Western Churches are Getting "Fixed"

It appears western churches over 40 years old, and many much younger, are getting "fixed".

Churches often have their tubes tied or get a vasectomy, so to speak. They no longer have an interest in reproducing. The idea of daughter (or son) churches is no longer appealing. They just want to concentrate on enjoying themselves, focusing on themselves, and get rid of the risk that their comfortable lives might be disrupted by having children and a greater legacy. They want to be an institution rather than a living organism.

Obviously, the official church literature will not say that. But the church budget might.

Healthy, living churches reproduce fertile churches that continue to grow and reproduce for generations to come. Where churches reproduce, the regional church overall can grow 20% or more each year.

Of the hundreds of churches in your region, how many churches over age 20 do you know that have young daughter churches? I only know of one, many miles away in Iowa.

Note: Huge elephant churches' going multi-site is not equal to them having children. Huge elephant churches like Eagle Brook in Lino Lakes, Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis, Bethel in Redding, Willow Creek near Chicago, etc. do not reproduce easily, if ever. But small rabbit churches can reproduce cheaply and often all over the world.

Also, church splits (divorces) do not have the benefits like having a healthy daughter church. With a split, the potential goes down, at least temporarily, for a group of people. They are too distracted with feeling hurt and bitter.

Like nearly everything in nature, having church offspring is the way for sustainable health and growth. Most of the world understands this. We in the States and Europe are learning slowly.

Your thoughts?

Jamaica Trip in Progress

My son, David, is on a mission trip to Jamaica with 12 other students from here, plus a couple of great leaders. In the first days they served through a lot of physical construction work. They also visited a school, an infirmary, and a children's home where they could be an encouragement to others. And they helped out with a Vacation Bible School. The kids at the VBS loved them.

The group was "prayed up" before they went. Several of them prayed nine-to-five Wednesday night through early Thursday morning. David got home as I was getting up for work Thursday. I am so proud of him. There are also ongoing prayers for the trip.

Because of the prayer preparation and covering, there is a hope and expectation that God will use this trip in powerful ways. Lives will be changed. Like many activities, the fruit, or results, of the trip will be a combination of things. Some results will be immediately visible. Some of the impact may not be seen until months or years later.

Please pray that the Kingdom will be advanced in the lives of those served, those serving, and in the communities and fellowships of believers both near and far. Thank you.