METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA - Online Study Bible

Status Quo
We love referencing others as our standard of Evangelism, and Church
Growth efficiency without noticing that they are really “doing our own
thing”. When these weepy references about great things happening at
“Redeemed”, “Gospel Faith” or “CAC” are made, nobody is able to produce
any style they apply which has not been in existence before them. Existing
models were simply adapted to their unique circumstances, and consistently
practiced without grumbling, since leadership in most of these places are
basically autocratic. Their successes were based on lack of alternatives. In
our own case, hardened members arrive clutching their worn out
constitutions to Church Council meetings and refusing to adopt change. If
members are poor, and cannot travel two buses to church, they start new 10member
groups in their neighbourhoods. This principle is not “Redeemed”
but adoption of our “Wesleyan” class meeting model to initiate the planting
of a new church branch. How many Dioceses, Circuits, Churches have totally
refused to outreach into more manageable and easy to reach locations?
Some never do, until when they desire to become Dioceses, and must meet
the minimum requirement of Circuits. Lack of Church Growth, may be
symptomatic of fear of the future, and loss of influence. Every big fire started
small - a flicker in an unseen corner. In the process of stagnating together,
our minor bruises fester into incurable sores. When the tension builds, some
are forced to leave and seek spiritual peace elsewhere. A church that
multiplies its members through mainly family orientation and affiliation,
suffers most in such a situation. There may be so much tension in some
churches that the Minister arrives to inherit lack of enthusiasm so prevalent
that his very Sunday messages are self censored.
Growth and Spiritual Life
There is a perception in certain quarters that spirituality must be exhibited
in a particular way, and through certain prescribed programmes that
inability to do that will automatically receive little co-operation. These
proponents are usually dual members of our church and “x” or “2x” other
churches. They may have been returnees from an “x” church. We are
Methodists, and we cannot be more “Redeemed” than the “Redeemed” or
“CAC” than the “CAC”. None of the two mentioned above, or others joining
together with them can be more Methodist than we are!!! In the Eastern
MCN, where morning and evening prayers are a long tradition with class
registers marked at times, do they have complaints about poor attendance at
Vigils, Prayer Meetings or defection to Mountains and the Lagos-Ibadan
Expressways to pray? With very vibrant Youth Fellowships, it is obvious that
the Churches are usually 60-70% Youths, and future of the church and
leadership assured. The Women’s Fellowship is so exclusive that Induction
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