From the Pastor's Desk

Mike Winfree, Pastor

478.923.3533
mike@oaklandwr.com

Church Decline

by Pastor Mike Winfree on June 3, 2014
Dear Church Family,
 The church is in decline across this land.  Why? Don’t we have the greatest message known to man?  Sure we do.  Maybe the answer lies in this survey done by Brad Waggoner.  He asked 2,500 Protestant churchgoers of all ages this question, “In the past six months, how many times have you shared your faith with someone?”  Twenty-nine percent said they had shared with someone twice or more and fifty-seven percent said they had not done so at all.  We are not inviting people into God’s movement, so why should we be surprised that the church is shrinking?
 Billy Graham was asked in 2011 by a reporter from Christianity Today, “What are the most important issues facing evangelicals today?”  Billy Graham said, “The most important issue we face today is the same the church has faced for centuries.  Will we reach our world for Christ? Or will we turn increasingly inward and become comfortable with the status quo?”  He said, “The central issue of our time is not economic or political or social, but the central issue is moral and spiritual.  Our calling is to declare Christ’s forgiveness and hope to a world that does not know Him.” He said, “May we never forget this.”  May God burden our hearts for people who need Jesus.  May the church stand up and be the church in this day.  May God not find us in the fifty percent who are not telling.  I’m believing God, how about you?  Remember….”We can.”

Serving the Savior,
Pastor Mike
 
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