Misson Lost--The Failure to See Missional Opportunities
Part Five of Stories as Told to or Experienced by George Bullard
Do we need fewer churches with fewer total members?
Yes. (At least that is what some denominational leaders in Illinois thought.)
Around the mid-20th century, mainline Protestants in Illinois determined they had too many churches with too few members per church. They needed to merge, relocate, and close some churches. The long-term result was fewer churches with fewer total members.
Around the same time, Southern Baptists (SBC) looked at the situation in Illinois and saw too few churches, and too many unreached people.
Within several decades there were hundreds more SBC churches with thousands more members in SBC churches than before this new initiative.
One group saw the churching pattern of Illinois as it had been, and another saw it as it could be.
This observation was made by 20th century’s most outstanding church consultant and one of my most significant mentors—Lyle Schaller. He lived in a Chicago suburb most of his adult life.
The Truth North of the Mason-Dixon Line
When my family moved to Philadelphia in 1965 to catalyze the planting of new Southern Baptist churches, we experienced the same phenomena seen in Illinois.
Established evangelical and mainline Protestant churches and their denominational leaders primarily saw the communities and cities as they had been. Some denominations had planted, supported, celebrated with, and closed churches for 100 to 200 years.
They saw the historical nature of these churches and the communities they served. What once was rather than what was becoming.
We, on the other hand, experienced neighborhoods, communities, towns, and cities where established churches were located. We discovered that many churches were plateaued and declining.
We saw new housing being built but no new churches being started. We discovered various racial and ethnic groups moving into areas without a church specifically focused on Christian ministry to them.
At times we became overwhelmed with the need for new Christian ministries and churches of various types.
Was this because we were smarter than the leaders of established churches and denominations? Did we have more evangelistic zeal, a passion for new churches, or a deeper commitment to the Great Commission?
Not necessarily. It primarily meant we saw the northern states context with fresh eyes.
As is always the case with organizational development, many churches and their denominations morph from being a movement to an institution. They put much more focus on sustaining existing churches than reaching lost, unchurched, underchurched, and dechurched people through new ministries and church planting.
This meant there was a vacuum of missional opportunities into which Southern Baptists journeyed. Many places were ripe for a spiritual harvest. Yet the workers and resource support for this potential harvest was inadequate.
We did the best we could and made a difference in many places as God led us.
The Same Truth South of the Mason-Dixon Line
A couple of decades later when my ministry took me into a role where I encountered the leaders of many denominations, I would talk with them about this experience.
To some I would issue a challenge. Especially to those whose denominations lacked a significant presence in southern states.
I urged them to consider a church planting strategy in states below the Mason-Dixon line. I knew the churches and denominations in the southern states had the same myopia my family had experienced among established churches in the northern states.
They did not clearly see the opportunities for new Christian ministry and church planting that were right around them. They needed several other denominations to focus efforts on southern states in the many places Southern Baptists and others were overlooking.
None accepted my challenge. I call this Mission Lost.
Next Post In this Series: Diversity Comes Sooner With Fresh Missional Engagement
Part One Post: Reflections on Southern Baptist Missions Efforts North of the Mason-Dixon Line
Part Two Post: Starting Churches in Motel Bedrooms North of the Mason-Dixon Line
Part Three Post: Looking for North Carolina License Plates North of the Mason-Dixon Line
Part Four Post: We Don’t Want Those Snake Handlers in Our Neighborhood!