The Good News. Craft and Bake Sale September 2 & 3. September 11, Bringing you

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1 Bringing you The Good News September 2011 Volume 23, No. 9 In this Issue: Page 2 A Different Voice From Your Moderator Elder Note Page 3 Stewardship Page 4 Sunday School Times Mother s Day Out Lectionary for September In Need of Prayer Page 5 Care Team With Sympathy Page 6 CWF News Church Photo Directory We Need Your Help Church Directory Changes Page 7 Danny Stewart Retirement Parish Nurse Page 8 A Note of Thanks Birthdays & Anniversaries Page 9 & 10 The Parish Paper Page 11 September Calendar Page 12 Someone Who Cares Craft and Bake Sale September 2 & 3 The Craft Ladies have been working for weeks making adorable holiday crafts, unique wood and gift items, lovely jewelry, and many beautiful floral arrangements. Come to Loehr Center on Friday, September 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or on Saturday, September 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to see all their wonderful items. Also available will be lots of delicious home made baked items. There is always a variety of cakes, brownies, pies, muffins, and breads. Come early for the best selection. Tickets will be sold for the beautiful queen size quilt that is on display. The price of the tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, or 13 for $10. The drawing of the winning ticket will be at our November Fellowship Dinner. So, come buy your Christmas gifts early and pick up plenty of desserts for your Labor Day company! September 11, 2011 Your Worship Committee invites you to attend Homecoming Sunday, on September 11, at 10:30 a.m. Our summer two worship service schedule will end the week before (September 4) and we want to celebrate our coming together again to worship. Charter members are being invited and special music is planned. Our monthly Fellowship Dinner will follow the service. Bring your favorite meat dish, vegetable, salad, or dessert to share, and stay for a wonderful meal and time of fellowship. So, please plan to attend we have been missing seeing each other this summer and are looking forward to being together again. Come celebrate our Church Homecoming!

2 A Different Voice By Gary Hagan Whenever a church experiences decline, interest blossoms for church growth techniques, but the most effective tool for growth is still... you. The best advertising in the world is the word of mouth you provide..., to your neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers, even strangers. Sharing positive information about YOUR church is an attention grabber. Offering an invitation to participate in the activities of the church is extremely effective. Conversely, never offering to share anything about your church can also capture the attention of those around you. How long has it been since you invited someone to worship with you or to attend one of our special events? When was the last time you told someone outside this community of faith what the church means to you? I do not believe that I have met anybody in this congregation who wants this church to remain at the current level of membership or activity. We all want to grow..., we all want to do. Yet, there are those times when our eyes seem so focused on some new program which is out there that we forget some of the more basic elements of sharing the Good News. I hope to see you THIS Sunday. glh Where They Ain t I read a true story about a fisher man who would sit on the tailgate of his truck and scan the river looking for rising fish. No use fishing where they ain t, he would say. Maybe we need to ask ourselves, Do I fish for souls where they ain t? We all need to be better witnesses in our neighborhoods and community. We need to use every opportunity to invite others to visit our church and to take a sincere interest in those we come in contact with. If we only have interest in Christian friends, we may be fishing for souls where they ain t. Blessings, Joyce Keck, Elder chair Page 2 FROM YOUR Church isn t where you meet. Church isn t a building. Church is what you do. Church is the human outworking of the person of Jesus Christ. Let s not go to church, let s be the church. -Bridget Willard Being the church is the responsibility of everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. Not just the pastor or committee members, or elders or diaconates or personnel. Yes, all of the afore mentioned have responsibilities to the positions they hold, yet each person who professes a faith in Christ has a duty and responsibility to all with whom we come into contact. All too often someone will come to me and ask the questions, Did we? Or, Do we? Or, Should we? The best answer I have is, if we didn t or don t we probably should. If there is something on your mind that you feel needs to be done for a member or members of our church family I urge you to step forward and make it happen. If the matter is already being taken care of, what can happen? The recipient of your good will receives too much love and kindness so they tell you to take it back? I don t think so!! If you need help, ask? We have a lot of folks who are willing to pitch in, but like you and I, many times don t realize a need exists. Sometimes you or I may be the first point of contact with someone who has a need. It is at this moment we have to learn to take action and not just tell someone else of a persons need, who may tell someone else of a persons need, who may tell someone else of a persons need. (Beginning to lose interest?) Take action, enlist someone to help. There are those who need to hear from you and I and sometimes you and I need to be on the receiving end also. Church is relationships. Building on the ones we already have and learning to create new ones. Love in Jesus, Kelly

3 Stewardship Prayers, Presence, Gifts, and Service Investing for Time and Eternity Investing for Time and Eternity is the theme of this year s annual stewardship emphasis. Be honest. When you first saw or heard this year s theme, didn t your thoughts immediately turn to money? After all, that s what investing is all about. Right? As we ll see in various ways throughout this year s program, investing does involve money. But it s not limited to money. Investing also includes other resources that God has given to us, including time and talents. Robert G. Lee, a well-known pastor for many years in Memphis, wrote, If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,400, that carried no balance from day to day, allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and finally every evening canceled whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day, what would you do? Draw out every cent of course! Well, you have such a bank, and its name is Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off as lost whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries no balances. It allows no overdrafts. Each day, the bank named Time opens a new account with you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day s deposits, the loss is yours. In other words, when it comes to time, it s use it or lose it! And how we use it determines whether it becomes an investment or is simply used up for this life only. Jesus said we are to seek first God s kingdom and His righteousness. When we use our time to do that, when we make God s work a priority in the use of our time, we are making a wise investment that will pay eternal dividends. The same is true of the talents, gifts and abilities God has given us. We can figuratively bury them in the sand and refuse to use them in the Lord s service. That s what happens in many churches and even sometimes in this church. In most churches, regardless of size, 80% of the work is done by 20% of the Page 3 people. One pastor expressed it so distinctly when he lamented, As much we could use additional giving from God s people, our greatest problem is not money. We just can t get anybody to do anything. So investing for time and eternity includes how we use our time and talents. It also includes the use of our treasure. We are managers and stewards, not owners. God owns it all! When we give, we are simply giving back to God that which rightfully belongs to God. In his excellent essay entitled Cost and Worth, Chuck Swindoll wrote, The difference between handling our money wisely or foolishly is largely determined by the interplay between these two forces. Obviously, we have spent wisely when the cost is eclipsed by the worth....that is why, in the long run, we can usually determine a person s scale of values by the things he or she purchases. Or to use the words of Jesus, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And then he concluded with this powerful presentation: Think about Sundays your church life and the motivation you receive. Think about your children and their future. And their children s future. Think about your neighborhood unreached individuals by the hundreds. Think about the possibilities of radio or television outreach, perhaps a Christian school, enlarged missionary outreaches, room to grow, room to park! What s it worth? Deciding whether something is worth the cost requires intense, effective, prevailing prayer, as well as the hard work of objective thinking. And then it requires courage to act on God s clear direction. As you consider your time, your talents and your treasure, will you be one who is investing for time and eternity by courageously stepping out by faith in response to God s direction in your life? Have great hopes, and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams, and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them. -Norman Vincent Peale

4 9:00 a.m. Bible Study 101 9:30 a.m. Joy Class 9:30 a.m. Parables Class September 11, 2011 Mark you calendar for the times of our Sunday School Classes. 9:30 a.m. Children & Youth Classes Mother s Day Out Starts Up Again West Lake Christian Church is the host building for the Westlake Ministerial Alliance s Mother s Day Out program. This program provides a loving, stimulating environment for children from 4 months through preschool ages for a low cost of $10 per session. The director, Sue Boone, and teachers Carroll Rinker and Karen Pragman, as well as several church members who have lovingly worked with the children, can attest to the emotional and educational growth of the children in the program. The director and teachers have many years of preschool and elementary teaching experience. Mother s Day Out will resume on the 2 nd and 4 th Thursdays of each month from 9 a.m. to noon beginning on Thursday, September 8. If you have children, grandchildren or neighborhood children in that age range, call the church office at for more information and to pick up enrollment forms. Terror No More O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more. (Psalm 10:17-18, NRSV) Ten years have passed since that tragic September morning in 2001, when terrorists took thousands of innocent lives and shattered America s sense of security. As we reflect on this anniversary, Psalm 10 reminds us that God is on the side of the victim, the weak, and the helpless. He won t ignore the cries of people in need, and He ensures that justice is ultimately done. Page 4 The Lectionary for September September 4 September 18 Exodus 12:1-14 Exodus 16:2-15 Psalm 149 Psalm 105:1-6, Romans 13:8-14 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 18:15-20 Matthew 20:1-16 September 11 September 25 Exodus 14:19-31 Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 114 Psalm 78:1-4, Romans 14:1-12 Philippians 2:1-13 Matthew 18:21-35 Matthew 21:23-32 The following names have been in need of our prayers. Please call the church office if you would like a name on the prayer list. Names will be taken off the list after one month, but you are always welcome to request that the name be added again. Wayne Beard Gerri Beard s brother-in-law Cynthia Betts Lyda s cousin Sarah Carr Kelly & Nancy Caldwell s friend Carlene Chubbuck John Dabrow Betty Greenley s son-in-law Midge Eskew Lou & Tricia Slater s daughter-in-law Dick & Libby Frey Rachel Hanrahan Jack & Vicki Hanrahan s daughter Robert Hesse Maggie Houdek s brother-in-law Midge Hilker Shawna McBrien Melissa McIntire s mother Jane McKeown Arlene Mohler Austin Raymond Susan Chapman s friend Shawn Reynolds Pete & Gail Renick s son Mike Rinker Jerry Robin David Rothove Ron & Marilyn Rothove s son Leo Sander Shanna Sandmoen John Pinter s granddaughter Gene Sherman Jenifer Simpson s grandfather Belle & Jenifer Simpson Bernie Steck Pat Stewart Emily Telles Don & Virginia Carlson s acquaintance Brandon Tennison Jon Wentz Bob Yates

5 Why Does Our Church Need a Care Team? Will Durant wrote that one of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say. Most people wish their overly-talkative acquaintances more often used that wisdom about saying nothing. On many occasions, however, doing nothing is quite destructive. Examples: when church members and attendees are hospitalized, recovering from serious surgery or critical illness, terminally ill, suffering grief, or experiencing acute life stress. Reasons our congregation needs a care team: In healthy, effective churches, laypersons express concern and care for one another. Caring, especially when coupled with prayer, aids physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Caring lifts depressive moods, reduces nervous tension, speeds up the healing process, decreases the incidence of fatal outcomes following surgery, and promotes overall health and longevity in older adults. Without a Care Team, some parishioners slip through the cracks. Hurting people who do not receive caring attention from other laypersons become painfully aware that a major ingredient is missing in their congregation love. Later, when these people report their feelings of neglect to friends, the collateral damage to congregational climate is difficult to repair. Care Teams involve several church members in meaningful ministry roles through which they often report experiencing a great deal of emotional and spiritual growth. Caring is the essential character of Jesus church and disciples. On Greek coins, the symbol that specifies the coin s value (denomination) was called the character. The defining character of a church of Jesus Christ is love. More about a Care Team on Sunday September 18, 2011 Our deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Bill Clary, who passed away on July 21, Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to Kathy Williams and family upon the death of her father-in-law, Ray Williams, on July 29, Our deepest sympathy is extended to Tracy Aaronson and family upon the death of her grandmother, Mary Logan, on August 4, With sympathy to the family of Dolly King, who passed away on August 8, Page 5

6 CWF NEWS Christian Women s Fellowship Gail Renick, President Don t forget the Craft & Bake Sale on Friday, September 2 and Saturday, September 3. This will be a good time for your early Christmas shopping and getting the baked goods for Labor Day weekend company or just for yourself. Quilt tickets will also be sold at this time. Our cookbooks are going to the printers. Don t forget to order some for your family and friends. It s been quite a few years since we had a WLCC cookbook and we have new people here with many different recipes. It was decided to get a group of our ladies and some of the men of the church to help get Loehr Center carpet cleaned. We will be footing the bill and the men will supply the labor. We only have about six more weeks to get Best Choice labels turned in, get them totaled and sent in. So please help us if possible. Several ladies will be attending the Quad- County Fall Assembly on September 24 in Eldon. Looking forward to having those attending to give us an update. Our September meeting will be Tuesday the 13th. The devotion will start at 11:30 a.m., then a pot-luck lunch at noon, and the meeting at 1:00 p.m. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Enjoy your Labor Day. Be Safe. Our 2011 church directory is in production with an estimated ship date of September 1. We hope, therefore, to have them available by the second or third Sunday of this month. A directory will be given to any family unit photographed by Olan Mills and also to those who submitted a picture for the unavailable page. Additional directories will be available for purchase at a cost of $10. We encourage everyone to pick up a copy and hope that you will enjoy learning some new things about those folks that you see often. May God bless your day! Communications Committee Page 6 Congratulations Karen & Kirk Storm Announcing the birth of their second grandchild, Jacob Henry, born July 29, 2011, to Kevin and Laura Storm. Announcing the wedding of Kyle Storm to Brooklyn Burke at St. Patrick s church on August 13, Salute to Fall Fashion Brunch & Style Show Tuesday, September 20, :00 a.m. $10 Hosted by Ladies Auxiliary, Post American Legion Rd (5-33) Sunrise Beach, MO Fashions by: Spence s, Dress Barn Woman, Under the Sun, Glitz & Glamour, Sun & Fun Church Directory Changes Address change: Bruce and Jan Adams PO Box 660 Osage Beach, MO Barbara Eberting 3333 W. 10th St. #103 Sedalia, MO The Wednesday Night Youth Group needs adult help from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some nights we only have three adults. This will not be enough supervision after the school buses start dropping the kids off. Call Jim Arnold ( ) and tell him you want to help out. Please be sure to make the additions and corrections in your directory so that you will always have the most current information. Thank you! Sandy White

7 Retirement Celebration for Danny Stewart Regional Minister The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Mid-America You are invited to join in the retirement celebration for Rev. Danny Stewart on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at First Christian Church, Jefferson City (3328 Bennett Lane, Jefferson City, MO, ) The celebration will begin with lunch at noon, followed by a 1 p.m. worship service of special music and a video of Danny s ministry. At 2 p.m. we will return to the Family Center for dessert, testimonials and more video s. An opportunity for fellowship with Danny and friends will follow. As I have thought about this over the past several weeks, it occurs to me that whenever one of our ministers retires, the congregation's members all rally to the occasion and help with the celebration. That was the case at the time of my own retirement, and I will always be grateful to West Lake Christian Church for their loving generosity. Because Danny has been minister to us all over the past eleven years, it only seems right that each of us have this opportunity to express that same kind of loving generosity. I know I can count on you to help us all make this occasion one of the greatest days in Danny's outstanding ministry. In Christ's Name, Jim Sutherlin, Regional Moderator, The Christian Church (Disciples) in Mid-America On Sunday, September 18 and 25, WLCC will have a Celebration Bucket at each door of the Sanctuary so you may contribute to the Retirement Celebration for Danny Stewart. The money collected will go to help establish a named fund with Global Ministries which would honor Danny Stewart s life s work. From Our Parish Nurse Betty Greenley Multiple Sclerosis LRHS Parish Nurse Network Wellness Tip of the Month What is it? Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an auto immune disease, where the nerves of the brain and spinal cord become damaged by a person s own immune system. Sclerosis (scar tissue) develops on the brain/spinal cord and then destroys the myelin, the protective cover on the nerves. This then causes a disruption of the electrical signals through the brain/spinal cord. MS affects about 400,000 Americans and occurs more frequently in women. Early Symptoms Muscle weakness in one or more limbs Decreased coordination Blurred or hazy vision Eye pain Double vision Loss of balance Tingling/numbness Later Symptoms Muscle stiffness (spasticity) Pain Difficulty controlling urination Problems with cognition (impaired thinking) Slurred speech Sudden onset of paralysis Fatigue Diagnosis/Treatment If you or someone you know has these symptoms and are in the early to middle adult states of life, make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a neurologist or do tests to determine if you have MS. MS is a chronic, progressive disease, but medication may slow down the frequency and severity of attacks, which can decrease future disabilities. Page 7

8 A NOTE OF THANKS Dear WLCC Family, Thank you for the calls, cards, visits from Gary, and the prayers. Keep them coming as I do not have a final diagnosis yet. (Marsha could use some too.) Kendall Walters **************************************** West Lake Christian Church, Thank you for your kind and generous donation to the Westside Senior Center! WSA Board members and staff **************************************** Thank you for all the prayers, cards, and calls during my recovery of breaking my leg. May God bless each and everyone of my church family. With Christian love, Judy McGinnis **************************************** We are so Thankful for our church family. Ron and I want to thank Pastor Hagan and others that visited and called to inquire about our son, David, while he was in the hospital. Thanks to everyone for the prayers. We all need help at times and prayers mean so much. We feel our prayers and yours were answered. David is still regaining his strength and it will take time. Thanks again for all the prayers God Bless. Ron and Marilyn Rothove **************************************** Many thanks to all of you who sent cards and called while I was recovering. A special thanks to Jean Garber and Wanda Iiams who kept a close check on me. Pat Roberts **************************************** We want to thank all our church friends and pastor Gary for their kind words of comfort, sympathy, the memorial gifts for our daughter, Diane, the wonderful cards, and the food that was brought to us at this difficult time. We appreciated it so very much. Larry and Guin Doeden and all the family of Diane Castiglia. **************************************** My sincere thanks to all of you who volunteered to help at VBS this year, and to those who so generously gave donations to support it. We had a wonderful program because of you! Your loving gifts of service and funds enabled us to share God s word with 60 children in our community. God bless each of you! Susan Chapman Page 8 September Birthdays 2. Fred Cline 2. Karl King 6. Bernie Steck 9. Marcia Troutwine 10. Marilyn Evans 10. Patricia Summers 11. Dustin Metcalf 17. Darlene Clark 18. Peggy Crockett 18. Keith Robinson 19. Suzanne Gazaway 19. Emma Head 19. Gil Hoch 19. Sherry Nielsen 19. Janet Ramsey 21. Paul Garvin 21. Ashley Sudduth 22. Tracy Aaronson 24. Christine Gibbs 24. Carrol Lowrance 24. Duane Mitchell 25. George McGuire 28. Kendall Walters September Anniversaries 3 Jim & Judy Sutherlin 12 Dean & Carrol Lowrance 14 Butch & Peggy Ekena 18 Ed & Nancy Milburn 20 Duane & Muff Mitchell 23 Kevin & Verna Flieger 29 Paul & Betsy Garvin 30 Jim & Christine Gibbs If your birthday or anniversary is not included, please notify the church office. Thank you.

9 SEPTEMBER 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sunday Morning Schedule 8:30 a.m. Outdoor Worship (last one Sept. 4) 9:00 a.m. Bible Study 101 (begins Sept. 11) 9:30 a.m. Adult & Children s Sunday School Classes 10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Worship If you do not see your event on this calendar, it is not on the church calendar. Please contact the church office to get your event scheduled. Thank you! 1 9:30 Water Colors 4:30 Education Committee 2 8:00-4:00 Craft and Bake Sale 3 8:00-1:00 Craft and Bake Sale < - Set up for Craft Sale - -> Last Outdoor Worship Service Office is closed 2:00 Communications Committee 3:00 Youth Rec. & Meal 5:30 Praise Team 7:00 Praise Service 9:00 Mother s Day Out 9:30 Water Colors 5:15 Worship Committee Community for Christ Food Drive Sunday Homecoming 11:30 Fellowship Dinner 9:30 Prayer Ministry 6:00 4H 7:00 Board Meeting 11:30 CWF 9:30 Bible Study 3:00 Youth Rec. & Meal 5:30 Praise Team 7:00 Praise Service 9:30 Water Colors 3:00 Evangelism Committee :30 Prayer Ministry 6:00 Stewardship 6:00 Community For Christ Board Newsletter Deadline 6:00 Sorority Meeting 9:30 Bible Study 3:00 Youth Rec. & Meal 5:30 Praise Team 7:00 Praise Service 9:00 Mother s Day Out 9:30 Water Colors 6:00 Elders :30 Prayer Ministry 4:00 Cancer Support Group 9:30 Bible Study 3:00 Youth Rec. & Meal 5:30 Praise Team 7:00 Praise Service 9:30 Water Colors 6:00 Dominoes Page 11

10 West Lake Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 936 Hwy. O Laurie, MO (573) Address Service Requested Presorted Standard Non-Profit Organization U. S. Postage Paid Permit No. 14 Website: Phone: (573) Fax: Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. MINISTRY TEAM Rev. Gary L. Hagan, Minister Home: Pastor@westlakechristianchurch.org Sandy White, Church Secretary Westlakechristianchurch@gmail.com Gwen Welch, Treasurer Gwen@westlakechristianchurch.org Dona Johnson, Music Coordinator Betty Greenley, Parish Nurse Someone Who Cares It s easy to become discouraged when we pause to consider the needs all around us. So many worthy causes and pressing concerns require action. What can one person with limited resources accomplish? Theodore Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) said, Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It s not. We re most effective and fulfilled when we put our God-given resources and talents into areas he has uniquely shaped our hearts to be passionate for. If you want to make a difference, find something you care a whole awful lot about and then dive in. Passion is the key! Areas in the church where you can be a passionate server for God: Adopt a Highway Cleanup * Attend a Sunday School Class * Care Team * CMF * CWF Church Historian * Communications Committee * Crafting/Quilting * Dinner for 8 * Education Committee * Evangelism Committee * Fellowship Dinners * Greeter * Funeral Dinners * Laurie Care Center * Mother s Day Out * Outreach Committee Praise Singer * Prayer Group * Property Committee * Salvation Army Bell Ringers Serve as an Elder or Diaconate * Start a new ministry area at WLCC * Stewardship Committee * Teach a Class * VBS * Visiting homebound * Work in Sound Booth * Work Day at Church * Worship Committee * Yard & Bake Sale * Youth Group Helper Page 12

11 T H E P A R I S H P A P E R I D E A S A N D I N S I G H T S F O R A C T I V E C O N G R E G A T I O N S Coeditors: Herb Miller, Lyle E. Schaller, Cynthia Woolever - September Volume 19, Number 9 Copyright 2011 by Herb Miller Why Do People Connect with Christ and a Congregation? Question: While acknowledging that each individual s journey is unique, is there a most prevalent way that the unchurched begin their search for the faith missing in their lives? Attend a worship service? Sign up for an educational class? Attend a special presentation? Answer: Several studies agree that approximately 75 percent of unchurched adults begin their search when someone invites them to a worship service. And about 15 percent begin their search by attending worship in a church they selected from the Yellow Pages. And 10 percent begin their search by worshipping at a church building they had noticed while driving past on a weekday. But why do individuals begin their search at that particular time? Most such individuals begin their search because they feel an inner need. This is usually during a period when their life is more stressful than usual, often during times of negative life change and sometimes during times of positive life change. But a few individuals report that it was just time to find a church. Two factors strongly influence whether adults begin moving toward church involvement: Religious beliefs formed in pre-college years 85 percent of people who become a Christian in their entire lifetime had a church experience prior to the age of eighteen. (This makes every congregation s ministry with children and youth among its most important endeavors.) Adult decisions based on current needs and social relationships. Inspiration and spiritual guidance: this means that adults want worship to be uplifting, empowering, and encouraging, especially the music, which sets the emotional tone for all the other elements. Beneath that research data lurks two larger questions for congregations: Since inviting is the most important reason why unchurched adults visit a church s worship service the first time, (a) what causes a church s people to do a high volume of inviting and (b) what causes a church s first-time worship visitors to return a second time, a third time, and eventually make a spiritual connection with Christ and that congregation? A magnetic menu increases receptivity. Far fewer adults join a church because of its denominational affiliation these days. In most churches, fewer than 50 percent of new attendees grew up in that denomination. The majority of today s adults who respond to invitations base their decision to attend worship the first time and subsequent times on whether the church exhibits seven magnetic factors. What needs do churches meet for adults? Research indicates that four needs are especially important.¹ Religious education for children: this includes moral and character education alongside learning about the Bible and church teachings (what Sunday school and youth programs offer cannot be purchased elsewhere, except in weekday, church-sponsored schools). Personal support and reassurance: especially in settings where adults can speak openly and honestly without fear of rejection (small groups of various kinds can provide this). Social contacts and a sense of community: this need is strongest in urban settings where family and friendship ties are weak, especially for newcomers.

12 1. The style and tempo of the worship hymns fit newcomers ages and preferences. Whether the congregation offers blended worship that contains more than one type of hymn in every service or offers multiple worship services that feature a different style of hymns and praise songs at different times the positive, uplifting atmosphere created by my kind of music helps people connect with Christ and this congregation. In other words, whatever worship style the congregation offers, churches with a magnetic menu provide hymn-singing characterized by (a) a non-funeral tempo, (b) familiar and/or easy-to-sing hymns, and (c) hymn types that spiritually nurture worshippers born during all four of these eras: pre-1946, , , and 1991-present. Otherwise, the congregation is antimagnetic for many adult visitors, dampening their receptivity.² 2. The sermons inspire newcomer-adults with biblical insights about how to live a meaningful life. Pastors in magnetic churches are enthusiastic about the messages they deliver. They communicate equally well with people whose birth dates fall after 1975 and the 15 percent of Americans with birth dates before Three words seem important in the overall preaching and teaching milieu of churches of every denomination, size, and theological persuasion that attract large numbers of adults from every age group: Christ high Christology; Bible high emphasis on biblical authority; and Love high emphasis on compassion and caring. 3. The pastors and staff exhibit strong spiritual traits and possess personalities to which prospective adult attendees can relate. The following three traits are especially important. Spiritual enthusiasm: Effective pastors give you the impression that they want to lead you, not just someplace, but to a closer relationship with God. Also, their internal drives come from the fact that their own lives have been transformed and currently are in process of change. Therefore, they have something to share. Joyful attitude: Oswald Chambers wrote, Joy is the nature of God in my blood. People are not attracted to a religious institution whose spiritual leader needs a transfusion. Spiritual vision for this congregation: Effective pastors are not held prisoner by the perspective and traditions of their congregations. They are sensitive to where people are but not content to leave them there. In summery, effective pastors balance what social scientists have called Structure Behavior (organizationalleadership skills) and Consideration Behavior (personal-relationship skills). 4. The excellent children and youth ministries meet an important need felt by young-adult parents. The nursery in magnetic churches is equipped for young parents (recognizing that parents select the church that their infant attends). Magnetic churches have an extroverted Sunday school that goes beyond providing good content for the children of present attendees; these churches actively encourage other children to attend. Magnetic churches frequently list activities for children and youth in worship bulletins. 5. A wide variety of programs make newcomers feel there is something here for every member of the family. Examples: Magnetic churches often have youth and children s choirs. Large magnetic congregations may have brass ensembles, orchestras, and other musical groups. Midsize and large magnetic congregations have several strong adult Sunday school classes and adult groups. Most magnetic churches of every size have a strong young-adult fellowship nucleus comprised of people twenty-five to forty-four years of age. 6. The congregation is friendly and newcomers feel welcomed and wanted. Two out of three people feel somewhat anxious when entering an unfamiliar church building. A well-trained greeter team is the first step in addressing this first-impression opportunity. 7. The church is a reasonable driving-distance from most of the newcomers residences. Approximately 85 percent of American worshippers attend a congregation whose drive-time is fifteen minutes from their home, with a handful of people driving twenty minutes, thirty minutes, or even more. Magnetic congregations attract people from a much larger geographic radius than they did a few decades ago. What if some of these seven factors are missing? In that case, numerous worship invitations and gracious efforts to encourage visitors to return get sparse results. The Bottom Line: When served this seven-dish magnetic menu, more church members enthusiastically invite people to visit worship which increases the number of first-time worship visitors. And far larger numbers of those invitees return a second time, and eventually become regular attendees completing that crucial first step as they search for the faith missing in their lives. ¹Reported by Hoge, Johnson, and Luidens in Vanishing Boundaries [Louisville: Westminster/John Knox]) ²See information in Church Effectiveness Nuggets: Volume 32, Are We Singing the Right Hymns? Download free of Copyright 2011 by Herb Miller