Churches gather Christians. Good churches help many people become Christians and invite them to gather. Healthy churches help new and old Christians alike unify and become mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Great churches do all of the above and impact their surrounding communities and world beyond their touch in transformational ways.
Great churches always spill-over. They plant churches, feed the poor, help the needy, send pastors, train and send missionaries, release their brightest and best for ministry outside of their walls, give money in ways where reciprocity is unlikely. Jesus stated that the greatest believers are servants (Mark 10:43) of others. It stands to reason then, that the greatest churches are servants of others as well. Great churches are known well by people who are not part of their church, just as Jesus himself was quite well known, even among the unconvinced and antagonistic.
When the bishops of the Free Methodist Church of North America get together to talk, plan and train, the conversation is rarely on size of buildings or congregations or budgets. The conversation, prayer, celebration, envisioning and planning is almost always centered on how to help our churches (whether struggling, good and/or healthy) become great churches. Some of the great Free Methodist churches include places like Cornerstone in Akron, Ohio; Christ Community in Columbus, Georgia; Lansing Central in Lansing, Michigan; Light and Life in Long Beach, California; New Life in Endicott, New York; Austin New Church in Austin, Texas and dozens of others. They build mature disciples and spill them out.
If your church is a great church that spills over, tell us your story. We want to hear it. If you want your church to be a great church, let us know. We want to help.