This is part of a series of interviews with pastors of churches whose attendance has grown 20% or more in 5 years. We hope this series will be a resource of ideas to help increase worship attendance at your church.

State Street United Methodist Church is a downtown Church in the heart of a growing community called Bowling Green in south-central Kentucky.

About 7 years ago an early (8:08 am) service was begun that was more informal than the traditional service that meets at 10:00 am.  Four years ago we decided to begin a new contemporary service at 11:30 am instead of attempting to blend the service at 10:00.  This enabled us to be truly traditional at the 10:00 service and very contemporary at the 11:30 service.

We seek to present a passionate worship experience with engaged participation and preaching that reaches people where they are with the Gospel of hope, faith and love.  We also began new emphasis on Discipleship studies with our Wednesday Night Gatherings program that includes all age levels.  In addition to this we began, after shifting Staff, a new emphasis on missions, college ministry (Western Kentucky University is near us) and Young Adult ministry.

While our growth has not mushroomed over night, we have seen a steady growth of new faces and families over the past few years.  We struggle with issues such as expensive property around the church and lack of parking, but our vision for the future includes additions as needed.  With ministries such as these, we have bi-monthly moments of about 5 minutes each in each worship service that we call Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness (Vows of the Church) in which we highlight a different ministry.  This has worked beautifully in involving the congregation in giving, time, talents and tasks.  Our giving has steadily risen and our budget is slightly higher due to this.  We have discovered the truth that people do give to ministry and ministries.  Put a face on your ministries – that is what we have found works for us at State Street. We have been able to become debt-free because of the giving as well.  That opens up new possibilities for our future as we endow much of our giving for the future.

We always seek weekly to remind our congregation of our goal with our Vision Statement:  Making Disciples for Jesus Christ around the corner and around the world!  We have no plans to move from our downtown location.  We are where God is blessing us to be!  From this place we reach out to those in doubt, fear, hunger and hurt with the good news of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom!

Pastor Paul A. Fryman – paulf@statestreetumc.org
Church website:  http://www.statestreetumc.org