Pew research also shows that attendance has been on the decline and those who seldom or never attend is up.
(Fact Tank: News in the Number, 2013)
What can the church do differently?
We must remember the purpose of church which is fellowship, corporate prayer and worship, and to learn.
(Acts 2:42) The church is where we go for healing (James 5:14), to help the widows and orphans, (James
1:27), the poor and those in prison (Hebrews 13:1-2; Galatians 2:10). The church is where we grow in knowledge so that we can go out into the world and preach the gospel and expand the Kingdom of God (Ephesians
4:11-16).
The first thing we can do as the church is follow the example of Christ, by personalizing His core values. How
did He respond to the sinners, the sick, the orphans and widows? Our focus should be about Kingdom and not
about how fast we can grow our numbers compared to the church down the street. It’s about the Kingdom of
God and not the kingdom of your individual church.
Christ welcomed sinners to Him and fellowshiped with them; He did not condemn them but showed love
(Matthew 9:10).
Christ spoke life to those who came to Him and gave them purpose (Matthew 4:19).
Christ related with people and spoke to them where they were in order for them to understand (John 4:1-15).
Christ helped those that were helpless and fed those that were hungry (Matthew 9:36).
People are tired of games and are looking for Christ; they are seeking for hope. Our hope is in Christ; so as the
church, let us represent Christ and give the people what they need. Christ says cast your cares upon me for I
care for you. If we are the body of Christ, when people come searching for Christ to cast upon Him their cares,
we should be there with open arms directing them to Him.
Works Cited
Fact Tank: News in the Number. (2013, September 13). Retrieved May 26, 2014, from Pew Research: http://www.pewresearch.org/
fact-tank/2013/09/13/what-surveys-say-about-worship-attendance-and-why-some-stay-home/
Newport, F. (2013, December). Gallup Politics. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from Gallup: http://www.gallup.com/poll/166613/four-report-attending-church-last-week.aspx
Pastor Larry D. Geer, Jr. is a thoughtful leader, visionary, and
entrepreneur who serve as lead pastor of the Abundant Living
Christian Church, a church for the un-churched.
Pastor Geer is an anointed teacher and has a gift for presenting the Word of God in a manner in which people are able to
understand and apply it to their daily lives. Pastor Geer has a
heart to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the un-churched and
to see believers not only saved but grow in their salvation. He
believes that it is important for believers to grow from mercy to
maturity to ministry.