General Question

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Bill Clifton wrote:

> I was just courous as to the size of the church that the members here
> attend. Both an adult count and the Sunday School (wee ones) count.

I don't know the breakdown off-hand, but lately we've been running
right around a hundred, which is 4X what we were running this time
last year.  A brother asked a few days ago about outreach methods, and
I've been meaning to put a note together explaining the things we do.

> we have seen a drop in atenders and some are worried that we
> are in trouble.

I haven't been in church all that long, but ups and downs seems fairly
normal.  I was in Wichita Falls, TX the week before Easter, and the revival
they are having there is phenomenal.  But when I visited a couple of
years ago, their numbers were *way* down, and I was wondering how they
were even paying the light bill.  (I have in-laws in Wichita Falls, and
Life Tabernacle UPC in Wichita Falls is where my wife and I were baptized
in water and spirit, and where we were married.  They have a nice web
site at http://www.lifetab.org/)


Bro Wayne Huntley preached for us here in Illinois last week at ACTS
ALIVE, and last Wednesday he preached that sometimes for revival to
happen, some things have to go.  A drop in attendance isn't always a
sign of trouble, but a precursor to victory.

 [-=-=-=-
   We interrupt this message for a Praise Report: 6 people received
   the baptism of the Holy Ghost last week at ACTS ALIVE.  Hallelujah \o/
   We return you now to our regularly scheduled email.
 -=-=-=-]

I would think that sermon would be wonderfully encouraging to those who
are in "shrinking" churches.  If you want to order a tape, let me know
(via private email) and I'll see what I can do.  I think they're about
$5/each.

Anyway, think of Gideon.  Judges 7:2-7,20-22:

  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are
  too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest
  Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath
  saved me.

  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying,
  Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early
  from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and
  two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many;
  bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee
  there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall
  go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I
  say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not
  go.

  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said
  unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his
  tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself;
  likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their
  mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people
  bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

  And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that
  lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine
  hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

 . . .


  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the
  pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the
  trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried,
  The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and
  all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

  And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every
  man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host:
  and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border
  of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

--
Richard Masoner <richardm@cd.com>
Apostolic Life United Pentecostal Church
Champaign-Urbana Illinois USA
http://www.prairienet.org/upci/apl.html