“So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work.” Colossians 1:10
People of faith are called to be action type of people. If you remember what Jesus’ brother James wrote in his letter that is part of our Holy Scriptures, you know that he said we are to be doers of the Word, not merely hearers or readers. In Micah the Lord God calls on us to be activists for justice as one of the requirements that God places on us, including showing love and mercy for all others and walking humbly with our God.
Some of the last words of Jesus Christ before He ascended into heaven were an assignment to the faithful … GO INTO THE WORLD and MAKE DISCIPLES and “be my witnesses to the end of the earth!” I am pretty sure that in making that statement, Jesus included South Jersey and the Delaware Valley in his directive that we are to be Jesus’ witnesses to the end of the earth.
It seems like yesterday, but it was a few years ago that I issued a challenge to the St. Paul’s church family out of my concern for the future of this special church. I stated that we needed to be focused on where this church will be in the year 2035 and what each member of the church can do to ensure that St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of West Deptford is still around and is still a vital church for Jesus Christ. I suggested that we needed to have at least 130 people in worship in church every Sunday and frankly, that still holds true. I am still concerned for our future as I watch the Westville and Colonial Manor churches close their doors this summer.
Our Bishop, Rev. Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, at our Annual Conference issued a directive to the clergy … a clear directive with the power of her episcopal office behind it. Every church is required to put into place an action plan for church growth. No more excuses; no more, oh we can’t; it was a “you must” order from the Bishop as she reminded all of us that Jesus told us to go into the world and be His witnesses. She said our churches need to start doing that.
Frankly, I won’t be St. Paul’s pastor when 2035 arrives. My time at this incredible church is quickly fading but I am concerned that even though we have more people in worship than many churches and even though we have some great missional projects … I am worried that we aren’t seeing younger people coming to church. We have seen our Sunday School numbers vaporize. I can’t help but be concerned as to how many people will be in church on a Sunday morning in 2035.
So I am asking for your help. Your ideas! I have already asked the Leadership Team for their thoughts and ideas. What can or should we consider doing to stop the shrinkage of St. Paul’s and to actually grow and build up our membership? What are you willing to do to make it happen? Frankly, no matter who the pastor is, it takes the church family’s activism to bring new people in by being invitational and by sharing the story of our church’s love for all, missional heart, and joy in worship. Paul writes that we are to live worthy of the Lord and “bear fruit.” That fruit is going into the world for Christ.
It is my hope that on a random Sunday in 2035, perhaps on Pentecost, I will come back to visit and worship at St. Paul’s and I will discover a packed sanctuary singing the songs of faith while sharing the stories of how the people of this church are still actively showcasing the love of Jesus in the world.
Talk with me about your ideas. Email me at pdatstpauls@gmail.com. No idea is silly, and every idea has possibilities. St. Paul’s is recognized right now as a vital, energized, loving, welcoming, joy-filled, and Christ-focused church by people in the Conference and in our community. I hope it remains that way for generations to come!
Blessings,
Pastor Dave