Theory #1: They’re Out There
By Stovall Weems
Here is my first theory -that of the millions and millions of people in America that do not attend church many of them want to.
For whatever reason many of those people have decided that attending church is either too difficult or intimidating for them. This can happen for almost as many reasons as there are individuals: illness, work-related travel, shyness, fear of the unknown, distrust, weekend work schedule, distance – you name it and it probably keeps people from coming to church and becoming part of the church life that we all know is crucial for discipleship and growth.
Because people won’t or often can’t come to a facility, the resulting statistics have indicated a decline in church attendance in America. Because of this there is a prevailing idea (bolstered by some polls, which I personally take issue with) that people in America do not want to know God. But in my experience this is just not true. In my experience, people are out there by the millions just waiting for us to bring the love of God to them. But instead of bringing God to them, we spend a phenomenal amount of energy and resources trying to get them to come to a facility and meet God. I want to be clear here that I am a huge believer in the absolute necessity of great ministry facilities and environments. We need them and the vast majority of people have no problem coming to them. They are a huge tool in reaching people and creating an atmosphere for people to experience God and grow in the faith. However our current culture requires so many more options if we are going to see the church become the movement Jesus intended it to be like in the book of Acts. We can’t build enough buildings to contain want God wants to do. I am so excited about our next facility on Baymeadows Rd and 9/A. It will seat 4,200 people and be an incredible venue for people to experience God. But it will not nearly be able to contain all the people God wants to reach here in Jacksonville. Even if we replicated this facility at all of our campuses it would still not be nearly enough to contain all the people God wants to reach and that are open to being reached.
Multi-gatherings are church services designed to reach people not attending church. They are designed for the marketplace and the un-churched. They are designed for those not able to attend — or too afraid to attend — one of our weekend services. Extension gatherings bring a fluid, dispersible option to weekend services and can conform to almost any environment at any time. Some of the extension gatherings in the works right now take place in theatres, on Navy ships, in hospitals, in bars, on the street, online, in club houses, in coffee shops, in dorm rooms, in living rooms, on tour buses, in shelters, in hotels, military bases, other cities, other countries, and the list goes on. As many creative extensions hosts as I have, that’s how many different kinds of gatherings we can have. They don’t replace the weekend services, they just add an option and decentralize, which, in my observation, prepares the way for an explosion in reaching people for Christ and discipleship.
What if we find out that just by adding this component to our current structure we reach 30% or 40% more people for Christ in just one weekend? What if the church doubles in less than a year? I will be excited but I will also be terrified. I will be terrified at the realization that the church in America (and churches like ours) is leaving that many people unreached and un-ministered to every week just because of our service structures — even with all of the technology and resources and man power that we currently have.
Next post: Why extension gatherings are not just another form of the “House Church Movement.”
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8 Responses to “Theory #1: They’re Out There”
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Stovall,
I can’t agree with your actions more. I think the extension churches are a great idea.
I also like how your focus is on the church of Acts. I, too, think the church at this period in history is one to be studied, analyzed, and where possible, emulated.
It is the responsibility of the church to facilitate individual reading of the Bible and mutual ministry. I believe it is when we are alone in our rooms when God speaks to us the loudest, and it is around people when our spiritual gifts are used, and when the Holy Spirit is most easily made manifest to others.
As far as I see it, it is the role of the church to enhance and encourage these activities. And while some in the house church movement would argue against whether this is possible in a “large building, large church setting”, I believe you are showing that it is very much possible.
The more you, as pastor, encourage personal, one on one encounters with the Lord, and the more you encourage the formation of a spiritual gifts, and the exercise of them with wisdom and within the body, the more you will resemble the New Testament church, and the more you will see lives changed and restored.
A rather easy formula.
So keep up the good work!
Matt
Pastor, I believe you have hit the nail on the head. I love the decentralization idea. It reminds me of the variety of settings that Jesus taught in. It is going to reach the masses and make such a huge impact!
this is so 4 real! i had a lady tell me today she and her daughter didn’t attend church for a while because they felt they didn’t have nice enough clothes…so many people don’t realize the shifts in church culture over the past decade…what a decade it’s been!!!!!
Pastor Stovall,
Excited, Amped, Stoked, Nervous, Scared, Ready! We are so stinking excited to be a part of this explosion that is about to take place all over the First-Coast… This truly is going to be awesome, just can feel Jesus Favor is going to be all over this…
That seems so solid an observation that I can’t possibly consider it a theory. For all the reasons you’ve listed and more, many people will never enter various church facilities – and just as you stated, for most, it is no evidence of a fabled lack of longing to know God intimately – wherever they are. I’ve wrestled with this idea (as much as I can comprehend an idea so limitless by design) since your first mention and I can’t come up with a single reason it wouldn’t work. In fact, it undoubtedly will – and very well.
Pastor this is such a fresh perspective and a “God-idea” for sure! I’m very excited at the potential this has to reach so many people who want Jesus and want to come into “the church life” but either can’t or don’t know how. Just think of all the prison inmates, homeless, etc. that are about to have their lives changed because they will now have access! Awesome!
Pastor, I am so pumped about this idea, I think it is going to help us reach a lot more people with the message of God’s love.
Amen!! This is exciting, it gives an opportunity to many to hear the gospel. MANY people want Christ and this is the way they can connect with him! Dixon