www.creativeladiesministry.com

[Guest]

I have something that has bothered me for a while. I dont understand why it seems some churchs just thrive and grow and you hear about the many pastors and departments they have and frankly, I must admit sometimes I get quite jealous. Our church is small, 100 people when they all show up, we have 1 pastor, everyone else is volunteer workers because sometimes it's hard to pay even the pastor (who is my husband by the way). The people that are dedicated and work the hardest seem to get burned out because they do it "all" and though we are a loving worshiping God fearing Bible teaching church, it seems we struggle while we watch these churches growing up all around us. When a new family moves in they see all the programs at the "big" church and go there (I don't know what those big churchs teach and I'm not putting down their teaching) but it's almost become a competition between churchs and Idon't like it. It reminds me of the little shops you used to see down town that got put out of business because people went to shop at the malls instead. Sometimes I get depressed when I hear people talking about the other churches. We get visitors and do alot of outreach in the community, but honestly, when the big churches have more to offer as far as "trips" and "bands" and "fun stuff" and "bus ministry" etc. it's not easy to keep those visitors coming. Maybe people go to church for the wrong reason, I don't know, I tell myself that alot, we are worshipping God and doing the right thing and I shouldn't let it bother me, but it does. What does it take for our struggling church to make it in a society such as this? I don't know if this makes much sense to anyone else, but I don't want to feel jealous when I hear about and see those big churches, I'm glad the kingdom of God is growing (at least I hope it is and that it's not just a show), but I want to know why it seems as though we aren't growing just because we don't have a band on Sunday or we don't sing praise music or we don't take our youth on trips because we can't afford it or we don't have a large facility for fellowships. Wasted enough space, maybe someone has a word that will help.
Bobbi

[preachywife]

Size isn't everything. it is what is inside that counts. Remember that. The lord said that in the end time, there will be MANY that will fall away.. I believe this to mean that MANY of GOD's people will turn from the truth and seek that which is right in his OWN eyes. TOO many people are looking for pleasures of the FLESH not seeking repentance and spiritual cleansing and such. Conviction is not a popular thing to want to have in our lives as sinners. Are all churches WRONG because they are BIG ? Absolutely NOT! My husband is also a pastor. His first one was a congregation of 35... the second of 100.... and his third of over 200 people. Size does not matter, it is what they are teaching and believing on the inside that counts~
Forgive me for NOT knowing where in the scriptures, maybe someone can help me, but it talks of MAN turning to ITCHING EARS of what he 'wants to hear.... instead of what he NEEDS to hear by the preaching of the word. I thought it was in Jude, but can't seem to find it.. I will have to dig now tho!
My husband is a MISSIONARY BAPTIST Pastor.. (most often then not our congregation is as yours! are you MB as well ? )but more then that we are BIBLE believers. IT is what is INSIDE that counts. Standing in the end before the All Mighty and saying BUT LORD LORD, I have done this in your name, I was part of a huge church, I did that in your name ( Matthew 7:21-23 ) will not enter in to the heaven. If a huge church is doing nothing more then playing in the flesh, then Lord help them. IF a small church is doing the same, THen LORD help them as well. Narrow IS THE PATH that leads to heaven and BROAD the path that leads to distruction. Even satan himself MIMICS GOD. Be careful and Try the spirits and STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED unto GOD. Many scriptures come in to my ear as I think on what your question is. I have many friends, Nazarene, Catholic, Ext. that i truely believe are saved and go to HUGE churches. SOME I believe are not practicing in a manner that is as Christ set up. ( remember, he turned the tables ) BUT I can also tell you that my husband has pastored MB churches that the congregation would NOT practice as Christ intended either~! Don't worry about the church down the street.... DO it as GOD HAS TOLD US TO and MOVE FORWARD... It isn't a GAME, iT is about saving lives, sharing CHRIST, and worshipping. we are now back at a church we came from 9 years ago.. NINE... the congregation size was 12 + my 5 now. YES, 12 the area has nearly trippled in growth since we been gone. SAD~!
I have been praying for GOD to give the increase and our church GROW and SHINE CHRIST IN and throught THIS COMMUNITY~! but ya know, FOOT work HAS TO BE put on that prayer. You said only "some'' are doing all the work even in YOUR church.. WALLAH~that is the head of OUR trouble. While others are going out and doing, we sit on our lazy rears and wonder why we not grow. think about that. PRAY.. PRay for GOD TO GIVE THE INCREASE and that YOUR CHURCH grow.. Recall him increasing the church by 3000 ............ 3 THOUSAND people!~~~~!! he is the SAME TODAY as he was THEN! I take that, claim that, and Pray in faith.. and ya know, our numbers are increasing in visiters I hope with all my Coffee blabbering that I have in some way helped you to see something you have not seen before. I again appologize for not giveing you MORE scripture ( multiple sclerosis brain this morning )
hauler back if you need more help. In the mean time, I see if I can find scripture.
preachywife

[Guest]

To answer your question, Baptist, but not Missionary. This is our largest church right now. We were in some very small ones to. So I know size is not it, and I know you are speaking the truth in what you say and I have heard it all before and I know it is true, and yet it always helps to hear it again. So thank you. BUT....you knew that was coming didn't you? You mentioned about the 3000....there wasn't a huge church across the street with a praise band and every department known to man and facilities out of this world for every child to get their own space. I know it's not in a building or programs, but when people are out there searching and they don't know where to go they are definatly going to go where it looks best suited for their needs. When I shop around for something, I go to the store with the best prices or whatever meets my needs at the time. Those people are doing the same thing. Reminds me of the political saying when it comes to taxes the rich get richer , well, I feel like the big get bigger. And I don't know what to do about it. As I said, we have visitors and I know they feel welcome, but when they say "we are shopping around for a church" I know ours is not the last stop they will be making, and I know that eventually they are going to visit that big church down the road with everything to offer to every member of the family and I hate to say it, but I feel like they aren't going to be back. Maybe it's an attitude of defeat before it happens, but I have seen it happen so many times that I know it's there. I can say forever that it's in worship and truth and not in size and buildings, but the lost don't look at things the way we do. I know the scriptures you stated are so true (and sad) about Lord Lord we did this in your name..... But, what do you say to the other members of the church when they see other churchs growing and thriving and we're not? And you know who they always blame it on....THE PASTOR. Well guess what???? It's not always his fault! I'm just venting. You helped alot, but I've still got a hard time dealing with it. Just wish I could understand why it seems like some churchs are always being "blessed" and others aren't.
Hope I didn't depress anyone too much.
Bobbi

[Guest]

Oh I forgot,
you mentioned that Only some of the people are doing all the work, which I also mentioned previously.....this is SO true, BUT (there it is again) you can't tell me in those big thriving churchs that it isn't the same way there, ALL those people can't be working either, I'm sure there are many of them sitting on their "lazy rears" also. (I am not trying to justify this, merely trying to state that if they are doing the same as we, why do they continue to grow???)
Just another one of those things I just don't understand.
Bobbi

[preachywife]

color=blue][/color]Hi again:

I do totally agree that the Pastor gets the blame..If not him, then most times his family gets the arrow~! One thing I hear in YOU that I praise God for is your hearts burden for those that are lost and for those that ARE NOT working for the glory of GOD. (there ought to be many more like you in that heart sense!) BUT: I believe mostly that we are talking two sides of the track. Churches catoring to the flesh don't have to get out and BRING THEM IN. I promise you if you set up in your church yard the things that taylor to the FLESH, the people will come and you will be adding on to your building next month. IS that what you want ? I am betting NO and that is the right answer in my oppinion. 'blessings' ?? Blessings are from HEAVEN, NOT MAN! just because Joe Bloe out there has a Beautiful house, Tons of money, three healthy kids and everything in between~if he is not saved he is but most miserable. The word tells us that are saved that we will suffer for HIS NAME SAKE here on earth. I am not sure how to make sense out of this.. BUT DO NOT GET DEFEATED BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN. I firmly believe that the enemy wants to discourage you and those in the church. Take that UNWAVERING FAITH, go out and BRING THEM IN! if YOU pray "LORD show me the LOST that I might witness YOUR SON to them, that they, too might be saved, and DO THE FOOT WORK, he WILL BLESS IT! he promises that~~ remember, HE PROMISES if we do the work, HE WILL BLESS IT! stop looking across the fence and thinking it or seeing that it is GREENER On the other side... IT ISN'T. If they are not doing it like GOD said do it... it is but a horrible thing on the other side!! If those in our churches are not doing it like GOD said do it, they will stand accountable if they are saved and sitting on their rears. I refuse to be one of them. I have LOST family ... my mom, dad, brother sister gramma uncles and aunts.. MOST of MY family are lost... It isn't important to me what they are doing across the street.. ( I promise I too,used to let that bother me! )
Now When I do see as you are, I make an EXTRA effort to say hello, reach out to that one family that comes in on Sunday morning that is 'shopping' around. I pray a bit harder that GOD bless and I give all HE has given me to GIVE. Then when (if) they walk out to return no more... I pray for THEM~and my church, and I keep striving to do my job. THought: just because you got a great deal on that COOL POPULAR pair of Pants, Don't make them BETTER or thee best.. think about that. Dig more into GODS word. satan mimics GOD. BUT GOD has thee victory. What if your church was HUGE. would that mean it would be better?? not necissarly. If The enemy has your eyes on the things of this world with that church across the street to bring doubt and confussion into your heart, REBUKE HIM and grow in faith. I DO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING! you are right, it isnt' fair that we are the ones with the truth proclaiming the truth and doing it right.... and we yet remain small....but should it stop or discourage us.. ABsolutely NOT. it should ENCOURAGE us to get up and do that one more thing, to pray that one more prayer, to hug that one more person in need, to forgive that one that wronged us and so on. I pray that your husband be lead to preach "BRING THEM IN"
* also, if your church runs you off and blames your husband for doing what GOD leads him to do, then rest in it is GODS TIME for you to move on, NOT THE CHURCHS pushing him out. *And it is the duty of the pastor to FEED THE FLOCK! it is the churches duty to GO OUT AND BRING THEM IN!

as I proof read what I wrote, GOD shows me to say this.....
few stood for CHRIST when he walked this earth and MANY MANY did what was right in their own eyes and even MANY MANY MANY wanted what was pleasing to the FLESH, the healing of the FLESH, what made the FLESH feel betterthey were seking after physical healing instead of SPIRITUAL healing. ( sort of like today wouldn't ya say ) When Judas Iscariot went up and Kissed the Savior on the cheek, HOW MANY were WITH him on HIS SIDE? and how many stood for the TRUTH and for the Savior. Many were on 'the other side of the street' so to speak.
Take a look at the diciples and CHRIST, the # of them, and then see the # of those that were with the preists and scribes. Greener on the other side of the fence? NO. breaks our hearts that WE SEE sooooooooo many who are astray. Take it for GODS sake do what only YOU can do. WE all can not make ANYONE ELSE do what is right.. we can only do what is RIGHT OURSELVES! May I also add that my prayer for your church as the people come, that no matter what they see on the outside the inside is filled with the SPIRIT OF GOD and HIS LOVE.
GOD BLESS YOU SISTER!!
MUCH PRAYER FOR YOU!

[preachywife]

WOW:
that was long..did it all make sense and help you in some small way?
sure hope so. Made me want to go out and invite them ALL IN! starting with that BIG church across the street.
love in Christ,
preachywife

[Guest]

Did it help???!!
I've got tears in my eyes and I'm going to go pray.
Thanks.

[kristen]

I would like to share my own experience if it is of any worth. My husband is the pastor of a very small country church. This church has been in existance since 1956. We have been here for 7 1/2 years. We were called here by the mission org. we are with. Prior to this we were very active in a larger church in the same community. We still attend there on Sunday PM. The congreation where we minister on Sunday morning numbers 25. It has been this number for at least 15+ years. There are no young people except for our children. Needless to say they are not happy here. This is why we are still involved with the bigger church. Our children need the fellowship of their friends.
I will be very honest here and say I wish we were back at the other church. I feel like we could be of more use in the other church. The average age of the smaller congreation is 75. My husband has to work a full time job because the church cannot support us. But we will stay here until God moves us. And maybe He won't move us until we can learn to be content here.
We don't grow because we are a small church with no frills. Yes.. people want to be entertained at church. They want all kinds of perks to keep their attention. My husband preaches the Word of God with no frosting. People don't want to hear the truth about their sinful lives. So they drive past the little guy to find a bigger guy who won't rock their boat. We have done a number of things to reach out to the community, but that's as far as it goes. No takers. The children of the congreation have all grown up and moved away or do not attend anywhere.
This may not be helpful to anyone but I just wanted to share my own situation.
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I enjoy this sight so much. I look at it daily

[Guest]

That's exactly what I'm talking about. My children were much the same way when they were younger, they would see the kids at school happy with their youth groups and they were stuck with 75 yr. olds who didn't care about youth. The church we are at now has a much broader range of ages, but still not the money for all those thrills that you speak of. My thing is, as preachy wife stated, it's not in getting out of this little church to go to that big church, just that I want the lost to know that WE have the truth and it's taught and lived here, just because we don't "entertain" doesn't by any means mean that we don't worship, because we do!
I will continue to pray and focus on drawing them in, somehow.....I'm sure God will show me how.
I hope no one thinks through this that I am opposed to big churchs, I'm not. Any church that teaches the Bible as the True Word of God, is a Bible believing, God Fearing church is fine with me, no matter what the size. So long as they can find Jesus as their savior...woohoo!!
I just don't like feeling like I'm in competition and it's a no contest thing.
I guess in the worlds eyes it is, but we are here to be a light to the world.
I'm depressing myself again, going to go back and reread what preachy wrote! Thanks again.

[amyb]

I sure struggle with the same issues.

I just wanted to share an experience we had last year. A young family moved to the area, just down the road from our church, and came to visit one Sunday morning-even came back that night. We visited and had really good conversation. Then never heard from them again. We saw them a month or so later at a singing at a large church. The wife actually stopped me and said she knew she could really have helped at our church and the big church didn't really need them, but they wanted to go where their kids wanted to go because there was more for them. She thought she was making it better by saying that, but if only she knew how personnally I would take it. After all-what were my children? I guess they don't count.

God has since moved us to another church in another community and it seems to be growing in the few months we've been here. Just praying and trusting the Lord to lead.
_________________
In His grip and grace.

[Guest]

That makes me understand things even less! When people KNOW that they are needed at one church and then go to another. While what, they sit by and watch a church fizzle away because there are no helpers? But that's ok, because the BIG church is where my kids wanted to go.
I know what you mean about feeling that way of your own kids. I was always afraid my own children would grow up despising church because of them being in a small church with "old" people (you know as a child, everyone else seems old) and mom as their SS teacher or youth leader. (Thank God they grew up to love the Lord and still attend church!) And I sometimes felt like they missed out, but I know God knows best. But it hurts when your own children want to go to the church across town instead of where daddy is preaching.
I guess I just look at things differently, I have always been for the "underdog". If my husband was not in the ministry, I think I would look for the small church to join, where I could help out because I know there I would be needed and appreciated. Guess I just wish everyone would look at things the same way.
This is I'm sure a problem that won't go away until Jesus comes back, but at least I know my feelings aren't out of whack or something, because I see that many of you feel the same way and understand.
I have ready preachwifes advice 5 or 6 times now, I think I will print it out and put it in my bible where I can see it often.
This website sure is a great help! I love it.

In His Service

[preachywife]

Since my last post here, I have been approached by 5 of our church visitors, one being my middle daughter who is 17. THe others say they wont be back because they are ( get this ) church SHOPPING! How odd is that that we are having this topic on here and then BANG, there it is on MY Plate. Broke my heart. YOu are exactly right, people don't want to hear about their SINS, they want ( entertainment ) as one put it. Did anyone tell them that entertainment won't get them to heaven~ ONly the blood of Christ for the remission of sin. YEs, THis is the hardest job ever and I too pray that GOD show me more that I can do to help this average 75 yr old church continue and not Die. I DO NOT have anything against a big church for hubby pastored one 3 years ago. and it is our YOUTH that is our generation of church and if we can't hang on to them then the church dies. Now I want to go cry ..... and Pray. HARDER!!
as YOU pray for us and OUR church, I pray for YOU and YOURS~ after all this is a WAR for heavens sake. and we are in the army together.
I LOVE THIS SITE!! it is so encouraging and even when things are downhearted, I know "WE" are not alone!!
GOd bless you all this weekend.
I am suffering from my Multiple Sclerosis right now.
see ya mOnday!
preachywife~

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and HAVING DONE All,to stand! Ephesians 6:13

[Guest]

NO!!!
I am so so so sorry to hear that! Our ole enemy Satan makes me so mad! You are so right, it's not in entertainment, but this goes back to my origional thought of why - I don't understand why oh why it goes on this way. Someone said it tho, ear tickling. No stepped on toes, safe, blending in, don't have to work...I suppose there are a number of reasons. Sad though because as you said, enterainment won't get you into heaven, only through the blood of Christ.
I am so sorry and I will pray for your church as you pray for ours.
I will also lift you up in prayer as you are having health problems.
In His Service

[vanilla]

My husband is a pastor in a small Baptist church too. Sometimes we have over 100 people there but not always. We have seen this same thing happen with visitors. Not only here but in the church we just came from too. There were many elderly people in our last church and they "wanted" to reach the youth, but didn't want to change to do it.
We would have visitors come and check us out and then they would go to the big new non-denomination church in town and leave us in the dust.
I suppose they were teaching salvation at the nd church, I can't say for sure, I never went there. I do know it was a heavy weight and a big part of us leaving there. We were not growing and as someone said in one of these posts, the pastor got the blame. The big church in town even went so far as to invite other youth groups from other churchs to their youth meetings. The pastors in town got together to host youth events on various friday nights. Putting denominational differences beside, it was just for youth to fellowship and bond. During this time a couple of the churches were passing out invitations to their church and also going into the school once they got the childrens names to invite them to things. My daughter brought home different invitations she recieved and would tell us when the youth pastor from there would come and personally invite her to things even though he knew that her dad was a pastor in another church and that we were having services at the same times. I don't have much respect for churches that practice "sheep stealing" as I refer to it. My husband is one that will encourage visitors if they come from another church because they are upset, to even go back and work things out with their pastor, deacon, etc. instead of just saying "come and join us." If they can't work it out, that is different, but he does encourage them to talk it over.
Sorry, I went on and on, this is a subject that has bothered me through the years also. I have seen some very awesome advice here though. And my prayers are with you too!
~Vanilla~
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Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

[barbara]

i know what you mean about the larger churches, but dont be discouraged,,,,, sometimes its the entertainment that draws so many people, its happening here, BUT ENTERTAINMENT AND MUsic do not get you to Heaven......... only thru the preaching of the word and the holy spirit convicting you of sin and you accepting jesus as your personal saviour can you be born again and enter into his glory. Dont be discouraged please, we have 34 in our church we are a happy loving church, bible believing church, working our hearts out for God , we have recently received a family of 5 coming,,, and a famiy of 2.... so we are blessed,,,, you know sometimes god works slow in our lives to teach us to be patient.......... JUST HANG IN THERE,,,,,,,,,,,,, the cheetah was on the ark,,,,,, right,,,,,,,,,,,,, but so was the snail.... god bless dont be discouraged in anything you do for the Lord, he will repay you l0 fold. god bless your ministry, i too am a ministers wife.
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I am 65 my husband is a minister, I enjoy going with him and helping in o ur church, but sometimes i feel so inadequate, i dont feel like im living up to my end of the deal, i try but i cant council with ladies, i try,,,,,,, help