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.

Rev. Dr. Warren Hornung retired this summer after serving as senior pastor of Kerrville First United Methodist Church for 16 years. Through his contact with Dr. Kenneth Lambert, he has shared insights about the congregation he served so faithfully.

Sixteen years ago, Kerrville First United Methodist Church in Kerrville, Texas had 1,398 members. Now there are 2,682 members, in a town of 20,000 that has a growth rate under 2%. Although located in a non-growth area, this congregation is doing very traditional things well, with dramatic results. “We try to be Christ-centered and biblically oriented. We are Wesleyan and tend to be rather conservative as a congregation. We receive five times as many persons from other denominations as we send to other denominations, partly because of our strong emphasis on the Bible.”

Five worship services are offered on Sundays, including an evening service, with the Senior Pastor preaching at four services, and the Associate Pastor preaching at a Contemporary Service. A Gospel service is held each third Sunday evening. An invitation to accept Christ, re-dedicate one’s life to Christ, and/or join the local church is offered at every worship service. There is a strong musical program with numerous choirs, a church band, a praise-and-worship musical group, a youth symphony program with 117 children and youth in it, bells, chimes, and many other musical groups.

Pastor Hornung has written letters to newcomers to Kerrville inviting them to the church, and the Fisherman’s Club visits first-time visitors. Letters are sent to first and second-time visitors, and the Shepherding Group shepherds new members.

A strong Evangelism Committee plans numerous events and ministries throughout the year and has recently given a nametag to every member of the church to be worn on Sundays. About 150 persons are active in prayer groups that include email and telephone prayer efforts.

Small groups are emphasized and many meet during the week. Kerrville First is a seven-day-a-week church with a Mothers’ Day Out program and a large day school program. A children’s and youth program takes place on Wednesday evenings with about 150 to 180 present. Among the many opportunities offered are computer classes, chair exercises, Disciple Bible Study, UMW, UMM, prayer groups, Bible study groups, walking groups, Moms in Touch, Tai Chi, Advanced Conversational Spanish, Al Anon, Intermediate Conversational Spanish, GriefShare, Divorce Care, History of Western Thought, Fun with Music choir, Saints Alive Choir.

Outreach into the community and beyond includes a Scouting program that involves over 100 Scouts, various recovery groups and numerous outside groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, led by the husband of the church Youth Director. There is a full time Wesley Nurse who offers numerous programs throughout the year for the church and the community. Members of the congregation are involved in about twenty-five mission opportunities and plan to expand that number. The youth go to San Antonio in the summer for three days to work with the homeless there, and also go on other mission trips.

Dr. Hornung shares some of the unusual ways the congregation has reached out to the unchurched in the community. “We recently had a service in the park to attract those who do not attend church. Over 500 persons came and then enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs. Families are not charged for weddings and funerals. As many as forty or fifty weddings are done each year, catered especially to persons who do not attend church. The Sunday morning 11:00 a.m. traditional service is on the radio and on TV.

“We believe the Bible and seek to preach the Word in a loving way. We want everyone to come to know Jesus as their personal savior and Lord.”

Rev. Bob Allen is the new pastor and can be contacted at:  boba@kfumc.org

Kerrville First UMC, Kerrville, TX, Website: http://www.kfumc.org