Recently a distraught member of a small mission church wrote me, asking for advice as to ways for saving their ever-diminishing church. Their attendance and involvement has declined over the last 6-7 years to the point where they are wondering if they should continue as a church together.
I wrote to the church with this reply. Perhaps it will help you or a church you know in similar circumstances–because there are many!
To the church in ___________________:
Grace and peace from one who loves you and who has worked beside you.
I know you are struggling with challenges that seem insurmountable to you. You see yourselves as weak in number, with diminished opportunities, and some perhaps even consider themselves weak in faith.
Here’s what I would ask you to remember as you are praying for direction from God.
Though congregations live and die as do individual Christians, the Church will prevail and will come to the Wedding as a beautiful Bride.
Ask yourselves these questions and pray for wisdom and discernment of what are the true answers:
1) What strengths, what gifts are among you? What gifts has God blessed this remnant with that should be used faithfully? What does each person contribute to the proper functioning of the body?
2) What sin is there in the church? Of what do you need to repent? And how will you do that? When will you confess this and ask for forgiveness?
3) What opportunities has God put before you? What call? What burdens? Look at your gifts and ask how God intended for them to be used, then look around for places to use them as God intended.
4) What is threatening you? Be specific. There are places in the world where 10 Christians together would be a huge, strong church—a bright light in a dark world, so there is no number that means you are a failed church. Are the threats against you spiritual threats? Do they come from Satan? If so, is your response to flee? To fight? To ask for protection from the Guardian of your souls?
I believe that if you prayerfully ask these questions of God and each other, asking God at the same time for wisdom and discernment, that He will make His will known to you.
I have just three pieces of personal advice for you:
- Your building is a tremendous blessing, but do not let it or its value be the determining factor in your basic decision about the church’s value. Since the church is the people, your decisions about church should be based on the people, not the building.
- Do not make final decisions until you feel certain that this is what God wants you to do. Best would be that the whole body agrees. A body is not a democracy that moves best by majority rule; a body is healthiest that is in complete harmony.
- And when your decision as a body is made and all feel like God has spoken clearly, then proceed with all your might in confidence and trust!
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you!
Mark
Mark's Blog 
Mark, I read this with interest and would also comment that sometimes God has other plans for individuals within a congregation. Merrill and I were in such a situation about 10 years ago and it was difficult to finally decide that we had to close the doors of the church building. That being said, all of the faithful members found membership in other congregations, as did we. We know that if we had continued to struggle in that situation, we would not be serving the Lord through the Christian library. The congregation that we became a part of has a very strong missions committee and really encouraged Merrill, first and then myself, when I caught the vision to follow the call and we are both so happy that we did. We can’t always see the plan until it unfolds. Carol