Vital Congregations

Intro:

Research shows that there are four categories of factors which show up over and over again in thriving churches. Lilla Marigza has this overview.

Script:

Congregation singing: “I’m so glad that Jesus lifted me. I’m so glad that Jesus lifted me.”

Thriving congregations can be large or small, rural or urban. You feel the excitement when you walk in the door.

A 2010 study of 32,000 United Methodist churches in the U.S. reveals key factors that set vital congregations apart. Neil Alexander was on the research team.

Neil Alexander, United Methodist Publishing House: “One of the areas is in worship. Over again we saw that churches, medium and larger, tended to have more than one kind of worship experience, more than one genre—contemporary, traditional, Taize and other. But they offered choices that gave people multiple ways to enter into the life of that faith community.”

A second trait of vital churches is dynamic preaching.

The Rev. Rudy Rasmus: “Hello family!”

The Reverend Rudy Rasmus grew his congregation at Houston’s Downtown United Methodist from 9 people to 9,000.

The Rev. Rudy Rasmus, St John’s Downtown United Methodist: “If you want people to come your way and come back again and tell others about the experience, you need an engaging experience. ‘Wow, I can’t wait till I can go back there again.’”

The Reverend Kevin Kloster is a church planter. His first success, Celebration United Methodist in South Dakota, blended coffeehouse with contemporary worship.

The Rev. Kevin Kloster, Celebration United Methodist Church: “Everything that we do, we do for a reason. It’s because we’ve listened, discerned and decided that this is what the people need and this is what they want. And if it means sitting around a table and eating donuts during church, then that’s what we’ll do.”

(Music and dancing) “Come on and take a free ride…”

A third key area is small group interaction. Whether in Bible study, choir, or volunteer work, people connect in small groups, says Mary Brooke Casad.

Mary Brooke Casad: “A small group gives an opportunity for people to belong, that holds them accountable, that misses them when they’re not there, will bring them soup when they’re sick, share in their joys, be with them to mourn in times of loss. It becomes a true family.”

Ministries that appeal to special interests often draw new members.

Eric and Rie Lauver, Pet Owners: “I remember seeing the pamphlet in the welcome center on the way the first Sunday we were here and I was like, ‘Hon, they have a pet ministry! We have to come here!’”

This relationship is strengthened when church members assume roles in lay leadership. Among vital congregations, up to half of congregants are current or past Sunday school teachers, mission team captains, or other lay leaders.

(Bus pulls up) “Good morning, come on.”

The Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell pastors one of the largest United Methodist churches in the U.S.

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell: “I think the church members should feel good about the church. I think the members should believe that their best days are still ahead of them and not behind them, and behave accordingly. I think when the church family believes that they are meeting the needs of the present and future and not a monument standing there representing what used to be, when you have that type of mindset and attitude I think it goes a long, long way.”

The survey showed that regardless of size, vital congregations are places where members are actively engaged and can find connections every day of the week.

Edwardo Bousson, Washburn University Campus Minister: “The important part is for us to go out and show that our faith is alive and that Christ really makes a difference for us. On this glorious day, who in their right mind wants to spend it cleaning a park? United Methodists do.”

The Rev. Jeremy Laduke, The Remedy UMC: “…going and feeding the homeless or helping single mothers or, doing something in a way that shows young adults we’re not just worried about converting you.”

(Little boy yells) “I got free ice cream!”

The Rev. Jeremy Laduke: “As Christians, we don’t grow by sitting in pews. We grow once our butt leaves the seat and we get out into the streets and start doing things.” 

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Posted: April 5, 2011