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.

“An Incarnation Church”

Hayes Barton United Methodist Church is a vibrant intergenerational church nestled in a thriving community of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.  Offering Christ, community and compassion the church eagerly lives into its vision: To live as disciples of Jesus Christ.  Seven Pathways provide opportunities for members and seekers to be faithful in discipleship:  worship, outreach, education, connection, fellowship, support, and administration.

The Word preached and taught mandates mission and outreach to the world.  An annual theme is prayerfully discerned to give focus and empowerment to the ministry of the church.  The Biblical theme is the thriving message during liturgical seasons utilizing methods of creative arts, age-appropriate programming and informative, inspiring, spirited worship.  The message proclaimed is given a venue for those worshipping to connect with a serving ministry.

The connection between proclaimed Word and mission quickly sets the church apart, not as an attraction church, but an incarnation church….a people empowered to go into the world to be instrumental in showing off the face of God to others.  Turning the church inside/out becomes the leaven that enables the kingdom to grow.   God so loved the world – not just the church –that he gave his Son….disciples connect with that challenge.

Rev. Richard Clayton – rc@hbumc.org

Church website: http://hbumc.org