One in five local churches could close in the next few months..

[ironglow]

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  Sad but true, some local churches are dying..  The message remains and the message is uplifting, soul saving
  and true.  So what is happening?..   Several things... modern life, technology, atheism and yes... Islam..

   https://churchleaders.com/news/381320-kinnaman-churches-close.html
 
   That's where they are going..   So what do we do?

   Here are some suggestions...https://lifewayresearch.com/2021/10/26/9-characteristics-of-spiritually-healthy-and-numerically-growing-churches/

   If we are to continue, we must grow... it's simply "grow or go "!

  In order to grow, we must not change doctrine..since "it is written" !  However, there are other things we can do.  Our growth should come especially from the younger folks.
   
         Think circumspectly..  When a person under 45 looks for a church in his new neighborhood, he/she doesn't drive around looking for one..  npe.. they jump onto their computer or I-phone to look for one !

  So, if our local church is to grow, we have to develop a website, and perhaps go to FB. 

   Our local church is for the first time in many months, going to be closed on Sunday...since a fairly large number have the Covid... to include our Pastor.

  ..But we will continue our regular webcast and FB., so all can join in.  Some folks started with us after watching for weeks online.

  There are now 4 of we elders, each capable of preaching and well received when we do it !

  ..But this time, my grandson will deliver the message..for a special connection with younger viewers..and perhaps a newer, fresher dimension/perspective.

   For us older guys... we may have to  endure  some 'contemporary' music..included as part of our task of "bringing in the younger sheaves" !

  The local church where I attend, has been going continually, since starting in a log cabin in1827, and I don't plan on  letting it go...not on my watch!   I am pleased that we are now growing, rather than just "maintaining".

    Maintaining..is like asking 3 different people to feed your dog while you are away.  They each decide the other guy will do it..     ...And you arrive home to see your dog has starved to death !

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[Dee]

The Bible talks more about Hell, than Heaven. The last several decades preachers talk less, and less, about Hell.
Don't want to preach "consequences" of bad living.
Heaven and success. That's todays message. No "consequences".

Heaven good! Consequences bad.

Also, "youth ministers".

How can a 22 year old "youth minister", fresh out of seminary, and psychology class, teach the Bibles' life lessons when they themselves, have lived none of it?

Seminary. Everybody, especially "seminary trained preachers" believe that without "seminary training" preachers are inept.
And were incapable of understanding scripture. Sound familiar?
I've listened to a lot "seminary trained preachers" that were less than "inept", and were totally reliant on their "seminary physiology".
Cut the programs, put the Salt in the teaching, and get over the FACT that to a sinner, saved or not. The Gospel is offensive, and condemning.

This "it's all good", and "fellowshiping" brand of church, is as empty as the message.

JMO,

[ironglow]

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  You're right on with much of that Dee, but believe me, my grandson preaches the "whole counsel" of God.  His gripe about some preachers is the same as yours...too much compromsing..

  Of course, he is not 22 and no life experience.. he has 10 more years on that, and plenty of life experience.

 He does offer the benefit of being a techy guy and an award winning videographer..which aids greatly in the
  church website !  All ages in the church body, look forward to his message, on the few occasions he has been scheduled to preach.

    For all local churches...don't neglect the website possibilities..  That way, you can get the full message across      and stand out from among a mundane crowd.
 

[BUGEYE]

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  You're right on with much of that Dee, but believe me, my grandson preaches the "whole counsel" of God.  His gripe about some preachers is the same as yours...too much compromsing..

  Of course, he is not 22 and no life experience.. he has 10 more years on that, and plenty of life experience.

 He does offer the benefit of being a techy guy and an award winning videographer..which aids greatly in the
  church website !  All ages in the church body, look forward to his message, on the few occasions he has been scheduled to preach.

    For all local churches...don't neglect the website possibilities..  That way, you can get the full message across      and stand out from among a mundane crowd.

If that’s the grandson I saw, he does a great job.
We had started back to Church but then our niece in Nashville attended a large group meeting (TBI) where all were vaxed and all wore masks and a bunch of them got covid.     So..........
Our niece now has nodules on her lungs.

[ironglow]

.
  You're right on with much of that Dee, but believe me, my grandson preaches the "whole counsel" of God.  His gripe about some preachers is the same as yours...too much compromsing..

  Of course, he is not 22 and no life experience.. he has 10 more years on that, and plenty of life experience.

 He does offer the benefit of being a techy guy and an award winning videographer..which aids greatly in the
  church website !  All ages in the church body, look forward to his message, on the few occasions he has been scheduled to preach.

    For all local churches...don't neglect the website possibilities..  That way, you can get the full message across      and stand out from among a mundane crowd.

If that’s the grandson I saw, he does a great job.
We had started back to Church but then our niece in Nashville attended a large group meeting (TBI) where all were vaxed and all wore masks and a bunch of them got covid.     So..........
Our niece now has nodules on her lungs.

    If it is my grandson you saw preaching, since he's the only one of my 3 grandsons that preaches upon occasion.  You probably noticed..he does not cut corners. He and his little boy (4 yrs) both just got over the Covid.  Didn't hit either too hard, Grandson lost taste/smell a bit of congestion, little guy showed no outward symptoms that i could see.
Sorry to hear your neice got sick!  She will be included in my prayers for  all such sufferers.  Best I can count, we have about 10 of our church out with Covid... don't know for sure, but I think the vaxed/unvaxed ratio is about 50/50.
  I expect to run head on into it at any time...so If you guys see me missing and not coming back, you can assume, otherwise if I win...I'll be back !     

 

[BUGEYE]

.
  You're right on with much of that Dee, but believe me, my grandson preaches the "whole counsel" of God.  His gripe about some preachers is the same as yours...too much compromsing..

  Of course, he is not 22 and no life experience.. he has 10 more years on that, and plenty of life experience.

 He does offer the benefit of being a techy guy and an award winning videographer..which aids greatly in the
  church website !  All ages in the church body, look forward to his message, on the few occasions he has been scheduled to preach.

    For all local churches...don't neglect the website possibilities..  That way, you can get the full message across      and stand out from among a mundane crowd.

If that’s the grandson I saw, he does a great job.
We had started back to Church but then our niece in Nashville attended a large group meeting (TBI) where all were vaxed and all wore masks and a bunch of them got covid.     So..........
Our niece now has nodules on her lungs.

    If it is my grandson you saw preaching, since he's the only one of my 3 grandsons that preaches upon occasion.  You probably noticed..he does not cut corners. He and his little boy (4 yrs) both just got over the Covid.  Didn't hit either too hard, Grandson lost taste/smell a bit of congestion, little guy showed no outward symptoms that i could see.
Sorry to hear your neice got sick!  She will be included in my prayers for  all such sufferers.  Best I can count, we have about 10 of our church out with Covid... don't know for sure, but I think the vaxed/unvaxed ratio is about 50/50.
  I expect to run head on into it at any time...so If you guys see me missing and not coming back, you can assume, otherwise if I win...I'll be back !     

If GOD still has work for you, don’t worry.
In today’s climate I’d say you’re needed in your Church.

Nancy and I limited our gifts to $100 for each other this year and have found a bunch of folks in need.
Helping people who really need help is the greatest gift we can give.
I don’t know how Nancy did it but she even found an old woman in a nursing home near Gary In.

[ironglow]

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   Great idea Bugeye !  I have been  pondering the same thing..

  I go to my grandkid's houses, and their children have what I call "plastic rooms'.  Rooms full of the contemporary class of toys.  They do however, also include constructiv/artistic generating things for them.

  All in all, the Lord has blessed so for them all ...so I am perhaps the 'poorest' of the lot! 
     ....But I am doing OK, so long as the Biden inflation doesn't go too crazy.

  Last Christmas, I made sure each of my grandkids and my son, each had a large "Family Bible" to keep handy on coffee table or sideboard.  ..Didn't have time to make each a rack to hold it on..but all have created a rack for  their own...along with a pair of reading glasses for any family member or guest who may need them.

      Just an old tradition found in many homes years ago..which I wanted to revive..

   Not sure what I will do this year..but that nursing home idea sounds chipper !