Conversation #1: Yesterday, I met a couple who have come to Central Church a few times. They made a point to meet me. With their Exodus journals in hand, they told me they love Central Church and love our emphasis on the Bible. They said, “You don’t know how many churches just don’t talk about the Bible these days.”  

Conversation #2: Just prior to that discussion, I met a first-time guest. I asked her what made her come to Central Church and she said, “I heard this church really loves the community and I wanted to come and check you out for myself.”  

Conversation #3: A long time member said to me concerning our upcoming 24/7 Prayer week (someone in the building praying for the entire 168 hours from August 6-13): “Pastor, I’m so glad we are a praying church.” 

I love it!  

A commitment to scripture and to our neighbors draws people. A commitment to prayer keeps people.

People want to be in a church that preaches the Bible and loves their community. In too many churches, it’s either one or the other. Churches that attempt to love their neighbors too often aren’t preaching the Bible; or churches that are preaching the Bible, too often aren’t doing a great job in loving their neighbors. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s just the opposite. The Bible calls us to love our neighbors. The more we emphasize “both/and” and not “either/or” the more compelling Central Church will be.

Moreover, prayer is over all. A deep commitment to prayer is what people are longing for even if they initially can’t articulate it. Community outreach and Biblical teaching might get them through the door. A deepening of their prayer life and connection to Jesus is what keeps them. (Edited to read: this is an over-simplification, of course. Discipleship, fellowship, worship are all factors in keeping people, but all of those endeavors must be bathed in prayer and flow from a church’s commitment to prayer). 

Conclusion: Old church growth models emphasizing attraction events, being seeker sensitive, developing homogeneous units, blah, blah, blah don’t work in the 2020’s. It’s a commitment to prayer, sound Biblical teaching and loving one’s community that draws and keeps people.