Month: October 2025

When Revival Comes to America

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Did you see the social media post recently listing Bible sales and music downloads as an indicator of a religious revival in America? In response, church researcher, Ryan Burge, stated that for even a 3% church attendance increase (over the general population in USA), it would mean (on average) every church in America (about 300,000 houses of worship) would increase attendance by 35 people in the last 90 days. The average church in America has 75 people. Has every church grown to 110? “On the ground reporting doesn’t match that reality,” he said. According to Burge, while there are examples of a church here or there showing remarkable growth, increased attendance is not happening. Most churches are in decline. But are Bible sales, music downloads or even church attendance indicators of revival? I’m not so sure.

When revival comes to America, we will know it. Everyone will know it—Christian and non-Christian alike will know it. It won’t be a church here or a church there experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit. It will be a fresh wind sweeping across our land. It will result in changed hearts and changed churches, but also changed workplaces and schools. Justice will roll like a mighty stream. Relationships will be restored. Wrongs will be righted. Forgiveness offered and received. God’s kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven, in other words.

When revival comes to America, there probably will be more Bibles sold, more Christian songs downloaded and more “butts in the pews,” but it will be much more than that. The hungry will be fed. Prisoners will be visited. Strangers welcomed. Sinners and non-sinners alike would be blessed by a mighty revival. The name of Jesus will be lifted high across the land. 

When revival to comes to America, there will be a burning, ever-present longing for Jesus. I want that. I really do. I am praying for that end. it will mean commitment. I’m not talking about the sacrifice from strangers in the great unknown corners of the country, I’m talking about me. I’m praying revival starts in me. It will mean letting go of my desires and seeking Jesus with all I have. I’m praying for the courage to be willing to do everything needed to see revival happen in the church, in our land and in me.

When revival comes to America, I will be changed.

Money led vs Spirit led churches

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Money led churches worry.
Spirit led churches trust.

Money led churches don’t want to offend big donors.
Spirit led churches don’t want to offend the Holy Spirit.

Money led churches think of their pastors as employees.
Spirit led churches think of their pastors as men and women called by God.

Money led churches look at the bottom line.
Spirit led churches keep an eye on the finish line.

Money led churches play it safe.
Spirit led churches take risks.

Money led churches love their neighbor… if they can afford it.
Spirit led churches love their neighbor… period. 

Money led church view success in terms of profit.
Spirit led churches view success in following the Old Testament prophets.

Money led churches continually ask for more money.
Spirit led churches continually seek more of the Spirit.

Money led churches think of what they can get out of people.
Spirit led churches think of what they can give to people.

Money led churches say “no” when it doesn’t make financial sense.
Spirit led churches say ‘Yes” in spite of dollar and cents.

Money led churches count the cost of every program.
Spirit led churches count the cost of every person.

Money led churches are greedy.
Spirit led churches are generous.

Money led churches in the end have no money.
Spirit led churches in the end have the Spirit of God.

Money led churches close.
Spirit led churches thrive.

Let’s be a Spirit led church!

Here’s the First Step in Saving Dying Churches

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Did the Macedonian church have the “secret sauce” to keep churches open and pulpits filled that is missing today? Last week, Axios stated that 15,000 churches could close this year (Read it here). I wrote the need to fill pulpits  (read it here ). Paul wrote: In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. 1 Corinthians 8:2-3

What you just read is impossible. Absolutely impossible. The Macedonians in “severe trial” still were experiencing “overflowing joy” and “rich generosity.” That’s not the impossible part (Jesus brings joy in the most difficult circumstances), what Paul wrote next is impossible: they gave “even beyond their ability.” How can one do that? You can only give what you can give. How can you give “beyond your ability”? That level of giving only happens as one is obedient to the enabling and providing whisper of the Holy Spirit. If we are going to fill all of the soon-to-be-empty pulpits and stop church closings, we need churches full of “beyond-their-ability” givers. 

The church closing and empty pulpit crisis is as much an economic issue as it is a spiritual one. There is not enough money in the offering plates. Pastors can’t feed their families on what the church can afford to pay. Maybe there are a faithful few who’ve been giving “beyond their ability” but not enough parishioners are doing so (Edited to read: some churches have closed even as the faithful have given “beyond their ability.” Church closures are not always economic, in other words). 

Historically, many churches had people giving beyond their ability. In more than one of the churches I’ve pastored there are stories of faithful people mortgaging their homes because the church experienced a financial crisis. One church would pass the plates; the ushers would count the money; and, if there wasn’t enough, they’d pass them again. Such sacrifice is unheard of these days. What pastor would have the gall (courage?) to make such an appeal?

The greatest transfer of wealth is happening in the next 10-15 years. Not coincidently, the greatest need for pastors is happening in the next 10-15 years. What would happen if faithful followers tithed in their wills? I’m not suggesting writing family out of their will or trust, but simply tithing as they are “promoted to glory.” Folks have been faithful in life, could they be faithful in death too. This bequest could be to a local church or (dream with me for a minute) a special endowment* set up by a denomination to supplement the pastor’s salary in churches with an annual income below a certain amount. 

A compelling case could be made to wealthy donors that in order to save churches, we need a several million dollar endowment to invest in the lives of pastors. This is pastor appreciation month, what better way to appreciate pastors than to make it so these servants of the Lord are not living below the poverty line (like I did when pastoring in Bad Axe, Michigan years ago). Lifting the financial burden is one way to fill pulpits and stop the closing of churches. 

Maybe the church’s longevity could be extended as people (rich and no-so-rich) give beyond their ability in life and death. I pray that like the Macedonian churches, in the midst of severe trial, there will well up in us “overwhelming joy” and “rich generosity.” Such faithful giving just might save the church for years to come!

*The math for a pastoral salary supplement endowment is daunting. To truly work on a large nationwide scale, several million dollars (estimated: in excess of $250 million) would need to be invested to payout enough to actually help pastors. Depending on how many pastors would be eligible, the numbers could make establishing such an endowment difficult but not impossible. Not if there is “overwhelming joy and rich generosity.” 

Help Wanted: Pastors in Small towns, Rural areas and inner cities (actually everywhere)

On By Rob PrinceLeave a comment

Why is pastoring an existing church in rural America or in an inner city so undesirable that few are willing to go? Is it that hard? That unaffordable? That unfruitful? Seemingly, many think so. Has the Spirit quit calling people?  I hardly think so. Unfortunately, many churches will close if would-be-ministers don’t heed or don’t hear the Spirit’s call.  

Pastoring anywhere these days is hard. Make no mistake, it’s tougher today than when I started pastoring at the Bad Axe Church of the Nazarene in beautiful Bad Axe, Michigan (yes, that’s a real town). Pastors face loneliness, political angst, anxiety, little compensation, complaints, social media monsters, complaints, distractions, addictions, complaints, stuck-in-the-past parishioners, carnal members (“carnal” isn’t a modern word, but it’s still a modern ailment) and far more difficulties than past generations. The hardships are different from the ones that Paul faced, but life’s challenges are still ever present. 

According to Acts 20:22-24, the Spirit “compelled” Paul to go to Jerusalem. He didn’t know what was awaiting him. He had a pretty good idea it wasn’t going to be easy. In every other city, he had faced prison and hardships. Jerusalem would probably be no different. In response to the Spirit, Paul proclaimed that his life meant nothing compared to the task of testifying to the grace of God which he was called to complete. 

We need similar Pauline willingness and courage. The fields are still “white unto harvest” to use Jesus’ analogy. In the next 10-15 years as the current pastors retire or are “promoted to glory,” unless people obey the Spirit’s compelling call, many churches will close. There are just not enough willing-to-go pastors to fill all of the soon-to-be empty pulpits. Who will go to the small rural places? Who will go into tough inner cities? Who will pastor the handful of faithful followers of Jesus in difficult places with little money and less recognition? Take note: It’s hard. It’s sacrificial. There is little glory.  But so needed!

Shh… listen… is the Spirit is calling you? Is the Spirit calling me? 

Young people, men, women, teenagers, second career individuals, and recently retired are you listening? Is there anyone with a fire in your belly for the lost? The Spirit is still calling. There are plenty of places in need of faithful pastors (not just rural and inner cities). Will anyone heed His compelling invitation? Such individuals are out there! Courageous ministers, like Paul, are still out there. Churches in rural areas, small towns, in our cities and everywhere in between need these Kingdom builders! Keep listening. Keep obeying. Willing  workers, the Kingdom needs us!  The Spirit is calling. He/she who has ears let them hear.