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Livingston County – What it means to be a
Small Church in a growing population
I recently received some newspaper articles from the Press and
Argus on Religion in Livingston County. I was very interested to
read their thoughts on this topic as it hits very close to the
discussions we have been having here at Tyrone Church.
What did I learn from their series? I learned that Livingston
County has a higher percentage of church members than the
national trend. Almost sixty percent of the county’s residents say
they are church members. In fact of the 107 county churches,
more than half are found in the Howell and Brighton areas.
There are small churches, mid-size churches, and of course, the
super-churches. There are churches that use a wide variety of
ideas to attract and nurture attenders and their regular
membership. While others are the same as they were in 1960, (in
style but not attendance).
Many churches have tried a variety of things to grow and to
increase their chance of others finding them.
What does this mean for us? We are a small church, one that
like many small churches have stayed like that 1960’s church for
many years. We like things traditional. We like the ties to the
past, to history, to what makes us feel comfortable and safe.
But church is now longer safe. Why do I say this? We like the
past but we have seen a need to change not because we want to
change, nor because we feel a need inside us to change, but
because we want to be attractive to others as a loving place to
worship God. We look at our finances and know that being a 1960’
s church can no longer keep this church fiscally healthy.
We have a wonderful loving congregation who cares about each
other. We have a talented group of people who use their gifts to
build up the Body of Christ. We have a welcoming congregation
that enjoys worshipping together. We have been about spiritually
lifting up our fellow human beings in the faith.
Recently on the radio, Jeremy heard a broadcast talking about
how shrinking churches have begun changing music styles and
adding Powerpoint presentations to be more relevant to a
younger generation. (Sounds familiar, right?!?) Yet that in itself
was not enough to bring in the people they sought. However,
through these changes there was, like here, a spiritual revival.
People found a new energy, excitement and joy in worship
through these changes. There membership did not instantly
increase, but their faith grew dramatically.
Friends, membership does not increase merely because of
programs, but because of people. The pastor may be important
to pass on a message and to nurture those who enter the house
of worship, but it is the membership sharing their faith and
inviting others to church that truly will cause the growth or
decrease in a congregation. I can share the message of Jesus
Christ with you. I can encourage you to reach out to others and
to be involved in bringing this message to others, but without you
talking to others about your church, without you inviting them
and sharing your faith with them, you will never be the church
you want to be.
I believe you want to be a church that can be a loving, relevant
church for many generations yet to come – one where you can
share Christ’s message with the world, one where you each feel
the Spirit moving in your midst, one where you can be Christ’s
church.
We each have been called to participate in Christ’s mission to
the world. Yes, many in our county consider themselves church
members, but there are still others yearning to hear Christ’s
message.
Take on Christ’s message. Make it your montra. Commit to
making this church a priority if it is not already. Commit to
coming every week, to regularly supporting its budget, and to
talking to others every week about your church.
You have found something great in this house of God and you
are not alone. How can you stretch yourself in faith as you share
in Christ’s ministry? Please join me in worship as we continue
to praise God, to participate in being children of the Most High,
and sharing Christ’s vision for peace, justice and a life in eternity
with our Lord.
On September 18th we will begin participating in monthly Bring
a Friend/Neighbor to Church Sundays. This does not mean that
you have to wait until September 18th to invite a neighbor to
church, but it will be a monthly commitment to the spiritual
discipline of sharing our faith and church with the world.
I hope that you take this call to outreach seriously. Without a
congregation willing to reach out into their own lives and share
Jesus with others, a church cannot be what its members yearn
for it.
I pray that we may all continue to participate in worshipping
God. I firmly believe that when a congregation is spiritually
growing and experiencing joyful worship, they want to share their
faith, they want to experience that with others, they want to pass
on the faith to the world. I pray that this is what you find at Tyrone.
My prayers and blessings are upon you and your ministry.
Many Blessings,
The Rev. Laura C. Kelsey
9141 Hartland Road
Fenton, Michigan 48430
Phone: (810) 750-0350
Fax: (810) 750-0350
Email: church@tyronechurch.org
Website: www.tyronechurch.org
