The other day while me and my friends was singing on the corner of the street, worshiping Christ an Adult of our the church where we use to be members approach me and ask me the following question: jerome," to be honest with us, why are our church, being almost 100 years old not growing at all?" This women has been a member of the church for 40 years. Now my question to my beloved friends/pastors/PE/etc, why do you think our church is not growing?

Anyone who wish to comment may, but I would realy like my South African brothers and sisters would.

Regards

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2002

Answers

When richard Allen founded the AME Church , no one in America thought the Church would spread to the continent of Africa.The church is growing in South Africa.In 1897 the first annual confrence was held in cape province SA,Today the AME church has members and churches in all the 9 provinces of SA.The church is not just growing in numbers structures and finacially but is also growing spiriually.In addition, The formation of the Africa Jurisdiction Council as vihicle to the ongoing transformation in terms of leadership expansion in our Zion,Is a visible sign of church growth not only in Africa but in the whole connection.I want to thank God for the divine wisdom and guidance he is continually putting in the minds and hearts of our Bishops,Pastors and laity collectively to lead the African methodist Episcopal Church in the right direction at the right time. Let us therefore keep on praying for the growth of the church.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2002

Jerome, I share your concern for our Zion. Though the first respondent is mentioning there was growth over the past hundred- and- five years, growth in the past ten years have been sluggish. There are too many members 'who-use-to-be-AME's' out there. I am saying it is because they have a lack of vision and are fearful of going into the deep for Christ. The churches (if there are really any) are growing laterally, in other words we take in members from other churches. We do not want to go into the domain of satan and reclaim it back for Jesus.

I can feel your frustration and share your pain with ministers that are downsizing the church to their stature and small thinking. But, we must keep on trying and win souls for Christ. One of the first things we need to do is to pray and fast so that Jesus can give us direction and order our steps.

You should make an appointment with your pastor and share your concerns with him.

God Bless You.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2002

I THINK THAT OUR CHURCU IS NOT GROWING BECAUSE MORE ESPECIALLY US ,THE YOUTH WE ARE BEING ATTRACTED BY THE THING THAT WE THINK THEY ARE NICE THIS IN OUR DAYS AND ANOTHER REASON IS BECAUSE OUR PASTORS ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG ONES THEY ARE NOT OUR EXAMPLES IN DOING GOOD THINGS BUT THEY ARE SHOWING US THE WRONG WAY IN WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEHING THE PULPIT.

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2002

THe church is not growing because it lacks adequate leaders. In many cases in our church people in leadership positons are there through circumstances and not because they are true leaders. If we had true leaders, we would be able to identify our shortcomings and work on that. Each person in our church has a role to play but if our Pastors want to be the key role players in everything the ordinary is not able to fulfill his/her role. Thus pastors should minister and continue winning souls for Christ thus ensuring the growth in the church and I am sure there are members in the church who can focus on the day to day running of the church. Realise your full potential and use it for Christ and we will not be asking why there is no growth.

-- Anonymous, May 04, 2003

The Church will stay empty for as long as the leaders do not practice what they preach and lead by example. I was very annoyed the other day when the pastor saying dehumanising things to the congregation after the sermon, retaliating to the gossip that had happen previously outside the church. For as long they do not respect the church no one will be interested in church. There is only thing that they must know is, we are coming from different backgrounds and by going to church we all seek to enrich our soul. They feed God's people with the word of God. They will see the results.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2003

We are all children of Allen, if we work as one , the people will she our good wroks and join us! Yea we will grow!

God Bless Wesley Crowley

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2003