Three Energy Trails in Vibrant Churches

by Mark Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader

I read another one of “those” articles this morning, the kind describing the demise of Christianity in North America. You’ve read enough of them, too. Even Christians determined to hold onto their denial as long as possible are struggling to avoid noticing that Christianity has fallen out of favor with the larger culture.

So, going to and fro, engaging churches of various denominations in different locations, I really take note when there is noticeable energy rising in congregations… and there is! Looking back at these churches, there are three energy trails, if you will, along which movement and missional progress is happening. Let me describe them to you.

Purposeful Movement

While spending the weekend with Tabernacle Baptist in Richmond, VA, two energy trails became clear to these eyes. One, they have discovered new approaches to their community ministry which partners with others to meet basic needs in their neighborhood. As I listened to their stories and conversation, they are energized while serving in this way, with a strong desire to ramp this up, pursuing this energy trail even more. Two, they are hungry for spiritual enrichment… for gathering to be formed in the Way of Jesus. During the event, one disciple among them sensed a call to serve as the Christian formation teacher for youth. Others verbalized a desire for ongoing or new forms of engagement around faith development. Being with them, it was clear to me these energy trails are providing a sense of movement among them.

Participants in these type churches have the sense they are caught up in a movement, doing something significant in this world. They don’t spend too much time nostalgically looking backwards at what was, since they are busy pursuing the mission in the present. These churches are more clear about their mission and purpose than are other, less energized churches, giving them clarity and focus. Often, the following statements represent the internal dialogue of people in thriving churches who are caught up in purposeful movement.

“We are going somewhere important.”

“We are doing something significant.”

“We are a part of a spiritual movement.”

Transformation

Trinity United Methodist Church in Blythewood, SC, is intentionally cultivating a transformational mindset. First, they drilled down on the theme of “connecting” late last Summer and Fall. They changed the title “usher” to “connector,” including training on how to actually connect with people around worship gatherings. While intentionally connecting people, they did so with the goal of transformation. Why do we want to connect people? Is this just to feel good and experience community? Though these are nice by-products, their connection efforts are for the purpose of transformation. Their aspiration is to become different, more robust reflections of Jesus Christ, as a result of church participation.

Now, I have to say, if we were rating trail difficulty, this transformation energy trail is in the “difficult” range. There’s an insidious mindset afflicting many churches wherein participants believe it’s all about them, a consumeristic approach to faith and church. Sure, God loves us and wants us to be well, yet God loves us too much to leave us as we are. Jesus called us toward renewal of our minds, transforming our lives, becoming like the One we follow. Participants in vibrant churches accept that transformation is inherent in the mix, expecting to come out different than they went in, making statements about their experience like these:

“I am different as a result of participating with this church.”

“Since participating with this church, the fruits of the Spirit are more apparent in my life than they were before.”

Intentional Engagement

Two churches come to mind as examples wherein the intentional engagement energy trail is present: Ebenezer Lutheran in Columbia, SC, and Black Mountain Presbyterian in Black Mountain, NC. The first has experienced some ups and downs until the last 4-5 years. Now their current pastor has been there awhile, along with a new energized associate pastor. Being with them, I could sense their eager desire to engage each other and their community, bursting with ideas for the next wave of their missional endeavors. The second church noted above has been cultivating welcome and hospitality for awhile now. The difference lately is that their efforts are producing much fruit. They have a full staff, filled with energized people in strategically designed positions. They have cultivated a hospitable mindset in their people, intentionally pushing themselves to engage people on the periphery or new to their church.

Here's what I’m saying… every church believes it’s friendly. I’ve not yet met a church who says, “We are a bunch of crotchety, surly people who don’t like others outside our group.” Every church believes it’s friendly. But there’s a wide gap between friendliness and intentional engagement. Going beyond friendliness is attempting to love people like Jesus does. These churches don’t use much “member” type language, preferring “participants” or “disciples.” These churches regularly begin new small groups recognizing newer persons can engage in newer groups with less resistance.

Intentionally engaging churches are more willing to include people wherever they are in their faith journeys. The make internal statements like these:

“These are my people.”

“Regardless of official membership, we are church together.”

None of the specific churches described in this article are perfect. Every one of them is flawed in various ways, just like other churches. Yet, vitalized churches take note of the Holy Spirit- generated energy rising among them, following these trails.

May we recognize, “there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,” (Psalm 46) trusting ourselves to the current of God’s energy flowing through the body of Christ.