Love this story! Many Churches are suffering from low attendance, and an aging congregation, no feeder system, as I say. I pray this encourages all! I pray your Church will be filled with young adults and children! Glory!
Baptist Press
By Scott Barkley, posted October 11, 2024 in Churches and Ministry, Cooperative Program, North American Mission Board
Editor’s note: October is Cooperative Program Emphasis Month in the Southern Baptist Convention.
BIG SPRING, Texas (BP) — Brad Borggren arrived at his new pastorate in December 2019 with observations shared by many of his peers.
Salem Baptist Church wanted to grow. Many great pastors had stood behind its pulpit in the church’s 115-year history. One of them, Roy Fish, went on to become one of the most beloved professors in Southwestern Seminary’s history.
Sunday attendance averaged 25. Most of Salem’s members were in their upper 50s and lower 60s. Vision and a sense of mission were lacking. It was Borggren’s first pastorate after seven years in South Asia with the International Mission Board.
The challenges were considerable even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit three months later. Many churches just like Salem wouldn’t survive.
Today, Salem is undergoing a revitalization process with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention to see new days and new opportunities. Those are already appearing to continue and expand its ministry.
“The church realized that change had to happen, but the word ‘revitalization’ was not in their vocabulary,” Borggren said. “And also, the type of change was not clear. As many churches voice, they knew we needed to grow younger, but did not know how or what to change to make that happen.”
