A call to prayer for revival and renewal

[Dave McClung]

Last month I posted here suggesting that the Church of the Nazarene needs a turn around. That post has had a lot of discussion here and is being widely circulated within our denomination. At the conclusion of the post, I asked the readers in joining me in drafting resolutions for next year's General Assembly.

I wish that I had concluded the post with a specific call to prayer. I firmly believe that the best response to my post is a commitment to pray specifically for the revival and renewal of the Church of the Nazarene.

Approximately two years ago, Wes Smith called on all of us to join him in prayer for renewal. Many have responded with commitments to pray specifically for renewal.

It is my wish that those in the NazNet Fellowship will be committed specifically to pray daily for the revival and renewal of the Church of the Nazarene starting today and continuing at least until the General Assembly. By "revival", I mean a spiritual revival. By "renewal" I mean restructuring in a way that will cause the denomination to be relevant for its second century.

Please indicate your commitment to join Wes Smith and me in praying for our denomination by clicking on the hands at the bottom of this post. If you are a lurker, I will appreciate an email from you expressing your commitment to join us in prayer.

[DA Weaver]

Dave,

I think you are right on target with your request. It's broken my heart as I've watched so many people walk away from the COTN. Often I ask myself "Where's my generation?" "Where are the generations of children that were raised in the church?" because they're definitely missing, and it seems little are coming in to take their place.

When I was a child, almost all of our fellowship time was spent with the church family: skating, picnics, trips to the amusement parks, putt-putt golf, birthday parties, Christmas Parties, Easter Egg Hunts, camping, swimming, weenie roasts, etc... It seems in today's society that we've strayed away from that close church family fellowship outside of church services.

I miss the days when the church seemed like it was a part of the family. I'm very blessed to attend a church in which I still feel that way, but I can't help but to watch as I see people leaving the COTN for churches in which there's little or no fellowship outside of the church service. It breaks my heart to watch as friends go through surgery, yet very little people in their congregation are aware of what's going on because the congregation is so big, and often the pastors/churches aren't aware at all of a need to minister to the families of their congregations. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the pastors. It's not their fault if they aren't made aware of a need within the congregation.

It just seems as if people are exchanging the S.S., Sunday a.m., Sunday p.m., and Wednesday evening services for churches in which few people are aware if a person is present or not. It seems a lot of people are no longer interested in attending services as long as the doors are open, but they would prefer to attend for an hour or so on Sunday morning, and not have to return until the following Sunday.

That of course is just MHO, but I'm on board, I believe we need a revival within the COTN. We need to get back to feeling as if our church is a part of our family, something that we incorporate into our daily life, not just something that we turn to in our time of need.

I've probably said too much, but I agree, we need a revival and a renewal within the COTN.

[Roland Hearn]

Dave,
I fully endorse your sentiments and your call to prayer. One of the realities that we must come to grips with as a church is that we are not being genuinely transformational in the world. That is a Holy Spirit activity but it has never been divorced from the willingness of God's people to be the point of beginning for that transformation. I agree we need great structural change but even more we need to understand how the Holy Spirit desires to work in the human heart in this day and age. God still transforms to the uttermost and human beings are still needy and I still believe that the Church of the Nazarene has within it the potential to be one of the greatest vehicles to touch humanity in church history. I think we are overlooking that potential in many ways.

[Bob Evans]

I still think the message of personal holiness and consecration is timely and relevant. To the prayer of renewal I would like to add that we pray for openenss to new expressions and methods of this truth.

[William Hunter]

As I read back through many of the posts on concerning the needed change in the denomination, I am convinced that we need some change of real substance and not just moving chairs around the deck or just changing names. I believe we need change in structure that reduces cost to the local church, etc.

Saying that I need to make a statement. In our current structure I have the best DS I have had since my first one, Dr. Fletcher Spruce. That man did more to help me get a good start in ministry than any education could have done. I've seen some sorry things across the years at the DS level and I run pretty gun shy when it comes to DS's, but at the same time I have a deep appreciation for my current DS.

Also, I have a deep appreciation for my district. We have a good pastoral team here. It is one of the best I have had the privilege of being a part of.

In my strongly held belief that we need some sound structural change, I am still appreciative of the DS and pastoral team I am a part of. I am thankful for this team and glad to be a part of it. After a couple experiences I've seen on a couple of districts over the years I have found this district to be a breath of fresh spiritual air.

[DA Weaver]

Moved Where?

[BobHunt]

I really appreciate this new forum and yes, you can count on us praying for renewal and revival in our churches...we need to pray, pray, pray, this world is getting so bad, it seems like it wont last too much longer!

[Gina Stevenson]

Moved Where?

Wondered a day or two ago what on earth you were asking here! Now, up for a pit stop, I just realized that this wasn't on the fellowship board, but see a new name to the side of it re "renewal." So, I take it it began as a threads on the f'ship board, and the "move" was creating this new forum.Clicking on "new posts," rather than going forum by forum, I often don't even realize which forum I'm on! :o

[Carsten Schermuly]

"revival and renewal of the Church of the Nazarene"
done by the Lord.

For sure - he does.

Look at me as an example - how often I stepped off from the good path?
How often he took me back?
Again and again and again ...

As long the right theology will be teached - holiness - as long the Lord is present with his grace. No doubts.