The Problem With Church Buildings

One of the guys in River Run Fellowship suggested these three articles to read.  They are accessed by pressing the following links.

The articles address the problem with church buildings.  They are not for the faint at heart nor for the traditionalist, but rather for the out of the box thinker and doer.  The author strongly implies a major paradigm shift from thinking how to fill a building, to thinking how to grow the kingdom and win the lost.


A recent survey suggests that such thinking is necessary.  The survey showed that 80% of church growth consists of transfers from other churches and from children growing up in the church and having children.  In other words only 20% of church growth is actually from reaching the lost.  At that rate, the church as we know it in North America is unsustainable.


It's time for some unusual thinking and if not, it's at least time for something to jar our thinking.  Happy reading!

The Problem WIth Church Buildings PT1

The Problem With Church Buildings PT2

The Problem With Church Buildings PT3

Is Boredom The Problem?

A. W. Tozer thinks so.

'THAT THERE IS SOMETHING gravely wrong with evangelical Christianity today is not likely to be denied by any serious minded person acquainted with the facts. Just what is wrong is not so easy to determine.


One mark of the low state of affairs among us is religious boredom ... And that it is found to some degree almost everywhere among Christians is too evident to be denied.


Boredom is, of course, a state of mind resulting from trying to maintain an interest in something that holds no trace of interest for us ...


Christians who belong to the evangelical wing ... have over the last half-century shown an increasing impatience with things invisible and eternal and have demanded and got a host of things visible and temporal to satisfy their fleshly appetites.


It is now common practice in most evangelical churches to offer the people, especially the young people, a maximum of entertainment and a minimum of serious instruction. It is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God. One can only conclude that God's professed children are bored with Him, for they must be wooed to meeting with a stick of striped candy in the form of religious movies, games and refreshments.


The striped-candy technique has been so fully integrated into our present religious thinking that it is simply taken for granted. Its victims never dream that it is not a part of the teachings of Christ and His apostles.

Any objection to the carryings on of our present ... Christianity is met with the triumphant reply, "But we are winning them!" And winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To nobility of character? To a despising of the world's treasures? To hard self-discipline? To love for God? To total committal to Christ? Of course the answer to all these questions is no.'

Excerpts from: Man - The Dwelling Place of God, A. W. Tozer, Ch. 30, Religious Boredom

For more, click the link  Man - The Dwelling Place Of God, A W Tozer

God Heal This Land!

Almost four years ago River Run Fellowship made preparations to erect a new building to house its church activities.  Over these past years we have watched it emerge with hope.  At the same time we have also known many difficult struggles and disappointments.  Ultimately the struggles have led us to believe it was best to sell it all.

The sale of the properties was faster than one could imagine however it too was met with unbelievable complications.  Yet River Run people continued to believe that God can do the impossible.

With that in mind, on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 Barney Coombs (Vancouver), Dennis Penner (Pickering), and Andrew Wynn (Newmarket) met with Stephen on the building site to pray that God would complete its' sale.  Together they asked God to 'Heal this Land' and to 'Make the bitter water sweet'.

Barney reminded the group of the power of negative words and of their menacing effect.  Together and in agreement, they bound and broke the power of negative words or curses.  Words like demise, peril, and loss had been spoken against the church, and were specifically bound.  As Barney prayed, he proclaimed with a commanding apostolic voice, "Enough is enough, bring this chapter to an end!"  He continued with reminding the Lord of his promises to His people.

In addition Stephen blessed those who had cursed them.  He asked God to strengthen, increase, and use those who had specifically spoken negatively of the church and himself.  Heartfelt forgiveness toward the church's accusers was offered before the Lord.  The Lord's presence was among the four, and God was hearing them.

The time of prayer and warfare was completed when Andrew took a mallet from among the framing timber and struck the platform as if it was a gavel.  He said, "It's finished, seal the deal Lord - it's time for these people to move on!"

God had ordained the day.  Barney had arranged to be with Stephen two weeks prior to Wednesday, January 18th.  Andrew and Dennis had asked to come to pray with Stephen six days prior to the 18th, not knowing Barney would be there.  The company taking soil samples outside on River Run property, happened to do it at the same time the group of four were praying inside the building.  To God be the glory!

The group picture was taken by the person taking soil samples.