A Place Worth Contending For

Researchers estimate that 100,000 churches will close in the next few decades1. Another source estimates that at least 1,000,000 are attending churches that are declining or plateaued2.

The question that needs to be asked by you is “Am I currently attending a church at risk of closing, or a plateaued church?” If the answer is yes, there’s something you can do.

The early church described in Acts 2 in the Bible serves as the best model. It was a growing church, a serving church, a connected church, a worshiping church and a church going out to spread itself to the ends of the earth accessible to it at the time. This was all made possible not by one person, but by groups of people inspired by Jesus.

Given the statistics above, it is urgent that churchgoers look at ways they can contribute to the work their churches are trying to accomplish to ensure those places stay alive, thrive and fulfill their missions to grow and minister to more people. It can be as simple as being a greeter on Sunday mornings, taking some time to clean your church during the week, or volunteering your time to community outreach activities or events. No matter how small or big the job, the church benefits from the many hands that are able to help. You also benefit because you get to use the gifts God has given to each of us and potentially unlock experiences to do greater good for our community.

It is also equally important that the existing church leadership runs programs which foster spiritual growth and remain open to that transformation of moving individuals from your congregation into church leadership where people can be mentored to grow from a church consumer to a church contributor.

In my case, I wanted to use my musical experience to play percussion for my church’s worship team. The beats elevated the worship and ultimately had a positive impact on the congregation. To my surprise, many came up to me after church thanking me over and over again for my contribution. When I got sick, or had to stay home to take care of sick kids, upon my return people would comment how my contribution was missed.

But God wasn’t finished with me. Later, I felt inspired to attend a 3-month discipleship program at my church, being mentored directly by my pastor. And after that was done, God still wasn’t finished! I kept wanting to get closer to God so I kept following Him and enrolled in Bible college. I now have the goal of being ordained one day—what a gift that would be! My walk with the Lord began with one step, and the uncharted path I’m on has been filled with trust and increased my faith.

Through the Acts 2 church, we have the prototype for ensuring our plateauing or declining churches never have to confront the possibility of becoming another statistic. Make no mistake, the enemy isn’t going to make it easy—he’s going to place people in the way that want to keep things on the downward trend. But remember, the greater the resistance, the greater the breakthrough!

Going to church and tithing are vital, but never stop believing that you can contribute to the church because people are needed to make successful churches and without all of us together we can not attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13) or expand greater community influence. The Great Commision hasn’t been accomplished yet and there’s a role for all of us to play.

The church has never faltered in being a place for great fellowship but also is a place worth contending for, not just for God, but also to keep the ministry, traditions and freedoms alive that make our country so great.

So I leave you with this for now:

What are you going to do today to help your church?

What are you going to do to help others grow and become leaders in your church?

What gifts has God given you which could bless your church?

What action can you take to contribute to revival in America?

1 Eldon, Mark. Gone for Good?: Negotiating the Coming wave of Church Property Transition. 2024.

2 Garrison, Alton. A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model. 2017.