This past Sunday was our annual Summer Recap Sunday. We had the opportunity to worship together and hear from children, youth, and adults about their experiences this summer. It was a great day to be at PSBC. God has definitely been moving in the life of our church.
I believe it’s more important that we grow and mature in our faith as a community of believers– even more so than growing in our attendance. However, I do want to be sure everyone has a chance to digest some numbers to understand how God is using PSBC.
Camp HoriSon – 115 kids and 75+ volunteers
Caswell – 67 youth and adults
Mission Trip – 47 youth and adults
VBS – 60 kids and 40+ volunteers
TAKE A MOMENT TO LET THOSE NUMBERS SINK IN.
This fall Nicole has approximately 140 children and youth on her lists. That doesn’t include all of the friends that come along as guests! Let’s add some framework on how to think about this number…
Thom Rainer is the founder of Church Answers and the former president of Lifeway Christian Resources. In a 2022 blogpost entitled The New Very Large Church, Tom shed light on the need to rethink church size. While “megachurches” grab headlines, the vast majority of churches are much smaller in their ministry context. Using Lifeway Research, Rainer points out that 92% of churches have an average Sunday attendance of less than 250 people. He says that a majority (68%) of churches have less than 100 people on Sunday morning. This isn’t good or bad, it’s just the current landscape.
Now, let’s go back to that number again. If we have 140 children and youth here on a Wednesday night, that means we have more children and youth in our midst than the average church in America has people in their sanctuary on a Sunday.
That’s not a point to brag about—it’s something to pray about… to celebrate and support, and an incredible ministry that God has given our church.
We have a beautiful multi-generational church. Every age is incredibly important to our identity and various ministries. Today, after an awesome Summer Recap Sunday, we are especially grateful for all those kids and each of our youth.
Prayer: God, thank you for our children and youth. Show us how to use this ministry opportunity to grow your kingdom. In Jesus’ holy name we pray, Amen.