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In an email article I received from Church Central.com on April 9, 2009, entitled “Making church essential can stem decline” Ken Walker referred to research done by Ranier Research and Sam Ranier’s seven sins of a dying church.They are 1) diluting doctrine, 2) loss of evangelistic passion, 3) failure to be relevant, 4) conflict over personal preferences, 5) putting priority on comfort, 6) Biblical illiteracy, and 7) few outwardly-focused ministries. Is your church experiencing any of these “deadly sins?” What do you think needs to be done about them? Definitely food for thought!!!!
I recently requested from GBC a look at our demographics. The estimate was that in 2010 (no statistics yet from the 2010 census) there were 158,818 residents of our three counties (Dougherty, Lee, and Worth Counties). The accepted figure is that at least 70% of those are unbelievers (111,173). All of our churches together baptized 512 last year. If the population did not increase at all, at that rate it would take us over 217 YEARS to reach all of them! Amazing! What does that say about our efforts to reach the lost in our Jerusalem? It says to me we desperately need revival. The only way for us to impact lostness is for the church (you and me) to experience revival! Will you begin to pray for revival in your own life and in your church? God acts when His people pray!
The Prayer and Discipleship Teams are planning a Prayer and Spiritual Awakening Conference with Manley Beasley, Jr. leading us again. September 22 and 23 (Thursday and Friday) at 11 AM there will be a time with pastors/staff with Manley leading (including lunch). Thursday evening at 7 PM Manley will be leading a Prayer Training for anyone interested in prayer and spiritual awakening. Saturday morning at 8:30 AM (with breakfast) Manley will meet with pastors/staff. All of these will be at the Mallary Office. Then on Sunday, September 25, we will have another MBA Joint Worship Service at First Baptist Albany at 6 PM. We are again asking churches to transfer their Sunday night services to First Albany for this special worship time with combined choirs and Manley preaching. Will you please mark these dates on your calendar and lead your churches to participate?
Also we already have nine of our goal of 12 churches signed up for the On Mission Celebration March 17-18, 2012. Is your church signed up?
We have a wonderful opportunity to impact for Christ some of the approximately 12,000 college and university students here in our area by funding a part-time Campus Minister for Darton College. We need $9,000 to fund this position for a school year. We are requesting churches to give over and above their regular giving to the association. So far eleven churches have given $2,900 toward this goal (smallest amount, $200, and largest amount, $500). Will your church invest in beginning to reach these students for Christ? We would like to have this money in place by the end of July. We praise the Lord for the positive response to this challenge!
Thanks for giving me the privilege to be your Director of Missions!!!! |
.JPG)