Met a guy last week that has written a book. It seems everyone but me has written a book. More on that later. Anyway the title of the book is Legacy Churches. Stephen Gray investigates the idea that old churches need not die and become restaurants or worse.

According to best estimates about 3500 churches in America will die this year! That is huge. It is true in every denomination and every non-denomination or interdenominational network. Churches tend to live for a season. In the Protestant world it is hard to find a living, vibrant church that is more than 100 years old. That is being generous. Most are under 50. Even that seems to be a stretch. It seems that 30 to 50 years is a generation in the church world. Again, I know there are a few exceptions like FBC Dallas, TX, but not many. So what do we do with those churches and especially the buildings. Here are a few suggestions:

1. If you are pastor of a church that has passed its generation and is living on borrowed time. You have a huge building but less than a 100 people in worship, or fewer in most instances. You find yourself out of step with the people around you either ethnically or generationally. Consider bringing in a pastor to start a new church. It will mean sacrifice. Name change. Remodeling the building. Changing worship styles. New leadership. But what is better for the church to die and leave the community without a Christian witness or to birth something new that may last another generation to witness to the community. Too many of us are content to let our church die out of pride. because we think if another pastor builds something then I must have done something wrong.Not the case. It may be that the church and community just needs a new infusion of energy and ideas. You can still leave a legacy. A legacy is something that you pass on to the next generation. Will the message die with you when the church becomes a flea market or will you leave a legacy for the next generation.

2. The second scenario is a church that is in a changing neighborhood. I’ve seen two different things. Some churches just die like the ones I talked about above. There are others that sell their buildings and move to another part of town to reach people like them. That is not always a bad thing. But here is a bad thing. When the building is left with no “body of Christ” to carry on a witness. I have a suggestion. If you are a pastor and you realize the community is changing around you find a pastor of the ethnicity of the people moving to your community. Allow him to start a church in your basement, fellowship hall, or even at another time in your worship center. As that church grows they can purchase the building in the future so that you can make an easier transition to the new community or will carry on the legacy. It can be a win-win for both congregations.

I’ve written about this before but in Atlanta the old FBC property is now AT&T, an Episcopal Church is a restaurant, a Presbyterian church is a bar. What if these churches had decided they were going to leave something as a witness to downtown. What could God have done. The church has abandoned the city. Not God. The shame is ours. We failed to leave a legacy. Then we wonder why crime runs rampant, abortion is normal, and our streets are not safe.

Stephen Gray has written about how to do this in a smooth transition. I wish that more churches could catch this vision. The witness doesn’t have to die in those communities, in fact it needs to live. Don’t you be the one that kills it when it is time to leave a legacy in your community.

Began my day at Waffle House, breakfast with a friend. Connection Power Meeting learning technical stuff – oh boy, meeting with Church Planter from South Carolina, meeting with Church Planting Consultant from Virginia, and a leadership meeting for one of our church plants. I’m tired.

 It was a good day. At each meeting I felt there was something we could point to and say that someone learned something or had good takeaways from the meeting.

And then, I signed up for this program yesterday, I got on the very first time and have not been able to get on since. I have the correct username and password. I have made contact with the support team that confirms all of the information. The support team even tells me that they logged on with my information. I try to log on again and guess what I get this *%^$#&^* message that says, “Username and password are numbers and letters only.” The trouble is they have used my email address as my username. Notice they assigned the name not me. Obviously I have an @ in my username which evidently at least on my computer doesn’t work. BTW this was not free I paid good money for this site to be able to log on and then even more to buy something. I am completely and utterly **&%%$(&*$##.

If you would like to email me and tell me the error of my ways I would appreciate it. Is there a setting that I am not aware of? Just talked to a tech guy and he told me tough luck they’ll have to change the name and password. Tough way to end what had been a very good day.

When I was a lad when the preacher didn’t have a sermon for the Sunday Night Service he would often turn to the Choir Director and say, “Brother Ray, I believe we need some good down home singin’ tonight. How about let’s just pick some hymns from the hymnal and let’s sing a while.” or if the choir director didn’t have music picked out for the evening because they had been practicing the Easter Cantata or Christmas Musical he might say, “What would ya’ll like to sing tonight, just yell out a hymn number and if I don’t know it, you can come lead it, hahahahahaha.”  

Some people like to complain that there is never enough time to worship on Sunday morning. Now by worship they mean sing. I hate to be a stickler for detail but worship is the WHOLE experience: music, giving, prayer, message, responding, etc.

So if you are one of THOSE people who think that worship is music. Sunday Night March 1 is for you! NIGHT OF WORSHIP @ WEST RIDGE will be a great night of singing led by the world famous West Ridge Woship Band.   Of course it wouldn’t be worship without a choir, so they’ll be there backing up the band.

Church Planter guys this may be a night for you just to come and chill out and worship with no responsibility except to worship. West Ridgers this is your time to enjoy an extended time of music and singing.

So, WRC is having a good ol’ fashion “SANGIN’” (not really) except the worship songs have been picked out, the band will be kicking it, the choir will be shouting it, and the congregation will be clappin’ and singin’. I can’t wait, Steve can we sing number 162, oops sorry for the flashback. I can’t wait. Music moves me and I’ve done a lot of traveling and the WRC Band is the best. Be here at 6:30 ready to download the happiness!

don’t miss it, Sunday night March 1, 6:30 at WRC. Tons of music, communion, can’t wait.

Saturday we kicked off our Church Planters class for this semester. 8 churches attended about 18 folks were there. Taught on Kingdom, Call, and Prayer. At the end of the day Dr. Daniel Henderson spoke to the class about Prayer. He ended the day with an impromptu prayer experience. It was probably the most exciting prayer time I have been a part of in several years. Some described it as life changing.

I hope you don’t neglect this part of your spiritual life. It is so easy to forget to pray. But prayer should be our lifeline. Anyway, Dr. Daniel Henderson, Fresh Encounterrs, Strategic Renewal Ministries taught us a method of praying that can be life changing for you and your church. i encourage you to look it up.

I hear guys talking about Holiness all the time. I have begun to wonder exactly what that means. When I was younger it was pretty easy. Holiness used to be defined by behavior, you know, “if you don’t smoke, drink, cuss or chew, or go with girls that do.” Then you were considered holy. Now I know someone is going to be offended by that statement. I caught hell from a woman one time that took offense at the last line, “girls that do.” Now me I always assumed I was talking about girls that smoke, drink, cuss or chew. She told me that it meant girls that do, you know “do”. Anyway I was less than holy by even uttering that statement at least in her eyes.

By those standards most of the church planting world is in trouble. We’ve got more cussing and drinking preachers than ever. Now if you smoke you’re probably going to hell in their eyes but their behavior is all right. I know it’s cultural to some extent. In some places in Europe you can drink but not smoke and be holy. In the south you can smoke but not drink and be holy. And some of the words I’ve heard from pastors from other parts of the world would make Bono blush.

So, when you guys say, “I want to be holy.” What does that mean? How do we define it today? How would someone know if you are holy?

I was fortunate one time to be in a large room in which Bill Bright and Billy Graham entered without being announced. The atmosphere in that room changed instantly. I don’t know what it was but there was a new spirit. I didn’t know if anyone else felt it but I did. Later I was in a seminary class and the professor began to talk about one day being in a large room  and Bill Bright and Billy Graham entered and the “spirit changed.” After the class I asked him about his story. We were in that same room. It was 1972 at Explo 72 the CCC event in Dallas, TX at the Cotton Bowl waiting for the event to start. WOW!

I hope that one day someone may say of me, “Jim, was a Holy guy.” If I just knew what that meant.

A day late, but I was busy being romantic for my wife. I cooked her dinner Friday, big steaks that Publix cut into a heart shape, her favorite pie, and then a movie, plus gifts. Saturday, bowling with the journey group from WRC, at which she almost beat me, but in the end she let me win.

Anyway I was not with my daughters, so I’m giving them a shout out: Happy Valentines Day. Thank you for making dad proud 365 days for the last 24 years. Here’s what they have given me:

They have always had great grades in school. One was the highest rated female in her class and voted most likely to succeed. She won an academic scholarship to UGA above the Hope and graduated at UGA one of those cum lauds, don’t know which one. She has gone on mission trips most of her life. In middle school she brought her friends to Jesus I think she can name about 10 friends that prayed to receive Christ at events she invited them to. She led a ministry at UGA that ministered to underprivileged kids in a trailer park for a couple of years. She was the Bible Study leader for BCM and helped coach the leaders and make sure they had what they needed. She lives in Baltimore where she is helping a WRC church plant and teaches preschool also. She loves Jesus. And on top of all that she is beautiful. Let me tell you just one story. I have always been a very strict parent when it came to media, especially movies. I told the girls I would not lower my standards lower than the world. So they could not see a pg13 movie before they were 13. So in 7th grade she goes to a spend the night party and mom puts on a movie. Guess what it is pg13. She didn’t make a big deal, she just went upstairs to the girls bedroom and played until the movie was over. Another girl in the same boat went up with her. The next week the other girl’s mom called my wife and thanked her that Brooke had made the stand she did and allowed her daughter to obey her parents. That is leadership. She is Brooke.

The other one got married recently to a guy she dated pretty much since she was a freshman in high school although we didn’t let her date for almost 2 years after she met her guy. She also was the highest rated female that took any AP or Honors courses at her high school. She won the honor of being the first student to receive the All-Around best student award as voted by the teachers. She also graduated from UGA. She went to Jamaica several years. she rode a bike to Jacksonville 3 years to raise money for summer missions. She has sung in praise bands in both H.S. and College. She went to New Orleans and cleaned houses during spring break 2 years even though she has many allergies to dust. She and her husband honored their parents  and God by doing things the right way – getting an education, waiting untiil they were old enough to be sure this was the person they wanted to marry, didn’t get pregnant and have a baby too soon, honored God with their relationship. She loves Ray, she loves Jesus. Oh and she is also beautiful. She was also a leader and involved with student gov’t all four years. Her name is Anna.

My super valentine to both of you. You make Daddy, so proud. You are my next best valentines to your mother. Thanks for being the women of God that you are. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! I wish I was there to give you a hug.

I went to BK for lunch today (shut-up Mitch-I didn’t eat any breakfast). Anyway I walk in and there are two guys sitting there that are kinda your ordinary Paulding County kind of guys, jeans, work shirts, some kind of company baseball cap, work boots and one guy is touching the other guys arms and I’m thinking well whatever floats your boat, but it’s pretty weird to see it in Hiram. So I go through the line, get my drink, get my meal, and sit down at my table and begin to look more closely. One of the guy’s head is bobbing up and down, his eyes are closed and he’s mumbling. Being a diabetic and having had similar episodes in the past I recognized the symptoms. The guy was in a full blown attack of hypoglycemia (not enough sugar in the blood). And the reason the guy was touching his arm is he was trying to keep him from passing out while he called the ambulance. So I go to the table and offer my limited knowledge and assistance and help while we wait for the ambulance. A guy from WRC answered the call, knew he was in good hands so I returned to my whopper.

So, lesson reminders: Things are not always what they seem. I had these guys sleeping together and in reality one guy is trying to save another guys life and is pretty fearful of his current surroundings. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Second thing, diabetics have a pretty delicate balance of healthy eating and keeping blood sugar at a healthy level, too much can kill you slowly, too little can kill you quickly. In ministry there are a lot of similar situations where you can give too much and kill the ministry or too little and kill the ministry. A pastor walks that delicate balance of equipping and doing. The rule of thumb around WRC is never do anything you can recruit and train someone else to do. It’s the entire Ephesian 4 type of ministry. Now I will be honest this is not my best quality. Remember the old commercial, “Please, I’d rather do it myself!” (well if you’re over 50 you remember it ) well pretty much that is me.

And finally, immediately the friend started trying to get help and called 911. Lesson: help is usually just a phone call away. It drives me crazy to see church planters or pastors that make decisions without ever talking things over with someone. I told a guy the other day, “I don’t have all the answers, but I have plenty of questions.” Questions to help the pastor/planter process the information to make an intelligent decision. You don’t have to walk this journey alone, then why do you?

Did I mention that some really big decisions have been made this week and the office is buzzing. Can’t wait for Brian to let the news out! Tomorrow get to meet with Brian and some guys at a Church Planters Roundtable in Alabama. They’re lucky get to hear 2 great speakers in one day.

Been incredibly busy today, but incredibly productive. This morning started with an Ordination Council for Lloyd Owens and Todd Magouryk our church planting interns. Three hours of intense questions and challenges from our staff to them. Meeting with a church planter from Cincy for lunch. And then an exciting minisry opportunity is coming to WRC.

You can take a clue from the title of this column. We are about 95.555555% sure that something new is going to be announced soon. Don’t you love it when a plan comes together. We have been working on something since Dave Cole was Missions Pastor and now in God’s time we believe something new and exciting is being born.

When you think about the ministry opportunities of God continues to put before WRC we must consider God’s Provision. God is the owner of the cattle on a 1000 hills. We believe that where God guides, God provides. Pray for His continued provision!  

Tomorrow morning, early, (lloyd and todd don’t be late) the pastors and elders of WRC will convene to begin the questioning of Lloyd and Todd our church planting interns to determine whether we will ordain them to the ministry.

Some people pass this off as meaningless and perhaps a formality. I do not. I believe this is serious business. A man needs to be called to the ministry and if called set apart for the work of the ministry. And according to Paul this is a noble calling and has some pretty stringent qualifications.

The elders of WRC have set aside guidelines for the process and qualifications of those men to be ordained. The questioning goes something like this.

1. Salvation and Calling: We want to know first that this man is a believer. Not just in GOD, but in Jesus. Is Jesus the only way to salvation? What is salvation? How does the candicate know he is called? What is being called?

2. Doctrine: What does the candidate believe? Does it line up with WRC theology? God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Church, Salvation, Satan/Evil, Hell, Spiritual Warfare. You’d be surprised. There are a lot of things that are acceptable but there are some that would not be. I know some guys that do not believe in a literal hell. Now me, I’m not going to approve that guy to be sent from WRC. But I might approve a guy that doesn’t believe in eternal salvation, as I tell some of my Methodist brothers, I believe they are sealed even if they don’t.

3. Personal Walk. This is another important area to me. I am probably most judgemental of pastors that fall. I want to know how they are protecting themselves. Do they know their besetting sin (don’t worry I don’t ask what it is) and where Satan is most likely to tempt them the most. Who are they accountable to? How do they treat their wife and children? Important stuff, the pastor is also a model. He needs to live as one.

4. Philosophy of Ministry: Why the church? What is evangelism? Discipleship? What do you want people to know and do? What is leadership? What is the church? Where is the church?

The Ordinati0n Council will not be a torturous experience for these guys, but I expect we will stump them somewhere along the way. I remember my council almost 25 guys were present. Lots of questions about women in ministry and would I ordain a woman. (by the way, I probably would, but WRC has a stance against it and I will live according to the guidance of our elders) Do I believe in a real Devil? 3 hours I was drilled. Had to recall scripture to back up what I believed. But you know what when I knelt and that line of men drew around me and laid hands on me, that was a special experience, because some godly men affirmed my calling. I didn’t get ordained on line to do weddings. They in essence said, “son you’re ready for ministry.” That was special.

Tomorrow will be special.