news article
From the Advocate: Creating new places for new people
March 1, 2016 / By Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Charles Cardwell McCabe was a church planter in the Methodist Episcopal Church. McCabe rode trains all over the land in an attempt to start new churches and raise funds that others might join in the effort. On one trip in the spring of 1881, McCabe read a newspaper article that described a recent meeting in Chicago of the Free Thinker’s Society. The report included the text of a speech by the nation’s most famous atheist, Robert Ingersoll. Ingersoll was quoted as saying, “the churches are dying out all across America. They are struck with death. By the dawn of the 20th century, churches will be but relics of a bygone day.” McCabe knew better, and he left the train long enough to send a telegram to Ingersoll, the text of which led to this song that served as a rallying cry for churches to plant churches:
The infidels a motley band in council met and said,
The churches are dying across the land and soon will all be dead.
When suddenly the message came and struck them in dismay,
All hail the power of Jesus’ name, we’re building two a day.
We’re building two a day, dear Bob, we’re building two a day.
All hail the power of Jesus name, we’re building two a day.
Creating new places for new people is a part of our history, our DNA. Upper New York is committed to increasing the capacity of Christ-following leaders, both clergy and laity. These leaders will be used by God to strengthen and revitalize existing congregations. These leaders will be used by God to create new faith communities that will reach new people with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Under the leadership of the Rev. Dave Masland, our Director of New Faith Communities, Upper New York is creating a culture for God to do new things. In the last few years, 50 new faith communities of various shape and focus have begun. We have established of goal of creating 100 new faith communities by 2020.
If we are going to be faithful and fruitful in living out the mission of partnering with God in “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” new faith communities are a necessary and vital strategy we must not only employ, but be absolutely committed to.
Many times, those of us in existing congregations feel threatened by talk of creating new places. To be brutally honest, that is something we probably need to get over. The reality is the congregation we know and love today, the place that has been a part of our lives for some time, was at its beginning a new faith community. Someone with vision, courage, and a sense of God’s call created a new place to reach the people of our community with the Gospel message. Those of us connected to the Church have been blessed by the faithfulness of others to start something new.
Surveys tell us that more than 60 percent of the individuals living in every community within the Upper New York Conference are not yet actively involved in the life of a faith community. Existing churches have a tremendous opportunity to find new ways that will connect these neighbors of ours with the amazing love of God through Jesus Christ. New church starts or new faith communities offer a powerful opportunity to connect our neighbors to the hope of Jesus – often in ways that existing churches simply cannot. In other words, Biblical words, “the harvest is plentiful.”
How can we together share in this work of creating new places for new people? While this is not an exhaustive list, it may be a beginning.
- Recognize that new faith communities are not a threat to existing churches, but rather strengthen our common mission and ministry.
- Consider becoming a part of the movement. Perhaps the congregation you are a part of is being called by God to start something new in order to share in a relevant and vital way the good news of Jesus with those in your community.
- Pray for the raising up of individuals to lead the new things God is calling us to. Pray for those already leading new faith communities and those who have become a part of them. Pray for the new things yet to be.
- Consider being a part of Upper New York’s work of creating new places for new people by offering financial support. Funds are needed and necessary.
Creating new places for new people is a part of living “The Wesleyan Way.” New faith communities have always been vital to the living out of our mission. Thanks be to God for all that is already happening in Upper New York as we strive to partner with God in creating new things. Imagine what could be if we owned and lived the words of Charles McCabe: “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, we’re building two a day.”
