What will be the legacy of your church?

Here’s an article from On Mission Magazine, Winter 2013 that I’d like to share with you written by Johnny Hunt, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga. entitled, “What will be the legacy of your church?”

“A few years ago the leadership of new Hope Church in Mableton, Ga., came to us looking for help. The once vibrant church was now struggling to grow beyond the 17 members that had stuck around through tough times. The church had a capacity to hold 250 people and 3.5 acres of land but no longer had the ability to reach its community.

The decisions New Hope had to make weren’t easy. Some of the people in the church had been baptized, discipled, married and raised their children in that church. No one wanted to see the church close its doors.

First Baptist Woodstock wanted to help. When they asked us to come alongside of them, we met with the 17 members and decided upon a complete makeover for the church. We brought in a new pastor and installed blended worship in the church. We began to tell the community about a brand new church plant that would be more culturally connected to it.

Today, six years later, Vinings Lake Church – what the church is now called – is running 600 most weekends. More important, the church is reaching its community. Young families in the community are coming to know Christ.

When those 17 people came to meet us at First Baptist Woodstock, they saw what they were doing as a part of their legacy. They gave us the land and great buildings. They joined with us in this journey. Now they’re seeing these great days of ministry with the resources they provided.

Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of buildings and land could become available in the near future for kingdom work. Many buildings around North America house evangelical churches that are facing the same challenges New Hope faced.

I am excited about what the North American Mission Board is doing in church revitalization through Send North American Church Growth and Revitalization Conferences. I’m glad to be a part of it because I’ve seen the difference revitalization can make in a church and community.

Maybe you’re facing the same uncertainty in your church. You might not be ready to close the doors, but you’re not growing and impacting your community like you want – and you dream of doing so. Regardless, the questions are the same. What will your church’s legacy be?

If you’re asking yourself this question, join me at a conference near you. Visit namb.net/revitalization.”