Sometimes we hear church members saying, "This church is not doing very much." Sometimes they say, "This church is dying. The attendance is falling. We need to do something." Usually, such statements are followd by criticism of the leaders, preacher or the person responsible for the classes and curriculum.

Now you want to think that the members making these statements are really concerned about the church and it's growth. So, the leaders decide to provide opportunities for these people to serve and help the church to grow numerically and spiritually. After all, you are trying to get those concerned to use their talents in serving the Lord and expanding the boarders of the Lord's kingdom.

So, the leaders decide that a good VBS with visitation of all the parents of those that attend would be a valuable avenue for them, and others like them, to serve. Those who were not faithful in attendance would be kept track of and the information made available so that they could be visited in their homes to encourage them and to try to build them up spiritually. This certainly would be a valuable help in strengthening the church. So, the VBS is put into place and information is tracked on each student so that follow visits can be made and detailed attendance is recorded to use in encouraging the family of God.

Now the leaders decide to give these concerned members an opportunity to teach the lost. They start a class designed on how to teach the sinner. An informal discussion class is started for those who think that they can already teach but they want a discussion class format to bring their friends and neighbors to. Plenty of notice is given before the class begins. A recognized motivational speaker and expert on personal work is brought in to teach an additional lectureship and personal work classes. Certainly these programs would add members to the church eventually. So the day arrives for the visitation designed to help and encourage the weaker members. Only a few seem to be interested; only a fraction of the critics attends. Some attend a couple of times and then vanish forever.

When these are asked why the did not attend these special programs, they give one excuse after the other. They had to work; they are too busy; they needed to visit relatives; that was the only time that they had to rest; they had ball games to attend; etc. These are the ones that said the church was not growing and something had to be done.

It seems that what these members are really saying is, "We know the church is not growing like it should, but, don't count on me to do anything about it. I will just sit on the sidelines and complain."

Wayne Robbins, Arkansas City, KS