In last month’s Leadership Reflections, Murray Robertson figuratively thumped the desk and declared, “Church, we are in crisis!” He told us that for the fourth time in 5 years overall worship attendance has gone down and that during the last 5 years about 65% of Baptist churches and fellowships have, in growth terms, been stagnant or in decline! That is in 157 out of 242 places.

What a wake-up call for us as a denomination.

It is very sad and discouraging for all those involved, particularly when we consider the zeal and dedication with which they were founded. These churches are like vehicles with engines running, wheels spinning, everyone on board, but they are digging themselves into a rut or slipping backwards.

Murray cited six possible reasons for this state of affairs, but trends such as these do not suddenly reverse. They continue, unless radical correction is applied with urgency.

How should we respond to this serious dilemma? It’s time to help these churches back onto the road to reach and impact their communities for Christ. Murray feels that the main cause of our demise might lie in the loss of a passion for evangelism.

How have we sought to equip, train and empower our people over the last few decades to fulfill Christ’s mandate, the reason for our existence? We have weekly church services, sermons, a variety of programmes, home groups with Bible study, fellowship and prayer. Chuck Colson says that despite all of this Christian activity, “sadly most Christians don’t understand what they believe, why they believe it or what difference their beliefs should make.”

Many of the faithful are also sadly biblically illiterate. Our ignorance is crippling us. Compared to the militancy and aggressiveness of the growing opposition to Christianity, the Western church remains apathetic and indifferent. Could this be because of our lack of know-how and conviction when it comes to the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith? Thump!

Dear Jesus, please help us! He replies, “I gave my instructions at the beginning. Go and make disciples, teach them to obey everything I taught you, and then go and multiply. Obedience commands my presence and blessing!” (See Matthew 28:19-20).

Radical correction? Nuture believers, grow disciples, train disciple-makers and with the empowering of the Holy Spirit evangelism and growth will be a natural consequence!

– John Fuller
Waikanae Baptist
Omega Discipleship Ministries