Leaving A Legacy

March 15, 2011

While no church ever dreams of dying, over the last three decades, thousands of churches have closed their doors. Unfortunately, many of them are nothing more than a vague memory of days gone by. The vision of reachig their community has been lost and their hopes and dreams have been silenced.  Is there a way to carry forward their original vision spreading the Gospel to spiritually needy people even after a church has closed its doors? The answer is, "YES! You can become a Legacy Church!"

Reflect on the words of Gary McIntosh D.Min. Ph.D

Aging has a way of making us look at life from a different perspective than when we were younger. Like many people, in the first half of my life I was concerned about making a living and being successful in my chosen profession. In the second half of my life, however, my thoughts are focused on being significant to others, particularly my own family. In short I am concerned about leaving a legacy to my children and
grandchildren. I want my family to remember me as a person who loves God, loves his family, and loves others.

As the authors point out in Legacy Churches, a similar cycle takes place in churches (or it should). During the first years of a local congregation’s life cycle an emphasis is placed on winning people to Christ, growing the worship attendance, and building a stable ministry program. Unfortunately, after a church becomes stable, it tends to travel a predicable life cycle that leads naturally to decline and closure. While a few churches are able to avert this natural cycle, eighty-five percent of churches will eventually close. None of us, of course, likes to think about a church closing. Yet, between 4,000 and 8,000 churches do so every year in North America. These churches must look at their life from a different perspective. They must decide how to leave a lasting legacy!

Stephen Gray has provided a seasoned, practical, and biblical approach that all churches can follow to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. I am in one hundred percent agreement
with them that the best way for a declining church to leave a legacy is to fund the starting of new congregations. By assisting in the birth of daughter congregations, an older church leaves a legacy that will live on in the lives of countless individuals and families for eternity. I encourage you to read this book, and then apply its insights. Generations of new believers will be glad you did.

Here is the exciting news. Legacy Churches is now a part of Kiros Legacy Partners (website soon to come). This group has the capacity, experience and ability to help potential legacy churches close with dignity and re-engage in Kingdom work. Your church may know of a potential Legacy Church that can partner with you and help your church reach its full God potential.

Posted 3/15/2011 in Stephen Gray | 1 Comment - Add Comment

Comments:

     Stephen, we totally agree. We've done 6 church Restarts here in Chicago. Here's our video on the concept: www.newliferestart.com. We also recently met a pastor, Paul Jones at Emmanuel in Billings Montana, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the restarts they did. We've been teaching pastors of healthy chruches how to be "restart-ready" and how to do a healthy restart. Sounds like you are working the other side of the equation--helping declining churches see there way to a different future. Seems like we should talk sometime. email: kevinb at newlifechicago dot org.