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.

We have been blessed to see many new members, ministries, and increases in church growth over the last 6 years at CUMC. There are many reasons for this. One was that the church made a huge change asking my family and me as a middle aged pastor to come. For the previous 25 plus years, the church served as a last stop before the pastor retired. So, as pastor, I had been trained in a whole different way. Studying under Dr George Morris, and Dr James Logan gave me a healthy perspective on Incarnational Evangelism which has helped define my ministry and has been passed on through training to both congregations I have been blessed to serve.

Discipleship and Membership

A few things stand out as to why I believe God has worked in our midst. After 6 or 7 years into ministry, I realized I needed to do more than just go visit people and ask them to join the church. I realized discipleship, building relationships, and sharing expectations of members was not just necessary, but vital. So, I came across Rick Warren’s Christianity 101 and began to tie in information that made it Wesleyan. I utilized the Discipline for what we believe, spelled out our vision and mission and core values, talked about the mission and structure of the church and what our membership vows really mean and called it Starting Point, which is now made up of nine lessons. We also use the book This is Christianity, by Maxie Dunnam. Over 90% of our 500 plus new members over the last 6 years have gone through this study which staff and lay leaders assist me. New members often profess faith or reaffirm faith out of this experience. New members get to know me and I them, and they get to meet other staff and fellow participants. It sets the bar somewhat high. Over 95% of those who participate join and become active in the church. It takes a lot of time and commitment, but it is worth it. Our Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries follows up with a gifts discovery class. During this time people from different ministry areas come and meet with our new folks helping them find places in which they can both serve and grow.

Spiritual Formation Events

Secondly, we made a decision to offer Spiritual Formation Events at least every Lenten season, and have held a couple in the fall. We select a theme for the season and offer small groups around that theme, such as prayer, worship, healing, spiritual gifts, Couple’s Weekend, Lay Witness Mission, etc. We then invite a speaker or team to come and share in a conference weekend. We’ve had as few as 30 and up to 100 folks participate. To do that on site and for the congregation to hear some of the speakers has been a great asset. We’ve had Margie Berger, Maxie Dunnam, Winston Worrell, Steve Seamands, and Darrell Holtz from Church of the Resurrection, Eldred and Luanne Kelley, and lay people for Lay Witness Mission. The exchange between these folks and our church members has been incredible for spiritual growth, training, and leadership development. This has assisted us with entry points into small groups as well. And for the cost of having these leaders come and lead us, it has been worth every penny!

Tragedy leads to ministries and redemption

Third is centered around a tragedy in our family as our 17 year old daughter Kelsey was killed in a car accident on her way to a Christian concert on August 29, 2008. Not only did we, but our church family, and community all suffered such deep grief. Kelsey loved mission and she served on 9 mission teams in her short life, and helped start our Modern Worship service and sang on Sunday mornings. She was to preach on the weekend she died, a sermon called “Passion for Christ, Passion for Others”. “No notes,” she told me, “just speaking from my heart.” The effect of her death, I believe, has had a profound impact on many in our church family. I know it has on my wife, our two boys, and me. Ministries such as Stephen Ministry, which was further out on the radar was started within the year with 6 leaders and 23 to be trained. GriefShare classes began for church and community, along with DivorceCare and a Cancer Support Group. Plans are on the horizon to begin a support group for families with special needs children. The overall care and compassion of the congregation grew dramatically and the focus over a time of transition occurring in the church was focused now on what’s really important and why are we really here. And honestly, it has served to make our preaching much more in depth, and relevant and meaningful for all that people are going through in their lives. We have more children, more youth, more baptisms and professions of faith than we’ve ever seen. And out of this people are jumping on board all over to serve in mission, in and beyond our community.

This last one I would not wish on anyone. There are days that are still just filled with grief and sadness. Yet because of a maturing faith community, lots of love and prayers, it is amazing that we can say God is redeeming many out of this heartache and heart break.

Thanks for allowing me to share a few ways God is working at Culpeper UMC. I’ll be glad to share with you further at pastorjro@culpeperumc.org

Thank you, Randy Orndorff, Lead Pastor.

Church website: http://www.culpeperumc.org