Free Methodist Preachers
Hi Friends!
Check out the POST I made on my main blog tonight. You’ll find a story about a Free Methodist Pastor at THIS LINK.
Lakeside Community Fellowship
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Archive for Free Methodist Family
Size of Free Methodist Churches
Thought you might be interested in a bit of statistical information about the Free Methodist Church.
* Average attendance in FMC for 2005 = 102
* 25% of our churches average less than 33
* 50% of our churches average less than 58
* 75% of our churches average less than 115
* 10% of our churches average more than 200
* 50% of our people attend a church w/attendance over 180
* 50% of our people attend 137 churches (14%)
What Makes a Good Church?
Hello Church! Happy Valentine’s Day!
About this past Sunday: it was a good weekend. We had one couple visit during the open house, and our Realtor said that they expressed significant interest. We will see! I preached at Indianapolis First FMC yesterday, one of six or so Free Methodist Churches in the Indy metro area. About 75 attended. It was nice to have Virginia and the girls with me, and we missed Andrew (who is in school in Pasadena). The church is located in a part of Indy that appears forgotten; an inner city church. A number of different ethnicities were represented. I appreciated the pastor, the ministry of the church, and the opportunity to serve.
BTW, did you know that the average size FMC in the US is between 60-70? That’s Sunday morning attendance. There are about 250 FM churches in the US that have Sunday morning attendance of 125 or more. The other 750 churches in the US have less than 125.
Today we closed the WMC (World Ministry Center, where I have an office) at 2pm because of the snow. As I write, we’ve got over a foot on the ground –much of it sleet. You can see a photo of an Eskimo we found at THIS LINK.
What else typifies the average church in the US today? It has been great to see many churches from the inside these past five years.
But… what is important? Inspiring worship? Relevant teaching? Great fellowship? All of these and more? Here’s what the FMC has identified as what makes a good church (my paraphrase):
- A church with authentic worship.
- A church that quickly includes guests, helping them to grow in their faith.
- A church that plants other churches.
- A church that regularly helps others find their way home to Jesus.
- A church participating in world evangelization.
- A church that seeks justice and shows mercy to the poor and suffering.
- A church that organizes itself to do what God has called it to do.
- A church that prays.
It’s important for me to remember that the church is not the building or the organization …or even the denomination. It’s Christ-followers… a favorite quote of mine which you may have heard before: "The local church does not exist for the members, rather the members are the church who exist to participate in God’s mission."
That ‘begs’ the question: "What is God’s mission?" Orient our lives around Jesus. Be like Jesus and follow the Kingdom way!
Willsons Soon 2 Leave
Remember missionaries Ryan and Jen Willson? They leave with their family this week for Malawi. Recently Ryan did a radio interview, and posted a link on his blog. You can listen to it HERE.
I saw Ryan and Jen just last week when I spoke at Snohomish FMC. I’m proud of their work, testimony, and confidence in Jesus. They are great friends.
Can you imagine moving your family to Malawi, for the next four years? Something –Someone– has compelled them, possessed them, and is leading them.
Let’s join in prayer for our friends, and look forward to the reports from Blantyre in the days ahead!
The Willson Family
I’m so glad that you’ll meet the Willson family this weekend! It’s been my pleasure to know them for six years or so now, 
and to have had the privilege to help them process as Extended Term (career) missionaries to Malawi.
Ryan has been serving as youth pastor at our Free Methodist Church in Tonasket. Before that he was on staff at Tacoma 1st FMC. He and Jen met while attending SPU.
Both Ryan and Jen have some ministry experience outside Washington state: Jennifer spent some time in Zimbabwe, and Ryan did some training with YWAM. He’s been to India two times; one time with me!
During our visit to India, I’ll never forget the train ride Ryan and I took with many of our national pastors. It’s common to find ‘chai walas’ or tea sellers on the train selling tea out of a large dispenser. One point during the trip, I heard a very familiar voice calling out "chai, guram chai" (tea, hot tea) — I looked up and smiled, as Ryan had talked the chai wala into letting him have a turn! It was a fun memory I won’t soon forget. Ryan, Jen, and their children are good friends.
I’m proud of them, very supportive of what they are all about, and so glad that you’ll have an opportunity to hear from them this Sunday. Whether you are able to attend or not, I’d encourage you to check out their website –and commit to pray for them and support them as the Lord leads you! Who knows; perhaps some of us will have an opportunity to visit them in Malawi sometime in the next couple of years!
Blessings, friends!
Their website can be found at: http://www.flamingwaters.org