The Main Thing

The August & September newsletter for the Greater Dayton Association of Baptists included an article from our Associational Missionary, Don McMurry entitled, “Do We Need New Churches?” I was intrigued by the question. I was also drawn to the article because I am aware of the increased emphasis Southern Baptists are placing on planting churches. That was enough persuasion to read the article. I found a few of his thoughts particularly challenging as I read.
Don’s approach to the question of starting new churches was refreshing. He asked the question “Do churches last forever?” to which he answered no. He then went on to highlight the reality that churches have life-cycles and when a church reaches the place of decline if their life-cycle is not renewed then the church will eventually experience death. It was in this context that he shared a comment that has lodged itself in my mind since reading the article. He wrote, “One of the most significant reasons for church decline and eventually die(sic) is the failure to focus on Christ’s Great Commission. Any church that does not keep “the main thing the main thing” (reaching souls and developing disciples for Christ) will eventually die. Churches that lose their passion for souls must “re-dream the dream” of reaching their world with the gospel or they will cease to exist.” As I have reflected on Don’s thoughts for a few weeks now I have been repeatedly challenged that our energies as a local church must be directed toward keeping the main thing the main thing. It doesn’t have to be planting new churches, but it does have to be something. I’ve been prayerfully wrestling with re-dreaming the dream as brother Don shared.
There are thousands around MorningStar Baptist Church who need Jesus. God has re-planted us in a location that is ripe for the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). The more I pray and the longer I serve at MorningStar the more burdened I become that 208 Nutt Road is God’s divine location, now is His divine time, and we are His chosen people to reach this community with the hope of the gospel. I’m not ready to decline and I’m certainly not ready to die. What I am ready to do is get my hands dirty and give my heart fully to the task of reaching souls and developing disciples of Christ with anyone and everyone at MorningStar who is ready and willing to do the same.