If ever there is a time to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, it is now!! There is GOOD NEWS THROUGH CHRIST! And as his disciples it is up to us to do his work. Scripture tells us the harvest is great but the laborers are few, scripture also tells us we will be persecuted, but most importantly scripture tells us we will be victorious. What can we do NOW to spread the gospel message to everyone. Every mainline protestant denomination is losing members by the thousands. The churches that are growing are the Mormon and non denominational churches. And when one looks at them closely regarding church growth, they have a plan for out reach. Richard Allen always had a plan, he prayed and God gave him everything he needed. The time is ripe for revival, what are we going to do. We can not look to our pastors, we must look to the Bible and God for an action plan. So here is my proposal, let's have an A.M.E Today church growth online spiritual workshop. Everyday let's post an idea, an encouragement of how to reach out. The longest journey begins with the first step. My church does not have a church building. Youth group meets in my apartment, Bible study is done in a park, we are growing and God is giving us more ministry. So, let's see what we can come up with for suggestions. I know we can do it for the Bible says we can!!!!!

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2002

Answers

I agree with you wholeheartedly, my sister. It is definitely time, especially when so many are concerned with people leaving the denomination. Hmmmm....church growth spiritual workshop.....possibly.. a discussion on understanding your gifts and recognizing your calling may be a start in that through this you can discover what you are to be doing and learn how to go about getting it done.

Let me think an pray about this a little more....I don't want this to just be MY thoughts,but HIS.

Blessings be unto you

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2002

First, let's ask what kinds of people mainline churches are losing. Are they troublemakers, or otherwise fleshly people. In most cases I don't believe they are. My family left the mainline movement in 1978 while I was a teenager, and my parent's motive was pure.

No, in most cases these are good folks who are leaving. What is it they're seeking? In the case of my parents it was a Biblical doctrine and moral purity. They also sought a church that was serious about the Great Commission, and they found it. Now ask yourself, is that what your church provides?

That's just a start though. I left my parent's denomination not because it was becoming decadent, but because I found another place where I could grow closer to God than even my parent's denomination. There was an emphasis on the supernatural. They were interested in pressing in in a hot pursuit of God.

When a person seeks God with their whole heart they'll look wherever they can find Him. They become less interested in tradition and denominational loyalties. They don't want to limit themselves to those boxes. They want to take the limits off of where they'll allow God to take them. The only limits they'll accept are those that contradict the Word. What they won't accept is someone telling them, "No, that's not the way we do it in our church. This is our program and we won't consider changing. This is our music, and we won't change." This suggests setting limits on God's dealings. They'll depart when they outgrow that church.

How many people can agree that it's possible God has more for us than we've experienced? There are whole new vistas to explore with God, and that means removing barriers, and accepting changes God brings our way. You'll find yourself exploring new doctrines, new music, new methods, all kinds of things. You won't accept everything, but you'll find your thinking has been way too limited.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2002

Dear Sister Rogers,

I agree with you that we need to have an online spiritual workshop. I also agree with you that God will answer our prayers just as he answered Richard Allen's prayers by providing him with everything he needed to start the AME denomination. I was just reading these comments from a "Prayer Touch" newsletter that I receive monthly. The quotation is as follows:

"Often we wear ourselves out more than the enemy does, when we think and talk about issues, instead of praying to the One who already knows the outcome of all temporal and eternal issues of our lives".

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2002

I am always weary of the word revival. Only that which is dead can be revived

Love Clive

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2002

Considering where we should be the word "dead" isn't far off the mark, which makes the word "revival" appropriate. Like the Laodiceans we think our churches have it going on, when what they actually have is only the dimmest shadow of the what the Book of Acts models for us.

Referring to the thread on books, let me once again point everyone to the books, "God Chasers" and "The Fear of the Lord". They explain in rather embarrassing terms how far we've slidden in the west.

We have a second problem though in that we misuse the word "revival". First, we actually schedule revival services. One cannot schedule revival. It's a sovereign move of God similar to what was seen in Act 2:

Second, preachers tell people their churches are experiencing revival. This is either hype or ignorance of what revival really means. The best church service you've ever been in pales to true revival. For one thing revival is more a movement than a meeting. It turns entire cities, regions, even nations on their ear. People come from all over the world to take part, and they take it back with them. Others quit their jobs to move permanently to the area.

There are many others things that happen in revival, but one especially notable one is judgment and the fear of the Lord. Once people are exposed to the glory of the Lord in this way most will be very careful in all they do. I've heard of those in leadership resigning their posts because they tremble at the higher standard these posts carry (lending credibility to Watchman Nee's exhortation to beware anyone who craves a position of authority - it shows they don't understand authority).

When the glory of God falls on a place God's tolerance for sin reaches new lows, and like Ananias and Saphira, people are judged quite harshly for sin in this environment. This leads to some in the community actually being afraid to associate with the believers.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2002