DO CHURCHES PROVIDE TOO MUCH PROGRAMMING?
We started out in ministry at a small church-plant on the outskirts of a college football town. In order to attract new visitors we offered all kinds of programs, from nursery to youth group. How would the church grow without programs, right? They were expected. All the other churches in the area were doing everything possible to offer as many programs as money and volunteers could afford. We felt we had to do the same.
It took five years of back breaking work and sixty hour work weeks to reach an attendance of only one hundred twenty people. By the time it all came crumbling down, the leaders were broken, the volunteers were burned out and the people were scattered. Why? We did everything church leaders were telling us to do. We followed the church growth manual to the letter, yet it all fell apart. What did we do wrong?
Next we served in a thriving large church with a solid congregation numbering in the thousands. As staff pastors, we were expected to produce results. The weekly staff meetings were focused on numbers and new building campaigns. Once again, we offered programs for every age. When families arrived on Sundays, everybody went to their separate areas. Nursery, children, youth, and adults. They even had a separate area for senior adults.
From the outside, everything was just fine. Tithes were up, but morale was down. Many years have gone by since that time, and as we have followed the lives of the youth and kids in that fellowship, we have been very disheartened to read on social media about so many departing from the faith. Very few of those who grew up in that ministry are following the Lord or even involved in church at all.
We now go to a church where the pastor has only one program- you. You are the program. He believes that if he can pour sound biblical teaching into each individual life, they will in turn pour into someone elses life and into their children’s. It is a radical idea. Go and make disciples, period. We worship, pray, study the Bible and fellowship together. We have no advertising, no nursery, no youth classes, and it all seems to work.
A radical new idea is emerging in this space. People feel free to serve God in their calling and serve each other with grace. About one hundred and fifty people call this fellowship their home church. We have young families with babies that love bringing their kids to church to worship together. They say they like coming because they don’t feel pressure to drop their kids off at the nursery.
I still like puppet shows and lock-ins. The memories of Sunday school and juice and cookies continue to bring a smile to my face even to this day. There was good in all of those programs, to be sure. But there is more to spiritual growth and discipleship than a well organized program.
Only time will tell if things will turn out different in this church. I know it has already made a difference in my own life. My joy in serving has returned. I am no longer burned out from trying to raise everyone elses kids. I see families worshiping together and sharing their faith with their friends and neighbors.
In my experience, what’s new is old, and what’s old is new again. Jesus invested into people and not programs. The early church operated simply and effectively. I am not saying that all of our modern day programs are necessarily a bad thing, but for me and my family, we prefer the simplicity of Christian life without programming.
About the Author
Givon Wayne has served as a Pastor to Children and Families for over 20 years. He is now writing and developing a Media Ministry in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Debra. His experience serving on large church staffs, short term missions and church planting has given him a plethora of writing inspiration.
