In the 1980’s when I was working on my master’s degree, the hot topic on the seminary campus was Church Growth. Dozens of books were written on the subject, seminars were held across the country, people flocked to California to hear Rick Warren at Saddleback Church and to Chicago to hear Bill Hybles at Willow Creek Community Church. Everyone wanted to know how to make their church grow. Somewhere lost in the midst of that was the reason WHY we should work towards church growth.
For some, the answer was that churches, like any other living organism, must either grow or die. Nothing stays the same. Yes, there is truth in that answer, but it is not the most missional answer.
For me and for many others, the reason the church should grow is directly tied to our Lord’s command to make disciples. As a local church we must continue to reach more people for the kingdom of God. If we fail to do this we fail at our primary purpose. But in order to reach people, we must have space. That’s why, over the last 11 years as your pastor I have sought to provide more space through new buildings, relocation or expanded parking. We must provide space for people by whatever means possible if we want more people to come.
We have built the parking lot, but we have not finished paying for it. This is, in large part, due to the fact that it’s difficult to get excited about paying for parking, especially at church. Let’s go ahead and admit it: there’s nothing glamorous about a parking lot! And yet, without adequate parking, no church in this day and age can continue to reach people. Furthermore, the parking lot is just one step in a larger plan to provide space.
All around us the world is building bigger buildings, like the new Invesco Field at Mile High, and for purposes much less eternal than ours. I want you to pray about what God would have you to do about helping pay off our parking lot debt of $200,000. God has great plans for Applewood Baptist. Will you be a part of them?
