Why Are Our Churches Growing 

Admittedly all of our churches are not growing. In fact our overall numbers are down. In 1977 the Alabama State Association of Free Will Baptists had 180 churches with a membership of 20,000 and we are now reporting 140 churches with a membership of 14,420. However, in recent weeks I have visited some very exciting Alabama Free Will Baptist churches that are growing.  They are diverse in that some are rural and some are urban. There is one thing in common with each one though. They all take seriously the Great Commission. They believe in the GO of the gospel and they believe in giving so others can go. They are not just inwardly focused.  It’s the Dead Sea versus the Sea of Galilee principle. You see both of these bodies  of water are in Israel. Both are fed by the Jordan river. This is where the similarities stop. The Sea of Galilee is full of life and beauty. The Dead Sea is just that, dead and lifeless. The difference is the Dead Sea receives but does not give out while the Sea of Galilee does. If a church wants to be full of life, beauty and growth it must give out by GOing. It must believe Jesus when He said “go and I will go with you.” It must be engaging its Jerusalem by giving out the Gospel. It too must believe Jesus when He said “GIVE and it will be given you.”  It must be getting light to the rest of the world by giving so others can go with the life giving gospel. If a church wants the smile of God upon it then it must be all about telling others about His son. Churches will grow if they will go and if they will give. 

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     Bro.Rick