"Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth". John Wesley The decline in membership and attendance in the United Methodist Church and in most other denominations have leaders reeling, almost putting them in a panic mode. I wonder, however, if it is better to have a large number of people in our churches for worship or a large number of people going out of the walls of the church into the community? In the midst of decline United Methodist mission volunteers climbed from just under 20,000 in 1992 to more than 110,912 in 2006(read article here). I pastor two churches and am the Executive Director of Kokomo Urban Outreach (KUO). Briefly, KUO is a network of churches, individuals and organizations that have a heart for hometown missions. In the 19 months that KUO has been in existence we have had nearly 700 volunteers come and work hands on with mostly impoverished families in Kokomo. Almost all volunteers are from "declining" churches. It is incredible what these local missionaries have accomplished. People have helped others get GED's, schools have received tutors, there have been health checks, free legal advice, sewing classes, art classes, dance lessons, guitar lessons, scores of bikes have been given to those who have no transportation, hunger is being addressed, about 17,000 meals have been served, and tons of groceries given away. Volunteers have had clothing give-aways, taught manners to children, provided Vacation Bible School and weekly Sidewalk Sunday School. About 150 children are visited each week in their homes by volunteers. Every week, every child, that we work with receives a bag of groceries. A Crisis Child Care Center is about to open with volunteers from local churches. We provide rides, prayers and hope. Neighborhoods throughout the city are being transformed by God through the people of God. To me this doesn't not seem like decline, it feels like renewal. What if every church everywhere thought of itself as a mission center and every Christian a missionary? Would our churches be stronger? Would we see the Kingdom of God unfold before our very eyes? I am blessed to see the Kingdom unfold before me everyday. By the way I serve two small churches that are in the process of joining God in redeeming all of creation. I am wondering what you think?
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