Here are a few "eye-opening" quotes from our nation's founders!
George Washington - from his prayer journal - written in his own handwriting -
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
There are decisions that sometimes have to be made in the life of a church that are HUGE! These HUGE decisions are not always "big bad" things - just HUGE! All across America, our Baptist churches, in the last 6 months, have seen one of the largest declines in giving in modern times. The economic downturn has reached the church!
The evidence of this downturn in church giving is becoming more tangible everyday! All areas of Baptist structures and institutions supported by special offerings are taking a hit. Our International Mission Board, which takes the famous "Lottie Moon" Christmas offering, fell 10's of millions dollars short. The result, a freeze on sending new missionaries to the field!
Mississippi has reduced the State MIssions Offering Goal this year, I believe downward to $2 million dollars - and so many great ministries, church plants, mission journeys, etc. that are funded by this offering are holding their collective breath! When the offering is taken in September / October we will have an even better idea of whether people are "digging" in financially or are "freeing up" a bit in their giving.
State Conventions and associations, in general, are facing real dollar declines in giving! Some may be slight, and some are definitely more dramatic, but one thing remains clear. In an economy where economic principles are no longer the only factors people are dealing with, it is unclear where we are heading. Government has become involved in ways no one could have ever anticipated - and no one is sure where all that is heading. Like Forrest Gump, that is all I have to say about that! Discussing that side of the equation is not the purpose of the post.
So, these economic circumstances eventually, and really first and foremost, begin with the giving of the local church. I have been seeking out wise counsel from those in our state and national convention, and from people who have always offered sound and successful financial leadership to their churches. From those conversations I realize some things about every church - and our own church at ABC!
We have at least three groups of people in our church! 1. We have people who are hurting financially! They are probably not going to admit it unless they get into a total crisis. Perhaps they were over-extended through unwise practices - and perhaps through no fault of their own - experiencing medical or job related stresses. These folks have just reached an economic reality that they have no money to give! It is all spent on bills and there is not enough for that. 2. We have people that have, as is true for nearly all, seen their expenses rise, but are doing well enough. They are fearful - because they see and hear economic news everyday that just worries them. So, many of them are still giving through the church - but perhaps not as much and perhaps not as often. What I am about to say is undisputed throughout Baptist life and beyond - the evidence is overwhelming that people are HOLDING ON to money right now - trying to anticipate and be ready for whatever is coming! 3. We have people that are financially secure, even if they have experienced some losses. They continue to give and help their church financially. However, there are not sufficient numbers of them to carry the full weight of the financial needs of a church!
In the midst of these realities, I experience a collision of beliefs. I believe in and have experienced, and our church has experienced the blessings of faith giving and faith living! Do I still believe in God's provision? YES! Overwhelmingly! There are also other lessons in the scripture that I believe! Don't be foolish - remember the teaching about the man who begins to build a tower - but does not count the cost. He is foolish and is mocked by those around him because he cannot finish it! There are also good Biblical teachings about the danger of being overextended in debt.
So, I believe in FAITH living - and I believe in being WISE! I have to believe those two qualities are not mutually exclusive - that they can reasonably complement each other.
We have a HUGE building project before us! Faith says we can do it through God's help - wisdom says (at least to me) to examine the realities of our people and church to be sure of the timing. To me, the project is not in doubt one bit! But, the timing is bothering me! I know that we are about to embark on a major capital fund-raising campaign at a time when many of our people are just bewildered by their economic realities. What I am concerned about is the wisdom of doing that now.
Join me in prayer! Just in case you have been speed reading - read this! We are committed to the project - the church has overwhelmingly approved it. But I am meeting with folks and seeking their collective wisdom and the wisdom our Lord in the timing of the project! Pray for faith and wisdom to meet in a perfect plan!!!!! I am more than willing to go forward in faith - but I desire to do that with the best wisdom of the scripture as well!
Something happened this week - and it has been odd! Through an unintentional act of scheduling, I am not preaching today! We already had planned for our students to lead worship tonight (June 28). Over the last couple of weeks, we determined that this morning was also the best opportunity for us to hear from Brian and Felicia Henderson, who just returned from their training at the International Mission Board Training Center.
On Monday, I made one mental decision. I would not work "ahead" and get the following week's message done. After my normal prep for Wednesday night Revelation, I would just take a vacation from sermon preparation. It is the first time in a while that I have had a week where I just let sermon prep go! Well, it surprised me! I had no idea that sermon prep consumed so much of my on and off time.
I do not write or make outlines for a sermon until late in the week - usually starting on Thursday and finishing as late as Saturday! That doesn't mean that I am not working on the message. As I visit, meet in meetings, observe the news, do counseling, water the yard, watch tv , read - my thoughts often migrate to my upcoming message. I approve of and then reject certain outlines - certain points - or suddenly have a scripture come to mind that is perfect to illustrate a point. It is an ongoing process that never really ends.
For the first time in a long time - I deliberately shut down that process! Normally I would have just started early on the next week - but I have kept my mind free of sermon prep!
What have the results been? Well, a break from the routine was good! And I go to worship today under no pressure whatsoever! That will be a great experience!
And my brain has had a little down time! Nothing wrong with that!
Finally - I am ready to let the "sermon chip" in my brain reactivate! I love preaching - God has called me to preach - and my week, though restful in this area, is restless to get going! It is who I am and I love looking at everything I see and hearing everything I hear through a preaching filter!
I will enjoy today - but I will enjoy tomorrow better when the Lord starts building the next message in me!
The number of lessons to be learned from everyday life experiences is truly staggering. I encountered another good "life transformation" lesson at 6:00 am this morning. We were able to get in a flower bed in front of the house recently. It is nothing fancy - just something to provide a little color until we can get around to more serious landscaping.
Well, I got a pick-up load of top-soil ( it is actually the potting soil used by a local nursey - they dump the leftovers in a pile each season) to put in the bed. Because the source pile is out in the woods, is very rich in fertilizer etc., it has a lot of grass seed that has migrated into it. The result is that it grows flowers very well - but also all the grass that is mixed in it.
We have pulled the grass once already - but it was a bit later in the day and much hotter - so we were in a hurry and did not get it all out by the roots! This morning, early, I started again pulling it out more carefully and by the roots.
Now here is the lesson. Sin will choke out our spiritual life - just like grass will choke out a flower bed. It is sometimes hot, dirty business getting past sin in our life. However, if we take the time to get to the root of each sin in our life, we can be free from it - that particular sin does not have to ever come back. But it must be pulled out by the root cause!
Too often we get in a hurry and just pull out the obvious "surface" conditions of sin. Our life appears better, cleaner - but the root of the sin is still in our heart and within a few days, weeks, or even minutes and hours, it is back! This is what happened in our flower bed. We started out well the first time - pulling it out by the roots. But as we grew weary and hot, we moved ever faster, just snatching the grass shoots above ground. GUESS WHAT! It grew back.
This morning I took longer - but much more carefully and methodically I pulled up every piece of grass that I could by the roots! There may be some new grass to come up - but what I pulled this morning will be gone forever! Oh, I did not quite finish! When I realized I was about to get in a hurry, I stopped. I am not suggesting that we stop from getting to the root of our sin! But, as we confess and let go - we sometimes have to take a breath, and let God continue to reveal Himself to us at a pace we will maintain.
Tomorrow morning, very early, I will pull up the rest. Then the key is to look each day, and pull up what is coming up! The same is true with sin! Each day, pull up what is coming up! That way we never get overwhelmed and we spend less and less time having to deal with sin!
My wife was telling me it was an affair with a woman before I could admit it! She called it from the first day! I just could not bring myself to accept it! But, then, there it was.
The governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford, was first "missing!" Then, no, he is hiking on the Appalachian Trail; no, he is away writing; no, he is getting some much needed rest from the recent show-down with the legislature; no, he is on an exotic adventure! YES! That was indeed correct. Only the exotic turned out to be quite erotic (proven by emails between him and his lover) and in Argentina! Mark Sanford had been thrown out of the house by his wife and had run to Argentina!
Now, I am not taking shots at him! It is sad to see such a public figure, one who had a bright political career ahead of him, and one who had, by all accounts, a great wife and family - squander it all for an illicit relationship! His total disregard for his family is staggering! His disregard for the state of South Carolina is also troubling - being the chief executive of the state and being totally unreachable for days! None of this bodes well for him. He has been "outed!" He has lost the respect of his family, his peers, and his state! AND - he did it all!
Okay! What is the point? Sin, left to flourish in our lives, will lead us down the most amazing, dangerous, and self-destructive paths. And most of the time, we will end up being "outed" to those around us for what we are!
However, we have all been caught! Just as fully as Mark Sanford! You see, we look at him and his public humiliation and talk about how foolish he must have been. Yet, Mark Sanford was caught long before his public disgrace. We seem to forget that all our own sin, including lustful thoughts, hateful thoughts, malicious thoughts - our gossip, our lies, our biting words designed to hurt others - our actions or lack thereof - has already exposed us and we have been caught. NONE OF OUR SIN ESCAPES THE GAZE OF OUR LORD!
Mark Sanford had a public humiliation! Yet, all of us stand before God fully exposed - right down to the thoughts and intents of our hearts. The sad thing is that we fear what Mark Sanford has experienced, a public outing of our sin, far more than we fear God!
Before we become too emboldened to criticize the governor for his now public sins, we should remember that our sin has been exposed by Christ and the cross of Calvary! How we need to repent and turn from every sin - before, as the scriptures say - our sins "find us out!" 23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23
When God says, "YOU MAY BE SURE" - then you can count on it!
A few weeks ago, someone apparently dropped off a dog at our church. It is a white mutt! Heinz 57 variety!
This has happened before, but usually dogs left here just wander away and we don't see them again after a few days. Not so with this dog! He is still here!
Though he may have been named by others - I just call him "white dog!" One can learn a few lessons from this dog!
1. From his point of view - someone dropped him off at a good place! Hopefully, to a world of lost and lonely people, the church (the body of Christ) is always seeking ways to be a blessing to others.
2. This dog loves people! I have to say - the dog is a better greeter than most of us. He meets people at their cars - and apparently welcomes them in his own unique way - usually with a wagging tail and a little nudge from his nose.
3. He seems to be happier when lots of people are here! He apparently is not looking for a smaller church!
4. He is always here early! He really seems to enjoy being here before everyone else - that way he can greet more people!
5. He really knows his way around! Tonight he was hanging around the fellowship hall early! He has figured out that on Wednesday night, our students meet in the fellowship hall and they often go outside with food brought for snac! He was a little confused tonight because our students are gone to camp!
And I am sure he missed the food!
6. He never complains! I promise! I have never heard him complain!
7. He is not perfect! Our Equipping Pastor lives in the parsonage! The dog likes to get into his garbage! I actually think he is just playing a practical joke - but he is probably taking it just a bit too far!
8. He seems to meditate a lot - I often see him during the day under a shade tree near the worship center - seemingly lost in thought! We can always use some good thinking!
9. He is faithful! Hot or mild - rain or shine - white dog is at every event, committee meeting, worship service, and ball practice!
10. He brings his friends! We often see white dog in the company of black dog! I sort of expect to see more dogs any day now! Reminds me of the concept - each one reach one!
11. He is not ashamed of his friends! Black dog does not seem quite as well behaved - and is not always present like white dog. But white dog is always friendly to black dog and introduces him to everyone who will take the time to notice them!
12. White dog loves children! Wise church people do too!
Those are just a few lessons I have observed from white dog!
While doing some shop talk today, this question arose. "When does a church with great potential become a church of great action?" That is the 64 million dollar question! Some churches have great potential, but are not exploiting it. Potential!
The dictionary defines potential as...1. possible, as opposed to actual 2. capable of being or becoming.
Hmmmm! Possible - as opposed to actual! So a church has the potential to reach many people. ABC has an abundance of potential when it comes to the unchurched. They are abundant in our area. But to the degree that we have the potential for reaching them - it is simply possible - not actual! Or, we are capable of reaching people - but not in fact reaching them!
Just using that one as an example. To say a church has great potential sounds good! At least at first. But the reality before any church is that the more potential you have - the less you are actually accomplishing. Potential is the possibility - not the reality. The more potential you have - the less reality you have.
So, when does potential transform to action? Only when we trust and obey Jesus Christ!
As I type, I am watching live, streaming video from the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC Pastor's conference is in progress. I am watching David Platt, pastor at The Church at Brook Hills - Birmingham, preach. He is delivering a very powerful message. He is preaching about how important it is for us not to retreat from the opportunity to spread the Gospel.
He just made a very important point - if we retreat from our mission, we will not go to hell. We have a forgiving God who is gracious. But what God may very well do is allow us just to wander in the wilderness until we die! He has done it with literally thousands of churches. I don't want ABC to be one of those churches that retreats into wilderness living.
Back to my original reason for posting - you can view live coverage of the SBC convention by going to
www.sbc.net and clicking on the banner for viewing life coverage.
Yesterday, using a tiller, I plowed up the last really bad spot in my yard and sowed it in grass. Yesterday, and early this morning, I watered dirt. Here is proof!
So, anyway, after I watered it early this morning, I thought about how funny it would look to most people to pass by and see me watering my dirt! As a matter of fact, the more I thought about it, the funnier it became. Yesterday I tilled it, raked it, sowed it, raked it some more - but if someone just drove up this morning - they would see me standing their with some anticipation on my face - watering the dirt.
It reminds me of this - 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
1 Corinthians 3:6 Paul was stating his interest in people - who often by their behavior and speech - seem to fulfill the role of dirt. But Paul knew that in every clump of dirt called a person there is an imprint of the image of God. So he planted the seed of the gospel. Apollos, a co-laborer, watered or gave nourishment to the seed. These would be gracious acts of love. It takes love of the person and anticipation of the result to water and nourish them. Then, God makes it grow!
I planted grass seeds in the dirt - and I am watering the dirt also - at 6:30 am - every morning- with the anticipation that God will make those seeds grow. Can we do any less for people?
Tonight we had follow up visitation for VBS! Except for recent guests, all our visits were to homes of VBS kids. In most instances, we were able to give them a picture of their child taken at VBS with a little frame.
We had a great turnout tonight - and I look forward to reading about and hearing about the results tomorrow.
Visits made tonight were made in the HEAT and HUMIDITY for which south Mississippi is famous. After 7:00 pm on a night like tonight, you can practically "see" the air because of the humidity.
Anyway, ABC was takin' care of business tonight!
Every year we consistently have a FABULOUS VBS! Every year the reasons are pretty much the same!! And within those factors contributing to success is a good lesson on how to "DO CHURCH!"
As the body of Christ, our church gathering together should be an energized, creative, accountable, uplifting, gift enabling time. That is what VBS actually is as well! How so???
Leadership: VBS has clear leadership. The leaders are identifiable - and their goals are clear. The church must have clear leadership - and our goals - identifiable. VBS is clear in it's goals to provide children with age specific instruction about Jesus and missions - using hands on teaching environments that bring the message home. The church (our church) has leadership but I am not sure it is always understood. We definitely have clear goals - but I would say we do not do as good a job in communicating them. Our goals are to Connect People to Christ - Grow Them in Faith - Serve Others! or Connect - Grow - Serve!
Devoted Volunteers: For one week, VBS does what should be done each and every week in the life of the church. We utilize volunteers. Now, that invovles a lot more than just people working. It is allowing people to use and express their gifts. (Also, it enables people to discover areas of giftedness as well as figure out that some things are not for them! For that one week of VBS - for the most part - our volunteers are there. They know if they don't show - the organization will likely suffer and some area will go uncovered.
In the church, on a week to week basis - that devotion is not always so evident. In the modern church the attitude is more of this: I will be in worship - I will be in Bible Study - if I have no other plans!!! In VBS, the attitude is more - I can't do other things this week - I am committed to VBS! If we can move our commitment to Christ for 52 weeks - we can have a great church!
Attention to Detail: VBS meets it children as soon as they arrive - and they take down names and information. Obviously they have to - we are responsible for those children. VBS has greeters who hang around outside and in the halls until well after the event has begun. That way late-comers are greeted and assisted. VBS transforms the building into a virtual world - this year - Austrailia! VBS has energetic worship - great music - and they actually make giving an offering fun! They love on children - hugs, high fives, comforting, encouraging - you name it.
Church - well you be the judge - see how many greeters welcome you to the facility tomorrow! We need to do more to register our guests and make them feel welcome - after all - adult or child - we are responsible for their souls! We may hand out bulletins - but do we have greeters who are excited about welcoming late-comers?! Do they know how to direct them to any location? Do we do much with our building. I AGREE THAT SACRED WORSHIP takes place in church - but I TOTALLY DISAGREE THAT THE BUILDING IS SACRED! We do not venerate objects. We hold Christ as our only object of worship. Buildings are tools that can express the artistic abilities of their inhabitants. Our worship will only be as energetic as our personal worship all week long. And - I don't even have to comment on making giving "fun!" I wonder if we should have a contest in giving between men and women in the church! How about the deacons taking on the Sunday School teachers???????? And the church - every week should be big on hugs - high fives - comfort - encouragement - you name it.
VBS could teach the church a lot- if the church is willing to listen!
We had a great time at Family Night tonight. It was so peaceful and relaxing to have so many children and their parents having a great time. When I got home - I was surfing some of my usual sites on the web when I looked at THE BIG PICTURE. It is one of my favorite sites that has stunning photography.
Most of the pictures at this link are children of Pakistan. Sure makes you thankful for what you have - and should tug at your heart to bring the light and hope of the Gospel to these children.
It was time this morning at VBS to present the gospel! I usually try to have some type of object lesson. With all those kids and our desire to present the gospel and still insure that those who do make decisions know what they are doing - it is a bit daunting for me.
I felt like I flubbed it some - definitely was not one of my best presentations - yet - already we have had older children trust Christ today and more to talk to. So, when you get right down to salvation - IT IS THE MESSAGE and the Lord who saves - not the messenger. Praise God for that.
We have proof that global warming happens once a year. No matter when you have VBS - it is always the hottest week! At least, if feels that way! You can also count on air conditioning to "go out" during the week of VBS!
So far - two are out! Both of our missions rooms are HOT! Add 20 or 30 kids in there and it is SMOKIN' HOT!
The A/C folks are on the way!!!!!
It has been nearly impossible to post for the last couple of weeks. This is one reason - - -
I have definitely been taking time when available to spend with our first grandchild - Riley Alexis! She is so beautiful! Melts my heart!
Then we have been preparing for VBS which is now underway. We also did the VBS musical. See a couple of pics below.
I will try to post some VBS pics tomorrow! The 3 1/2 hours flies by, and there is hardly time to do anything. Right at 300 hundred today. Looking for a big bunch tomorrow!
In keeping with what we learned during a four week study of The Lord's Supper, we observed Communion today in the morning service. We have scheduled this observance several times this year. The next one will be in the evening service.
This morning, our entire service was devoted to this observance. We encouraged group participation by having our people share matters of thanksgiving - we took time to pray for some of our children facing health problems - we took time to allow people to confess sin and determine to set relationships right. We took time to understand how important our Lord's gift of His body and blood are to His people.
We sang songs about praise, repentance, the sacrifice of His body and His blood, and shared in the elements of The Supper! It was, to me, very meaningful.
Numerous people talked about how meaningful the service was. One person asked me how we would top the service we had today! We have no need to do so! It is all about Him - and how He impacts us. I look forward to our next Supper service on a Sunday evening. My prayer is that we become more like Him before we celebrate what He has done again in this manner.
I remember back in 1985 when I was pastor at Liberty Hill Baptist Church near Batesville! It was a great church - and the people were wonderful to us and the church bustled with people wanting to serve. We had a lot of great times at that church - never really could imagine leaving it during that time.
In 1985, I had been there a couple of years when I attended a spring preview for prospective students at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. When I came back, I told Andrea that she just had to go back up with me. We loved the seminary. And we knew we had to go.
We moved up there, with the help of a great friend, in a horse trailer and pickup. We got our stuff put in an apartment owned by the seminary. Here is what we had. No savings! Around $300 - $400 dollars in the bank - and no job or even knowledge of a job. Now we had to come up with rent and utilities.
We moved over 650 miles away with a baby boy who had just turned 3, and we had nothing to amount to anything materially.
But we did have one thing - an absolute clear, unmistakable call to go - to go immediately - to go and trust God to take care of us. We did - and He did!
I had only been there a few days when I landed a job as a security guard. Andrea began keeping seminary kids in the apartment. Occasionally we would get a little money from home - and then we had our first test. The engine on my car threw a rod! The motor blew up. We took it to a repair shop - put it in - and prayed. Mr. Earl Cockrell, who owned Cockrell produce in Tupelo, MS, heard of my plight and sent me a check sufficient to cover the $1,108 bill! God blessed. We did not have a lot most of the time - but we always had what we needed just in time.
After a few months, I was called to a small church that had a double-wide trailer parsonage. It looked like heaven to us - God had provided.
When I think of the dream I have always had of starting a new work - a work that is outwardly focused from day one - a work that is grounded on the word - a work that demands high expectations of its people - a work that exists to glorify God and reach every person for Christ within it's influence - when I think of it - I wonder - why have I not done it?
God has certainly provided for me before! God has certainly taken us from nothing to security before. The longer we live - the more comfortable and dependent we become on those around us. The longer we live, the fewer risks we tend to take. The longer we live - the more we discover that we trust in good people, good institutions, and good jobs - probably much more than we trust in God. What stands between me and my dream? What stands between you and your dream?
Lots to think about.
You know, some things are just hard to do! It is hard to bring yourself, at times, to pursue your dream when everything is screaming that's impossible! It is also hard when the dream seems so ill-timed, the resources seem uncertain, and failure would be pretty disastrous!
I have been praying for wisdom and courage to follow the Lord's hand in faith - but I have to admit - I am no hard-charging warrior on this one. Lots of questions - few answers. Kind of Old and New Testament, huh?!?
I have been reading Organic Church, by Neil Cole. The book is a great read - but what I have really enjoyed are portions of the book that remind us that everything God needs to build the kingdom is part of the DNA with which we are born as children of God. If there was no church in your city, and no believers but you, and you were a new believer, everything needed for the kingdom to expand would be located in your own spiritual DNA!
The question worthy of being asked - "What gets in the way?" What stops people from using the power that dwells within them?
We have a strain of FAULTY discipleship in our churches that says that people must be trained before they can share their faith. They have to be trained before they are really a "disciple!" But Christ took His disciples and trained them by doing. It is not that they had NO training - but they trained ON THE JOB!
Can I learn how to better answer the question of an atheist if I sit down with someone who has much experience in leading atheists to the Lord? Yes! Do I have to have that conversation before I even try? No!
Before last year, I had never built a house! I did not go to school to learn how to build a house! I learned by building one. I had someone who had built a house tell me - DO THIS! So, I went out and DID THAT! I started digging ditches (footers) for the house foundation. That helped to strengthen me for the work that would follow. When I had a question, I asked - and I learned.
Christ has redeemed us and set us loose on the world. We should go and be salt and light - and when we have a question - ask Him! He may direct us to others for further instruction - but I am firmly convinced that we too often "get in the way" of what God has placed within us while we substitute our EXPERT training in place of the Holy Spirit!
Training is fine - so long as it does not become our excuse for not DOING the word of God!
We have been a very blessed church over the last 5 years. I just received our "Five Year Giving Summary" from our state convention, and the numbers were gratifying. They also indicate the challenges we face.
Our Undesignated Giving and Special Offerings total for 2004 was $522,280.
Our Undesignated Giving and Special Offerings total for 2008 was $1,101,956. (that included a First Fruits
offering of $250,000.
Our average Sunday School attendance in 2004 was 255.
Our average Sunday School attendance in 2008 was 339.
Part of the difference in attendance and giving was that beginning in the fall of 2007 through December of 2008 we had Dual Sunday Schools and Dual Worship Services.
Our Dual Sunday Schools were fabulous. We created many new classes, placed classes in better space, and actually had a few empty classrooms available for expansion.
We had one dismal failure! Our Dual Worship side of the equation was not good. Our people did not ever grow accustomed to being separated in worship. There is a lot, I suppose, that one could say about all that. But, after every kind of effort was made to make the two services identical, our worship attendance actually declined while we enjoyed a wonderful Sunday School attendance. We had been having around 450 in worship before duals - that declined into the upper 300's after Duals.
Now we have gone back to one Sunday School. We were able to preserve the newest and strongest classes created out of Duals. But, we are back to using every space, including undesirable space, and our Sunday School has shrunk. Right now we are just holding on to an average attendance of 300.
It is frustrating to see that decline - but it was not unanticipated. Worship services, on the other hand, are much stronger again and people are without a doubt, much happier. Our worship attendance was almost 600 on Easter, and has maintained around 425 or more mark since then. So therein lies the challenge. At least for me. It is hard to see how we can just write off folks from Sunday School. Yet, the 80% rule is really a rule - no matter how many people you want to crowd into a room.
So, we have approved a new preschool / children's building and when completed in about a year, it will provide substantial increases in space. Until then, all we can do is look for creative ways to keep our Sunday School from falling behind.
Right now, I am praying about how some small groups can be implemented beyond Sunday morning and fit in alongside our Sunday School. We will see!
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