Growing in Ministry

Last Sunday evening when the sun had gone down and the air was crisp, I put on my Crocs and went into my garden to see what was going on. There were many vegetables growing, but none were ripe except the cucumbers growing on the vine crawling up the side of the house. I cut two cucumbers off the vine and took them into the house. Then I washed, sliced, and drizzled them with a balsamic glaze before enjoying them. They were absolutely delicious!

Just as there is satisfaction when enjoying fruit from your own garden, there is also satisfaction when God shows you fruit in ministry. I have enjoyed our Summer worship with robust attendance, bucking against nationwide trends of declined church attendance during the summer. I have enjoyed watching our congregation grow. But the truth is, I cannot take credit for any of this. The website churchgrowth.org reports that 2% of people start attending church because of advertising, 6% by invitation of the Pastor, 6% by organized visitation, and 86% because a friend invited them. That means the overwhelming majority of our guests and visitors have come at your invitation. It also means that an overwhelming aspect of church growth is dependent on each of you. 

As we enjoy the last month of Summer and transition into the fall, I invite you to pray and ask God for wisdom, discernment, and holy boldness to tell people you encounter about Jesus and to invite them to worship with us at the First Baptist Church of Englewood. And if you do that, I know that God will bless and grow our ministry!

In Christ’ Love,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah