"TRACING CHURCH TEACHING IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST TRADITION".

By Ericka Andersen, Monday, January 8, 2024 Jamison Bebiak, a church planting resident at ONElife Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, worships on the first day of the two-day Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting June 15–16, 2021, at The Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Karen McCutcheon

Theologically conservative Southern Baptists made church growth possible in an unlikely place—the highly progressive land of New England. This comes amid an increase in church attendance nationwide. 

In Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, denominational churches thrived in places that previously had low attendance. 

In the face of growing criticism over a number of scandals, Southern Baptists continued to thrive in cold spiritual territory for a variety of reasons. These include aggressive church building, a creative community focus, and the enthusiastic embrace of ever-increasing immigrants. 

Over the years, Southern Baptist work resulted in this growth. Instead of bringing together large, modern, seeker-friendly churches, they have been dedicated to small, organic churches with deep, strong beliefs focused on discipleship and community growth from the ground up. 

Other nominees ought to take note of such meticulous dedication. 

More than 10,000 churches have been built by Southern Baptists across the country since 2010. They particularly concentrated on areas that did not have many churches. These efforts were clearly heard in New England; a spiritually dead wilderness experienced a revival thanks to the prayers and perseverance of New England Christians who did not give up. 

It was crucial to the Southern Baptist vision to build many small targeted churches. For this reason, we are witnessing a revival there. 

Studies show that new church buildings always attract more people than those who have already left the previous church. A study by Lifeway Research showed that 42 percent of people who had attended a new church plant were unchurched. Unchurched people show up more if they are fresher and more local. This is the template that every denomination must follow to succeed. 

A study conducted by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) shows that churches that target population growth by Ten actually do so. To meet people where they are now, Christians must be busy, optimistic, and practical in building a new church. They can make long-term plans by staying open about how their church can develop, like the Southern Baptists. 

A Southern Baptist pastor, Dave Ferguson, who is president of the non-profit "church multiplication" organization Exponential, stated that Southern Baptists not only founded churches but also lead multiplication networks. He stated that this network is the most important. They naturally have higher interests, vision and boots. 

"In terms of business, they scale what they do," he told The Christian Post. 

However, this is not just storage; it is stored in a specific environment. The cookie-cutter church is gone. Inside, there are adapted churches. 

Because of the post-Christian nature of New England, church leaders did not follow traditional church growth standards, and each new church lived its own life. 

John Ames, a former Boston church planter and current local leader of SEND Relief, the global compassionate service branch of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), stated, "here, we take a chalkboard approach to building a church." 

This is in line with Carey Nieuwhof's statement, an expert on church growth, that churches that "love their method more than their mission will die". Many ancient denominations and churches refused to adapt. 

These Southern Baptist church planters were missionaries in their own town, instilling themselves as neighbors, leaders, and community members. 

Remember that when missionaries begin their work in a foreign country, they often spend a year or more just getting to know the people around them. After they establish trust, churches are built and souls are saved. The same can happen in our own country. 

Coleman Church in Maine uses sports to interact with local communities, set up campgrounds, and hold events that foster community trust and appreciation. Ames stated that in Boston, the church invested locally by adopting public schools and providing care to teachers, staff, and students. In addition, embracing refugees with welcoming teams and care circles is their top priority. 

Before raising concerns about church growth, The New England church planters I spoke with testified to the importance of a commitment to compassionate social engagement and "being faithfully present" in their relationships with the community. 

Mes states that this "charming" approach has been the norm in Southern Baptist churches in New England for 15 years, and that such an attitude has led to organic church growth. Fruitful and sustainable immigrant-led churches-which make up 57% of the Baptist churches here—need hospitality. 

There is another reason why Southern Baptists attracted these people. Throughout history, immigrants and unchurched individuals have tended to flock to and establish more biblically Orthodox churches. "Pastors in emerging churches are the most theologically conservative," according to research conducted by Faith Communities Today. Those who are less conservative are more likely to lead churches that are already defunct. 

Because of immigration, we can anticipate that evangelical-style churches like those in New England will expand even more in the future. Among the fastest growing evangelical denominations in the country are Latin Protestants, and any denomination that maintains their faith will thrive. 

Assemblies of God and other conservative denominations have experienced tremendous growth around the world, especially in other spiritual deserts in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. 

In addition, Ferguson noted that Wesleyan and Vineyard leadership were actively planting new churches in a beneficial and strategic way.

The hopes and plans of the Southern Baptist Church of New England can be applied geographically and denominationally. 

Their success shows that Christians do not need to change their theology, incorporate worldly values, or set up large centers that concentrate on entertainment to attract people. Instead, we can use patience, go back to the basics, and build real relationships with people where they currently are. 

Finally, Jesus asked his followers to "go and make disciples." 

Those who obey have been blessed because Southern Baptists spread this cry to some of the darkest spiritual parts of America. 

Ericka Andersen lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is the wife and mother of a freelance writer. She wrote Reason to Return: Why Women Need The Church & The Church Needs Women, and she also wrote a column for World Magazine. 

News Sources : https://www.christianpost.com/voices/southern-baptists-are-teaching-us-to-bring-people-back-to-church.html