I was born in the late 60s and remember what going to church was like in the 1970s. Our church was fairly full and so were the other churches near us. Most of our neighbours attended church of some flavour or another, at least occasionally. I remember the shock of meeting someone who didn’t believe in God. God and church was part of the Canadian culture.
Not so much now.
While the percentage of Canadians who claim to be atheists is still not very high, there is a large portion who consider themselves of no religion. The little church I grew up in is now much smaller.
I became pastor in the late 1990s and found church growth to be difficult. Yes new people came. Yes outreach had some results. But we could no longer rely on a Canadian culture that would expect people to attend church. It can be a time of discouragement for Christian leaders and congregations.
But it doesn’t have to.
I was pleased to get a copy of Shifting Stats Shaking the Church by Patricia Paddey and Karen Stiller. This is not a “how to” book but it is a collection of stories about forty churches across Canada. I love the variety that the authors offer in this book. The churches are found in all provinces and territories in Canada, represent twenty-five different denominations and range in size from 15 to 3500.
What brings all these stories together is that they have responded to their changing context with some innovative ideas and ministries. Instead of holding on to the way ministry was done in the past, they looked to the needs of their community and sought the resources to meet those needs.
I recommend this book for pastors and leaders, both in Canada and elsewhere. The reason is not to duplicate the ministries described in the book (although they may give you ideas), but to challenge your mindset. The book can also provide tremendous encouragement, as it is not limited to just churches with an abundance of resources. Even small churches can find a way to impact their community.
I am thankful for the work of Patricia Paddey and Karen Stiller and I recommend that you pick up a copy of Shifting Stats Shaking the Church.
Americans can purchase this book here.
