We are at a time in history that things are changing rapidly. However the church as has been the case for hundreds of years is slow to change with the times. Now, I never said change the message, never change the message to match the culture or anything else for that matter. The message remains the same BUT our methods of sharing the Gospel change all the time.
The church is not in a slow decline, it is in a major decline and part of the problem is that we have refused to change the way we do church. When I was a teen the major form of communication happened riding the strip on West Lebanon Street or on the telephone, which by the way was a Party Line. If you don’t know what a party line is then ask your parents, it was awful.
Today the major forms of communication are cell phones, text messaging, facebook, myspace, blogs and twitter, just to name a few of the most popular.
The sad fact is that the church condemned the youth cruising the strip 25 years ago and many in the church condemn the major forms of communication of today.
Rather than embrace the people where they are, we cast stones and tell them to come to us. We have it all wrong. Jesus said we are to go to them and that is what this church is doing. We are going to them on facebook, myspace, blogs, twitter and any other form of media where youth are hanging out.
People ask me all the time why I use the computer so much and my answer is: That is where the people are!
Jesus hung out with people and that is exactly what we are doing.
I love people and especially working with teens. I learn as much from them as they learn from me. As a matter of fact the teens of First UMC are the ones who dared me to meet them on-line where they are.
In just over 12 months this blog has been viewed more than 19,000 times. People are reading and people are being blessed. I know that because they tell me.
I hope that you will tell others and that other churches will get a vision for meeting people where they are.
Ronnie
Ronnie, PRESS ON! I am with you ALL THE WAY! I too have found a new passion…blogging! Can you belve that 1300 people have viewed my blog since mid January? These are people that may have never been reached any other way. Same as you…19000!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s amazing! Those are 19000 SEEDS! I can’t think of a BETTER way to use our technology than to share God’s word! BTW…I LOVE your pictures on your blog!!!!!!! Esp the kids! People are learning about GOD! I have discovered, that for me, when feathers get ruffled over doing God’s work, then we are DOING God’s work! You are taking people out of thier comfort zones. Look what you have helped me do! You helped get me out of the box, and on my way. It’s been uncomfortable at times, but you know what? It has gotten me so much closer to the Lord. I wouldn’t change it. I am learning to rely on GOD and I can’t wait for the next step!
🙂 Peace, D.