity may be contracting, there are opportunities for growth. Church planting is a strong and ongoing focus for many believers. In the busy world of today, many are beginning to realize that personal connections and support are very important to growing the faith and growing your group. There is a great article on planting new churches at Christianity Today, which includes a Top 10 list of tips for a church planter. Many small study groups can be the perfect “seed” for a new church.
I found #5 to be of particular interest: “Finding worship space is an uphill spiritual battle; start praying.” Starting or growing a church is a lot like starting a business, finding space to operate can be daunting. A building is out of the question and rental space can be cost prohibitive. Is your small group or new church looking for a garden to plant yourselves, grow and flourish?
A Garden for Your Growth
Whether you are a new pastor looking to form a flock, a small group who has outgrown livingrooms or a newly planted church, The Beacon Center can be just the place to flourish. Our facility is the answer to your growing needs. Boasting plenty of space for up to 80 people, our uplifting and neutral space is perfect for coming together.
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