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So how many people has your church reached?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by preachinjesus, Dec 12, 2009.

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  1. We don't talk about numbers at our church

    11.8%
  2. 0-10

    35.3%
  3. 11-25

    23.5%
  4. 26-50

    5.9%
  5. 51-75

    11.8%
  6. 76+

    11.8%
  1. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    This isn't a numbers contest. Honestly it isn't.

    sag38 had an interesting question for Jerome in another thread and it got me thinking.

    We sit around here and squawk and squabble about theory, models, methods, etc a whole lot. So how many people is your church reaching?

    I think we can all agree that we are called to reach people. (If you disagree with that statement say so.)

    So with the year wrapping up how many people has your church baptized this year?

    (I'm not saying baptism is the only barometer of reaching people, but for Baptists it is one of the most significant measures. BTW, I'm trying to do a poll if I don't do it right I apologize.)
     
  2. Benjamin

    Benjamin Well-Known Member
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    Funny thing, sag38's words also had me thinking. Personally, numbers aside, I hope and pray to be better at this both as an individual and part of a church. I have a strong feeling I wil be building on and echoing those sentiments as I get the opportunity somewhere down the line.

     
  3. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I have no idea but I know there were over 20 at our beach baptism in August and this recent baptism had 12. My 9 year old will be baptized in January, so that's more. :) He wanted to be baptized this last time but he wants his dad to baptize him (as do we) but DH had a badly injured toe (needed surgery to put the bone back in it) and he was nervous about going in the water so we decided to wait until January.
     
  4. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    Many of the people who oppose certain styles or methods do so because of biblical convictions on these issues. To assume to know their motivations and accuse them of not caring that people "all around them are going to hell.." is untrue and insulting.

    And, as you all should know, just because you baptize somebody doesn't mean you are preaching the gospel, doesn't mean you care more than others, and doesn't mean you teaching the truth of God's Word.

    peace to you:praying:
     
  5. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    Ours were few, but welcomed. Our church has been through a turbulent time and is just getting "back to normal" with our new pastor. I look for more as we go along.
     
  6. Baptist4life

    Baptist4life Well-Known Member
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    I think you should ask how many were SAVED? Baptism has nothing to do with salvation. You can baptize 100's if you want, but it means nothing if they weren't saved first.
     
  7. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    You're missing the point, B4L...

    You get them to be baptized, then you hold them under until they get saved.

    If you're sure they're saved, then you hold them under until they say, "Tithe."












    :D
     
  8. Baptist4life

    Baptist4life Well-Known Member
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    Oh, yeah! The true Baptist way! :tongue3:


    Then we all go out to eat! :applause:
     
  9. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Wow, the last couple posts has Evangelism, discipleship, and Fellowship!
     
  10. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    :laugh::laugh:

    peace to you:praying:
     
  11. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    My post was not meant to be insulting. If it doesn't apply to you or your church then praise God. And, if you don't want to have a coffee cafe, etc. that's fine but to me it's really insulting to criticize it just because it doesn't fit into your particular world view. Unless one can produce a solid Biblical argument against a coffee cafe then why criticize it? It's nice to have a place where people in the community, whether Christian or not, can come and enjoy a hot cup of joe and a danish. And, if they decide to give the church a try in the process then that's even better. The Coffee Cafe meets a need and is a tool that if used effectively can open a door for the lost to hear about Jesus.
    BTW: I just came on board as the pastor of my current church. We just had our first baptism in 20 months (We had a celebration). Personally, I want to have a lot more celebrations of lives changed. One issue that I am addressing is the issue of insanity. (Doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting different results. It ain't going to happen!) We are not going to do anything anymore just because it's always been done that way. Staying true to the word of God and being careful that we are not manipulating folks into making decision we will do whatever it takes. Maybe there's a coffee cafe in the future. Who knows?
     
  12. SBCPreacher

    SBCPreacher Active Member
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    There have been quite a few saved in our church services, but it's like pulling teeth to get them to come for Believer's Baptism. I can't understand why anyone would say, "I've trusted in Jesus, I'm saved" and then at the very first thing God requires them to do, they tell Him NO! They begin their walk with Christ in disobedience, and expect Him to bless them anyway.
     
  13. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    I've run into this over and over in my last 30 years as a disciple of Jesus.

    Here are several thoughts regarding what may be happening in your situation (none or all of them may be true in your situation):

    1.) Those who make professions of faith may not really be saved if they have no intention of following Christ's example in baptism.

    2.) There may have been an incomplete gospel presented to these converts that stresses grace but ignores the call to be a disciple. This has been very common in Baptist life because many people wrongly believe that Jesus' call to be a disciple ("follow me" was usually the invitation Jesus gave, not "pray this prayer to get to heaven") is somehow a "work" and undermines the message of grace. In fact, many Baptist over-emphasize heaven as the goal of "salvation" that they distort the gospel by completely ignoring the Kingdom of God. This distorted gospel of "getting to heaven" does not pave the way for true growth and discipleship. Certainly an eternity in intimate communion with Christ, sharing and enjoying His glory is a promise from Christ Himself (see John 14), but most of the New Testament is focused on the Kingdom of God here and now.

    3.) Baptists often so de-emphasize baptism (so as not to give potential converts the idea that baptism is a means of saving grace), that those who profess to receive the gospel see baptism as pointless, and possibly something that is antithetical to their new "faith".
     
    #13 Baptist Believer, Dec 13, 2009
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2009
  14. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    Brother, anytime you assume to know someone else's motivations...and attribute to them the worst possible motivation (i.e. "they don't care that people are dying and going to hell....."), then you are being insulting whether you intend to or not.

    And, BTW, you are doing the exact same thing that you claim they are doing, that is.... criticizing because their view is different from yours only you are attacking them personally as well.

    Now, the essence of your question about a solid biblical argument is a good one. It is an old debate about the "regulative principle". That is, that God knows how He desires to be worshipped and has given instructions concerning that worship and we should do only what God has given us specific commands or warrant or example to do.

    The competing principle (nominative ?) states that we should follow the specific commands but that we can also worship God in anyway that is not forbidden in scripture.

    IMHO, the regulative principle should be followed.

    As far as having a cafe in the church.... I don't see that as necessarily part of worship. The question becomes, then, does the regulative principle apply to evangelism? There is a good argument to be made from the Apostle Paul ("I have become all things to all men that I may by all means save some") that a "cafe" would be permissible.

    However, I do see an argument to be made that there is the appearance of a "bait and switch". That is, "let's get them in for coffee and a donut, then we'll try to get them into church...and then we'll try to get them saved". It can come across as a gimmick that undermines the seriousness of the gospel call to repentance and faith.

    As with all things, the details and the implementation will determine whether it is biblical or not.
    I have prayed that God bless you in your pastorate and enpower you by Holy Spirit to fulfull His Work in that fellowship.
    Agreed!! With a double emphasis on being true to God's Word!!!

    peace to you:praying:
     
  15. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I don't think in all of my years of being a church goer, that I've ever seen a person come to church for coffee and a donut and feel that they were "tricked". Have you ever seen this?
     
  16. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Well being "Baptist" baptisms have been, traditionally, a way to gauge the impact a ministry is seeing.

    Please note that I added at the end of my original post: I'm not saying baptism is the only barometer of reaching people, but for Baptists it is one of the most significant measures.

    So what is a better measure?
     
  17. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Sure not the "take em at their word approach"..
    Then you would have to count all the 123 repeat after me, "salvations'
     
  18. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    If they are coming to church, then no.

    If they have been invited to a coffee cafe, that happens to be located in a church, for coffee and a donut, and are then asked to attend church...well.... I don't know? Perhaps.

    I guess as long as people are being upfront about their intentions, then no one should feel they are being "tricked".

    I remember a church we belonged to had an Easter egg hunt (I opposed the whole idea as unbiblical, but was in the minority) in which the people participating where, afterward, brought into the building for a video. The video was the "Jesus video".

    Several got up and left with their children when the video started. Not a single person made a profession of faith or joined the church.

    I really believe they felt a "bait and switch" had happened to them.

    peace to you:praying:
     
  19. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    You can't see the difference between meeting a need without being manipulative. Some churches can actually do this.
     
  20. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    The "better measure" found in scripture, IMHO, is faithfulness to Christ, sacrificial love for the brethren, dedication to the cause of Christ in the world, and the fruit of the Spirit.

    The SBC claims nearly 16 million members...more than 65% of which are not in church every Sunday morning. 85% are not in church on Sunday nights or Wednesday nights....week after week, and yet we count those "baptisms" as evidence of effective evangelism.

    peace to you:praying:
     
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