Outreach North America
Strengthening Churches Challenge and Farewell Rev. Wayne Frazier, Church Strengthening Coach
ONA and World Witness are working together in training Go2 Advocates which I believe is essential for the health of the ARP Church. I participated in the joint Go2 Re- treat at Bonclarken in October where church planters and missionaries shared what they were doing in ministry. There is a growing recognition that we must “connect” with our neighbors. This underlines what I have found in our plateaued and declining churches. Most ARPs I have worked with do not have friendships with unbelieving neighbors and friends. I found that churches that need to grow did not have the connections necessary for “trusting friendships” which take at least one year to develop. When we have trust- ing friendships, about 80% of our neighbors will come to church if we invite them. This represents an urgent change of culture for ARP Churches.
Ed Stetzer has studied the demographics for “The Church of 2030” and outlined these
trends which the ARP Church must consider: • Increased Immigration. In the 2020 Census, 59.7% of the USA populations were white. By 2050 white folks will be a 47% minority. The birth rate is falling and the 82% of the growth from 2005 to 2050 came from new immigrants. From 2010 to 2019 was the - • Aging Baby Boomers. In the 1960’s and 1970’s Boomers, my generation, propelled the dramatic rise in youth ministry and grew the church. But we are going to move from a youth-dependent to an elder-dependent ministry. Will ARPs reach the next generation? • communities are formed by algorithms through common interests.) ARPs hold to the inerrancy of scripture while the next generation (Gen Z and Alpha) are more socially aware and think that we are “haters” because of our views from scripture. 76% say that climate change is our main concern. So, it is not surprising that we have cancel culture, silos, and that the USA and Canada are divided politically. They use technologies that we, their parents, don’t understand. Coffee shops were a place where we had to over- come our fears of sharing the gospel. That happened! But now, to reach the next genera- tion we will have to overcome our fear of new technologies. Despite the negatives of these technologies, will we be able to reach the next generation in their digital spaces?
These 3 trends outline the challenges for the ARP Church planting and church health in the next two decades. In churches that are struggling, there is a trend where the pas- tor is concerned about losing more people and there is a survival mindset that resists presbytery help or any other help. The individualism of our culture has permeated the church. We need to continue to embrace the scriptures and think outside the box if we are going to be a healthy church in the decades to come. Such a transformation is abso- lutely essential for the ARP Church to be healthy! I am a great proponent of the means of grace. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:14). But, if you preach to the same people week by gospel community. We must pray for motivation to share the gospel with our neighbors. Christ has given his all for me and so why can’t I get over my discomfort to reach my neighbor? We have what our culture desperately needs. “For I am not ashamed of the and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). ONA would like to thank Rev. Wayne Frazier as he retires for the seven years he has served as the Church Strengthening Coach.
Helping You Reach Your Community 14 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian
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