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.

The true mission of every church is expressed in these words of Jesus to the disciples:  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. (Matthew 28:19 RSV)

Pastors and congregations seek to fulfill this mission in many ways, yet key ministries are found in the responses that pastors share through the Vibrant Church series on The Foundation for Evangelism website.  Among these are vision, community outreach and worship services.

Good Shepherd

Rev. Ed Walker, pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Henrico, Virginia, shares that the clear vision of the congregation is “to reach out with the love and hope of Jesus, belonging to something bigger than any one of us, becoming disciples of Jesus, and living our mission as a lifestyle.”  A multitude of worship services, contemporary and traditional, are offered each week.  The church hosts an annual community fair called PumpkinPalooza that has doubled in attendance every year for three years.  The regularly updated church website and an electric sign placed on a very busy road in front of the church invite guests.  All of this is focused on helping each person discover their “next step” toward becoming a disciple of Jesus.

Tom Goodell Directing Pastor - Crossroads UMC

Crossroads United Methodist Church in Washington, Illinois, was founded in 1828 when Circuit Rider Rev. Jesse Walker rode his horse up the bluff to the William Holland cabin, knocked on the door and asked if they would like to have church.  In the late 1990’s church leadership began participating in “Walk to Emmaus” a leadership renewal ministry. They also began praying for a vision and strategic plan to enable them to grow spiritually and physically.  This vision led to a new church home in 2001 and the worshiping congregation doubled.  The vision also led to an emphasis on evangelism toward youth and children, and the name change to Crossroads United Methodist Church.  “The focus on children and youth, our name change, and our work at training the congregation in intentional evangelism have yielded amazing fruit”, shares Rev. Tom Goodell, Directing Pastor.

Mechanicsville United Methodist Church

Rev. Kenneth Carter, pastor of Mechanicsville United Methodist Church in Sumter, South Carolina, believes in the plain, powerful preaching of the word of God.  He says, “I was told by a retired United Methodist preacher that, ‘If you set the pulpit on fire, people will come and watch it burn.’  I found this to be true.  People want to hear the truth of the ‘good news’ ”.  Mechanicsville’s growth comes not only by preaching but also by evangelism in the community. There are three campaigns of evangelism each year when all members are asked to hand out tracts and to witness.  Other events invite the unchurched and unsaved, and give opportunity for witness.  Inspirational worship is seen as a key to church attendance at Mechanicsville UMC.  In Pastor Carter’s words, “Our worship services are kind of in the middle of the road.  We are not all traditional; but we don’t leave out traditions.  We are not all contemporary; but we don’t leave out contemporary.  We are intentional about reaching people and hopefully they will receive something worthwhile out of the services and efforts at Mechanicsville.  For this we say, to God be the glory!”

Pastor contact information:

Rev. Ed Walker, Good Shepherd UMC – walker.ed@gmail.com

Rev. Tom Goodell, Crossroads UMC – pstrtom@mtco.com

Rev. Kenneth Carter, Mechanicsville UMC – kedk@nuvox.net