It is a perplexing dilemma: What do you do when you witness a very disturbing nationwide trend of church decline? What do you do when you watch congregations trying the same unsuccessful approaches to ministry, over and over again, unwilling to attempt something new and promising? What do you do when they grow defensive, blaming their decline on bad leadership while failing to take notice that they are a part of an overall trend? What do you do when, instead of reaching out for help, they accept the inevitability of decline and closure? It’s like watching a loved one die for lack of care when there is a hospital just around the corner.
To a certain extent, that is what it feels like when offering consulting services to thousands of churches, and few seem interested in a new approach with a great track record. I recall serving as a Youth Pastor in Plymouth, Indiana, where a small church just down the road built a large new facility. For years that church ran a youth center in the downtown area, and they were bringing in dozens of youth and their families. None of the other churches, including mine, said, “Hey, this seems to be working for them. Let’s give it a try.”
Another example is the One Eighty Center, associated with Union Chapel Ministries, in Muncie, Indiana. Theirs is a large youth center, yet they have more youth who would like to attend than the space needed. We toured the facility and were very impressed.
Rock Solid Teen Center has focused on an approach that a relatively small and declining church can afford. Our business plan of creating space for outside groups to rent covers most, if not all, of the operating expenses. We’ll show you how to design your facility at a minimum cost, and how to create programming that will attract large crowds of young people. And, most importantly, we will demonstrate how to share the Gospel and create a bridge into the life of the church. If you have a Youth Pastor, you already have the key personnel to run the center, and your congregation can serve as a base of volunteers.
Let’s face it, for reasons explained in my blog, “Why People Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore,” most youth will not darken the door of a church. And most churches are not eager to welcome teens who have not learned the appropriate behavior for such a setting. A stand-alone facility can provide a place where kids can be kids until they’re ready to enter the life of a church.
For many churches, time is of the essence. We’re here waiting. Why not reach out to us and try something new? Your first hour of Zoom consultation is free. Let’s talk.
In service to Christ,
Mark Eastway
