Helping struggling churches - The man from Macedonia

As I reflect on the evening service from last night at Southern Cross Evangelical Church in Portslade, where we had an excellent visiting preacher in the name of Tim Hemington, an elder at Mayfield Chapel. It got me thinking on how churches should be supporting one another.

There are many good reformed churches up and down the UK that have seen much decline over the years, we should expect this as the nation turns its back more and more on the true christian faith, however, I have heard over the years from larger churches about church plants and that existing churches that are struggling need to die off. Maybe the conversation is that how they are set up doesn't reflect how we as a church would want to be set up and rather than discussion dismiss the option of supporting a local church out of hand in favour of setting up their own church.

To take Southern Cross Evangelical Church as a working case. At Southern cross they have around 12 faithful members, in times past they have had around 40 members or more. Southern Cross are therefore in that category that others may consider a "dying church".

But what are the members of this church to do should the church actually close its doors. Many of the members are elderly, there is not another reformed church for a number of miles from this church here in Portslade so what are these faithful church members to do?

Are they then to travel miles to find a like minded church? But consider that most of the members are elderly and some do not drive therefore this is not possible. Are they then to join another local church which means that they would end up compromising their stand on doctrines? surely this is also not right?

Tim Hemington started last night with an anecdote. I had emailed him out of the blue asking for his help to take the preaching load off of myself and Pastor John who has been struggling with ill health. Tim stated that he had been starting to prepare for a bible study on the journey and ministry of the Apostle Paul. As he was preparing on Pauls journey in Acts 16 my email landed in his inbox. Acts 16 v 6-10 says;

Now when they had gone throughout Phyrgia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

And after seeing the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Tim Hemington, quipped that he will forever see me as the Macedonian man but he felt compelled to come and help by preaching God's word to the faithful people of Southern Cross Evangelical Church.

So this got me thinking again, how should we respond to other likeminded churches that are struggling with numbers? I feel that we should all respond, where possible, as Tim Hemington did with my request to preach at Southern Cross. Here are a couple of good reasons:

1. New Church plants often set themselves up in local schools or community halls and whilst God my see them to be fruitful churches and add to their number the problem of a permanent residence or a building of their own down the line will see them needing to raise hundreds of thousands if not millions of pounds to achieve this. In addition schools and community centres might have rules or as the world turns its back upon the Word of God more and more end the agreement for the church to remain in that building because they oppose what the church stands for and find themselves homeless. In addition they will find it difficult to run midweek meetings and youth groups.

However in an already established church they are often asset rich (own their property), they already have the building in the community and therefore adding to the number in these local churches rather than plant a new church can help breathe fresh life into these local churches.

2. It may take some time to establish the church in the local community and build up the meetings, youth groups etc.

In existing local churches, many already have those connections, they may also have the good reputation that is needed to attract people in, they may just be lacking the "people power" to do the work. Many parents in the area may remember the activities that they attended in the past and have good memories of it and be willing to send their children to the activities of the church.

I always remember talk of the "Sausage sizzle" at my old church in London, Camberwell Evangelical Church. I never knew of this outreach myself but often as parents would drop off their children to the newer church activities they would reminisce of the fun they had as children there themselves.

We as christians will always have to be praying for God to guide each and every church. There will inevitably be churches that sadly close but we must accept this is the will of God. However, there will be some churches that will be able to thrive once more and God can use these churches greatly in the coming days and years as He breathes new life into these churches once more. As larger churches have the blessing or more members and may be considering planting a church, a consideration should be given to those existing churches in the area and ask the question could we, with God's help breathe new life into this established church in this area of the UK? Could these well attended churches send men to preach in these local churches? who in some cases do not have men to preach the Word of God?

Just as Tim Hemington answered my request to come and preach, as others have also kindly done, they are not only supporting the ministry of other local churches in the area, keeping them going but we as God's people are building up contacts with like minded churches and can support one another in the coming days and years both in prayer and preaching of God's word.